After being arrested in a massive illegal gambling investigation, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez faces serious felony charges.
Specifically, the Democrat sheriff accepted campaign contributions and personal payments to protect the gambling operation that netted over tens of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis swiftly suspended Lopez and appointed a Florida Highway Patrol official to restore trust to the position.
State authorities arrested Lopez on charges of racketeering and conspiracy related to a gambling operation in central Florida. Both charges are classified as first-degree felonies.
Lopez, who was elected sheriff in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, is now being held without bond at the Lake County jail.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) led the investigation.
It revealed a sophisticated gambling operation that generated over $21.6 million in illicit proceeds.
The network centered around a lottery, slot machines, and a “gambling house” at Fusion Social Club in Kissimmee.
According to court documents, Lopez took campaign contributions and personal payments in exchange for protecting the illegal gambling enterprise.
This corrupt arrangement allowed the operation to flourish across central Florida, particularly in Lake and Osceola counties.
“Today’s arrest underscores HSI’s commitment to holding everyone, including public officials, accountable. No one, regardless of their position, is above the law,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Special Agent John Condon.
“Corruption undermines the integrity of public trust. HSI, along with our partners, is committed to combating it,” he added.
DeSantis took immediate action by suspending Lopez and appointing Florida Highway Patrol official Christopher Blackmon as the interim sheriff.
The decisive move demonstrates the governor’s commitment to maintaining law and order while ensuring public trust in local law enforcement.
This is not Lopez’s first brush with controversy. In December, he pleaded no contest to violating state records laws after posting an image of a deceased 13-year-old girl online.
He was fined for that offense, but the current charges represent a much more serious legal challenge.
“As law enforcement, we are held to higher standards of integrity and character than other professions,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass.
“This case revealed that Lopez violated the trust and integrity expected of him as the duly elected sheriff of Osceola County,” he continued.
The gambling syndicate was uncovered by a 2023 investigation that exposed the extent of the corruption.
Lopez, who has served in the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office since 2003 and has a military background, now faces the prospect of significant prison time if convicted.
Osceola County Manager Don Fisher clarified that the county government was not involved in the investigation due to the sheriff’s separate constitutional status.
“However, the County and our Commission stand ready at the helm to support Interim Sheriff Christopher Blackmon and the courageous men and women of the Osceola Sheriff’s Department, however we can during this period, as appropriate,” Fisher stated.
Lopez’s next court date is scheduled for June 30. It remains unclear if he has secured legal representation.
