By Jacob Ogles
Federal prosecutors closed an investigation of Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
Anthony Pedicini, a political consultant for Marceno, confirmed the Sheriff learned today that the investigation was over.
“Carmine’s lawyers have confirmed the Department of Justice and the State Attorney have cleared him of any wrongdoing,” Pedicini said.
A letter first obtained and published by the Fort Myers News-Press confirms as much. Federal prosecutors informed Marceno in writing they would pursue no further action.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been investigating allegations against your client, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno,” reads the letter to Marceno’s attorney, Donald Day. “I am writing to inform you that based on information presently known to the government and the principles of federal prosecution, our office and the FBI have closed this investigation as of November 17, 2025.”
The decision came as the Republican Sheriff ponders a run for Congress in Florida’s 19th Congressional District, where incumbent U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican, is running for Governor instead of pursuing re-election. Pedicini said all options remain on the table for Marceno’s political future.
“These attacks against Marceno were politically motivated, and he is going to come out of this stronger than ever. He is like Mike Tyson as a rookie,” Pedicini said.
“I think every option on the table, more today than yesterday. We have until March to decide.”
Marceno in January acknowledged an FBI investigation as a grand jury looked into allegations by a contractor that implicated the Sheriff. Ken Romano publicly claimed he was paid for a no-show job as a social media expert and provided kickbacks to Marceno and his family members.
Contracts provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office show Romano was paid $5,700 a month until August 2022, when his relationship with the Sheriff’s Office was terminated because he was the subject of an investigation by another law enforcement agency.
Romano said he was accepting money and giving a share of it back to Marceno. The News-Press previously obtained security video of a jewelry store owned by Romano in which Marceno accepted a stack of cash. Supporters of Marceno dismissed that as two individuals exchanging money in a place of business.
Pedicini said the decision by prosecutors validates the attacks were baseless.
“There’s a saying in politics, If you want to take on the king, you better take his head,” Pedicini said. “This Ken Romano guy swung and he missed.”
Marceno in his State of the Agency address in January defended the use of outside contractors with the agency, something he called a “hot topic.”
“Consultants actually save the taxpayer money,” Marceno said.
Notably, the allegations were first publicized by Mike Hollow, a former Major Crimes deputy who last year ran against Marceno as a write-in candidate. Marceno won re-election with almost 91% of the vote but more than 31,000 supported Hollow.
The post Feds clear Carmine Marceno, putting him in strong position for congressional bid appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
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