Florida Gambling Busts Continue as Disgraced Sheriff Appears in Court

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office seizes 66 slot machines, arrests two in illegal gaming arcade raid

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:04pm

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The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office conducted a raid on an illegal gaming arcade, seizing 66 slot machines and arresting two individuals, Mohamed Belyaqout and Mabielka C. Cumbrera, who have been charged with keeping and maintaining a gambling house and possession of slot machines. As the crackdown on illegal gambling in Florida continues, disgraced Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez appeared in court over accusations of facilitating an illegal gambling operation that generated up to $21 million.

Why it matters

The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has been taking strong action against illegal gaming operations in the state, with the latest raid in Sarasota being part of a broader effort to shut down these establishments. The case against former Sheriff Marcos Lopez also highlights the involvement of law enforcement officials in facilitating illegal gambling, raising concerns about corruption and the need for stricter regulations.

The details

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of Mohamed Belyaqout and Mabielka C. Cumbrera on Monday. The two individuals have been charged with keeping and maintaining a gambling house and possession of slot machines. Police arrested Belyaqout at Slot 24/7 located at 5709 S. Beneva Road in Sarasota, where they seized 66 slot machines and an undisclosed amount of cash. The sheriff's office had issued the business a cease-and-desist order last year, but it was ignored.

  • On Monday, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office conducted the raid and made the arrests.
  • Last year, the sheriff's office issued a cease-and-desist order to the Slot 24/7 business, which was ignored.

The players

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that conducted the raid on the illegal gaming arcade and made the arrests.

Mohamed Belyaqout

One of the two individuals arrested and charged with keeping and maintaining a gambling house and possession of slot machines.

Mabielka C. Cumbrera

One of the two individuals arrested and charged with keeping and maintaining a gambling house and possession of slot machines.

Marcos Lopez

The disgraced former Osceola County Sheriff who appeared in court over accusations of facilitating an illegal gambling operation that generated up to $21 million.

Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC)

The state agency leading the crackdown on illegal gaming operations in Florida, including the recent Operation Reel of Fortune that resulted in the seizure of 625 slot machines and over $350,000 in cash.

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What’s next

The judge in the case against former Sheriff Marcos Lopez will continue to hear testimony from state witnesses, including Kyle Henry and Douglas Ford, who are expected to provide further details on the former sheriff's involvement in the illegal gambling operation.

The takeaway

The ongoing crackdown on illegal gambling operations in Florida, including the latest raid in Sarasota and the case against former Sheriff Marcos Lopez, highlights the need for stricter regulations and oversight to prevent corruption and protect the public from the harmful effects of unregulated gambling.