TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez made his first court appearance Friday following his arrest on racketeering charges.
A judge granted Lopez a $1 million bond with conditions that he wear a GPS monitor and surrender his passport and firearms.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ousted Lopez from his post on Thursday after investigators uncovered his connection to an illegal gambling operation dating back to 2019, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Lopez was accused of using money from the operation to fund his campaign and make personal payments. A news release from Uthmeier's office said that after Lopez's 2020 election, he continued to receive money and used his position as sheriff to shield the operation from law enforcement scrutiny.
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