A co-defendant of suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has pleaded guilty to her role in an illegal multi-county gambling operation, while another is anticipated to follow suit as prosecutors circle the wagons against the beleaguered former lawman.

In front of Lake County Circuit Judge Brian Welke on Monday, Carol Cote pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering in exchange for testimony and a maximum 364-day sentence in jail.

Cote, 31, was the bookkeeper for the gambling business, which began in Sumter and Marion counties and later expanded to Lake and Osceola where it enlisted Lopez, according to investigators.

Cote’s sentencing date has not been set. Meanwhile, Sheldon Wetherholt, the 39-year-old whose name was on business records for enti

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