LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Sheriff Carmine Marceno defends his budget and downplays the ongoing FBI investigation that some in Lee County have described as the “elephant in the room.”
On Tuesday, for the first time in over a month, he addressed the public, breaking his silence amid rising concerns over fraud allegations intertwined with the federal probe.
WATCH BELOW TO SEE WHAT MARCENO SAID:
Sheriff Marceno Defends Budget, Downplays FBI Investigation
While Marceno spoke, silence surrounded him from other county officials and national law enforcement, as if they were unwilling to step into the fray or perhaps choosing to wait and see.
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A press conference featuring the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and FBI representatives focused on a different matter altogether. Journalists were informed that questions regarding Sheriff Marceno or the investigation would not be entertained, leaving many in the public wondering about the implications of the ongoing situation.
The FBI’s stance remains ambiguous; their refusal to confirm or deny any investigation into the Sheriff’s office only adds to the intrigue. Meanwhile, the question lingers: what will be the outcome of these unfolding events?
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In his remarks, Marceno expressed that he has been cooperative with the investigation, willingly providing requested documents. He emphasized that “people always look at the negative. They want the clicks, the clickbait,” suggesting that sensationalism drives news coverage more than the pursuit of truth.
Defending his office’s budget, which swelled from $183.5 million in 2018 to $315 million recently, Marceno made a case for the necessity of adequate funding, underscoring the growth of the county’s population and the subsequent demands on law enforcement. “When the population is exploding, we have to pay our law enforcement. We have to have technology,” he noted thoughtfully during a Facebook video chat.
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The Sheriff also tackled the hot topic of using consultants, claiming that their engagement translates to savings for taxpayers. “We don’t pay them benefits, huge, we don’t pay retirement. We don’t pay any of that,” he stated, inviting curiosity about how nearly a million dollars has been allocated to various consultants for their insights and recommendations, such as enhancing the department’s fitness standards.
“There are layers of supervision that handle consultants,” Marceno clarified, aiming to assure the public that these expenditures are closely monitored for efficiency and effectiveness.
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According to Marceno, the budget is scrutinized biannually, which led to a feeling of stability amidst the uncertainty. In contrast, Lee County Clerk Kevin Karnes has previously voiced concerns about potential financial risk, raising questions about fiscal prudence amid the backdrop of these fraud allegations.
