Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez Arrested in Major Illegal Gambling and Corruption Case

In a stunning development shaking Central Florida’s law enforcement community, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez was arrested Thursday morning on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. The arrest follows a multi-agency investigation into a sprawling illegal gambling operation that allegedly generated over $21.6 million in illicit proceeds across Lake and Osceola counties.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the charges, stating that Sheriff Lopez used his elected position to shield and expand the criminal enterprise in exchange for personal payments and campaign contributions. “Public servants should never exploit the public’s trust for personal gain,” Uthmeier emphasized. “The law must be applied equally, regardless of position, power, or branch of government” .

The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), revealed that Sheriff Lopez played a central role in protecting the illegal gambling network from law enforcement scrutiny. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass remarked, “This case revealed that Lopez violated the trust and integrity expected of him as the duly elected sheriff of Osceola County” .

Following the arrest, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended Lopez from his duties and appointed Christopher A. Blackmon, a 35-year law enforcement veteran and Central Region Chief for the Florida Highway Patrol, as interim sheriff.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities indicating that additional arrests and charges may follow. This case underscores the commitment of Florida’s law enforcement agencies to uphold integrity and accountability within their ranks.

Suspended Felon Commissioner Regina Hill Still Breaking the Law

Headline: Suspended Felon Commissioner Regina Hill Still Breaking the Law

By Orlando Politics Observer Staff

Why does Regina Hill continue to break the law?

Despite being indicted on multiple felony charges — including elderly exploitation and mortgage fraud — suspended Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill appears to be at it again, this time violating Florida election law.

On June 24, 2024, a special election was held in Orlando’s District 5 due to Hill’s criminal indictment. Voters elected Shan Rose as their new Commissioner. Rose, now the duly elected and serving incumbent, is currently running for re-election — and she has every legal right to say so. U

But in a troubling twist, campaign literature and videos connected to Hill have surfaced using the phrase: “Re-Elect Regina Hill .” While the endorsement may appear harmless at first glance, it’s a direct violation of Florida election law if Hill is behind it — and there’s reason to believe she is.

According to Florida Statute 106.143(6):

“No political advertisement of a candidate who is not an incumbent of the office for which the candidate is running shall use the word re-elect.”

The statute is clear. The term re-elect is legally reserved for current officeholders running to keep their seat. Regina Hill though a Suspended City Commisioner,  is not an incumbent in the current race — and the use of “re-elect” on any materials associated with him violates Florida law.

The use of this language, especially by a figure already removed from office for unethical and possibly criminal conduct, raises serious questions. Why is Regina Hill, who has already brought disgrace to her office, continuing to disregard the law and mislead voters?

It’s worth remembering: Hill was suspended not over politics, but over facts and evidence. The charges against her are not minor — they involve exploitation of an elderly woman and improper use of that woman’s finances, allegedly for Hill’s personal benefit.

Now, while under indictment, Hill appears to be back in the political shadows — this time using campaign materials to mislead the public and improperly insert herself back into District 5 politics.

With voters already having spoken clearly in electing Shan Rose, the community must remain vigilant against further attempts to manipulate or violate the democratic process.

For more updates on Orlando elections, visit Orlando Politics Observer.

Why’s Is the Focus on Sandra Lewis and Judge Andrew Bain—When Regina Hill Is Under Indictment?

By Orlando Political Observer

In recent weeks, headlines and political whispers have zeroed in on judicial candidate Judge Andrew Bain and Sandra Lewis.  But as their names trend in conversations and courtrooms alike, a deeper question remains: Why is the focus shifting to a political campaign when Regina Hill, an elected city commissioner, is under felony indictment for exploiting an elderly woman? Sandra Lewis

The case against Regina Hill is anything but speculative. According to public records, Hill is accused of illegally gaining access to the finances of an elderly constituent, Ms. Curtis, and subsequently using those funds for personal purchases and lifestyle expenses.

This isn’t just hearsay or a political smear — the case contains electronic receipts and documentation that allegedly show Hill becoming Ms. Curtis’ fiscal agent without legitimate justification, followed by a trail of self-enriching transactions. These include the alleged purchase of clothing, rent payments, and other personal expenses — none of which benefited the woman she was legally entrusted to help.

What’s perhaps more alarming is who is (and isn’t) prosecuting the case. The Orange County State Attorney’s Office has stepped aside, and the case is now in the hands of the Florida Office of Statewide Prosecution — an extraordinary move that suggests the state is treating this case with a higher degree of seriousness than your average local corruption scandal.

And yet, despite the mounting evidence, public attention is being deflected toward Judge Bain’s re-election and attorney Sandra Lewis’ judicial ambitions — as if a heated campaign can serve as a distraction from a very real and pressing abuse-of-power case.

Critics are asking: Why is a high-powered attorney focusing fire on a political race instead of addressing the substantive legal charges facing an elected official? Are these distractions intended to sway public focus ahead of deeper legal developments in Hill’s case?

While elections matter — and judicial candidates should be vetted — they should not become a smokescreen for more urgent issues, especially when those issues involve elder abuse, fiduciary misconduct, and the public’s trust in elected leaders.

The people of Orlando deserve transparency — not political sleight of hand. The indictment against Regina Hill is not about politics. It’s about justice for a vulnerable resident and accountability for those who serve in public office.

Stay tuned. We’ll be watching — and reporting.

— Orlando Political Observer

www.orlando-politics.com

SEIU Florida Public Services Union Endorses Shan Rose for Orlando City Council District 5

ENDORSEMENT ALERT 🚨

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Orlando, FL – Shan Rose, candidate for Orlando City Council District 5, is proud to announce the endorsement of SEIU Florida Public Services Union, representing thousands of public service professionals across the state.

“I am truly humbled and honored to receive the endorsement of SEIU Florida Public Services Union,” said Rose. “These are the professionals who keep our City Beautiful running each and every day. Their trust means everything, and I look forward to continuing to be a champion for the issues that impact their work, their families, and our community.”

With a strong record of advocating for workers’ rights, city improvements, and community equity, Shan Rose has proven her commitment to the people who make Orlando thrive. This endorsement is another sign of growing support from organizations and residents who believe in her leadership.

Let’s keep the momentum going. #D5 #TheRealWorkBegins #Community #StickToTheAssignment #KeepShanRoseWorkingForYou

Mayra Uribe To Run For Mayor Of Orange County

Orlando, FL (May 8, 2025) – Mayra Uribe, known for being a hands-on, prepared, and responsive member of the OrangeCounty Commission since 2018, today announced she is running for Orange County Mayor.

Uribe announced that the Orange County Sheriff’s Fraternal Order of Police and the Orange County Corrections Fraternal Order of Police have also proudly extended their “full and united endorsement” of Uribe’s campaign for Orange County Mayor.

“I am excited to share with you that I am running for Orange County Mayor,” said Uribe, announcing her campaign to family, friends, and supporters at Cypress Grove Park.

Uribe shared news about the two FOP endorsements, thanking both organizations for their endorsement on the first day of the campaign, noting, “They are our everyday heroes.”

Continuing, Uribe said she believes Orange County is on the cusp of exciting change. “With this campaign, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to realign local politics around bold leadership, practical solutions, and people-first priorities.

“Voters in our county are disillusioned with partisan gridlock and empty promises,” Uribe told the group. “They’re looking for a mayor who can deliver real results, protect what’s special about Central Florida, and prepare the region for generational challenges — from affordability to resilience.

Uribe assured her audience, “I’m not here today as a politician. I’m here as a wife and mother, as your neighbor who believes that common sense and bold action can and will change lives.

“Orange County is blossoming,” promised Uribe. Her priorities are better-paying jobs and more attainable housing, clean growth and smarter transportation, safe and stronger communities, a better Orange County government, and an Orange County future that belongs to everyone.

-more-

“This campaign is about all of us, not just the loudest voices or the wealthiest donors,” said Uribe. “We will build a coalition of working families, small business owners, young leaders, retirees, and everyday people tired of waiting and ready to lead.

“We’re not here to tear anyone down but to lift everyone up,” pledged Uribe.  “Orange County doesn’t belong to one party, class, or zip code. It belongs to all of us.

“We’ve had enough slogans and spin. We deserve leadership in the years ahead that puts people over politics and results over rhetoric. Every decision I make as mayor will ask: Does this help families, workers, and neighborhoods in Orange County thrive?

“You can bet we’re not here to defend the status quo.  So, if you think we need local government that acts faster, listens better, and works harder … if you believe, like I do, our best days are still ahead, not behind us … then I’m asking you to join me.

“This isn’t a pipe dream,” concluded Uribe. “It’s a blueprint.

“Let’s be the county that doesn’t wait for the future.  Let’s rise up!

“We can build it. We will build it. And we will build it together.”

###

**Orlando Political Observer Offers $1,000 Reward: Who is Paying for Regina Hill’s Million-Dollar Defense?

The Orlando Political Observer has been silent on the subject for a while, but now it’s time to address the million-dollar question swirling around Orlando politics: who is footing the bill for suspended Commissioner Regina Hill’s high-profile legal defense?

Hill has recently retained the services of Fritz Scheller, a well-known attorney in Florida’s legal circles, whose reputation is on par with that of Jose Baez and Mark Nejame. According to Scheller’s assistant, his going rate is $400 per hour—a price tag that certainly isn’t cheap. Legal experts we spoke with estimate that this defense could end up costing Hill somewhere in the range of $500,000, potentially even more.

So, the question remains: who is paying for this high-powered defense? Is it Developer A, Developer B, or perhaps a completely different benefactor? Or could Hill be drawing from her own personal savings? The latter seems unlikely, given that Hill herself stated on a Facebook Live stream that she is currently homeless. The irony is not lost on us: how does one claim homelessness and yet afford a defense that costs more than what most people earn in a decade?

In an effort to get to the bottom of this mystery, the Orlando Political Observer is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who can provide verifiable proof of who is actually covering these legal fees. If you have credible information, you can come forward knowing that your identity will be kept strictly confidential.

This reward is being offered solely by the Orlando Political Observer Group LLC. The reason is simple: taxpayers deserve to know the truth. This is about transparency and accountability, and about making sure public figures are not misleading the very people they are supposed to serve.

So, if you have the information that could solve this puzzle, get in touch. It’s time for Orlando’s citizens to learn a valuable lesson about who really pays the price in the world of politics. Contact doug@orlandopolitics.com

The results for Orlando’s District 5 race were not even close.

Congratulations to the new Commissioner of District 5, Shan Rose. We wish Mr. McCurdy the best of luck and hope he does the honorable thing by calling Ms. Rose. We believe he has a bright future in Orlando politics.

The race was a landslide, marking a significant loss for the establishment that never faces defeat in Orlando city politics. Despite the efforts of the mayor and former Commissioner Hill to interfere with this election, democracy and transparency prevailed. The city of Orlando has yet to release the election records, they can take their records and their bill and throw it in the fireplace

We are proud to have contributed to leveling the playing field. Shan Rose won through absentee ballots, early voting, and on election day. It’s worth noting that in the recent mayoral election in November 2023, the turnout in District 5 was just 5%. However, in this special election, turnout was significantly higher, showing that the powers that be misjudged the constituents.

Orlando is not a monarchy; it does not have a king and queen. You cannot withhold records, cheat, and allow indicted elected officials to interfere in elections by engaging in unethical behavior. The Orlando media’s lack of coverage of District 5 is a fact. Nonetheless, change has come, and we are thrilled to see it.

**Election Interference by Orlando City Hall: Is This Truly a Mickey Mouse Town?**

We have a compelling story to tell, and this is just the beginning. The narrative extends far beyond Travaris McCurdy; he is merely a pawn in a larger election scheme orchestrated by City Hall to install their preferred candidate. The goal is to secure votes for the mayor’s pet projects. The mayor seeks individuals with troubled backgrounds whom he can control. Our efforts involved standard opposition research and public records requests.

For instance, the Orange County Sheriff John Mina promptly fulfilled our request, as did all other government agencies except the City of Orlando. For months, we have been battling their resistance. They underestimated us, assuming we would back down. They believe that after tonight, it’s over, but that’s far from the truth. Their authoritarian tactics demonstrate a disregard for democracy and transparency.

Consider the case of a former elected official, suspended for a first-degree felony, who is now out on bond and meddling in the very election she was suspended for. Does she care about McCurdy? Certainly not. She is delusional, believing she will return to office and sees him as an easy opponent. But there’s a much bigger reason behind her actions. We know the answer and remember she brought this on herself by interfering in the election. She should be reflecting about the 96 year-old victim.

The City of Orlando still holds more records on Mr. McCurdy. They issued a notice 24 hours before the election at 5:30 PM, sending three separate emails. Only after multiple letters of demand and attorney involvement did they release the police file on the Thursday before the election. The first two emails stated they couldn’t assist, while the third email requested money, implying they had something this time. This happened past 5 PM on Monday, the day before the election, indicating they are clearly hiding something. They refuse to release all the records.

McCurdy Finally Responds Kind Of

Of course not to us he made up stories like the pathological  liar that he is you can watch the story  on WFTV here is the best part

Canadiate Shan Rose crashed the little press conference call by someone under indictment for first degree felonies  to interfere in the election   Shan Rose stated, “He has kicked in a Black woman’s door, and if it’s okay to kick in a Black woman’s door, something is really wrong.” This remark references a police report where an ex-girlfriend of Travaris McCurdy alleged that he kicked in her door.

Travaris McCurdy addressed the allegations through a text message to Channel 9, stating that the police report does not confirm that his ex-girlfriend saw him kick down the door. According to the report shared with Channel 9, the ex-girlfriend only saw McCurdy’s car parked near her gate when she noticed the door was damaged. McCurdy noted, “It says nothing was taken; the door just appeared to look kicked in. I was never charged with any of this and never heard of this report until I advanced to the runoff.

On McCurdy’s response, questioning the coincidence of his car being near the gate when the door was damaged. “So his ex-girlfriend’s door gets kicked in, and he’s just hanging out by the gate. We guess A state house representative likes to hang out at gates of  his ex.   What a cavalier attitude he said this never came out until you got the run off. Obviously, a professional did standard opposition research on you  McCurdy had multiple rabbis in City Hall who withheld records. of course he did not refute the other incidents involving, including theft from employers and dishonesty on affidavits, lying on affidavits 357 magnum under a seat stolen.we can go on for paragraphs  now he’s playing victim

We have many questions about this election interference. I’m sure  Ashley Moody was watching, 😉 we did not see remorse today we saw unhinged.

Pathological Serial Liar Travaris McCurdy Is Spreading More Lies

Orlando District Five candidate Travis McCurdy is alleging false accusations against him. In response, we released police files from the Orlando Police Department, overseen by Mayor Buddy Dyer. These documents are public records, and we challenge Mr. McCurdy to specify what he claims are lies. It’s ironic for someone with a history of dishonesty to accuse others falsely. Mr. McCurdy chose to run for office, and the public deserves transparency.

McCurdy is like Dennis the Menace—he lied under penalty of perjury on affidavits, had a .357 Magnum under his seat when arrested, and accumulated over 40 parking tickets. He also lied on his job application at the airport about being arrested and about his college education. These are not youthful indiscretions; these are recent actions. Didn’t you get accused of domestic violence stalking and criminal mischief in 2020 while in office?

We have much more information on Mr. McCurdy, but we strive to be fair. We haven’t even mentioned South Carolina or your three credits in Tallahassee, Travaris.

 

McCurdy police report crack cocaine stolen 357 magnum

Police reports