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3mo ago

Osceola County Sheriff Arrested on Racketeering Charges in $21.6M Gambling Scheme

Suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis with Christopher Blackmon appointed interim sheriff, Lopez remains jailed on $1 million bond pending his June 30 court date.

Osceola County Sheriff - Marcos Lopez
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Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, answers questions from the media on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. The Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office last week filed a summons against Lopez, accusing him of posting a photo of 13-year-old Madeline Soto's dead body to Instagram.
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Overview

  • Lopez is charged with racketeering and conspiracy for allegedly protecting and expanding an illegal gambling operation that generated over $21.6 million in illicit proceeds.
  • A 2023 joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found that Lopez shielded the enterprise in exchange for personal payouts and campaign donations.
  • Four associates—Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt and Carol Cote—are also facing racketeering and conspiracy charges in connection with the scheme.
  • Lake County Judge Emily Curington set Lopez’s bond at $500,000 per count and ordered GPS monitoring and passport surrender as conditions of release.
  • The probe remains active and prosecutors have indicated that additional charges or arrests may be forthcoming as the case moves toward a June 30 hearing.