Sarasota Sheriff’s Office: Two Arrested, 117 Slot Machines Confiscated in Gambling Operation Raids

Key Information

• Incident Date: Sept. 2, 2025
• Location: Magic Arcade, 5624 Swift Road, Sarasota County
• Arrested Individuals: Mevin Rodrigues (28) and Dylan Cardoso (30)
• Charges: Rodrigues – possessing a slot machine, keeping a gambling house; Cardoso – employee of a gambling house, possessing a slot machine
• Seized Items: 117 slot machines and cash
• Associated Agency: Collaboration with Florida Gaming Control Commission and Homeland Security Investigations

Two men have been charged in connection with an illegal gambling operation in Sarasota County. Authorities reveal that both individuals were also in the U.S. illegally with revoked visas.

The suspects, Mevin Rodrigues, 28, and Dylan Cardoso, 30, were arrested on September 2 at Magic Arcade following a lengthy investigation into several illegal gambling operations, as reported by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

Rodrigues faces charges of possessing a slot machine and keeping a gambling house. His arraignment is scheduled for September 29. Specific details from the probable cause affidavit for Rodrigues’ arrest have yet to be released.

On the other hand, Cardoso has been charged for being an employee of a gambling house as well as possessing a slot machine. His arraignment is set for October 3.

The probable cause affidavit indicates that Cardoso worked as a clerk at Magic Arcade, where an undercover detective inserted $100 into a slot machine on August 19, winning $219 through various plays. Cardoso provided the detective with $219 in cash based on a printed voucher from the slot machine, which was later collected as evidence.

When authorities executed a search warrant at Magic Arcade on September 2, they discovered Cardoso hiding in a locked closet. Detectives had to use tools to gain access, finding him with multiple sets of keys associated with illegal slot machine operations, as well as a key controlling the diagnostics of the machines.

In the course of the investigation, agents from the Florida Gaming Control Commission confiscated cash and 117 slot machines from Magic Arcade, according to the sheriff’s office.

“We continue to partner with the Florida Gaming Control Commission with the goal of ridding our community of these gambling businesses,” stated Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. “Our citizens’ complaints have been heard, and we are successfully shutting them down.”

Rodrigues and Cardoso are currently detained at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility. The sheriff’s office is also working with Homeland Security Investigations regarding their immigration status.

“Not only were these arrestees breaking our state gambling laws, but they have also broken our immigration laws,” Hoffman remarked. “Through our partnership with ICE, they will be held accountable.”