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A former Florida sheriff has been charged with extortion and conspiracy after investigating illegal gambling operations.
Former Oscola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested Thursday on charges that he brought him hundreds of thousands of dollars in charges and used campaign donations to keep the alleged gambling operation fluent.
“As law enforcement, we have higher standards of integrity and character,” Florida Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said in a statement. “This case shows that Lopez violates his trust and integrity as a formally elected Oscola County Sheriff.”
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Marcos Lopez was in court Friday. (Fox 35)
Fox News Digital has contacted the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Lopez after his arrest and appointed Florida Highway Patrol officer Christopher Blackmon as interim sheriff. Lopez was elected in November 2020.
Lopez pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday, and according to Fox 35, he received a $1 million margin.
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Marcos Lopez was elected in November 2020. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Prosecutors claimed Friday that while operating the illegal business, Lopez acquired as much as $700,000, including slot machines, lottery and a “gambling room,” a business called Kissimmee's Fusion Social Club.
Lopez was still in custody as of Friday afternoon, followed by June 30 in court.
Lopez was still in custody as of Friday afternoon, followed by June 30 in court. (Lack County Jail/Fox 35; Google Maps)
Illegal gambling operations allegedly generated more than $21.6 million over the years.
In addition to Lopez, four more – Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt and Carol Cote – face the same racket and conspiracy charges.
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Osceola County has no connection to the investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
