Latest news with #OsceolaCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Osceola sheriff's top director fired, denies knowing of illegal gambling scheme
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office's executive director has been fired following Sheriff Marcos Lopez's arrest on state racketeering charges, after having served him for years as his top advisor during his election campaigns and later as part of his administration. The Sheriff's Office confirmed Nirva Rodriguez's termination days after her employee profile was scrubbed from its website and following questions from news outlets about her status with the agency. On Monday, the agency refused to answer inquiries about her firing and that of Ruben De Jesus, who was described as being a 'civilian employee' after also having worked on Lopez's campaigns. In a statement shared with the Orlando Sentinel, Rodriguez said her firing 'is a separate matter' from Lopez's arrest and suspension. She added: 'I have no knowledge of the allegations against the former sheriff and I am not involved in that investigation.' Rather than explain their ousters and De Jesus' role there, an agency spokesperson told a Sentinel reporter to instead file a public records request. A message seeking comment from De Jesus — a special deputy and a former board member of the agency's Police Athletic League, according to his Linkedin profile — was not immediately returned. While De Jesus held a lower profile following Lopez's election in 2020 and his reelection last year, Rodriguez's ubiquitous presence in the community both in person and online was a hallmark of Lopez's administration, especially on its Spanish-language social media accounts. There, she co-hosted a weekly live show with Lopez called 'Aquí No, Charlatanes' — which means 'Not Here, Charlatans' in English — a roundup that highlighted the agency's initiatives and arrests and is named after a moniker Lopez used to refer to alleged criminals. She would also appear in weekly segments with Lopez on WIPR in Puerto Rico called 'Los Más Buscados,' or 'The Most Wanted,' featuring suspects being sought by law enforcement. 'I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served the citizens of Osceola County, and I am proud of the good work that was accomplished during my time at the agency,' Rodriguez's statement said of her time in the Sheriff's office. 'I feel blessed to have been a part of the time and to have had the chance to make a positive impact in the community. I appreciate the experience and wish the agency and its employees all the best in their future endeavors.' Neither Rodriguez nor De Jesus have been accused of wrongdoing in Lopez's case, but the decision to fire them is a sign that the office is cleaning house of Lopez's allies under interim Sheriff Christopher Blackmon, the Central Florida region chief at Florida Highway Patrol appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis following Lopez's arrest. No other firings have been announced while the Orlando Sentinel awaits fulfillment of its request for separation notices at the agency. Meanwhile, Lopez remains suspended from office while he awaits trial. A charging document released by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier accuses Lopez and at least four others of operating an illegal gambling empire in Osceola and Lake counties. Lopez, prosecutors said, made as much as $700,000 in cash from the scheme, which began months after he announced his run for sheriff in 2019 until just recently. That's expected to be detailed in a 255-page affidavit referenced in court Friday by the Office of Statewide Prosecution which remains under seal. Lopez was arrested by federal agents Thursday and, as of Monday, remains in the Lake County Jail on a $1 million bond. He pleaded not guilty to the state charges. Further charges and co-defendants, Uthmeier said, are pending and could include federal crimes.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
A Florida sheriff is arrested in a racketeering investigation. Who is Marcos Lopez?
Florida sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested June 5 and charged with racketeering in connection with an alleged massive gambling operation and public corruption scheme that generated more than $21 million in profits, according to a release from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's office. The Osceola County sheriff was charged with one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering, both second-degree felonies. Gov. Ron DeSantis followed the arrest with an executive order suspending Lopez and replacing him with Christopher Blackmon, the central region chief for the Florida Highway Patrol. Marcos Radame Lopez, 56, was born in Chicago and grew up in central Florida, according to his now-removed biography on the Osceola County Sheriff's Office website. Lopez enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 17, his bio said. He served for 22 years on active duty and the reserves, working as a linguist and training in explosive ordinances, counterterrorism, and supervising logistical operations. He supported operation Iraqi freedom, Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom as a law enforcement specialist attached to the Centcom Logistical Support Group Forward, he told He received a degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement in 2003 from Valencia College, according to his LinkedIn account, and joined the sheriff's office the same year. For more than 16 years, Lopez also served as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor while working as an investigator. Since 2019, he has also operated Lo-Jeng Tech, a security consultant business that trains small businesses, churches and nonprofits on how to handle active shooters, cybersecurity and other security matters. After failing to win election in 2016, Lopez was first elected as sheriff in 2020, defeating Luiz "Tony" Fernandez to became the first Hispanic sheriff in the Osceola County and Florida. Lopez was re-elected in 2024, defending his position from Republican challenger Donnie Martinez. During his terms, Lopez started the Real Time Crime Center and added specialty units to the OCSO, including the Tactical Anti-Crime Unit, Osceola County Narcotics Bureau, and a fugitive extradition program with Puerto Rico, according to his bio. He also launched anti-bullying initiatives and the all-female police academy Woman on Watch. Why was a Florida sheriff arrested? What we know about Marcos Lopez, alleged gambling scheme Lopez and the OCSO have been in the spotlight several times in recent years. In December 2024, Lopez pleaded no contest to a civil infraction and agreed to pay a $250 fine for posting a photo of a dead body on his personal Instagram page, FOX 35 Orlando and WFTV reported. The image was of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, who disappeared in February 2024 from her home in Kissimmee. Her body was found days later, and the boyfriend of the girl's mother was charged with her death. After Lopez claimed, on the air, in an interview on a radio station that he didn't post the picture — even though the OCSO had already apologized for it — he was placed on the Brady List, a state list of the local law enforcement officers who may not be suitable as witnesses in criminal cases due to past actions, WFTV reported. As of June 6, Lopez is still listed on the Brady List as having made false statements. Lopez, a Democrat, has claimed the move was politically based. In June 2024, Lopez was accused of making lewd comments about a nude photo of a young female civilian employee in 2022, according to WFTV. Former deputy Samantha Sanchez found the picture on the phone of her then-boyfriend, former deputy Alex Valentin, along with text messages reportedly of Valentin and Lopez exchanging such photos and commenting on them. Sanchez said she took a screenshot of the alleged conversation and later reported it to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement when she was fired in what she said was retaliatory action after she told a female deputy about the conversation. Lopez has denied the accusations and the FDLE declined to investigate after the civilian employee failed to press charges, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Lopez and the OCSO were sued in January on behalf of a motorcyclist who was burned on more than 75% of his body after Osceola County deputies fired a Taser at him while he was filling up his motorcycle, WFTV reported. Lopez and the sheriff's office also came under scrutiny in 2022 after a 20-year-old was shot and killed by deputies, according to local television station WESH. Authorities said the 20-year-old and the group he was with were accused of stealing pizza and Pokémon cards from a Target store in Kissimmee, WESH reported. A grand jury declined to file charges in the case, according to WESH, but criticized the sheriff's office for its handling of the incident. The grand jury recommended policy and procedure changes for shootings involving law enforcement, WESH reported. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida sheriiff charged with racketeering. Who is Marcos Lopez?
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
A Florida sheriff is arrested in a racketeering investigation. Who is Marcos Lopez?
Florida sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested June 5 and charged with racketeering in connection with an alleged massive gambling operation and public corruption scheme that generated more than $21 million in profits, according to a release from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's office. The Osceola County sheriff was charged with one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering, both second-degree felonies. Gov. Ron DeSantis followed the arrest with an executive order suspending Lopez and replacing him with Christopher Blackmon, the central region chief for the Florida Highway Patrol. Marcos Radame Lopez, 56, was born in Chicago and grew up in central Florida, according to his now-removed biography on the Osceola County Sheriff's Office website. Lopez enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 17, his bio said. He served for 22 years on active duty and the reserves, working as a linguist and training in explosive ordinances, counterterrorism, and supervising logistical operations. He supported operation Iraqi freedom, Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom as a law enforcement specialist attached to the Centcom Logistical Support Group Forward, he told He received a degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement in 2003 from Valencia College, according to his LinkedIn account, and joined the sheriff's office the same year. For more than 16 years, Lopez also served as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor while working as an investigator. Since 2019, he has also operated Lo-Jeng Tech, a security consultant business that trains small businesses, churches and nonprofits on how to handle active shooters, cybersecurity and other security matters. After failing to win election in 2016, Lopez was first elected as sheriff in 2020, defeating Luiz "Tony" Fernandez to became the first Hispanic sheriff in the Osceola County and Florida. Lopez was re-elected in 2024, defending his position from Republican challenger Donnie Martinez. During his terms, Lopez started the Real Time Crime Center and added specialty units to the OCSO, including the Tactical Anti-Crime Unit, Osceola County Narcotics Bureau, and a fugitive extradition program with Puerto Rico, according to his bio. He also launched anti-bullying initiatives and the all-female police academy Woman on Watch. Why was a Florida sheriff arrested? What we know about Marcos Lopez, alleged gambling scheme Lopez and the OCSO have been in the spotlight several times in recent years. In December 2024, Lopez pleaded no contest to a civil infraction and agreed to pay a $250 fine for posting a photo of a dead body on his personal Instagram page, FOX 35 Orlando and WFTV reported. The image was of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, who disappeared in February 2024 from her home in Kissimmee. Her body was found days later, and the boyfriend of the girl's mother was charged with her death. After Lopez claimed, on the air, in an interview on a radio station that he didn't post the picture — even though the OCSO had already apologized for it — he was placed on the Brady List, a state list of the local law enforcement officers who may not be suitable as witnesses in criminal cases due to past actions, WFTV reported. As of June 6, Lopez is still listed on the Brady List as having made false statements. Lopez, a Democrat, has claimed the move was politically based. In June 2024, Lopez was accused of making lewd comments about a nude photo of a young female civilian employee in 2022, according to WFTV. Former deputy Samantha Sanchez found the picture on the phone of her then-boyfriend, former deputy Alex Valentin, along with text messages reportedly of Valentin and Lopez exchanging such photos and commenting on them. Sanchez said she took a screenshot of the alleged conversation and later reported it to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement when she was fired in what she said was retaliatory action after she told a female deputy about the conversation. Lopez has denied the accusations and the FDLE declined to investigate after the civilian employee failed to press charges, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Lopez and the OCSO were sued in January on behalf of a motorcyclist who was burned on more than 75% of his body after Osceola County deputies fired a Taser at him while he was filling up his motorcycle, WFTV reported. Lopez and the sheriff's office also came under scrutiny in 2022 after a 20-year-old was shot and killed by deputies, according to local television station WESH. Authorities said the 20-year-old and the group he was with were accused of stealing pizza and Pokémon cards from a Target store in Kissimmee, WESH reported. A grand jury declined to file charges in the case, according to WESH, but criticized the sheriff's office for its handling of the incident. The grand jury recommended policy and procedure changes for shootings involving law enforcement, WESH reported. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida sheriiff charged with racketeering. Who is Marcos Lopez?
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Interim Osceola County Sheriff: We're going to get back to respect, trust
Christopher Blackmon, a leader at Florida Highway Patrol who was appointed to lead the Osceola County Sheriff's Office after the arrest and suspension of former sheriff Marcos Lopez, said one of his immediate goals is to ensure the agency's deputies and staff – and the community – know that there is not a systemic issue with the law enforcement agency. "We're trying to ensure the employees here that this is not a systemic problem, this is a problem that occurred with the sheriff, and he has to answer for his charges," he said. Watch his full remarks in the video player above. "It's very unsettling," Blackmon said. "To the community, I can assure you we're going to do everything we can to get back to respect and trust in the sheriff's office." The backstory Florida Gov. DeSantis suspended Marcos Lopez as Osceola County sheriff in an executive order on Thursday, and appointed Christopher Blackmon to the position, effective immediately. Lopez – and four others – are accused of running an illegal gambling operation for years in Kissimmee, where people could play the lottery and slot machines. Officials said the enterprise brought in more than $20 million over the years. Lopez has been charged with two counts of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, both felonies under Florida statutes. In Florida, there are strict rules on the types of gambling, betting, and games that people can play – and the organizations and businesses that can operate those types of games. It's managed and overseen by the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Lopez was booked on no bond and is expected to make his first appearance in front of a judge early Friday morning. He has not commented publicly, and it's unclear if he has an attorney representing him. Christopher Blackmon serves as chief of troops, overseeing Florida Highway Patrol's Troops C, D, and K in Orlando, Tampa, and the Florida Turnpike. He was promoted from Major to Chief in December 2023, according to an X post from FHP Orlando at the time. He oversees more than 850 FHP troopers and 95 civilian employees. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Blackmon has worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years. He also leads immigration-related operations across all 67 counties in Florida, according to DeSantis' executive order. In his free time, he volunteers with groups like the Special Olympics, Clermont Little League, and Make-a-Wish. He has a college degree in Homeland Security from Vincennes University. Dig deeper Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrested on racketeering charges, officials say Who is Christopher Blackmon? Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez mug shot released Video: Marcos Lopez arrested by HSI agents What gambling is legal and illegal in Florida? STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source The information in this article comes from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' executive order on June 5 suspending Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez and appointing Christopher Blackmon as sheriff; a statement from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier; the criminal complaint filed in court; and FOX 35 reporting.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida dad sentenced to life in prison for killing son for drinking out of toilet: court records
The Brief Larry Rhodes has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his 6-year-old son. A grand jury indicted him on Wednesday on charges including first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Larry Rhodes Jr., the Florida man accused of killing his 6-year-old son for drinking out of a toilet, will spend the rest of his life in prison, according to court records. An Osceola County grand jury formally indicted the 25-year-old on Wednesday for first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse and four counts of child abuse, in the murder of his son and the alleged felony abuse of his other children. The backstory According to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, on July 5, 2022, deputies responded to the Knights Inn on West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway for a reported drowning after the child's mother, Bianca Blaise, then 25, called 911 saying her son was found with his head in the toilet, and at some point, became unconscious. When deputies arrived at the motel room where the family lived, they found the child in the arms of his father, Larry Rhodes Jr., Blaise and five other children ranging in age from 5 years old to 10 months old. Blaise initially told investigators she walked into the bathroom and found the child with his head in the toilet and told her child to go to a corner near the hotel room's front door. Shortly after, she said she heard Rhodes yell and heard three "claps," an arrest report stated. When she left the bathroom, she reportedly found the child lying on the floor with Rhodes standing nearby. However, authorities said the parents became angry with the boy because he was drinking from the toilet and began to beat him. The mother reportedly beat him first, and then the father repeatedly punched him multiple times to the head and stomach area. The sheriff said the boy was rushed to a hospital with a brain bleed and a lacerated liver and died a few days later. The medical examiner confirmed the child died from blunt force trauma. According to court records, Blaise accepted a plea deal in October 2024, pleading guilty to manslaughter and child neglect. She now faces a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared on the Osceola County clerk of courts.
