First Guilty Plea in Florida Sheriff Gambling Case as Co-Defendant Agrees to Testify

A new development has unfolded in the racketeering case against suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez as one of his co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to testify for prosecutors.

Co-Defendant Turns Witness

On October 6, Carol Cote pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. The plea agreement, accepted by Judge Brian Welke, requires Cote to “provide truthful testimony at any hearing, deposition, or trial without the necessity of a subpoena, as it relates to her conduct in this manner.”

Additionally, as part of the deal, prosecutors agreed to request a jail sentence of between 90 and 364 days in the Lake County Jail. After that, Cote will be on probation, the length of which will be determined by the judge. She has also agreed to pay associated costs determined by the judge, including just over $5,350 in court costs.

The judge did not sentence Cote. Instead, he scheduled that for October 13. That suggests prosecutors want to receive her cooperation before the final judgment.

Cote’s Role in the Alleged Scheme

According to court documents, Cote was an employee of Fusion Social Club, LLC, doing business as Eclipse Social Club in Kissimmee. She acted as the bookkeeper of the illegal gambling operations.

She maintained spreadsheets and financial records. When authorities raided the Eclipse Social Club, co-conspirator and alleged ringleader Krishna Deokaran instructed her to delete incriminating files.

However, she preserved six years’ worth of records, which she turned over to investigators via Google Drive. This evidence could play a prominent role in the state’s case.

Deokaran hasn’t been arrested but has sat for proffer interviews, allegedly tying Lopez to the enterprise.

Implications for Lopez

Cote’s plea is the first conviction in the case. It also provides prosecutors with an insider witness, which could increase pressure on other defendants, such as Lopez’s estranged wife, Robin Severance-Lopez, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt, and Ying Zhang.

The charges against the suspended sheriff allege that he used his position to protect the illegal $21 million enterprise. He also provided insider information, secured leases, collected cash, and channeled funds into his political campaign.

He allegedly received between $600,000 and $700,000 for his role. Lopez is due to stand trial on October 20.

A Wider Crackdown in Florida

The Lopez case is one of the highest-profile cases in a wave of enforcement actions targeting illegal gambling operations in Florida. Just weeks ago, authorities announced the shutdown of a $24 million illegal gambling operation in Sumter County. Prosecutors allege the IL Villagio Senior Entertainment Center in Lady Lake targeted vulnerable seniors.

Florida law enforcement has also raided numerous illegal parlors disguised as arcades. In one of the latest cases in Fort Myers, regulators and sheriff’s deputies seized 109 machines and nearly $95,000 in cash.

In August, a Cape Coral bust uncovered more than 400 devices and $500K in cash. Earlier that month, in Port Richey, authorities confiscated nearly $200,000 in cash and 249 devices.

Together, these cases illustrate the scale of illegal gambling activity that state regulators and law enforcement are now moving aggressively to dismantle.

What’s Next in the Lopez Case

Attention shifts to key dates in the high-profile case. Cote’s sentencing is scheduled for October 13, while Lopez’s trial is set to open a week later.

Cote’s testimony and the evidence she turned in could help prosecutors in their case against the suspended sheriff. Her plea can also help prosecutors strike similar deals with other defendants.