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Alex Harper • Sep 23, 2026 
Reviewed By Paul Jacobs
Casino Expert
In the Il Villagio RICO case, a Lady Lake business owner wants a judge to drop her top charges. The owner, 45-year-old Rima Ray, ran a slots room mostly visited by seniors. Her lawyers say the state has overcharged what is really a basic gambling case.
The case also tests how far the state can push Florida gambling laws against unlicensed slot rooms. If the judge sides with Ray, she would still face the gambling charges.
What Happened at Il Villagio
On paper, the business called itself an arcade offering games of skill. However, the July 2025 raid pulled out roughly 190 machines the state calls illegal slots.
A warehouse in nearby Marion County held 80 more, prosecutors say. They trace over $24 million through linked accounts from January 2023 to July 2025. The state says wire transfers pushed that money into front companies and foreign accounts.
Close to $3 million allegedly ended up in an account in Ray’s name. At her arrest, authorities say her Maserati held roughly $350,000 alongside a gold bar.
The Charges in the Il Villagio RICO Case
Her lawyers’ motion in the Sumter County case runs 32 pages and targets the four most serious counts. The lesser gambling charges stay in place.
| Charge | Counts | Targeted by Motion? | What It Means |
| Racketeering (RICO) | 1 | Yes | Treats the business as an ongoing criminal enterprise |
| Money laundering | 3 | Yes | Claims she hid where the gambling money came from |
| Gambling house | Not reported | No | Running a place where illegal gambling takes place |
| Slot machine possession | Not reported | No | Holding machines outside a licensed venue |
RICO is Florida’s anti-racketeering law, modeled on a federal statute. It lets the state bundle two or more related crimes into one charge tied to a business or group. As a result, a RICO count carries far higher stakes than a basic gambling charge.
Why the Defense Says the Case Falls Short
Ray’s lawyers attack the RICO pattern and the laundering claims.
- One business, one act: The defense says Il Villagio ran as one steady business, not a string of separate crimes.
- No wider crime: Chief investigator Robaldo Ramos said agents found no drug dealing, sex work or card games.
- No hidden money: Ramos testified that nobody concealed the cash; it was simply banked.
The motion argues RICO exists to catch career criminals, not everyday lawbreaking. Laundering needs a base felony, so the defense says those three counts fall with RICO.
Employees Charged and Next Steps
Two staff members now share Ray’s charges in the Il Villagio RICO case. Authorities arrested Barbara Buzzard, the assistant manager, and Terence Morgan, the business manager, earlier this month.
Bill Gladson, the regional state attorney, says the parlor pulled millions from local seniors. Prosecutors still hadn’t answered the motion in writing by September 20. Meanwhile, a judge recently lifted Ray’s home confinement, though she still wears a GPS monitor.
What the Il Villagio RICO Case Means for Florida Players
Players take real risks at unlicensed slot rooms. No regulator tests the machines, and no agency handles unpaid wins.
In Florida, legal slots sit inside the Seminole Tribe’s casinos, covered by the Seminole gaming compact with the state. Licensed pari-mutuel venues, such as some South Florida racetracks, also offer them. Also, lawmakers have backed tougher penalties for illegal gambling operations across the state.
Similarly, the sweepstakes casino crackdown keeps spreading online. Since US gambling laws differ by state, a venue’s legal status depends on where it runs.
Before you play slots in Florida, check two things:
- The venue is a Seminole casino or a licensed racetrack casino
- The operator names its regulator and displays its license
A “skill game” or “arcade” label proves nothing on its own. For online sites, the same casino safety checks apply before any deposit. You can also set limits with responsible gambling tools before each session starts.
The Bottom Line
Ray’s motion does not ask the court to clear her. Instead, it asks whether Florida can treat one illegal slots room as organized crime. Casino US will report on the Il Villagio RICO case once the judge rules.
