Published on: January 12, 2026, at 01:29h.
Updated on: January 12, 2026, at 01:29h.
- Lake County operation uncovers 231 unlawful machines and $158,000 in cash
- Hot Seats connected in documents associated with former sheriff Marcos Lopez
- Lake County’s terminal-permit regulation conflicted with Florida’s slot machine laws
Authorities in Lake County, Florida, executed a raid on an illicit gambling establishment tied to Marcos Lopez, the former Osceola County Sheriff, now facing racketeering allegations for purportedly safeguarding and benefiting from an illegal gaming enterprise.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced that they confiscated illegal slot machines and substantial cash during a raid on Hot Seats, located in Leesburg. Authorities also targeted two other gambling venues disconnected from Lopez: The Hub, also in Leesburg, and House of Treasures in Umatilla.
As part of an investigation oddly named “Operation Calvin Coolidge,” the raids resulted in the seizure of 231 illegal machines and over $158,000 in cash, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“We will persist in these operations to eliminate illegal activities and apprehend those responsible,” stated Sheriff Peyton Grinnell.
Lopez’s Controversial Operations
Prosecutors in Osceola County assert that Lopez played a “multifaceted role” in both expanding and shielding an illegal gambling operation that allegedly generated more than $21 million and was marked by public corruption.
Initiated in 2019, the scheme predominantly operated throughout Osceola and Lake counties until early 2024, according to legal authorities. In mid-2022, Lopez, alongside four associates, purportedly managed the enterprise and shared its revenues.
First elected in 2020, Lopez was re-elected in 2024. He was arrested on June 5, 2025, facing charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, charges he denies. Hot Seats was mentioned in court documents last summer in connection with the Lopez case. He is currently out on a $1 million bond.
Legal Discrepancies
Following a 2021 ordinance permitting local venues in Lake County to acquire permits for up to 25 gaming terminals, numerous gambling parlors emerged, contingent on annual inspections, as reported by The Orlando Sentinel. Nevertheless, state laws restrict legal slot machines to tribal properties and specific counties, creating a conflict between local permits and state regulations.
This legal confusion persisted until 2024, when the ordinance was repealed under pressure from the state, which warned counties that local laws could not contravene state statutes.
Contrarily, Osceola County lacked a similar ordinance, where prosecutors contend that certain gambling venues were operating with the sheriff’s protection.
Lopez is alleged to have received between $600,000 and $700,000 in cash kickbacks, often delivered in manila envelopes, according to court records. Furthermore, a local businesswoman, who admitted to importing illegal slot machines from China, is said to have compensated him $4,000 to $6,000 monthly.
If convicted, he faces a potential prison sentence of several decades.