TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez made his first courtroom look Friday following his arrest on racketeering expenses.
A choose granted Lopez a $1 million bond with situations that he put on a GPS monitor and give up his passport and firearms.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ousted Lopez from his post on Thursday after investigators uncovered his connection to an unlawful playing operation relationship again to 2019, in response to Florida Lawyer Normal James Uthmeier.
Lopez was accused of utilizing cash from the operation to fund his marketing campaign and make private funds. A information launch from Uthmeier’s workplace stated that after Lopez’s 2020 election, he continued to obtain cash and used his place as sheriff to defend the operation from legislation enforcement scrutiny.
A number of companies, together with Homeland Safety Investigations and the Florida Division of Regulation Enforcement, uncovered the playing operation, largely primarily based in Lake and Osceola counties, in 2023. The group racked up over $21.6 million in unlawful earnings, in response to Uthmeier.
Extra arrests are anticipated to be made in connection to the case. Lopez is due again in courtroom on June 30.
