Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested Thursday on first-degree felony charges of racketeering and conspiracy, according to Florida authorities. Court documents reveal Lopez is accused of accepting campaign donations and personal payments while protecting a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling operation.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated that the illicit enterprise generated over $21.6 million in proceeds. In response to the arrest, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order suspending Lopez and appointing a Florida Highway Patrol official as interim sheriff.
Lopez was booked into Lake County Jail without bond.
“Today’s arrest underscores HSI’s commitment to holding everyone, including public officials, accountable,” said John Condon, Homeland Security Investigations’ Tampa Special Agent. “Corruption undermines the integrity of public trust.”
The case adds another high-profile corruption scandal to Florida’s political landscape, drawing scrutiny just as state leaders navigate broader legal and budgetary disputes.
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