Lee County gambling investigation leads to 10 arrests and seizure of 239 slot machines

Ten people were arrested and 239 illegal slot machines were seized Tuesday as Lee County detectives and state gaming investigators carried out coordinated searches in Florida and Pennsylvania. Authorities reported nearly $1.6 million in seized cash, gold and frozen accounts connected to the gambling network.

The enforcement operation followed a lengthy narcotics and financial investigation involving the Lee County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit and the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Officials said undercover work, surveillance and financial analysis uncovered evidence of a racketeering and money laundering operation spanning Lee County and Mercer, Pennsylvania. Search warrants covered five arcades, private residences and bank accounts.

The businesses targeted were The Royal on Palm Arcade, 777 Arcade and Spin City Arcade in Fort Myers, King's Paradise Arcade in North Fort Myers, and Sneaky Pete's Lucky 7 Arcade in Bonita Springs. Investigators recovered $30,250 directly from machines at Sneaky Pete's Lucky 7 Arcade and 777 Arcade as part of the searches.

At a residence in Mercer, investigators found a large safe holding valuable jewelry and a substantial amount of U.S. currency, according to officials. Authorities said the money was connected to the Florida arcades. The broader operation also involved the seizure of gold coins and bars, valuable purses and jewelry, while two residences were targeted for civil forfeiture.

Deputies also seized 10 vehicles: a 2017 Bentley Continental, a 2017 BMW 650i, a 2025 BMW i4, a 2025 Mercedes GLE, a 2017 Cadillac CTS, a 2018 Cadillac Escalade, a 2026 Cadillac Escalade, a 2022 Ford F-250, a 2011 Nissan Armada and a 2017 Nissan Altima.

Authorities described the 10 people arrested as having roles in owning, financing, managing or operating the gambling locations. Sheriff Carmine Marceno said the partnership with the Florida Gaming Control Commission helped bring the investigation to enforcement. He said investigators pursued the people and financial assets associated with the operation as well as the gambling machines.

Florida Gaming Control Commission Executive Director Alana Zimmer said investigators from both agencies had spent months preparing for Tuesday's action. She said the arrests demonstrated the state's stance against illegal gambling and its intent to seize machines and assets linked to those operations.

Officials had not disclosed specific court dates or formal bond amounts for those arrested. Financial analysts were continuing to examine seized bank records and other evidence, and investigators had not said whether that review would lead to further arrests or additional search warrants.