OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, accused of being part of a criminal gambling operation, remains jailed after being arrested last week.
Lopez was arrested on two first-degree felonies: racketeering and conspiracy to commit 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.
A judge on Friday set his bond at $1 million, but Lopez can’t pay it without proving the money does not come from criminal activity.
It’s alleged that Lopez received about $700,000 in cash payments since 2020.
And several other people are involved.
[WATCH: Video shows arrest of Marcos Lopez by federal agents]
The crimes allegedly occurred from August 2019 to at least August 2024, according to court documents.
According to a 255-page affidavit filed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Lopez received more than $700,000 in cash payments since 2020.
On Monday afternoon, News 6 got an email from Lake County Court Clerk Gary Cooney, saying they are not able to release a 255-page affidavit filed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement until after all of the defendants are arrested.
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.
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.
[VIDEO BELOW: Judge issues $1M bond in Lopez case]
Four other people were also arrested.
The co-defendants are Carol Cote, Ying Zhang aka “Kate,” Sharon Fedrick, and Sheldon Wetherholt.
Cote is already out on $100,000 bond, but Fedrick was later released on bond on Monday evening.
Mary Ibrahim is the criminal defense attorney representing Lopez. News 6 left several messages for her, but have not yet heard back.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Christopher A. Blackmon to replace Lopez while he’s suspended.
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.
[Learn more about Lopez’s co-defendants below]