Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez and others are facing charges in connection with an alleged massive gambling operation in central Florida, Attorney General James Uthmeier's office said Thursday.
Lopez was booked into the Lake County Jail on Thursday morning, according to inmate records. He has been charged with one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering, officials said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Thursday suspending Lopez from his position, appointing Christopher Blackmon in the interim.
The statement said the sheriff was allegedly involved in the operation for personal payouts and campaign contributions, using his position and office to protect the illegal enterprise from law enforcement. Lopez was elected sheriff in November 2020 and re-elected in 2024.
"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 duly elected sheriff of Osceola County," Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Mark Glass said in a statement.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The alleged criminal organization was uncovered after a 2023 joint investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations and supported by the FDLE. The investigation revealed an alleged operation that generated more than $21.6 million, officials said. The gambling ring allegedly operated throughout central Florida, particularly in Lake and Osceola counties.
Osceola County had no role in the investigation, as the sheriff is a separate constitutional officer and apart from the county or the County Commission, Manager Don Fisher said in a statement.
"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 said.
Lopez was born in Chicago and raised in central Florida, according to his biography on the sheriff's office website. The father of three spent 22 years in the military before beginning his career at the Osceola County Sheriff's Office in 2003 while in the Navy Reserve.
He received several accolades during his years of public service and implemented many initiatives at the sheriff’s office, including launching the first all-female police academy in central Florida, Women on Watch.
It is not clear if Lopez has an attorney. According to jail inmate records, his next court date is June 30.
"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’ first line of defense," Uthmeier said.
