Lake influenced the Florida state legislature to pass a bill creating Seminole County by splitting off a portion of Orange County in April 1913, furthering his political career.

[5][6] In 1913, Lake sold his icehouse and organized the Seminole County Bank in Sanford's Welbourne building.

He was elected president by a board that included some of the new county's most prominent men.

[9] Key pleaded guilty to two charges, and testified against Lake for the prosecution.

[8][9] He served 16 months of his sentence at Raiford prison before being released on a bond to pursue an appeal.

[10][11][12] He would serve six years before he won a pardon from the governor and returned to Sanford.