Prosecutors accused Sheriff Marcos Lopez of Osceola County of protecting a gambling ring that made about $22 million across at least two Central Florida counties.

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was charged Thursday with racketeering in connection with an alleged massive gambling ring operating throughout central Florida, officials said.

A Florida sheriff has been charged in a public-corruption related investigation that involved an illegal gambling operation. Attorney General James Uthmeier's Office of Statewide Prosecution charged Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez and others in a massive Central Florida gambling operation on Thursday.