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Read Full BioFederal prosecutors closed an investigation of Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno in November, but his accuser, Ken Romano, has since posted videos detailing gifts he gave the Florida sheriff, with funds used for high-stakes gambling sessions.
Romano is a jewelry store owner in Bonita Springs and a former close associate of Marceno. He released videos on a now-closed TikTok account – @truth4usa – showing the sheriff admitting to receiving undeclared expensive gifts and gambling away thousands on slots.
Romano claims much of the money he gave Marceno was used to compensate for his excessive gambling losses. Local public news station WGCU reported one video showing Marceno playing slots at a casino. After losing, he voices his anger, stating, “Piece of f–king shit. That was six thousand.”
The sheriff has not hidden the fact that he gambles. He publicly disclosed earning almost $500,000 from gambling at the Seminole Hard Rock casino over a period of two years.
Romano, however, alleges that he also suffered large losses. According to WGCU, Romano states that he gave undeclared gifts totaling over $250,000 to Marceno throughout their years of friendship.
Marceno Hired Romano for ‘No-Show’ Job
At the same time, Marceno hired his friend in what Romano says was a no-show job. The sheriff allegedly paid him $ 5,700 per month on a consulting contract. Romano says he then paid $1,700 of this to Marceno’s father.
He describes the payments in a recording, stating, “[E]very month I would just give his father the money. I would take cash, I would throw it on top of the medicine cabinet and [Marceno Sr.] would come in and take it. Like, it was secretive, you know?”
A video also shows Marceno’s grandmother admitting to receiving two diamond rings worth more than $40,000 from Romano, also known as Kenny. The one-time friend turned on the sheriff and provided evidence to investigators detailing Marceno’s corruption.
Romano alleges that powerful friends, including Anthony Lomangino, a waste management tycoon and prominent donor to President Donald Trump, helped quash the charges against the sheriff.
Fellow Florida sheriff Marcos Lopez has also been accused of accepting undeclared payments totaling up to $700,000 to cover up an illegal gambling operation. Lopez has not escaped prosecution in his case and is awaiting trial.
Prosecutors Drop Case Against Marceno
In November, prosecutors informed Marceno’s lawyer, Donald Day, that they would not be pressing charges. A letter sent to Day stated, “I am writing to inform you that based on information presently known to the government and the principles of federal prosecution, our office and the FBI have closed this investigation as of November 17, 2025.“
Marceno celebrated the decision, commenting, “The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated and conducted independent investigations. They have found no wrongdoing. It is clear that from the beginning these were politically motivated allegations and completely false.”
His opponents, however, argue that there is no smoke without fire. Michael Hollow, who stood against the sheriff in elections last year, accuses Marceno of laundering money through relatives.
Of the decision from prosecutors to drop the case against his rival, Hollow told The News-Press, “Regardless of what the FBI disclosed today, I know… Ken Romano knows… every witness knows… the level of corruption in Lee County.”
A Facebook group named Lee County Florida Corruption has attracted the public’s attention and gained over 7,500 followers, many of whom are campaigning for further investigation of Marceno.
The sheriff has positioned himself as an ally of Trump and made public his desire to run for Congress. He has the backing of the federal PAC American Heritage. The group championed the sheriff’s suitability for a more senior role, commenting, “Sheriff Carmine Marceno has earned the trust of Southwest Florida,” adding that the Congressional district “deserves a leader who understands our values and knows how to deliver.”
