Former Florida Sheriff Arrested for Racketeering and Conspiracy in Illegal Gambling Operation
A former sheriff from Florida, Marcos Lopez, has been arrested on charges of racketeering and conspiracy related to an illegal gambling operation. The accusations claim that Lopez used campaign contributions to support the gambling operation and pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass emphasized the importance of integrity in law enforcement and stated that Lopez violated the trust expected of him as the sheriff of Osceola County.
Following his arrest, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended Lopez and appointed Christopher Blackmon, a Florida Highway Patrol officer, as the interim sheriff. Lopez, who was elected in November 2020, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was given a $1 million bond. Prosecutors alleged that Lopez made up to $700,000 from the illegal business, which included slot machines, a lottery, and a gambling house operating out of the Fusion Social Club in Kissimmee.
The illegal gambling operation reportedly generated over $21.6 million over the years. Apart from Lopez, four others – Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt, and Carol Cote – are facing similar racketeering and conspiracy charges. Osceola County itself is not implicated in the investigation. Lopez is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on June 30.