Robin Severance-Lopez bond hearing: Judge questions sourcing of $20K; Lopez to remain in jail | FOX 51 Gainesville

Robin Severance-Lopez bond hearing: Judge questions sourcing of $20K; Lopez to remain in jail

Robin Severance-Lopez, the estranged wife of suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, was in court Thursday for a bond hearing to determine if she had met the court's bond requirements and could be released from jail.

Robin was initially granted a $400,000 bond, of which she would pay roughly 10% – or $40,000 -- to a bail bondsman. However, the state requested at her first appearance that she prove the sourcing of the $400,000 to the court to ensure that all the funds were "clean," or not tied to the allegations against her.

Both Lopezes are accused of being connected to an alleged illegal gambling operation that generated millions of dollars over the years. 

Robin Lopez is appearing in court on Thursday. 

The nearly four-hour hearing ended shortly before 4:30 p.m. with the judge denying bond until Lopez's attorney could provide the sourcing for some $20,000 in funding.

Robin Lopez was arrested on June 23 and charged with conspiracy to invest proceeds from racketeering. She is currently being held in the Lake County Jail on a $400,000 bond. Her arrest came weeks after Marcos Lopez was arrested on federal charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and racketeering.

Bond denied: $20,000 in question

What we know:

Robin Lopez, 50, was present in court Thursday for her bond hearing. Marcos Lopez bailed out of jail on June 26.

Robin Lopez's attorney said she has met the requirements for her $400,000 bond but is still waiting for the state to decide whether she meets the criteria for approving the source of the funds. The $400,000 bond was because the state argued it needed to be high to ensure that she shows up for her court appearances. 

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Robin Lopez claims to have $123,000 in the bank and a net monthly income of $1,300 from a part-time job, but when she was arrested she was caught with two bank slips totaling almost $180,000, which were deposited shortly after her husband's arrest. 

Following the 4-hour bond hearing on Thursday, the judge stated there is another $20,000 Robin will need to explain. 

Attorney for Robin Severance-Lopez' reacts to court hearing

What's next:

If bond is posted, Robin Lopez would be required to give up her passport, wear a GPS monitor and have no contact with her estranged husband Marcos Lopez.

Who is Robin Severance-Lopez?

A spokesperson for OCSO confirmed to FOX 35 that Robin Severance-Lopez was a former employee of the agency. However, that spokesperson was unable to provide details such as her title with the agency nor how long she worked for the sheriff's office. FOX 35 was deferred to OCSO's Human Resources department.

RELATED: Who is Robin Lopez? Wife of Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez charged in illegal gambling house case

It's not immediately clear when she started with OCSO, though her name appears in some court records as early as 2003, as reviewed by FOX 35 staff. 

Marcos Lopez and Robin Lopez

Are they still married?

Online records show that Robin Lopez and Marcos Lopez were married in 2007 in St. Cloud. Robin Lopez filed for divorce on Sept. 11, 2023 in Brevard County Court. At the last check, it appeared that the matter was still working through the court system. A hearing was last held in April, online records show.

What is her alleged role in the gambling operation?

During a bond hearing on Sept. 24, 2025, the prosecution shared details on Robin Lopez's alleged role and connection to the alleged gambling house at the center of the investigation.

"She helped to facilitate the movement of illicit money and receipt of illicit payments from other co-conspirators to Lopez, which is believed to have reached to be at least $600- to $700,000," said Assistant State Attorney Colleen Monroe.

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"The evidence against her, Your Honor, is compelling and in large part, irrefutable," she said, noting that the state has evidence including witness testimony, bank records, text messages and emails.

The state alleged that even though Marcos and Robin Lopez are separated, Robin was allegedly trying to help come up with the $1 million bail for Marcos Lopez.

"The reality of that is that they have a child together, and they are co-parents," said Robin's defense attorney. "Ms. Severance Lopez is not a co-conspirator. She is a co-parent. Of course, she doesn't want the father of her child to remain in jail."

The Source: This story was written based on information gathered from the Lake County jail records as well as HSI Tampa. Additional details about Lopez's arrest and suspension were shared by the Federal Department of Justice (FDOJ), and the office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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