The illegal gambling investigation that resulted in criminal proceedings against Osceola County (Florida) Sheriff Marcos Lopez has taken another turn, with new court filings drawing his estranged wife deeper into the probe. Documents released this week reveal that prosecutors plan to call Eclipse Social Club owner Krishna Deokaran, another individual implicated in the case, to testify that he delivered casino proceeds to Robin Severance-Lopez in a parking-lot handoff more than two years ago.
New Witness Testimony Could Influence the Case
The allegation adds another twist to an already tumultuous case. Lopez, who remains suspended from office, sits in custody in Lake County facing several first-degree felony counts. According to investigators, the defendant abused his position to protect an illegal gambling network that may have generated over $21 million. Prosecutors allege Lopez accepted cash and personal favors while quietly discouraging deputies from investigating the operation.
Severance-Lopez faced charges earlier this summer of conspiring to move or invest funds linked to racketeering. She was briefly released under GPS monitoring before a judge agreed to remove the device. However, the reprieve did not last long. She has been taken back into custody after investigators uncovered new evidence that ties her to the gambling scheme.
According to court documents first reported by WFTV and WESH, Krishna Deokaran told investigators that he hosted Marcos Lopez and Severance-Lopez when he opened his gambling venue in 2022, offering them to work together. He claims that he later met Severance-Lopez in the sheriff’s office parking lot, handing her an envelope of casino funds while saying, “This is for Marcos.” She reportedly accepted the money without comment.
The Defense Denies the Allegations
The defense attorney of Severance-Lopez, Michelle Yard, argued that the state is leaning heavily on a witness who has every incentive to protect himself. Yard described the new allegations as “unfounded,” claiming that Deokaran is presenting evidence that is favorable to him in the case. Prosecutors, however, note that the witness’s account aligns with other material on record, such as financial documents and text messages.
Severance-Lopez has a court date next month. The timing of the new witness revelations suggests the prosecution intends to focus on her role in the operation. Her case is now intertwined with the ongoing effort to map out how the alleged gambling ring operated, who profited from it, and how it managed to stay under the radar of the county’s leading law enforcement office.
The Osceola County gambling case shows no signs of conclusion, with more hearings scheduled and witnesses still being interviewed. For state investigators, the situation is a stark reminder of how illegal operations can thrive when shielded by the officials who are expected to police them.