{"id":2443808,"date":"2025-06-06T09:57:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T13:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-sheriff-charged-in-public-corruption-illegal-gambling-scheme-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-06-06T10:00:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T14:00:13","slug":"florida-sheriff-charged-in-public-corruption-illegal-gambling-scheme-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-sheriff-charged-in-public-corruption-illegal-gambling-scheme-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida sheriff charged in public corruption, illegal gambling scheme &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fflorida-sheriff-charged-in-public-corruption-illegal-gambling-scheme-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2443808&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has been charged in a public corruption investigation tied to an illegal gambling operation in Central Florida. The charges, brought by Attorney General James Uthmeier&#8217;s Office of Statewide Prosecution, accuse Lopez of initially engaging with the gambling enterprise to secure campaign contributions and personal payments before expanding his role to protect the operation from law enforcement. Over a two-year investigation, authorities uncovered a $21.<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >6 million illegal gambling operation primarily<\/a> in Lake and Osceola counties. Following his election in November 2020, Lopez allegedly continued to support the criminal association, receiving unlawful compensation in violation of state law while obstructing related criminal investigations. He faces charges of racketeering and conspiracy, alongside others involved in the operation. The Attorney General emphasized the need for accountability in public office, indicating that no one is above the law.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Florida sheriff charged in public corruption, illegal gambling scheme<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2141333\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Florida<\/a> sheriff has been charged in a public-corruption related investigation that involved an illegal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gambling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">gambling<\/a> operation.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General James Uthmeier&rsquo;s Office of Statewide Prosecution charged Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez and others in a massive Central Florida gambling operation on Thursday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3433576\/california-governor-golden-state-literacy-plan\/\">California governor reveals Golden State Literacy Plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3433527\/georgia-derrick-jackson-gubernatorial-bid\/\">Georgia lawmaker Derrick Jackson becomes fourth Democrat to announce gubernatorial bid<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3433138\/economy-jobs-may-key-facts-and-figures\/\">Economy added 139,000 jobs in May: The key facts and figures<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The charges allege that Lopez initially got involved in the gambling operation to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-live-charges-announced-against-new-york-city-mayor-eric-adams-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"WATCH LIVE: ... announced against New York City Mayor Eric Adams - Washington Examiner\">receive campaign contributions<\/a> and personal payments, but later &ldquo;played a multifaceted role in expanding and protecting this illegal enterprise, using his office to shield the enterprise from law enforcement.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a solemn day for Florida and our law enforcement community. We put great trust in our constitutional officers, especially those who are our communities&rsquo; first line of defense,&rdquo; Uthmeier said. &ldquo;However, the law must be applied equally, regardless of position, power, or branch of government. Public servants should never exploit the public&rsquo;s trust for personal gain.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The AG&rsquo;s OSP prosecutes crimes that impact two or more judicial circuits in the state and works with state and federal counterparts. Prosecutors in the office focus on complex, often large scale, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-a-slap-in-the-face-democrat-texas-mayor-rips-biden-on-immigration-crisis\/\" title=\"\u2018It\u2019s A Slap In The Face\u2019: Democrat Texas Mayor Rips Biden On Immigration Crisis\">organized criminal activity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As law enforcement, we are held to higher standards of integrity and character than other professions. This case revealed that Lopez violated the trust and integrity expected of him as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/l-a-county-board-moves-to-give-itself-power-to-oust-sheriff-from-office\/\" title=\"L.A. County Board Moves To Give Itself Power To Oust Sheriff From ...\">duly elected sheriff<\/a> of Osceola County,&rdquo; Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said. &ldquo;Florida&rsquo;s sheriffs are leaders for not only their office and deputies, but for their community and the citizens that elected them.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The charges were brought after a two-year investigation.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, Homeland Security Investigations and the FDLE launched a multi-agency investigation, which uncovered a criminal organization operating a $21.6 million illegal gambling enterprise throughout central Florida, primarily in Lake and Osceola counties.<\/p>\n<p>After Lopez was elected in November 2020, he continued to advance the interests of the criminal organization and receive money from the illegal gambling proceeds for his involvement, according to the charges.<\/p>\n<p>Lopez was charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.<\/p>\n<p>His arrest &ldquo;underscores HSI&rsquo;s commitment to holding everyone, including public officials, accountable. No one, regardless of their position, is above the law,&rdquo; HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon said. &ldquo;Corruption undermines the integrity of public trust, HSI along with our partners are committed to combatting it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Other individuals listed in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.myfloridalegal.com\/sites\/default\/files\/information.2024-0407-tpa.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">charges<\/a>&nbsp;include Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt, Carol Cote, charged with unlawful use of a two-communication device; and Zhang on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinese-national-sentenced-for-aiding-drug-traffickers\/\" title=\"Chinese National Sentenced for Aiding Drug Traffickers\">money laundering charges<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The charges allege that Zhang, Lopez and Wetherhold operated and managed Fusion Social Club in Kissimmee, which conducted a lottery for money in violation of the law, and unlawfully possessed slot machines.<\/p>\n<p>Other crimes listed include Zhang, Lopez and Wetherholt keeping gambling houses; Wetherholt, Fedrick and Cote, agents or employees of gambling houses.<\/p>\n<p>From Jan. 5 through Dec. 31, 2021, the charges state that Lopez, while being a public servant, received unlawful compensation in violation of state law and intentionally obstructed or prevented a criminal investigation related to the enterprise.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/3432110\/santo-ono-flunked-floridas-political-litmus-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">SANTO ONO FLUNKED FLORIDA&rsquo;S POLITICAL LITMUS TEST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lopez, Zhang, Fedrick, Wetherholt and Cote were all charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering.<\/p>\n<p>The case is being prosecuted in Florida&rsquo;s Fifth Judicial Circuit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2141333\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2141333\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida sheriff charged in corruption, illegal gambling scheme<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2443809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP22234648476399-768x1024.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5113,56670,4133,46278,5936],"class_list":["post-2443808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-florida","tag-illegal-gambling","tag-news","tag-public-corruption","tag-sheriff"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP22234648476399-768x1024.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2443808"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2443812,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443808\/revisions\/2443812"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2443809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2443808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2443808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2443808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}