FORT MYERS, FL — Lee County deputies raided five gaming arcades across the county and arrested 10 people in what the sheriff’s office described as an illegal gambling operation. The locations stretched from North Fort Myers to Bonita Springs.
Investigators said the businesses were accused of targeting older customers and cheating them out of winnings by failing to pay prizes or by setting odds so low that players were unlikely to win. Deputies also said the raids led to the seizure of cash, cars, homes and other assets tied to the operation.
The sheriff’s office said the enforcement action was part of a broader investigation into gaming arcades that were operating illegally in the county.
Deputies say the raids turned up machines, cash and luxury property
Authorities said the search efforts produced 239 slot machines, 163 ounces of gold, two homes, 10 cars and more than $500,000 in cash. Among the vehicles taken was a Bentley, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Those seizures suggest investigators believe the businesses generated substantial revenue, even as deputies accused them of operating in a way that left customers with little chance of cashing out. The sheriff’s office has said the arcades were part of an illegal gambling scheme rather than legitimate entertainment businesses.
Officials did not say in the provided details what specific charges each person faces, but the arrests were tied to the same investigation that led to the property seizures.
One arcade had already drawn earlier attention from investigators
One of the locations raided was Spin City Arcade on Reflections Parkway. Deputies said that business had been targeted in at least two previous raids, underscoring how often it had come under law enforcement scrutiny.
The repeated action at that site suggests authorities believed the problems were not isolated. It also indicates that the sheriff’s office has been monitoring the arcade network for some time rather than acting only after a single complaint.
The raids covered multiple locations instead of focusing on one storefront, which points to a coordinated effort across the county. Deputies said the operation involved five separate arcades.
Neighbors described a sudden and dramatic law enforcement presence
People working nearby said the scene felt startling when deputies moved in. Rick Franco, a barber at The Club Barber Shop near one of the raided arcades, said it looked like something out of a movie.
Franco also said he had visited one of the arcades before and noticed that customers did not seem to win much. He said the business felt misleading, and he welcomed the closure of the arcade near his shop.
His reaction reflects the immediate impact the raids had on the surrounding area. Even businesses not accused of wrongdoing were left dealing with the disruption and attention that came with the sheriff’s operation.
Counselor warns illegal arcades can feed gambling addiction
David Essel, a gambling addiction counselor, said people who spend time at illegal arcades may struggle to stop looking for another place to gamble once one closes. He said the brain can push people to seek a substitute if they are not getting professional help.
That warning adds a public-health angle to the enforcement action. While deputies focused on the alleged crimes and the seizure of assets, counselors say the businesses can also become a problem for people already dealing with addiction.
Essel’s comments suggest that shutting down one set of machines does not necessarily end the behavior for every customer. For some, the bigger challenge is finding treatment and support that addresses the underlying compulsion.
Ten people were arrested as the sheriff’s office continues its investigation
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office identified eight people in connection with the case and said two more were arrested but had not yet been identified in the provided information. The named arrests included Ronald Longo, Stamena Gacevic, William Holman, Angela Vittitoe, Dijela Ivezaj, Debra Wololvek, Dennis Martin and Melissa Olarte.
Authorities said the operation resulted in 10 arrests overall, though the office had only released mug shots for eight of them at the time. The investigation appears to remain active, with officials continuing to document the scope of the alleged gambling network and the assets tied to it.
For county residents, the raids marked another high-profile effort by deputies to shut down businesses they say were operating illegally while taking advantage of customers. The sheriff’s office said the arcades were not legitimate gaming venues but part of a broader gambling scheme.
