A recording leaked by an election challenger accuses Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno of misusing county funds to finance a Mercedes for his father, among other things.
Michael Hollow, Marceno’s challenger in the upcoming election, told the News-Press he recorded a call between him and Lee County honorary deputy Ken Romano. According to Hollow, Romano was aware the call was recorded with the intent to turn it over to authorities.
In the call, Marceno is accused of a money laundering scheme that allegedly netted him high-value items, including the car for his father.
Hollow said he met with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office in May. The FBI would not confirm or deny whether it was investigating the matter initially reported by the Florida Trident .
Here’s what to know:
Marceno accused of diverting money from honorary deputy’s pay to fund father’s Mercedes
Marceno reportedly appointed Ken Romano, a Fort Myers jeweler, as an honorary deputy and hired him as a department consultant. Romano was paid $4,000 a month, for no work, beginning in January 2022.