Published on: September 16, 2025, 11:30 AM.

Updated on: September 17, 2025, 11:17 AM.

• Prosecutors reference emoji-laden text messages as evidence of an illegal betting operation
• López allegedly received large sums in bribes
• Raid conducted at Eclipse Social Club amid ongoing illegal gambling investigations

The suspended sheriff of Osceola County, Florida, Marcos López, who was removed from his position in June after being arrested for illegal gambling, might be implicated due to his use of emojis, as stated by state prosecutors.

López, aged 56, was arrested in June on charges of extortion and conspiracy related to his alleged role in a multimillion-dollar wagering network.

Prosecutors assert he played a “multifaceted role” in the expansion and safeguarding of unlicensed “cyber cafés” in Central Florida, which generated over $21 million and resulted in extensive public corruption.

Slot Machine Emojis and Money Bags

Recently released court documents reveal text messages purportedly sent by López, including one featuring slot machine and money bag emojis, which prosecutors argue indicate his enthusiastic involvement in the scheme.

Reports from WKMG and other local news agencies mention that López’s ties to Florida’s underground gambling scene began in 2019, coinciding with his sheriff campaign when he met businessman Krishna “Kris” Deokaran.

According to court records, Deokaran, who has not been charged, operated gaming establishments in Lake and Osceola counties. He reportedly befriended López and contributed $5,000 to his campaign.

Manila Envelopes

The documents also refer to Ying “Kate” Zhang, a Kissimmee-based entrepreneur charged with importing slot machines from China. Prosecutors claim López assured her of protection if he won the election, sending a text that read, “Kate, there’s nothing to worry about… when I win, we’ll launch the first cyber café in Osceola County. You’ll be safe… because I’ll be your sheriff.”

Subsequently, López facilitated connections between Zhang and Deokaran. By 2022, the trio established the Eclipse Social Club in Kissimmee, a venue that reportedly grossed over $21.6 million.

López allegedly received between $600,000 and $700,000 in cash bribes, typically delivered in Manila envelopes, while Zhang supposedly paid him between $4,000 and $6,000 monthly, as indicated in the presented documents.

After agents raided a restaurant following a fatal shooting in 2021, López reportedly informed Deokaran, “I have something for you… I’ve shut that place down, it’s ours.”

Later, the Eclipse Social Club launched at the same location.

Pulling the Strings

In another 2022 message exchange, Deokaran texted López to alert him that agents were at the club, threatening to close it down.

López allegedly replied, “Let me know if they say anything. You shouldn’t have any issues.” Deokaran later confirmed that the officers left without taking action.

The Eclipse continued its operations until August 2024, when it was raided by a task force from the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI).

Less than half an hour prior, López, who had been warned about the upcoming raid, called the MBI director to inquire whether state law explicitly prohibited cyber cafés. Investigators characterized this call as a blatant attempt to evade law enforcement.

López has pleaded not guilty and remains free on a $1 million bond. Governor Ron DeSantis promptly suspended him from his position following his arrest. He faces the prospect of decades in prison if convicted.