Middle District of Florida

Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging six individuals involved in an alleged gun trafficking operation. An additional individual was separately charged by complaint in the same conspiracy. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit specific firearms recovered in the operation. 

Name

(Age, City of Residence)

Victor Manuel LaFontaine Ruiz

(31, Poinciana)

Gun trafficking conspiracy  

Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting

Possession of machinegun

15 years 

5 years 

10 years

Jose Emanuel Maldonado Rodriguez

(32, Kissimmee)

Gun trafficking conspiracy 

Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting

Possession of machinegun

15 years 

5 years 

10 years

Freddie Geovani Cruz Batiz

(36, Kissimmee)

Gun trafficking conspiracy 

Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting

15 years 

5 years 

Jomar Manuel Lopez Montanez

(30, Kissimmee)

Gun trafficking conspiracy

Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting

Felon in possession

15 years 

5 years 

15 years

Derrick Yamil Rivera Robles

(29, Kissimmee)

Gun trafficking conspiracy 

Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting

Possession of machinegun

15 years 

5 years 

10 years

Leonardo David Joseph Guerra

(23, Orlando)

Gun trafficking conspiracy

Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting

Alien in possession

15 years 

5 years 

15 years

Jincheng Shi

(27, St. Cloud)

Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting

Alien in possession

5 years 

15 years

According to court documents, from at least as early as September 2023 onward, Lafontaine and Maldonado operated a gun trafficking ring involving hundreds of firearms, machineguns, machinegun conversion devices, and high-capacity magazines needed for fully automatic weapons. This operation did not involve any federally licensed firearms dealers. Instead, Lafontaine and Maldonado obtained firearms parts, including from Jincheng Shi, a Chinese national. Lafontaine and Maldonado allegedly assembled, manufactured, and modified semi-automatic and automatic firearms using a “ghost gunner” machine and specialized “endmill” drilling devices at a workspace on Maldonado’s property in Kissimmee: 

From there, Lafontaine and Maldonado, along with assistance from Batiz, sold firearms, including fully automatic weapons and machine gun conversion devices (“chips” or “buttons”) that are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machineguns. They sold those items to illegal aliens and convicted felons such as Lopez Montanez, Rivera Robles, and Joseph Guerra, who were often brokering such transactions on behalf of other unknown customers.

On September 17, 2023, for example, Lafontaine showed a fully automatic firearm to a customer that was later sold during this operation and, on October 9, 2023, Lafontaine quoted Rivera Robles (a convicted felon) a price of $150 for a machinegun conversion device known as a “chip,” that Rivera Robles purchased in March 2024.               

On February 7, 2025, Lafontaine sold Lopez Montanez (a convicted felon) two firearms falsely branded to appear as though they were legitimate firearms manufactured with engraved fake sequential serial numbers. When Lopez Montanez was stopped, he fled from law enforcement and attempted to hide the weapons that were eventually recovered. 

The next day, Lafontaine delivered five similar firearms to Maldonado.           

On February 20, 2025, law enforcement executed five search warrants at various locations associated with this conspiracy. The items are still be inventoried.  Preliminarily, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have recovered at least five AR-style pistols with sequential and identical serial numbers at Maldonado’s residence (depicted below), along with at least three machinegun conversion devices, machinery used to assemble, modify, and manufacture the firearms and machine guns sold through this operation. 

 At Lafontaine’s residence, agents recovered a completed rifle, gun parts, gun manufacturing and modification equipment, and drug distribution paraphernalia with a blender and a powder that field-tested positive for fentanyl, packaged for sale. At Batiz’s residence, agents recovered a handgun and an AR pistol, four machinegun conversion devices, along with drug paraphernalia and powders packaged for distribution that are still being tested. Eight handguns, three rifles, and eight AR-style receivers were recovered from Shi’s residence and storage lockers.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.          

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orlando Police Department, Winter Garden Police Department, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Apopka Police Department, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Highway Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Dudzinski Poole and sixteen co-conspirators to federal prison terms ranging from six years, up to life, imprisonment in a multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. Poole was the leader of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that was responsible for distributing thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl with sources of supply or distributors in California, multiple other states, and China. The organization also laundered millions of dollars in drug money. Two of Poole’s co-conspirators (Michael Chester and George King, Jr.) were convicted after a ten-day jury trial in July 2024. The rest of the defendants entered guilty pleas. A summary chart of the sentences is below:

Name (Age, Residence)

Charges

Sentence

Dudzinski Edwinn Poole

a/k/a “Zink”

(50, Apopka, FL)

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

(two counts)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Melvin Tyrone Patterson, Jr.

a/k/a “Goon”

(34, Wildwood, FL)

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Andrew Woodruff, Jr.

a/k/a “Smurf”

(40, Mount Dora, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Jose Ivan Carbajal

a/k/a “Primo”

(35, California)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Antonio Holmes

a/k/a “Tone”

(36, Davenport, FL)

Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Diego Navarro- Martinez

a/k/a “Shooter”

(34, California)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Michael Andre Chester

a/k/a “Dre”

(50, Apopka, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Samantha Tiesha King

a/k/a “Mamp”

(34, Altamonte Springs, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

George Nelvin King, Jr.

(47, Altamonte Springs, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Felisha Denise Williams

a/k/a “Lil Momma”

(35, Apopka, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Nathaniel Donnell, Jr.

a/k/a “Bob”

(60, Wildwood, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Rodrieka Lashay Manning

a/k/a “Drieka”

(27, Apopka, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Mohammed McDowell

a/k/a “Mo”

(45, Wildwood, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Janice Denise Anderson

a/k/a “Butter”

(67, Mount Dora, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Latonya Sharee Conley

a/k/a “Hershey”

(47, Mount Dora, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Oveda Denise Miller

a/k/a “Gangsta Granny”

(62, Mount Dora, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

Roland Richardson

(65, Mount Dora, FL)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Money laundering conspiracy

According to court records and the evidence presented at trial, between 2017 and 2023, the DTO operated largely out of Lake County, Florida, where Poole received hundreds of shipments of methamphetamine and fentanyl from sources of supply in California, including Jose Carbajal. The drugs were transported or shipped via commercial planes and through the mail. DEA seized more than 250 pounds of drugs (mostly methamphetamine and fentanyl) during the course of the investigation.

The defendants played various roles in the DTO, such as suppliers, distributors, couriers, and courier coordinators. The couriers would fly to California from Florida with large sums of cash to purchase drugs and transport checked luggage full of drugs back to Florida on commercial flights. The conspirators sometimes purchased tickets and checked the suitcases full of drugs or cash at the airport but did not fly on the plane. The suitcases would travel to the destination where they would be picked up by other conspirators awaiting their arrival. Nearly all the flights were between the Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida and the Palm Springs Airport (PSP) or the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California. Flight records during a two-year period show more than 400 flights between California and Orlando among the various conspirators.

The DTO also used couriers to transport large amounts of methamphetamine from Orlando to Virginia via train. In April 2022, one of these couriers was arrested at a train station in Virginia with approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine inside a suitcase.

In addition to transporting drugs on commercial flights and trains, Poole and his associates had multiple stash houses and received hundreds of mailed packages of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California and other drugs, including fentanyl, from China. Poole’s source of supply in California (Carbajal) would ship packages that contained an average of five to ten pounds of drugs at a time. Poole would provide Carbajal various addresses to ship the drugs, including co-conspirators’ residences. Investigators identified almost 400 packages that were shipped from California as part of this conspiracy from 2019 to 2023.

The members of this DTO also conspired with one another to engage in money laundering. Poole developed an entertainment business that he used to promote concerts with famous rap artists, whom he paid with drug proceeds. Poole then commingled the profits from the ticket sales with the drug proceeds in the same business account. Members of the conspiracy also used drug proceeds to pay for various expenses of the DTO (such as flights) or funneled the proceeds through numerous financial accounts into purchases of expensive jewelry, vehicles, residences, and payments to coconspirators.

“This multi-state drug trafficking organization used a vast network to move methamphetamine and fentanyl to poison our communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “I’m proud of the way our agents and numerous law enforcement partners worked together to bring this criminal element to justice.”

“Greed is the biggest motivation these criminal organizations know,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “Motivated by money, they will try to place themselves above the law to the detriment of our communities. Fortunately, our agents and staff are extremely skilled at following the money to ensure these perpetrators face justice. We are proud to work alongside our partner agencies to put a stop to these dangerous drug trafficking organizations and ensure they are held accountable.”  

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Secret Service; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Orlando Police Department’s Special Enforcement Division and Crime Center and Forensics Division; the Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s including the Gang Enforcement Unit; the Florida Highway Patrol; the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office; the Casselberry Police Department; the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation; the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office; the Marion County Sheriff’s Office; the Lake County Sheriff’s Office; the Kissimmee Police Department; the St. Cloud Police Department; the Winter Park Police Department; the St. Cloud IRS Financial Crimes Task Force; and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (California). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyrie K. Boyer and Belkis H. Callaos.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Matthew Reed Dione (37, Sanford) to 20 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Dione will also forfeit two hard drives and a cellphone, which were used to commit the offense. Dione entered a guilty plea on July 2, 2024.

According to court documents, Dione met a minor victim on a teen dating website when Dione was 32 years old. He engaged in inappropriate chats with the minor victim prior to picking up the victim from the victim’s home late at night and taking the victim to his home. At his home, Dione sexually abused the victim and recorded the activity. 

In January 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Dione’s home and seized multiple electronic devices. During a forensic extraction of the seized devices, the FBI located numerous videos and images of sexual abuse. In many of those videos and images, the minors had Dione’s name written on their bodies. The FBI was able to identify three additional victims from the sexual abuse material found on Dione’s devices. The evidence on the devices showed that Dione had been targeting teenage girls for more than a decade.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

Jacksonville, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced D’eante Corker (25, Orange Park) to two years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Corker was found guilty on November 26, 2024, following a bench trial.  

According to court documents, on March 27, 2024, a deputy from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Corker. During the stop, a canine officer arrived at the scene and his canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, which led to a search of Corker’s vehicle. During the search, a loaded Smith & Wesson pistol was found under the hood of the vehicle. Corker admitted to knowing about the firearm under the hood and that he was unable to lawfully possess firearms as a convicted felon.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clay County Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Jose Salazar Jimenez (28, Mexico) has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. Salazar Jimenez faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, between August 2019 and August 2024, Salazar Jimenez voluntarily entered the United States, with knowledge that he had previously been removed, and that he was not legally permitted to so enter. On August 18, 2024, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers found Salazar Jimenez in Hillsborough County.

Salazar Jimenez is a native and citizen of Mexico and was previously removed from the United States on four occasions between 2014 and 2019.

This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III and Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Schmidt.

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Jose Manuel Ortiz Perdomo (41) with aggravated identity theft and making a false statement on a passport application. If convicted, Ortiz Perdomo faces a minimum sentence of 2 years, up to 12 years, in federal prison.

According to court records, on October 18, 2024, Ortiz Perdomo applied for a passport in a name that was not his own. Prior to applying for the passport, Ortiz Perdomo obtained means of identification in the victim’s name. When Ortiz Perdomo applied for the passport, he pretended to be the victim and submitted the fraudulent identification as his own.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Leath.

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Lisa Williams (56, Lithia) has pleaded guilty to six counts of tampering with a consumer product and six counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation. Williams faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each count of tampering and up to 4 years in federal prison for each acquisition offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on October 30, November 5 and 28, and December 3, 9, and 10, 2023, Williams – a Florida licensed registered nurse (RN) – removed injectable fentanyl from a secure drawer at Hospital #1. Thereafter, Williams tampered with the injectable fentanyl by removing a portion of the controlled substance from its container for her own personal use. After removing the injectable fentanyl from the infusion bag, Williams swapped it with another container she had already tampered with and put it back into circulation. By tampering with the injectable fentanyl, Williams acted with reckless disregard that Hospital #1 patients would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk. Williams also knowingly manipulated the hospital records to falsely report a canceled transaction and give the fraudulent appearance that nothing was removed from the secure drawer.

This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration—Office of Criminal Investigations and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.

Jacksonville, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Jeremy Leonardo Roldan (52, Lake City) to 10 years and 4 months in federal prison for selling 50 grams or more of a substance or mixture containing methamphetamine. Roldan pleaded guilty on October 3, 2024. 

According to court documents, on December 11, 2023, Roldan sold methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. Roldan previously sold methamphetamine to the undercover officer at least two prior times. Roldan was responsible for selling 59 grams of pure methamphetamine. While selling narcotics, Roldan was on supervised release for the same offense.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.  

Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the arrest and indictment of Sean-Michael Smith (36, Jacksonville) for using the internet to access child sexual abuse materials. If convicted, Smith faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. Smith is a registered child sex offender who was convicted in 2014 of distributing child pornography. Smith was arrested on December 18, 2024, and is detained pending trial.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

Ocala, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Dorian Farmer has pleaded guilty to one count of failure to pay employment trust fund taxes and two counts of willfully failing to file tax returns. Farmer faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for the employment trust fund offense and up to one year of imprisonment for each willful failure to file tax return offenses. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Farmer was the owner of several businesses in Howey-In-The-Hills in Lake County. For years, Farmer collected employment trust fund taxes from his employees—such as those that pay for Social Security or Medicare. Rather than turning these taxes over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Farmer embezzled the funds for his own use. He took large cash distributions from one of his businesses which went unreported to the IRS. Farmer also failed to file tax returns for himself and one of his businesses, Titleist Technologies, Inc. (d/b/a Summit Joint Performance) for tax year 2000, as required under federal law. Farmer’s criminal acts resulted in a total tax loss of $806,653.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Yudelkis Portes (43, Dominican Republic) to three years and 1 month in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Portes entered a plea of guilty on December 4, 2024.

According to court documents, Portes was convicted of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft on February 28, 2013, and deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic. Following her deportation, Portes illegally reentered the United States. 

This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Rigoberto Rios Gallardo (31, Los Angeles, California) with three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted on all counts, Rios Gallardo faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, on three dates in August and September 2024, Rios Gallardo used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction. Between August and December 2024, Rios Gallardo knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexual activity.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the North Port Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Star Stewart (39, Bradenton) to eight years and nine months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Stewart was convicted following a bench trial on November 20, 2023.   

According to evidence presented at trial and in court documents, on November 4, 2020, the U.S. Marshals Service Florida Regional Task Force sought to arrest Stewart at a residence in Bradenton pursuant to a state warrant. When the officers arrived, they observed Stewart on the back patio. Stewart fled inside the house, but was quickly located and arrested. The officers recovered a Glock 19 with an extended magazine containing 33 rounds of ammunition left behind where Stewart had been seated on the back patio. Stewart later admitted that he had possessed the firearm. As a convicted felon, Stewart is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Kenneth and Charlie D. Connally. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Tampa, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Jose Pabon (45, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Pabon faces a minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. This enhanced penalty is due to Pabon’s prior conviction for trafficking in cocaine in 2013. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on May 13, 2024, a detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office acting in an undercover capacity (UC) contacted Pabon’s co-conspirator by phone. The co-conspirator agreed to sell the UC a kilogram of cocaine for $21,000. The next day, through an exchange of calls and text messages, the co-conspirator and the UC agreed to meet to conduct the kilogram cocaine transaction at a location in Tampa. During the preceding communications, the co-conspirator told the UC that he was waiting on a source of supply to provide the kilogram of cocaine prior to being able to distribute it to the UC.

Prior to meeting with the UC, DEA agents observed the co-conspirator meeting Pabon. Surveillance footage from the transaction location showed Pabon and the co-conspirator having a short conversation outside Pabon’s vehicle. After this conversation, agents observed the co-conspirator retrieve an object from Pabon’s car, return to his own vehicle, drive across the parking lot to the UC’s location, and emerge from his vehicle holding a kilogram of cocaine. The cocaine was tested by the DEA laboratory and confirmed to be 1,012 grams of cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

Tampa, FL — A Tampa grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dmitry Shushlebin, 45, a citizen of Russia living in Miami Beach, and Sanjar Jamilov, 33, a citizen of Uzbekistan living in St. Petersburg, with conspiring to submit fraudulent voter registrations and four counts of submitting fraudulent voter registrations. The indictment further charged Shushlebin with two counts of false statements. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

According to court documents, Shushlebin and Jamilov conspired to submit 132 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections in February and March 2023. These applications were submitted in names other than their own, in envelopes with return and address labels that were identically formatted, including containing the same typographical error, and bore various indicia of fraud including, among other things, repeating dates of birth and addresses and nearly sequential Social Security numbers. Change of address forms were also submitted to the U.S. Postal Service to route mail to the names and addresses on the fraudulent applications to three locations that Shushlebin and Jamilov allegedly controlled.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI,  and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This case began after a referral from the Florida Department of State, Office of Election Crime and Security.

Trial Attorney Leo J. Wise of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Marcet for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Chad Allen Pease (49, Fort Pierce) to 22 years and 7 months in federal prison for attempting to entice or induce a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. A federal jury found Pease guilty on November 20, 2024.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on February 3, 2024, Pease began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) whom Pease believed to be the father of a 13-year-old girl. Over the course of the conversation, Pease made plans to meet up with the UC and his “daughter” so that Pease could have sex with the child. Pease drove 18 miles to the meeting location and conducted counter-surveillance before fleeing the scene. Law enforcement identified Pease, reconstructed his activities that evening, and later arrested him at his residence.

Pease was previously convicted of a sex offense in 2008, after sending explicit photographs and traveling to have sex with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He has been required to register as a sex offender ever since. 

"This predator intentionally singled out a child, devised a plan, and executed it with the sole purpose of harming the most vulnerable in our community” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI investigators, alongside our partners, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, have successfully removed another predator from the streets.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie Sneed has sentenced Pooran Ramjattan (61, Kissimmee) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity. Ramjattan pleaded guilty on November 21, 2024.

According to court documents, on May 1, 2024, an undercover agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Ramjattan contacted the undercover agent’s account and, after learning the child’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Ramjattan then arranged to meet the “child” at a predetermined location in Orange County to engage in sexual activity. When Ramjattan arrived at the meeting location, he was arrested by law enforcement.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Ocala, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Jose Mario Abrego-Mejia (34, Honduras) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Abrego-Mejia faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. Abrego-Mejia is currently being detained pending the resolution of the criminal case.

According to the indictment, Abrego-Mejia was previously removed from the United States in 2009. After that removal, he was found to be voluntarily back in the United States on August 31, 2022. Abrego-Mejia has not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for readmission to the United States.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.

Ocala, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Junior Alexander Sanabria-Barrera (27, Honduras) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.

According to court documents, Sanabria-Barrera is a citizen and national of Honduras. He was previously removed from the United States in April 2023. Afterward, Sanabria-Barrera was found to be voluntarily in the United States when he was encountered by law enforcement in Sumter County, Florida, on February 14, 2025. Sanabria-Barrera had not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States.

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.

Tampa, FL — A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 48 months in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $5.5 million to the United States as well as forfeit numerous real properties and cash, and to pay over $55 million in restitution for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and willful violation of a workplace standard that resulted in the death of his employee. Manual Domingos Pita, of Wesley Chapel, previously pleaded guilty to those charges on July 9, 2024.

According to court documents, Pita owned and operated Domingos 54 Construction, a subcontracting business for the wood framing of new construction homes. Domingos 54 was a shell construction company that Pita used to provide workers, including undocumented aliens, with construction jobs. However, Pita failed to secure the required workers compensation insurance coverage for these employees by falsifying in worker’s compensation insurance applications the number of workers for which he sought coverage. In addition, Pita failed to pay any federal employment taxes on the wages that these workers earned during the course of the scheme between 2018 and 2022. As a result, Pita caused several worker’s compensation insurance companies to sustain a loss of over $22.7 million in premiums that they could have charged had they been aware of the number of workers which they had been manipulated into covering with their policies. In addition, Pita failed to pay to the IRS over $33.7 million in federal employment taxes on those workers’ wages.

Between February and July 2019, investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued six citations to Domingos 54 for failure to provide fall protection to workers. Even after being cited for these violations, Pita continued to ignore OSHA requirements. In March 2020, Pita assigned a worker and three other carpenters to install sheeting on the roof of a residential home in windy conditions without providing the required fall-protection gear or ensuring its use. As a result, one of the workers was blown off the roof and died from his injuries.

“Pita’s history of OSHA violations and deception tragically led to a worker’s death,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We are committed to upholding the rule of law by prosecuting fraud and enforcing worker safety standards.”

“The defendant in this case engaged in a deliberate scheme to defraud insurance companies, the government and evade taxes, resulting in huge losses to the U.S. Treasury, and to personally enrich himself,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Sara C. Sweeney. “In addition, flagrant violations of OSHA safety standards put workers at unacceptable risk, ultimately resulting in the death of an employee. My office is committed to federally prosecuting and holding accountable anyone who violates these laws and regulations.”

“Mr. Pita repeatedly violated the longstanding policies designed to protect the workforce which resulted in a tragic death,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office. “The FBI and its partners will aggressively pursue those who selfishly ignore the laws and policies in place to protect America's workforce.”

“Not only does this type of scheme give an illegal advantage over honest competitors, it intends to allow the use of illegal, undocumented labor to achieve that advantage,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “It’s a blatant form of cheating that undercuts fair competition, costs the government millions of dollars in tax revenue, and skirts our nation’s immigration laws. This case reaffirms our unwavering commitment to prosecuting those who engage in fraud at the expense of workers, taxpayers, and law-abiding businesses.”

The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Department of Financial Services’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud-Criminal Investigations and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay L. Hoffer for the Middle District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.

A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 48 months in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $5.5 million to the United States as well as forfeit numerous real properties and cash, and to pay over $55 million in restitution for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and willful violation of a workplace standard that resulted in the death of his employee. Manual Domingos Pita, of Wesley Chapel, previously pleaded guilty to those charges on July 9, 2024.

According to court documents, Pita owned and operated Domingos 54 Construction, a subcontracting business for the wood framing of new construction homes. Domingos 54 was a shell construction company that Pita used to provide workers, including undocumented aliens, with construction jobs. However, Pita failed to secure the required workers compensation insurance coverage for these employees by falsifying in worker’s compensation insurance applications the number of workers for which he sought coverage. In addition, Pita failed to pay any federal employment taxes on the wages that these workers earned during the course of the scheme between 2018 and 2022. As a result, Pita caused several worker’s compensation insurance companies to sustain a loss of over $22.7 million in premiums that they could have charged had they been aware of the number of workers which they had been manipulated into covering with their policies. In addition, Pita failed to pay to the IRS over $33.7 million in federal employment taxes on those workers’ wages.

Between February and July 2019, investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued six citations to Domingos 54 for failure to provide fall protection to workers. Even after being cited for these violations, Pita continued to ignore OSHA requirements. In March 2020, Pita assigned a worker and three other carpenters to install sheeting on the roof of a residential home in windy conditions without providing the required fall-protection gear or ensuring its use. As a result, one of the workers was blown off the roof and died from his injuries.

“Pita’s history of OSHA violations and deception tragically led to a worker’s death,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We are committed to upholding the rule of law by prosecuting fraud and enforcing worker safety standards.”

“The defendant in this case engaged in a deliberate scheme to defraud insurance companies, the government and evade taxes, resulting in huge losses to the U.S. Treasury, and to personally enrich himself,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Sara C. Sweeney. “In addition, flagrant violations of OSHA safety standards put workers at unacceptable risk, ultimately resulting in the death of an employee. My office is committed to federally prosecuting and holding accountable anyone who violates these laws and regulations.”

“Mr. Pita repeatedly violated the longstanding policies designed to protect the workforce which resulted in a tragic death,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office. “The FBI and its partners will aggressively pursue those who selfishly ignore the laws and policies in place to protect America's workforce.”

“Not only does this type of scheme give an illegal advantage over honest competitors, it intends to allow the use of illegal, undocumented labor to achieve that advantage,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “It’s a blatant form of cheating that undercuts fair competition, costs the government millions of dollars in tax revenue, and skirts our nation’s immigration laws. This case reaffirms our unwavering commitment to prosecuting those who engage in fraud at the expense of workers, taxpayers, and law-abiding businesses.”

The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Department of Financial Services’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud-Criminal Investigations and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay L. Hoffer for the Middle District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.

Tampa, FL – Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Emmanuel Dourthe (26, Deltona) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Dourthe pleaded guilty in November 2024.

According to court documents, on February 14, 2023, law enforcement officers searched a storage unit that Dourthe, along with his co-conspirator Brendan Wells, utilized to store narcotics they were selling and intending to sell. Inside the storage unit, officers located 408 grams of methamphetamine, 399.7 grams of fentanyl, and 27.7 grams of cocaine. In addition, numerous bottles and baggies with various powders suspected to be cutting agents, as well as mixing tools, were found. A Smith & Wesson M&P semiautomatic rifle, along with numerous gun cases, magazines, and ammunition were also seized from the storage unit.

A search of Dourthe’s phone had initially alerted law enforcement to the existence of the storage unit. Dourthe’s phone contained messages that showed that Dourthe and his associates were trafficking narcotics and that Wells, as well as others, were also involved in this trafficking.

The firearm retrieved from the storage unit was swabbed for DNA, and testing revealed the presence of Douthe’s DNA on the firearm. Dourthe is a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

Earlier in the day on February 14, 2023, law enforcement searched a backpack belonging to Wells, recovered from a residential search. Inside the backpack, law enforcement found what the Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory later confirmed to be 143.98 grams of methamphetamine.

Wells pleaded guilty in November 2024. His sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2025.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Fort Myers, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Vincent Jay Yau (42, Bokeelia) has pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. Yau faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Yau has agreed to forfeit his laptop and cellphone which were used to commit the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations served a federal search warrant on Yau’s residence and located multiple electronic devices attributed to Yau. On those devices agents located thousands of files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Some of the CSAM files depicted toddlers.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Bailey Joseph Friese (23, Winter Park) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Friese faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Friese has also agreed to forfeit the Glock firearm involved in the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. 

According to the plea agreement, Friese sold a Glock firearm in December 2023. At the time Friese sold the firearm, he had a previous felony conviction for burglary. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Seminole County City County Investigative Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Tampa, FL — Jose Miguel Carrillo, of Spring Hill, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court filings, Carrillo conspired with others to purchase, acquire, and breed dogs for use in dog fights. Carillo also staged dog fights at his home and traveled to dog fights in Massachusetts, Florida, and Connecticut.

A June 2023 search warrant was executed at Carrillo’s home and led to the seizure of 10 pit bull-type dogs, most of which were later adopted by new owners, as well as a firearm and ammunition. Carrillo also possessed dog fighting paraphernalia including a bloodstained dog fighting box, a skin stapler, syringes, and injectable veterinary medications.

“To its core, dog fighting is a cruel and criminal exploitation of animals for entertainment,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today’s sentence sends a strong deterrent message that the Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases.”

“Exploiting and endangering the welfare of animals for personal gain is cruel and abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney for the Middle District of Florida. “Because of the hard work of our law enforcement partners, justice was served.”

“The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare, while also committing other serious offenses in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG).

Photo of dogs at Carrillo’s home, from court documents in United State v. Jose Carrillo, number 8:23-CR-00222, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Photo of a bloodstained dog fighting pit at Carrillo’s home, from court documents in United State v. Jose Carrillo, number 8:23-CR-00222, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG’s complaint hotline at: usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.

The USDA-OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Pasco (Florida) Sheriff’s Office and the Fitchburg (Massachusetts) Police Department investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Favorit and Tiffany Fields for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Caitlyn Cook of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section assisted with the transfer of the seized dogs to new owners.

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that a federal jury has found Tryon Metteria Byrd IV (45, Valrico) guilty of conspiring to distribute, and distributing, methamphetamine and cocaine. Byrd faces a minimum penalty 5 five years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 14, 2025.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Byrd and his co-conspirators distributed methamphetamine and cocaine out of three residences in St. Petersburg. Byrd sold directly to undercover detectives from the St. Petersburg Police Department from a residence owned by his family.

Byrd’s co-conspirators, Eric L. Lemon, Eric Lekent Lemon Jr., and Dominic Giannantonio pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in the drug conspiracy. Lemon was sentenced to 21 years and 6 months in federal prison, Lemon Jr. was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment, and Giannantonio was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison.

This case was investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Laurie Ann Roszelle (65, Fort Myers) to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud. As part of her sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $338,364.66, the proceeds of the fraud. Roszelle pleaded guilty on December 5, 2024.

According to court documents, in 2005, following her mother’s death, Roszelle began appropriating Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) survivor’s benefit payments to which her mother had been entitled. Roszelle forged her mother’s signature on multiple documents and sent them to the VA to ensure the continued flow of payments. When the VA discovered the mother’s death and shut off benefits in 2024, Roszelle called the VA claiming that her mother was still alive and asking that benefits be restarted. In another call, Roszelle impersonated her mother’s voice. When agents from the VA Office of Inspector General visited Roszelle’s residence, Roszelle claimed that her mother was living with her and made a series of fabricated statements about her mother seeing a physician regularly, being mobile, and otherwise being alive and in good health. Over the course of this 19-year scheme, Roszelle fraudulently obtained $338,364.66 in stolen benefits.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Warren Gregory Edwards (34, Fort Myers) to two years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. The court also ordered Edwards to forfeit the Smith & Wesson firearm involved in the offense. Edwards pleaded guilty on December 5, 2024.

According to court documents, Edwards was stopped by deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for driving without a seatbelt. The deputies smelled marijuana, searched the car, and located a Smith & Wesson handgun and numerous bags of marijuana. The majority of the marijuana was in a large, clear plastic bag, and nearby were several new, empty, smaller bags. Also present in the vehicle was a scale and cup with marijuana residue. Edwards, who is prohibited from possessing a firearm based on his convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felon in possession, admitted to ownership of the marijuana and firearm.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Jose Miguel Carrillo, of Spring Hill, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court filings, Carrillo conspired with others to purchase, acquire, and breed dogs for use in dog fights. Carillo also staged dog fights at his home and traveled to dog fights in Massachusetts, Florida, and Connecticut.

A June 2023 search warrant was executed at Carrillo’s home and led to the seizure of 10 pit bull-type dogs, most of which were later adopted by new owners, as well as a firearm and ammunition. Carrillo also possessed dog fighting paraphernalia including a bloodstained dog fighting box, a skin stapler, syringes, and injectable veterinary medications.

“To its core, dog fighting is a cruel and criminal exploitation of animals for entertainment,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today’s sentence sends a strong deterrent message that the Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases.”

“Exploiting and endangering the welfare of animals for personal gain is cruel and abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney for the Middle District of Florida. “Because of the hard work of our law enforcement partners, justice was served.”

“The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare, while also committing other serious offenses in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG).

To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG’s complaint hotline at: usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.

The USDA-OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Pasco County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office and the Fitchburg (Massachusetts) Police Department investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Favorit and Tiffany Fields for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Caitlyn Cook of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section assisted with the transfer of the seized dogs to new owners. 

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that a federal jury has found Marquis Lamar McCullough (39, Tampa) guilty of two counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. For both counts of distribution of fentanyl, the jury also found that the death of a person resulted from the use of the fentanyl that McCullough had distributed. McCullough, who was previously convicted of trafficking in cocaine, faces mandatory sentences of life imprisonment. 

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on April 22, 2021, deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to the residence of K.K. to conduct a wellness check. They found K.K. dead when they entered his apartment, standing with his feet on the floor and his head and torso on top of the bathroom counter. Deputies found two baggies with small quantities of a substance, suspected to be heroin or fentanyl, in K.K.’s residence. Detectives reviewed K.K.’s cellphone and found communications with a woman who appeared to help K.K. purchase fentanyl the previous evening. The woman—who was a heroin user and not a dealer—was arrested on an unrelated charge and interviewed by detectives. She told them that K.K. could not get heroin from his usual source, so he asked her to buy heroin for him from her source, and she agreed to do it if she got to keep a bag for herself. The woman arranged a meeting with her supplier, “Slim,” and K.K. took her to meet Slim. With money provided by K.K., the woman bought several bags from Slim, provided most of them to K.K., and kept a couple of bags for herself.

On April 28, 2021, HCSO detectives conducted a controlled purchase during which detectives observed “Slim” deliver fentanyl and identified him as Marquis Lamar McCullough.

On May 6, 2021, the son of N.M. found his father dead, lying in his bed, and called 911 to report the death. HCSO deputies and detectives responded to the residence, and inside N.M.’s wallet they found a baggie with a small amount of a substance suspected to be heroin or fentanyl. While reviewing calls and texts on N.M.’s phone, a detective who had participated in the surveillance operation eight days earlier recognized that the last three calls placed by N.M. were to McCullough’s phone number, and the call and text history indicated that McCullough was N.M.’s supplier. Later that day, HCSO detectives planned for another purchase of heroin or fentanyl from McCullough, using N.M.’s cellphone to set up the meeting. When McCullough arrived at the meeting location, he tried to call N.M., but when his calls went unanswered, McCullough fled the area. An arrest team pursued his vehicle and took McCullough into custody.

The Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory determined that the substances found at the residences of K.K. and N.M., and the substances purchased from McCullough on April 28, 2021, all contained fentanyl. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office investigated both deaths and determined that the use of fentanyl caused the deaths of K.K. and N.M. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Sinacore and Ross Roberts.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Terry Lavon McDonald, Jr. (32, Bradenton) to seven years and six months in federal prison for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The court also ordered McDonald to forfeit a Smith & Wesson firearm and ammunition, which were used in the commission of the offense. McDonald pleaded guilty on November 22, 2024.

According to court documents, on October 5, 2023, deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office executed a residential search warrant in Bradenton based on a series of controlled fentanyl purchases from another individual at the residence. At the time of the execution, McDonald was the sole occupant of a vehicle backed into the driveway. The vehicle was searched, and McDonald was found in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun, a digital scale, fentanyl, and cocaine. Prior to the offense, McDonald had been convicted of multiple felonies, including possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, and carrying a concealed firearm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.          McDonald’s cellphone was recovered during his arrest and a search warrant was obtained for its contents. Multiple photographs were found in the cellphone depicting McDonald in possession of suspected firearms and narcotics, as depicted below.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Alvis Alexander Briceno-Yajures (24, Venezuela) with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien. If convicted, Briceno-Yajures faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, on July 30, 2024, Briceno-Yajures illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition while knowing that he was illegally or unlawfully in the United States.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Holly Hill Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Del Mastro.

Orlando, Florida – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announces the departure of Roger B. Handberg as U.S. Attorney.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney will serve as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Handberg was a career federal prosecutor. He joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2002, and he served in various senior positions within the office, including as Criminal Chief (North), Chief of the Orlando Division, and Senior Litigation Counsel. During his career with the office, U.S. Attorney Handberg specialized in the investigation and prosecution of public corruption and white-collar crime cases. As part of his practice, he successfully prosecuted more than $500 million in fraud cases. 

In December 2021, U.S. Attorney Handberg was appointed as United States Attorney by order of the Attorney General, and he was reappointed by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court in April 2022. President Joseph R. Biden nominated U.S. Attorney Handberg for the position in September 2022, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate in December 2022.

Under his leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office increased its number of criminal cases by more than 60% over the past three fiscal years. That includes increases in each of the five offices:

• Ocala                          124% increase
• Orlando                        90% increase
• Jacksonville                  87% increase
• Fort Myers                   51% increase
• Tampa                          35% increase

These increases have been in every type of prosecution:

• Violent crime               77% increase
• Child exploitation       70% increase
• Immigration                69% increase
• White collar                53% increase
• Drug trafficking       33% increase

U.S. Attorney Handberg prioritized each of these categories of prosecutions.  “During my more than three years as Untied States Attorney, I made it a priority to engage with the community, to hear directly from the people that my office served to learn about their priorities and what is important to them, and to let them know about the great work that is being done by law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “As part of those efforts, I made more than 100 speeches and presentations to local organizations, bar associations, and chambers of commerce, and at other gatherings and press conferences. From my many conversations with members of the community and law enforcement leaders, I tried to focus the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the matters of most pressing concern.”

With respect to violent crime, one of U.S. Attorney Handberg’s first actions was increasing the number of prosecutors in the office focused on violent crime and firearms cases. Over the past three fiscal years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has federally charged more than 750 defendants with firearms violations, with more than 300 of those defendants being charged in the 2024 fiscal year. That is the largest number of firearms violations ever charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a single year. The following are some of the significant violent crime and firearms cases that were prosecuted during U.S. Attorney Handberg’s tenure:

• Seven defendants charged with offenses stemming from 4 years of dealing in drugs and an armed robbery spree that culminated in a double homicide

• More than 50 defendants prosecuted as part of the Polk County Violent Crime Task Force established by Sheriff Grady Judd after a shooting in Lakeland 

• Three defendants indicted for the contract killing of a 17-year-old Hernando County high school student to prevent her testimony in court

• Two defendants charged with committing a drive-by shooting on I-95, brought in connection with a largescale drug trafficking and firearms trafficking investigation

• Firearms trafficker sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for trying to send firearms to Mexican drug cartel members

• Defendant sentenced to consecutive life sentences for double homicide and armed robbery of a Florida couple

• 160 firearms and violent crime cases prosecuted with the Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in 2022

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has continued to be a leader in the prosecution of child exploitation and sex trafficking offenses. Over the past three fiscal years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged more than 340 child exploitation and sex trafficking cases, including more than 130 cases in fiscal year 2024. That is the highest number of child exploitation prosecutions charged in a single year in the office’s history. Significant cases include:

• The first three “AI” cases brought in the District’s history involving defendants who produced and distributed AI-generated child sexual abuse material, who used a cellphone application to create and possess synthetic or “AI” images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and who possessed AI generated images that appeared to depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct

• Sanford foster parent sentenced to 170 years in federal prison for exploiting least 18 children under his care and for using them to produce depictions of child sexual abuse

• Bradenton defendant sentenced to life in federal prison for sexually abusing two minor victims for six years

During that same timeframe, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted more than 600 immigration cases. Significant prosecutions include:

• Two defendants plead guilty for attempting to smuggle 25 migrants to Brevard County from the Bahamas as part of a conspiracy responsible for the smuggling of more than 90 migrants, some of whom were employed by one of the defendants to do construction work

• Five defendants indicted for operating shell companies to “rent” workers’ compensation to work crews that unlawfully employed illegal aliens and for cashing approximately $292 million in payroll checks and failing to pay more than $52 million in payroll taxes

• Concrete company owner pleads guilty to harboring more than 50 illegal aliens who worked at his company

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged more than 500 white collar cases over the past three fiscal years, with more than $1 billion in restitution being ordered to be paid to victims during that time period. Those cases include:

• Administrator of webhosting domain indicted for engaging in a ransomware scheme that resulted in the payment of more than $100 million in ransoms

• Defendant indicted for a $70 million Medicare fraud scheme involving the payment of kickbacks and bribes to obtain doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment

• Two defendant plead guilty to more than $14 million in COVID test kit fraud and to more than $5 million in COVID testing fraud

• Former Jacksonville Electric Authority CEO sentenced to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to steal and embezzle approximately $40 million

• Over 100 defendants federally charged with COVID fraud

• Defendant sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for $57 million investment fraud

• Four defendants charged with engaging in bank fraud and money laundering conspiracies involving more than $128 million in criminal proceeds

• Prosecution of more than 60 cases against public officials, government employees, and others who breached the trust that was placed in them or who conspired with them, including former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg and six others convicted of bribery, honest services fraud, or fraud offenses as part of the Greenberg investigation

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged more than 1,100 defendants with drug trafficking offenses and seized more than $3 billion in narcotics. Fentanyl trafficking in particular has been a top priority. The number of defendants being federally prosecuted in those cases has more than doubled, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners have seized more than 80 million fatal dosage units of fentanyl. Significant cases include:

• 16 Chinese nationals and 13 Chinese companies indicted in 2023 and 2024 for their role in trafficking in the precursor chemicals that cartels use to manufacture fentanyl

• Former Deputy Sheriff and DEA Task Force Officer plead guilty to conspiring to distribute narcotics, defrauding the United States, and tax evasion

• Colombian National Police Officer indicted for role in cocaine trafficking conspiracy

• Fentanyl trafficker sentenced to life in federal prison for causing fatal overdose

• Four charged in fentanyl overdose death of a University of South Florida student

• Defendant responsible for the largest methamphetamine seizure in the history of DEA in Orlando sentenced to 19 years in federal prison

• Port Richey brothers plead guilty to trafficking 100 kilograms of fentanyl

U.S. Attorney Handberg increased the size of the office’s National Security Section and added dedicated national security prosecutors to three offices. He also created a Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. These efforts resulted in the doubling of the number of national security prosecutions over the past three fiscal years and an increased focus on civil rights enforcement. Significant matters include:

• More than 25 defendants charged for making true threats or committing hate crimes

• Defendant sentenced to four years in federal prison for conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China in the United States

• Two Florida steel traders sentenced to 72 months and 21 months in federal prison for money laundering and Russia-Ukraine Sanctions violations

• Jordan national pleads guilty to threatening to use explosives and destroying an energy facility

• Defendant sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for unlawfully exporting technical data of critical U.S. military technology

• Two Florida men sentenced to 60 months and 36 months in federal prison for a racially-motivated hate crime for violent assault of a Black man

• Establishment of a 20-member Servicemembers and Veterans Working Group to safeguard the rights of servicemembers and veterans from discrimination and unfair treatment and the publication of a Manual to collect valuable legal information and resources in a centralized location

• The first redlining settlement in the history of Florida

During his tenure, U.S. Attorney Handberg increased the number of attorneys in the Civil Division to be able to handle one of the largest defensive caseloads in the country and to prioritize affirmative civil enforcement cases. In addition to ensuring excellent representation of the United States in defending civil cases, these efforts resulted in the filing of a nationwide lawsuit alleging that Walgreens knowingly filed millions of prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose and the settlement or entry of judgments of more than $500 million in claims involving government funds that had been lost due to fraud or other misconduct. Significant affirmative civil enforcement cases include:

• A Kentucky businessman and his companies have judgments of more than $370 million entered against them for a laboratory testing scheme that targeted the Medicare program

• Walgreens agrees to pay $106.8 million to resolve allegations it billed the Government for prescriptions never dispensed

• A businessman agrees to pay over $27 million for Medicare fraud in connection with cancer genomic tests

• A healthcare organization agrees to pay $24.5 million to settle allegations of unnecessary testing, improper remuneration to physicians and a false statement in connection with COVID-19 relief funds

• A hospital operator agrees to pay $20 million to settlement allegations relating to impermissible Medicaid donations

• A healthcare company to pay $19.85 million to settle allegations relating to medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral health services

• Florida research hospital agrees to pay more than $19.5 million to resolve liability relating to self-disclosure of improper billing

• Chronic disease management provider to pay $14.9 million for allegations related to the submission of false claims to Medicare

• An automotive group agrees to pay $9 million to settlement allegations relating to Paycheck Protection Program Loan

• Florida companies ordered to pay $7.6 million in redress and penalties in connection with the marketing of smoking cessation products

• Federal court issues temporary restraining order prohibiting Tampa-area clinic from distributing opioids and other prescription drugs

Recovering funds to return to crime victims has been a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Asset Recovery Section completed the forfeiture of more than $65 million in 2022 and more than $19 million in 2023, most of which will be returned to crime victims. In 2022 and 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office returned to crime victims more than $68 million that had been forfeited in those and prior years.

Under U.S. Attorney Handberg’s leadership, the Middle District of Florida has become the top District in the country among non-border districts in charging defendants in federal court according to statistics compiled by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts for fiscal year 2024.

“As someone who was born and raised in this District, I can think of no higher honor than getting the chance, first, to serve as a federal prosecutor in this office and, then, as the United States Attorney,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg.  “During my more than two decades with the office, I have worked with incredible public servants at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Through our work with the excellent local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who serve this District and our country, we have prosecuted and litigated cases that have served to protect the public, to reduce crime, to do justice for victims and the community, and to hold accountable those who have violated the law. I am grateful for my colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and for our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment and for everything that they do, day in and day out, to keep everyone in the Middle District of Florida and the United States safe. It has been a privilege to have served as a federal prosecutor in my hometown and to have worked side-by-side with my law enforcement partners for the past 22 years.”

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the  unsealing of a criminal complaint charging Pablo Zuniga Cartes (24, Chile), Ignacio Zuniga Cartes (20, Chile), Bastian Jimenez Freraut (27, Chile), Jordan Quiroga Sanchez (22, Chile), Bastian Orellano Morales (23, Chile), Alexander Huiaguil Chavez (24, Chile), and Sergio Ortega Cabello (38, Chile) with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. 

According to the complaint, the individuals were members of a South American Theft Group that burglarized the homes of professional athletes around the country. These individuals targeted high-profile athletes in the National Football League (“NFL”) and National Basketball Association (“NBA”), all of whom were away or playing in professional games at the times of the burglaries. These individuals stole valuables worth over $2 million.    

On October 5 and 7, 2024, in the Kansas City area, the homes of two Kansas City Chiefs football players were burglarized and jewelry, watches, cash, and other luxury merchandise was taken. The October 7 burglary occurred while the team played in Kansas City, Missouri.

As detailed in the complaint, in Tampa on October 21, 2024, the home of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was burglarized while the team played in Tampa. Jewelry, designer watches, a luxury suitcase, and a firearm were stolen.

On November 2, 2024, the Wisconsin home of a Milwaukee Bucks player was burglarized during a game in Milwaukee. A safe containing several watches, chains, personal items, jewelry, and cash was stolen, along with a designer suitcase and designer bags. The total value of property stolen was approximately $1.484 million.       

The below photograph depicts Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, and a fourth individual posing with the stolen safe and jewelry taken shortly after the theft:

On December 9, 2024, the Cincinnati home of a Cincinnati Bengals player was burglarized while the team played Arlington, Texas. Designer luggage, glasses, watches, and jewelry valued at about $300,000 was stolen. Sergio Ortega Cabello rented a vehicle used in the burglary. 

Between the late afternoon on December 19, 2024, and the early morning of December 20, 2024, the Tennessee home of a Memphis Grizzlies player was burglarized while the team played in Memphis, Tennessee. Jewelry, watches, and luxury bags valued at about $1 million were stolen. 

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Patrol, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Hamilton County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, the Shelby County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, the Dallas (Texas) Police Department, the Indian Hill (Ohio) Police Department, the Leawood (Kansas) Police Department, the River Hills (Wisconsin) Police Department.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious transnational criminal organizations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Haynes.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Demario Desmond Fenton (21, Port Charlotte) to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production of videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child. This sentence will run consecutive to any state sentence imposed. Fenton must also register as a sex offender. He entered a guilty plea on April 24, 2024. 

According to court documents, between July and August 2023, Fenton used or persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Fenton also produced videos of the minor being sexually abused. 

On November 15, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Fenton’s home and his laptop and electronic storage devices were seized. Fenton agreed to speak with law enforcement and admitted to sexually abusing the minor and recording that abuse. The subsequent forensic examination of Fenton’s electronic devices revealed videos of the minor’s sexual abuse.  

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Michael Adrian Nieto (31, St. Cloud) has pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license. Nieto faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Nieto, a sworn law enforcement officer, repeatedly purchased and resold firearms to individuals. Among others, Nieto supplied firearms to Ernesto Vazquez, a key member of a criminal conspiracy that smuggled hundreds of firearms to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. In addition, to benefit the conspiracy, Nieto corruptly used police databases to provide sensitive and confidential information to Vazquez.

Between June 6, 2022, and September 4, 2024, Nieto purchased at least 58 firearms. Many of the firearms were identical and were purchased together or close in time to one another. On October 17, 2024, FBI and ATF agents executed a federal search warrant at Nieto’s residence. At the time of the search warrant, 12 firearms were still in his possession.

On October 17, 2024, Nieto was interviewed by FBI and ATF agents. He admitted to repeatedly buying and reselling guns to individuals, including Vazquez, despite knowing that Vazquez was transferring these guns to third parties, in violation of federal law. Nieto also admitted that Vazquez had provided him with illegal items, including a machinegun conversion device.

Vazquez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2025.

“The St. Cloud Police Department has worked closely with the Department of Justice to assist them in their investigation regarding former officer Michael Nieto. In the wake of the recent DOJ findings, we are conducting our own in-depth investigation into the matter.” said St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke. “SCPD pledges to take immediate action should an officer act in a manner that could break a community’s trust, no matter their rank or tenure with the department.”         

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Elias Garcia-Cervantes (37, Mexico) to 24 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Garcia-Cervantes entered a guilty plea on November 22, 2024.

According to court documents, Garcia-Cervantes was convicted of carrying a concealed firearm on July 28, 2015, and illegal reentry into the United States after deportation on February 21, 2017. Following those convictions, Garcia-Cervantes was deported from the United States to Mexico. After his deportation, Garcia-Cervantes illegally reentered the United States. 

This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.

Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Jose Luis Carrasco-Aldape (37, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Carrasco-Aldape faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison.

According to court documents, Carrasco-Aldape is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on March 22, 2004, and October 12, 2017. On February 13, 2025, Carrasco-Aldape was found voluntarily back in the United States when he was encountered by law enforcement in Clay County. Carrasco-Aldape has not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States.

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. 

Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Fredi Herrera-Sontay (42, Guatemala) has pleaded guilty to being paid to transport an undocumented alien to further his illegal presence in the United States. Herrera faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, the U.S. Border Patrol received information that a grey truck with a Georgia license plate traveling southbound on I-75 was transporting undocumented aliens between Atlanta, Georgia, and South Florida. Border Patrol agents patrolling I-75 observed the truck and determined that Herrera was the registered owner and was illegally present in the United States. Agents stopped the vehicle in the early morning hours of January 29, 2025.

Upon questioning, Herrera and a passenger in the truck stated that they were citizens of Guatemala. Neither of them had any documents establishing that they were legally authorized to be in the United States.

Database checks for the vehicle reflected that it was purchased by Herrera on February 4, 2022, and that the mileage at the time of the purchase was 88,054. The vehicle’s odometer showed that the mileage at the time of the stop was 435,814, meaning that the vehicle had been driven 347,760 miles—or, on average, about 9,660 miles per month—since Herrera had purchased it.

Both Herrera and the passenger were administratively arrested and transported to the Jacksonville Border Patrol Station for immigration processing. During processing, agents learned that Herrera had multiple previous immigration encounters and had been removed from the United States on July 11, 2018. No results returned for the passenger, indicating no prior encounters.

During an interview, Herrera stated that that he was taking the passenger to Miami, for which he was paid $250, and that he was generally paid $250 for each person he transported. When he was asked how many times he had transported aliens, he replied that he did not know, that he did not have a clue how many times.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Richard Eugene Findley (63, Daytona Beach) to 3 years and 9 months in federal prison for theft of government money and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, Findley must also pay restitution to the Social Security Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and the victim of the identity theft. Findley entered a guilty plea on April 30, 2024.

According to court documents, Findley obtained E.G.’s identification card, Social Security card, and birth certificate sometime in the 1990s. He then used E.G.’s identity without E.G.’s permission to fraudulently obtain various government benefits, including a Florida driver license, Social Security benefits, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Aaron Thomas Fister (30, Bonita Springs) to two years and six months in federal prison for interstate transmission of threats and stalking. Fister entered a guilty plea on November 7, 2024.

According to court documents, Fister engaged in a years-long campaign of threats and harassment against a former intimate partner and her sister. Fister’s conduct included making hundreds of harassing phone calls, including dozens in a single day and many during the early-morning hours. Fister also created a series of graphically threatening voicemails, including numerous threats to kill both victims and their family members, as well as a threat to kill and decapitate one victim’s infant daughter. Fister engaged in physically threatening and harassing conduct as well, including slashing car tires, smashing headlights, hitting a family residence with paintballs, using a GPS tracking device to track one victim, and nearly striking one victim with his car while she was pregnant. One victim fled the state of Florida, traveling hundreds of miles away and leaving behind family members and possessions to get away from Fister.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.

Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Jermirria Jackson (48, Atlanta, GA) with aggravated identity theft and making a false statement on a passport application. If convicted, Jackson faces a minimum sentence of 2 years, up to12 years, in federal prison.

According to court records, on January 19, 2022, Jackson applied for a passport in a name that was not her own. Prior to applying for the passport, Jackson had obtained means of identification in the victim’s name. When Jackson applied for the passport, Jackson pretended to be the victim and submitted the fraudulent identification as her own.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.

Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Jeremiah Cundiff (19, Orlando) to one year and six months in federal prison for possessing a machinegun. Cundiff pleaded guilty on October 31, 2024.

According to court documents, on October 23, 2023, law enforcement apprehended Cundiff, who had an active warrant for his arrest. During the apprehension, Cundiff fled and made a stealthy movement. At the area of Cundiff’s movement, a loaded firearm with a machinegun conversion device installed (pictured below) was recovered. Cundiff’s DNA was found on the firearm.

The type of machinegun conversion device in this case is commonly referred to as a “switch,” and is designed and intended, solely and exclusively, to convert a semiautomatic pistol into a machinegun, causing the pistol to fire more than one shot with the single pull of the trigger.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with valuable assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Maico Miguel Perez (27, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Miguel Perez faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. 

According to court documents, Miguel Perez is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on November 23, 2022. Miguel Perez was found voluntarily back in the United States on September 2, 2024, when he was arrested in Duval County on a local warrant. Miguel Perez has not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States to apply for readmission to the United States.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle today sentenced Nicolas Garcia Hernandez (27, Shelbyville, TN) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Garcia Hernandez pleaded guilty on November 13, 2024.

According to court documents, Garcia Hernandez, who had illegally entered the United States from Mexico around 2020, made two trips from Tennessee to the Middle District of Florida to deliver methamphetamine. In December 2023, Garcia Hernandez delivered nearly three kilograms to an informant. In May 2024, he was on his was to make a delivery to the same informant when a trooper from the Florida Highway Patrol stopped his car on I-75 in Hillsborough County. After a police canine alerted to the vehicle, Garcia Hernandez fled on foot across I-75, requiring troopers to chase him into the median through oncoming traffic. 

After safely apprehending Garcia Hernandez, troopers located 5.9 kilograms of methamphetamine in the vehicle and additional methamphetamine in Garcia Hernandez’s wallet. The court held Garcia Hernandez responsible for approximately 8.8 kilograms of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bradenton Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging James Hjelmeland (30, Canada) with one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, two counts of distributing, one count of transporting, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). If convicted, Hjelmeland faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted offense, a minimum of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison for each distribution and transportation offense, and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession offense. 

According to court documents, on December 29, 2024, an undercover detective with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office posed as the guardian of a 12-year-old “child.” Hjelmeland messaged the undercover detective and inquired about the age of the “child.” Hjelmeland then engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective and made plans to travel from Canada to Orlando to have sex with the “child.” During the conversation, Hjelmeland distributed CSAM to the undercover detective. When Hjelmeland was arrested in Orlando, he had CSAM material on his cellphone that he had transported to the United States involving children under the age of 12. 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Patrol, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the filing of a criminal information charging Xiao Guang Pan (71, Canada) with three counts of using an unmanned aircraft to photograph vital defense installations and equipment without authorization. If convicted, Pan faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison on each count. 

According to the criminal information, Pan used an unmanned aircraft to photograph vital defense installations and equipment at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base. On three separate days in January 2025, Pan took aerial photographs of Space Launch complexes, a payload processing facility, a submarine wharf, and munitions bunkers. Taking unauthorized photographs of vital defense installations or equipment is prohibited under federal law. 

An information is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Air Marshals Service, the NASA Office of Inspector General, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Austin Charles Wesley (25, Lehigh Acres) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Wesley faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on October 24, 2024, Wesley was pulled over for speeding by the Florida Highway Patrol on SR-82 in Lee County. During the traffic stop, law enforcement located a loaded Walther .22 caliber handgun concealed underneath Wesley’s clothing. As a multi-time convicted felon, who previously served sentences in Florida state prison for various crimes, Wesley is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.     

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Fort Myers Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today the filing of a criminal complaint charging Taqiy Lewis (27, Lakeland) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Lewis faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. 

According to the criminal complaint, on December 24, 2020, M.C., a 70-year-old woman, was outside her Lakeland home with her family, including young children. At approximately 5:30 p.m., Lewis and others engaged in a shootout just outside M.C.’s residence. M.C. was struck twice and killed. A.L., a thirteen-year-old child, was also shot and wounded.  

More than two years later, on February 9, 2023, during an unrelated investigation, ATF special agents and officers from the Lakeland Police Department recovered a Kahr CM9 9mm pistol while executing a search warrant. Forensic testing using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) confirmed that this firearm was the one used to kill M.C. and injure A.L. Further investigation revealed that six casings collected from the crime scene, two spent projectiles recovered from a home, and a bullet recovered from M.C.’s body were all fired by Lewis and the Kahr CM9 pistol he possessed. At the time of the shooting, Lewis was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. 

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lakeland Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Shadarien Lamarr Ward (22, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Ward faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on the evening of September 1, 2024, Ward robbed a pizza shop near downtown Fort Myers at gunpoint, pistol-whipping an employee in the process. After grabbing the cash register drawer and approximately $700 in cash, Ward fled the area on foot. Though he was hooded and masked during the robbery, Ward was later identified by law enforcement after an extensive review of surveillance cameras in the area that tracked him to a nearby motel.

Ward, a registered sex offender, was wearing a GPS monitor at the time of the robbery as part of his state sex offender probation, which helped law enforcement retrace his steps leading up to and immediately following the robbery. Although he cut off his GPS monitor and absconded from supervision following the robbery, Ward was located and arrested at a North Fort Myers motel soon thereafter.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Myers Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.