Third co-defendant tied to ex-Sheriff Marcos Lopez's illegal gambling scheme released on bond
Ex-Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrest: 3rd co-defendant posts bond
The third co-defendant involved in the alleged illegal gambling operation alongside former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has bonded out of jail after turning himself in late Tuesday night.
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - A third co-defendant accused of racketeering and conspiracy charges related to an alleged illegal gambling operation tied to former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, has been released from jail.
Sheldon Wetherholt, 58, turned himself in early Wednesday at the Lake County Jail and posted bail late Wednesday afternoon.
Full court hearing: Sheldon Wetherholt appears in court
A third suspect, Sheldon Wetherholt, has been arrested on racketeering and conspiracy charges related to an illegal gambling operation tied to former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, officials say. Wetherholt, 58, appeared in court on Wednesday morning. At the hearing, a judge set his bond at $100,000 and ordered him to run over any firearms, as well as be fitted with a GPS monitor.
He appeared before a judge the same day and is being held on a $100,000 bond — $50,000 for each count. Officials noted he has no prior criminal history.
During the hearing, Wetherholt was vocal, stating that he had served in the U.S. Marine Corps for less than a year and currently cares for his adult sons, whom he described as bipolar and schizophrenic.
What's next:
As part of the condition of his release, Wetherholt must forfeit any firearms – which he claimed he doesn't have – and has been fitted for a GPS monitor.
His next court date is scheduled for July 7.
Sheldon Wetherholt (Credit: Lake County Jail)
What happened?
The backstory:
According to a criminal complaint, Lopez and at least four others – Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt and Carol Cote – owned or operated the million-dollar social club in Kissimmee.
Marion County residents Carol Cote and Sharon Fedrick were arrested on Thursday, while officials are still looking for Ying Zhang.
On Friday, both Cote and Fedrick were granted bond pending trial by a Lake County judge. Fedrick's bond was set at $300,000 per count due to prior state and federal convictions, while Cote's bond was set at $100,000 for each count.
Cote was released on bond later in the day. FOX 35 has learned that she has both an 8-year-old child and 2-year-old twins.
Fedrick bonded out Monday night.
Both Cote and Fedrick are scheduled to next appear in court on June 30.
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The Source: This story was written based on information said during the court hearing for Sheldon Wetherholt at the Lake County Jail on June 11, 2025.