Defendant in Sheriff Marcos Lopez's casino case reaches plea deal -

One of seven defendants charged in an alleged multimillion-dollar illegal gambling ring has accepted a plea deal.

The defendant in question, Carol Cote, agreed to plead guilty to racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering charges as part of a deal reached with prosecutors involved in the case involving suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez. Details of the agreement have not yet been made public.

Cote is a Marion County resident who was named as a co-defendant in the racketeering case. She is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 13 in Lake County. In Florida, a racketeering conviction is considered a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. However, a plea deal could have negotiated a more lenient sentence for Côté.

Sheriff Marcos Lopez’s racketeering case continues

The illegal gambling operation allegedly grossed more than $21 million, with Cote among seven people accused of aiding or managing the operation. Authorities say Lopez used the illicit money to fund his election campaign to become sheriff, then continued the ring while serving as sheriff.

Lopez then allegedly used his influence within the community to protect the club from legal scrutiny, as well as secure assets such as leases and cash payments.

He was arrested June 5 and is scheduled to go to trial Oct. 20, also in Lake County. Cote is believed to have acted as the organization’s accountant, making it responsible for managing the group’s financial records. His guilty plea agreement is the first conviction of the seven defendants. Charges against the group as a whole include racketeering, like Côté, as well as various alleged conspiracy charges.

Featured Image: Osceola County Sheriff

Defendant in Sheriff Marcos Lopez’s casino case reaches plea deal appeared first on ReadWrite.

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