Wife of Suspended Florida Sheriff Arrested in Racketeering, Gambling Case

• Florida Sheriff’s wife charged in multimillion-dollar gambling ring cas
• Investigators allege misuse of power and campaign contributions
• Unlawful casino-style operation ran for nearly five years
  

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 The wife of a suspended Central Florida sheriff has been arrested in the same sweeping illegal gambling investigation that saw her husband locked up earlier this month.

Robin Lynn Severance Lopez, 50, was booked into the Lake County Jail Tuesday morning on a charge of conspiracy to use or invest proceeds tied to racketeering. The second-degree felony charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. She is being held without bond, according to jail records.

Her husband, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez, 56, was arrested June 5 on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. He is accused of playing a “multifaceted role” in shielding and expanding an underground gambling operation that generated more than $21 million in profits.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Lopez from duty by executive order after investigators accused him of exploiting his elected position. His bond has been set at $1 million.

Illegal Slots

The illicit gambling operation was uncovered by a multi-agency investigation launched in 2023, led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

It centered around activity in Osceola and Lake counties, with the alleged epicenter being a business in Kissimmee known as Fusion Social Club — also operating under the name Eclipse Social Club.

Prosecutors claim the establishment hosted unlawful slot machines and ran an illicit lottery under the guise of a legitimate arcade.

Investigators say Lopez initially became involved for personal enrichment — accepting cash payments and campaign support — before allegedly leveraging his role in law enforcement to protect the operation from scrutiny.

Also facing racketeering and conspiracy charges are Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt, and Carol Cote.

Social Media Gaffe

Lopez, a U.S. Navy veteran, was elected in 2020 as Osceola County’s first Hispanic sheriff, and reelected in 2024.

But last year he drew international criticism after inadvertently posting an image of the body of a teenage murder victim to Instagram with the caption “Great day with our seniors. #florida #senior @sheriffmarcoslopez.”

The victim, 13-year-old Madeline Soto, went missing in February 2024. Her mother’s boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, was later charged with her murder.