(The Center Square) – A Florida sheriff has been charged in a public-corruption related investigation that involved an illegal gambling operation.

Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution charged Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez and others in a massive Central Florida gambling operation on Thursday.

The charges allege that Lopez initially got involved in the gambling operation to receive campaign contributions and personal payments, but later “played a multifaceted role in expanding and protecting this illegal enterprise, using his office to shield the enterprise from law enforcement.”

“This is a solemn day for Florida and our law enforcement community. We put great trust in our constitutional officers, especially those who are our communities’ first line of defense,” Uthmeier said. “However, the law must be applied equally, regardless of position, power, or branch of government. Public servants should never exploit the public’s trust for personal gain.”

The AG’s OSP prosecutes crimes that impact two or more judicial circuits in the state and works with state and federal counterparts. Prosecutors in the office focus on complex, often large scale, organized criminal activity.

“As law enforcement, we are held to higher standards of integrity and character than other professions. This case revealed that Lopez violated the trust and integrity expected of him as the duly elected sheriff of Osceola County,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said. “Florida’s sheriffs are leaders for not only their office and deputies, but for their community and the citizens that elected them.”

The charges were brought after a two-year investigation.

In 2023, Homeland Security Investigations and the FDLE launched a multi-agency investigation, which uncovered a criminal organization operating a $21.6 million illegal gambling enterprise throughout central Florida, primarily in Lake and Osceola counties.

After Lopez was elected in November 2020, he continued to advance the interests of the criminal organization and receive money from the illegal gambling proceeds for his involvement, according to the charges.

Lopez was charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.

His arrest “underscores HSI’s commitment to holding everyone, including public officials, accountable. No one, regardless of their position, is above the law,” HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon said. “Corruption undermines the integrity of public trust, HSI along with our partners are committed to combatting it.”

Other individuals listed in the charges include Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt, Carol Cote, charged with unlawful use of a two-communication device; and Zhang on money laundering charges.

The charges allege that Zhang, Lopez and Wetherhold operated and managed Fusion Social Club in Kissimmee, which conducted a lottery for money in violation of the law, and unlawfully possessed slot machines.

Other crimes listed include Zhang, Lopez and Wetherholt keeping gambling houses; Wetherholt, Fedrick and Cote, agents or employees of gambling houses.

From Jan. 5 through Dec. 31, 2021, the charges state that Lopez, while being a public servant, received unlawful compensation in violation of state law and intentionally obstructed or prevented a criminal investigation related to the enterprise.

Lopez, Zhang, Fedrick, Wetherholt and Cote were all charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering.

The case is being prosecuted in Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit.

(The Center Square) – Two Republicans are now in the race for Georgia attorney general.

Attorney General Chris Carr is not seeking reelection, instead announcing last year he is running for governor.

State Sens. Bill Cowsert and Brian Strickland are running to succeed Carr. The two will face off in the 2026 Republican primary.

Strickland is the latest to throw his hat in the ring. He has chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and served as floor leader for Govs. Brian Kemp and Nathan Deal.

Strickland’s announcement did not mention his Republican opponent, but said Democrats have “thrown everything at him” from attack ads to redistricting maps.

“Democrats couldn’t beat me at the ballot box, so they tried to sue me out of my seat. They lost there, too,” Strickland said. “Now they’re trying to erase everything that makes Georgia strong – our heartbeat law, our gun rights, our election integrity, our right to protect girls’ sports. As attorney general, I won’t let it happen.”

Cowsert chairs the Senate Special Investigative Committee on Investigations, which began looking into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office indictment of President Donald Trump and others. The committee has since expanded to include an investigation into the New Georgia Project and Power Forward Communities founded by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

“DA Fani Willis, NY AG Letitia James, and other partisan prosecutors have undermined public confidence in the fairness of our criminal justice system,” Cowsert said in his announcement on his campaign website. “Their abuse of power is a threat to the rule of law, and it’s time to put an end to the weaponization of our justice system. I will vigorously prosecute corruption of any kind by any politician in either party. As Georgia’s Attorney General, I will enforce the law without fear or favor. That is the leadership I will provide.”

No Democrat has announced they will seek the seat. 

A date for the primary has not been set.

(The Center Square) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Chattanooga has changed since he began visiting as a 10-year-old and more change is coming thanks in part to a $15 million investment from the state.

The governor was joined by city and state leaders at a ceremony touting the project which will include a new signature playground, food and beverage options, a pier cafe and lawn spaces for events to the city’s Riverfront Park.

“There will be economic activity simply because of the investment in this park that will transform the riverfront of Chattanooga,” Lee told reporters after the ceremony. “When there’s economic activity, the tax base is increased, the services to the community are increased and frankly, Chattanoogans benefit whenever there is economic activity. So this is an investment in the people of Chattanooga, the people of this community and the surrounding counties, this is an investment in their future and we think it is money well-spent.”

Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, who served in the U.S. Senate from 2007-19, said the riverfront was nothing but a “craggly walkway down to nothing” and parking lots with litter blowing across them when the Tennessee Aquarium was built in 1992.

The conversion of Riverfront Parkway to a pedestrian-friendly roadway paved the way for more development downtown, including the expansion of the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum, and the Creative Discovery Museum.

Chattanooga was named the first National Park City in North America and only third in the world. The designation is not tied to the U.S. National Park Service but is a recognition from the National Park City Foundation.

Lee told the large crowd gathered he has noticed the changes over the years.

“This is a remarkable city,” Lee said. “It’s been wonderful for me from a kid to a governor to watch the transformation of Chattanooga to be a city that people from all across America know about and are understanding in greater ways than ever before. This is a really cool place to be.”

The projected cost is $54 million. River City Company, the nonprofit known as the “economic development engine” of the city that works with government and the private sector, said a capital campaign seeking private partners will begin in the near future.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2026.