Osceola sheriff's top director fired, denies knowing of illegal gambling scheme
The Sheriff's Office confirmed Nirva Rodriguez's termination days after her employee profile was scrubbed from its website and following questions from news outlets about her status with the agency. On Monday, the agency refused to answer inquiries about her firing and that of Ruben De Jesus, who was described as being a 'civilian employee' after also having worked on Lopez's campaigns.
In a statement shared with the Orlando Sentinel, Rodriguez said her firing 'is a separate matter' from Lopez's arrest and suspension. She added: 'I have no knowledge of the allegations against the former sheriff and I am not involved in that investigation.'
Rather than explain their ousters and De Jesus' role there, an agency spokesperson told a Sentinel reporter to instead file a public records request. A message seeking comment from De Jesus — a special deputy and a former board member of the agency's Police Athletic League, according to his Linkedin profile — was not immediately returned.
While De Jesus held a lower profile following Lopez's election in 2020 and his reelection last year, Rodriguez's ubiquitous presence in the community both in person and online was a hallmark of Lopez's administration, especially on its Spanish-language social media accounts. There, she co-hosted a weekly live show with Lopez called 'Aquí No, Charlatanes' — which means 'Not Here, Charlatans' in English — a roundup that highlighted the agency's initiatives and arrests and is named after a moniker Lopez used to refer to alleged criminals.
She would also appear in weekly segments with Lopez on WIPR in Puerto Rico called 'Los Más Buscados,' or 'The Most Wanted,' featuring suspects being sought by law enforcement.
'I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served the citizens of Osceola County, and I am proud of the good work that was accomplished during my time at the agency,' Rodriguez's statement said of her time in the Sheriff's office. 'I feel blessed to have been a part of the time and to have had the chance to make a positive impact in the community. I appreciate the experience and wish the agency and its employees all the best in their future endeavors.'
Neither Rodriguez nor De Jesus have been accused of wrongdoing in Lopez's case, but the decision to fire them is a sign that the office is cleaning house of Lopez's allies under interim Sheriff Christopher Blackmon, the Central Florida region chief at Florida Highway Patrol appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis following Lopez's arrest. No other firings have been announced while the Orlando Sentinel awaits fulfillment of its request for separation notices at the agency.
Meanwhile, Lopez remains suspended from office while he awaits trial.
A charging document released by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier accuses Lopez and at least four others of operating an illegal gambling empire in Osceola and Lake counties. Lopez, prosecutors said, made as much as $700,000 in cash from the scheme, which began months after he announced his run for sheriff in 2019 until just recently. That's expected to be detailed in a 255-page affidavit referenced in court Friday by the Office of Statewide Prosecution which remains under seal.
Lopez was arrested by federal agents Thursday and, as of Monday, remains in the Lake County Jail on a $1 million bond. He pleaded not guilty to the state charges. Further charges and co-defendants, Uthmeier said, are pending and could include federal crimes.
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