Marcos Lopez: Suspended Osceola County sheriff bonds out of jail amid racketeering case
FULL: Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez released
Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was released from jail on Thursday after posting $1M bond. He was arrested on two charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and racketeering related to an alleged illegal gambling operation in Osceola County.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was escorted out of the Lake County Jail on Thursday evening after posting bond amid an alleged federal racketeering case. Lopez stayed silent as he walked out of jail –- and was quickly escorted to a waiting truck. He did not answer reporters' questions.
He's been charged with two federal counts of conspiracy to commit racketeering and racketeering connected to an alleged multi-million-dollar illegal gambling house that operated for years in Osceola County. Lopez has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Three co-defendants face the same charges as Lopez. His estranged wife, Robin Severence-Lopez, was also arrested on a charge of conspiracy to invest proceeds from racketeering. As of Friday afternoon, she remained in the Lake County Jail.
VIDEO: Lopez silent as he's escorted out of jail
What we know:
In 30 seconds, Marcos Lopez walked out of the Lake County Jail and was quickly escorted to a waiting truck. Fifteen seconds later – 45 seconds after walking out of jail – the truck quickly drove off the property and away.
Lopez was arrested on June 5 – three weeks ago – on alleged racketeering charges. He was granted a $1 million bond, $500,000 for each charge. Prosecutors, however, wanted to ensure that the funds used towards his bond were legitimate and not connected to any alleged illegal operations. He had to prove the sourcing of the funds to the court before being released from jail.
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What are the allegations against Marcos Lopez?
The backstory:
Suspended Sheriff Marcos Lopez is accused of running a massive illegal gambling house in Central Florida, according to prosecutors. He's also accused of using his former position as Osceola County Sheriff to turn a blind eye to the alleged business, and accused of allegedly trying to thwart the ongoing investigation into the business, officials said.
Investigators said the gambling house was home to illegal slot machines and lottery games. It is believed to have generated $21.6 million in profit over the years. Prosecutors allege that Lopez benefited from the operation, earning between $600,000 and $700,000.
Marcos Lopez arrest: Latest updates on the investigation
Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Lopez attended a bond hearing on Friday morning. A judge ordered he be held on a $1 million bond -- $500,000 for each charge. If he posts bond, he will have to be fitted with a GPS monitor, turn in his passport, and surrender any firearms. Lopez and others are accused of running an illegal gambling operation. A state prosecutor alleged at the hearing that Lopez received $600,ooo to $700,000 from the operation over the years. The entire enterprise brought in more than $21 million, according to the complaint.
Following Lopez's election as Osceola County Sheriff in November 2020, investigators say he continued to advance the interests of the criminal organization and collected a portion of the illegal gambling proceeds for his involvement.
Who's who in the investigation?
Dig deeper:
Sheldon Wetherholt | Carol Cote | Marcos Lopez | Robin Lopez | Sharon Fedrick
Marcos Lopez and three others are accused of operating and managing the alleged illegal business. Lopez's estranged wife is accused of helping move alleged money between some of the co-defendants and Marcos.
- Marcos Lopez: Allegedly benefited from the business; failed to report the illegal operation while Sheriff; and allegedly tried to thwart the federal government's investigation. | Arrested and bonded out
- Robin Lopez: Allegedly helped transfer money from the co-conspirators to Marcos Lopez. | Currently in jail
- Carol Cote: Alleged accountant for Eclipse Social Club. | Arrested and bonded out
- Sharon Fedrick: Allegedly managed bills and bank accounts for three clubs owned by Krishna DeoKaran, and hand-delivered profits from slot machines to DeoKaran. | Arrested and bonded out
- Sheldon Wetherholt: Allegedly went into business with DeoKaran, creating the LLCs for the clubs to open. | Arrested and bonded out
Who is Marcos Lopez?
Local perspective:
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested on Thursday, June 5, 2025, on charges related to racketeering, according to officials.
Marcos Lopez was born in Chicago and raised in Central Florida, according to his official bio.
After obtaining an associate degree in criminal justice, Lopez joined the Osceola County Sheriff's Office in 2003 while serving in the Navy Reserve. He was elected sheriff in 2020, becoming the first Hispanic sheriff in the county, according to his official bio. He was reelected as sheriff in 2024.
He has three children, two of whom are University of Central Florida graduates, his bio stated.
Who is Robin Lynn Severance Lopez?
Dig deeper:
Wife of suspended Osceola County sheriff remains in jail
Robin Severance-Lopez, a former Osceola County deputy – and the estranged wife of suspended Sheriff Marcos Lopez – has been arrested, accused of helping move money related to an illegal gambling operation that her husband and four others were allegedly involved with.
Robin Severance-Lopez and Marcos Lopez were married in 2007 in St. Cloud, Florida. Robin filed for divorce in September 2024, though the case appears to still be working its way through the court system, according to online court records.
HSI Tampa described Robin Lopez as the "estranged" wife of Marcos Lopez.
On Friday, online records showed that Robin Lopez had also satisfied the court's requirements for bond. She was issued a $400,000 bond, but also had to prove where the sourcing of the funds.
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The Source: This story was written based on information gathered from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office website and shared by the Federal Department of Justice (FDOJ), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Lake County Jail records.