ORLANDO, Fla. – Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez faced a judge Friday morning after being arrested on a charge of racketeering.
Lopez is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal cash payments as part of what prosecutors are calling an organized criminal enterprise. He is charged with two first-degree felonies: racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
[VIDEO BELOW: Lopez remains jailed as of Monday morning]
Lake County Judge Emily Curington set Lopez’s bond at $1 million, $500,000 for each charge. If released, Lopez must surrender his passport, turn over all firearms to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and wear a GPS monitor within 72 hours.
[Who is Carol Cote, one of Lopez’s co-defendants? Watch the video below.]
According to a 255-page affidavit filed by FDLE, Lopez received more than $700,000 in cash payments since 2020. The document, not yet available through the clerk of court due to the case’s sealed status, includes alleged WhatsApp messages, screenshots, and texts that prosecutors say show Lopez coordinating with co-defendants and leveraging his power, even before taking office, to support illegal operations.
Prosecutors described the allegations as “an extreme breach of public trust,” accusing Lopez of misusing his elected office to obstruct criminal investigations and facilitate ongoing illegal activity.
The state has also filed a motion to investigate the source of any funds Lopez may use to post bond. The court granted that request, requiring Lopez to prove none of the money comes from criminal activity.
Lopez’s next court date is June 30.
The charges could lead to up to 30 years in prison. The Florida Office of Statewide Prosecution is handling the case, not the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office.
Four other people were also arrested.
The co-defendants are Carol Cote, Ying Zhang aka “Kate,” Sharon Fedrick, and Sheldon Wetherholt. Two co-defendants also appeared before a judge Friday.
Carol Cote was granted bond at $100,000—$50,000 for each charge.
Sharon Fedrick, whom prosecutors described as having an extensive criminal history, was given a $300,000 bond.
[Watch the initial report of Lopez’s suspension in the video below.]
All three defendants are scheduled to return to court on June 30.
In accordance with state law, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Lopez and appointed Christopher A. Blackmon to take Lopez’s place amid the investigation.
Blackmon is the Central Florida regional chief for the Florida Highway Patrol, overseeing troopers in 13 counties across the Orlando and Tampa areas, from Volusia County to Pinellas County.