Two More Plead Guilty in Florida Gambling Case Tied to Suspended Sheriff

Two more co-defendants in the Osceola County gambling and corruption case connected to suspended Sheriff Marcos Lopez have pleaded guilty, marking the latest development in the high-profile probe that has already produced several plea deals.

Fedrick & Wetherholt Plead Guilty

According to multiple local reports, Sharon Fedrick and Sheldon Wetherholt entered plea agreements on October 13 in connection with their roles in the alleged $21 million illegal gambling operation.

Frederick pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors describe her as a manager within the illegal casino operation. The state is recommending a prison sentence of three to five years.

Wetherholt pleaded no-contest on the same charges. Prosecutors say he helped secure sites and acquire leases for the illegal casinos. The state recommends a sentence of 90 days to one year in jail, followed by probation. Both defendants were adjudicated guilty this week.

Carole Cote’s Earlier Plea

Fedrick and Wetherholt’s plea deals follow that of a third co-defendant, Carol Cote. Cote, the alleged bookkeeper of the operation, became the first defendant to plead guilty on October 6.

Her plea agreement includes a cooperation clause requiring her to testify truthfully in any hearings, depositions, or trials without the need for a subpoena. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of 90 to 364 days in county jail, followed by probation, similar to the deal Wetherholt received.

Prosecutors believe Cote’s access to internal financial documents could play a central role in tracing the financial flow behind the illicit enterprise. According to investigators, she kept key records that she was supposed to delete. The records could offer crucial evidence against Lopez.

Allegations Against Sheriff Marcos Lopez

Authorities arrested Lopez in June, and the governor later suspended him, following an investigation that he helped shield and facilitate an illegal gambling enterprise operating across Osceola County.

According to an affidavit released in August, prosecutors accuse Lopez of:

• Protecting gambling businesses from enforcement through his office’s resources.
• Assisting in securing property leases and zoning approvals used for the casinos.
• Collecting cash kickbacks and diverting funds—estimated between $600,000 and $700,000—to support political activities.

Prosecutors allege that Lopez’s alleged involvement began before he became a sheriff in 2020. Then, he pledged to use his future office to protect the business from law enforcement scrutiny.

Once in office, he used his position to protect the enterprise. He also provided insider information, secured leases, collected cash, and channeled funds into his political campaign.

Lopez has pleaded not guilty. His defense team has moved for a change of venue from Lake to Osceola County and sought to sever his trial from that of one remaining co-defendant. A hearing on those motions is scheduled for October 23.

A Building Case

With three defendants now adjudicated guilty—Cote, Fedrick, and Wetherholt—prosecutors are tightening their case against Lopez. Each plea adds a cooperating witness who can testify about the operation’s inner workings.

Lopez remains suspended pending trial. If convicted, he could face significant prison time and a permanent removal from office. It will also mark one of the most high-profile law enforcement corruption cases in Florida in recent years.