A sheriff in Florida, who received backlash last year for unintentionally sharing a crime scene photo of a deceased teen on Instagram, has been arrested and charged related to a vast illegal gambling enterprise.
Prosecutors allege that Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez had a “multifaceted role” in enhancing and safeguarding the operation, which they claim produced over $21 million and entailed extensive public corruption.
Charges of Racketeering
Lopez, elected sheriff in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, is confronted with one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering following his arrest on June 5. On Friday, a judge in Osceola County established Lopez's bond at $1 million.
The illicit gambling operation was revealed during a 2023 joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The plan functioned mainly in Osceola and Lake counties and focused on a business in Kissimmee named Fusion Social Club — also known as Eclipse Social Club — which reportedly conducted an unlawful lottery and contained slot machines.
Prosecutors stated that the operation started in 2019 and persisted until at least early 2024. Starting in mid-2022, Lopez and four associates are said to have overseen the club and gained from its operations.
The office of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier reported that the investigation is still ongoing, and more charges may be forthcoming. Lopez is alleged to have first engaged in the criminal operation for personal benefit, such as monetary rewards and campaign donations, before leveraging his position to protect the organization from investigation.
Additionally, four others — Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt, and Carol Cote — faced charges of racketeering and conspiracy. Fedrick and Cote were admitted to the Lake County Jail on June 5 and are currently detained without bail.
Lopez has been removed from office due to an executive order issued by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). The governor has designated Christopher Blackmon, the chief of the central region for the Florida Highway Patrol, as interim sheriff.
Breach of Confidence
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass stated in a release that Lopez had violated the trust given to him as an elected law enforcement official.
Lopez, a Navy veteran and the first Hispanic sheriff of Osceola County, gained international attention last year after he accidentally shared a photo of 13-year-old Madeline Soto’s body on Instagram, captioned “Great day with our seniors. #florida #senior @sheriffmarcoslopez.”
Soto vanished in February 2024. Her mother's partner, Stephan Sterns, was subsequently accused of her murder. He is set to stand trial in September.
