Florida Sheriff Is Arrested in Illegal Gambling Investigation
A sheriff in Central Florida was arrested on Thursday morning, accused of using his position to protect and profit from an illegal casino operation, the authorities said.
Sheriff Marcos Lopez of Osceola County, 56, faces one count each of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, according to the state attorney general's office. Gov. Ron DeSantis's office also suspended Sheriff Lopez from his position on Thursday.
Sheriff Lopez's involvement began with the quiet acceptance of campaign contributions and personal payments from those behind the gambling operation, according to prosecutors.
His role deepened over time, according to prosecutors, who accused the sheriff of using the power of his office not only to shield the operation from law enforcement scrutiny, but also to help expand its reach.
James Uthmeier, Florida's attorney general, said in a statement that Thursday was 'a solemn day for Florida and our law enforcement community.'
'We put great trust in our constitutional officers, especially those who are our communities' first line of defense,' Mr. Uthmeier said, adding that state prosecutors would seek to hold Sheriff Lopez and his associates accountable.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sheriff Lopez was first elected in 2020 and is the first Hispanic sheriff in Florida, according to his department's website. He joined the Sheriff's Office in 2003 while he was serving in the Navy Reserve.
The charges stem from a joint investigation conducted in 2023 by Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The inquiry uncovered a criminal syndicate that prosecutors say operated an illegal gambling network that generated about $22 million across Central Florida, especially in Lake and Osceola Counties.
Prosecutors said that Sheriff Lopez's ties to the casino, the Eclipse Social Club in Kissimmee, Fla., date to 2019, a year before his election. After becoming sheriff in 2020, prosecutors said, he continued to protect the gambling ring as it expanded in Florida while collecting a portion of proceeds.
Prosecutors said that Sheriff Lopez's involvement in the gambling enterprise continued until as recently as August 2024, months before he was re-elected in November.
As of Thursday afternoon, it remained unclear if Sheriff Lopez had a lawyer. He was being held without bond in the Lake County Jail.
Four others whom Mr. Uthmeier described as associates of the sheriff — Ying Zhang, Sharon Lopez, Sheldon Wetherholt and Carol Cote — also were charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, according to state charging documents. It was not immediately clear if they had lawyers.
Other arrest warrants related to the gambling ring are expected to be served soon, according to the attorney general's office.
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