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Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez Arrested on Racketeering Charges
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, 56, was arrested Thursday on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. The charges stem from an investigation into a large-scale illegal gambling operation spanning Lake and Osceola counties. The operation allegedly generated over $21.6 million in illicit profits.
Lopez, elected in 2020, is accused of accepting campaign contributions and personal payments from the gambling ring. Prosecutors allege he leveraged his position to protect and expand the operation, shielding it from law enforcement scrutiny.
The charges include money laundering, operating an illegal gambling house, and unlawful possession of slot machines. Lopez is also accused of accepting bribes and using confidential information to obstruct the investigation.
During Lopez’s first court appearance on Friday, prosecutor Panagiota Papakos described the allegations as an “extreme breach of public trust.” Text messages presented in court allegedly show Lopez’s involvement in the operation dating back to 2019.
The messages purportedly reveal Lopez discussing new locations for the gambling operation and sharing images of slot machines. Papakos stated Lopez received between $600,000 and $700,000 in cash payments from the illegal enterprise since 2020.
Judge Emily Curington set Lopez’s bond at $1 million with conditions including GPS monitoring and surrender of his passport. The judge also requested verification of the bond’s funding source to ensure it did not originate from illegal proceeds. Lopez remains in custody.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended Lopez from his position as sheriff. Christopher Blackmon, Central Region chief for the Florida Highway Patrol, has been appointed as interim sheriff. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges may be forthcoming.