Florida Gambling Kingpin Who ‘Lured’ Seniors Wants Her Gold Bar Back

• Florida prosecutors allege multimillion-dollar gambling ring targeting seniors
• Seized cash, gold bar at center of forfeiture lawsuit
• Belize casino link adds international angle to gambling probe

A St. Augustine, Fla. woman accused of running a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling operation catering to seniors is asking a judge to return $340,872 in cash and a gold-colored bar seized during a July traffic stop, according to a lawsuit filed in St. Johns County Circuit Court.

Rima Ray, 44, was arrested July 21 in St. Johns County in connection with what prosecutors are calling a $24 million racket built around IL Villagio Senior Entertainment Center in Lady Lake.

The gaming venue, which was raided and shut down by police in July, “lured” seniors in to play on its illegal slot-style machines with offers of free food and drink, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

Casino.org is using she/her pronouns when referring to Ray, as it is unclear which she prefers and that is how she is identified in US court documents.

Tangled Network

Around 190 slot machines and $348,221 in cash were seized in the Florida raid. Investigators say that between January 2023 and July 2025, more than $24 million flowed through accounts connected to the operation, much of which was funneled through shell companies and overseas accounts.

Some $3 million went directly into Ray’s personal account. She was the business’s CEO and reported less than $20,000 in annual income to the IRS, according to prosecutors. She faces RICO, money-laundering, keeping a gambling house, and possession of slot machines charges.

This was a lucrative and highly illegal operation that targeted some of the most vulnerable members of our community – our seniors,” said State Attorney Bill Gladson. “Illegal gambling houses are not harmless entertainment. They open the door to exploitation, financial crimes, and other serious criminal activity.”

When deputies pulled Ray over on July 2, they found a backpack stuffed with the cash and a 1-kilogram gold-colored bar. But she wants it back. Her complaint argues the seizure violated the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.

Illegal Forfeiture Claim

Florida law generally requires a seizing agency to seek a probable-cause determination within 10 business days of the seizure and to inform owners of the right to an adversarial preliminary hearing. Agencies are also required to adopt written policies promoting the prompt release of property when there is no lawful basis to hold it.

The complaint seeks the items’ return along with legal fees.

Ray is allegedly the alleged owner of the Caribi Bleu Casino in Belize, according to GBM. Last year, the outlet found that an ATM at the casino was dispensing US currency, which is illegal in the Central America nation.