Middle District of Florida

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ivan Desiderio Peralta Rosario (33, Dominican Republic) to four years in federal prison for passport fraud and aggravated identify theft. Peralta Rosario pleaded guilty to these offenses on March 20, 2024. 

According to the plea agreement, Peralta Rosario is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was previously deported from the United States after being convicted of unauthorized possession of an identification card and dealing in stolen property. He subsequently reentered the United States and filed an application for a U.S. Passport. Peralta Rosario presented a false Florida Driver License and birth certificate in the name of L.J.M.M. and used the name, date of birth, and Social Security Number of L.J.M.M. in his passport application.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Diplomatic Security Service, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the North Carolina DMV Police, the Georgia DMV Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Dickson Tennessee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ivan Desiderio Peralta Rosario (33, Dominican Republic) to four years in federal prison for passport fraud and aggravated identify theft. Peralta Rosario pleaded guilty to these offenses on March 20, 2024. 

According to the plea agreement, Peralta Rosario is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was previously deported from the United States after being convicted of unauthorized possession of an identification card and dealing in stolen property. He subsequently reentered the United States and filed an application for a U.S. Passport. Peralta Rosario presented a false Florida Driver License and birth certificate in the name of L.J.M.M. and used the name, date of birth, and Social Security Number of L.J.M.M. in his passport application.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Diplomatic Security Service, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the North Carolina DMV Police, the Georgia DMV Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Dickson Tennessee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging William Ervin Daniels (45, Lake City) with distributing child sex abuse material. If convicted, Daniels faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5, up to 20 years, in federal prison.

According to the criminal complaint, Daniels distributed two videos containing child sex abuse material in a group called “Da Litl Kidz Gc” on a social media application on November 16, 2023. He identified his name and phone number in his account profile on the social media application. Daniels was also listed as an administrator for the group to which he distributed the videos.

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, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron.

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. 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jorge Giovanny Gonzalez-Lopez (42, Colombia) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the United States to Colombia. Gonzalez-Lopez faces a maximum term of five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release, although he is expected to be removed from the United Staes at the completion of his prison sentence. Gonzalez-Lopez was extradited from Colombia to the United States in February 2024, and he has been in custody since that time. His sentencing hearing is expected to be set in the next 90 days.

According to court documents, Gonzalez-Lopez is a citizen of Colombia who traveled to Florida in late 2017 and again in early 2018 and, aided and abetted by others, acquired firearms, including several types of assault rifles, then illegally exported them from Clearwater, Tampa and Kissimmee, Florida, to Colombia. Gonzalez-Lopez and his co-conspirators attempted to obliterate the serial numbers on some of the firearms so that they could not be traced. Neither Gonzalez-Lopez nor his co-conspirators applied for or obtained the necessary licenses for exporting defense articles as required by federal law.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Colombia’s Policía Fiscal y Aduanera (POLFA), a unit of the National Police of Colombia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs, Jr. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá worked with Colombian authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Gonzalez-Lopez.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Danny Ray Boree (39, Keystone Heights) has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Boree faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison on the drug charge and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the firearm offense. Boree also agreed to forfeit a Raven Arms pistol traceable to the firearm offense. Boree was arrested on September 8, 2023 and ordered detained. No sentencing date has been set.  

According to court documents and court proceedings, Boree is a member of The Unforgiven, a violent white supremacist gang. On June 8, 2023, a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) pulled over a Jeep for a stop sign violation in Keystone Heights. Upon approaching the car, the deputy observed Boree in the passenger seat with a meat cleaver/hatchet directly in front of him and a knife in a sheath, by his feet. For officer safety, the deputy directed Boree to step out of the car. As Boree got out, he observed part of a clear baggie in the waistline of Boree’s shorts. During a pat down of Boree, the deputy removed the baggie which contained a large amount of methamphetamine. During a subsequent search of the car, CCSO located a Raven Arms pistol and additional methamphetamine.

At the time of the drug offenses, Boree had previously been convicted in state court in Florida for 10 felonies, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2007, 2019). As a convicted felon, Boree is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. Boree had recently been released from the Florida Department of Corrections in January 2023, for his last firearm conviction. 

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

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.

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces today that Vista Clinical Diagnostics, LLC; Access Dermpath, Inc.; and Advanced Clinical Laboratories, Inc. have agreed to pay the United States, the State of Florida, the State of North Carolina, and the Commonwealth of Virginia $2,450,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid that contained manipulated diagnosis codes. 

According to the settlement agreement, Vista Clinical Diagnostics, along with Access Dermpath and Advanced Clinical Laboratories, billed Medicare and Medicaid for clinical laboratory services using diagnosis codes that were generated by a macro and inserted into beneficiaries’ reimbursement submissions. This allegedly occurred during the period from January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2021. According to the allegations, these diagnosis codes were generated by the Defendants and not provided by the beneficiaries’ physicians. 

“My office is committed to investigating and federally prosecuting providers who submit false claims and attempt to cheat the system,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “This case exemplifies our dedication to protecting our nation’s taxpayers from fraud.”

“Health care providers who receive Medicaid funds must be responsible stewards of taxpayers’ money,” said North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. “When they defraud North Carolinians, we will hold them accountable.”

“Medical providers who participate in federal health care programs must follow the law when billing federally funded health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement illustrates HHS-OIG’s commitment to protecting the integrity of these taxpayer-funded programs and the people they serve. Working closely with the United States Attorney’s Office and our other law enforcement partners, we will continue to thoroughly investigate such schemes.”

The settlement concludes a lawsuit originally filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida by Relator Balbina Castillo, a former employee of Vista Clinical Diagnostics, who sued under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act permitting private citizens to sue on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in the recovery. The Act also allows the United States to intervene and prosecute the action. The Relator will receive over $440,000.00 of the proceeds from the settlement with the Defendants.

The settlement agreement was subject to approval the by United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. Vista Clinical Diagnostics filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on October 2, 2023. That case is captioned In re: Vista Clinical Diagnostics, LLC, Case No. 6:23-bk-04109. The Bankruptcy Court approved the Settlement Agreement and confirmed Vista Clinical Diagnostic’s bankruptcy plan on July 9, 2024. 

Contemporaneous with the settlement, Vista Clinical Diagnostics, Access Dermpath, and Advanced Clinical Laboratories have entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with HHS-OIG, which requires the labs, among other obligations, to establish and maintain a compliance program meeting certain requirements and to submit to an Independent Review Organization’s review of the labs’ Medicare claims to determine whether such claims were medically necessary, appropriately documented, and correctly coded.

This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Florida Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (“MFCU”), North Carolina Office of the Attorney General MFCU, Virginia Office of the Attorney General MFCU, and the HHS Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy R. Bloor and Christopher Emden, Florida MFCU’s Senior Assistant Attorney General Matthew Vitale, North Carolina Special Deputy Attorney General Matthew Petracca, and Virginia Senior Assistant Attorney General Adele M. Neiburg led the investigation.

The government’s action in this matter illustrates the emphasis on combating health care fraud, and one of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The False Claims Act case is captioned United States ex rel. Castillo v. Vista Clinical Diagnostics, LLC, et al., Case No. 6:20-cv-617-ORL-WWB. The settlement resolves the United States, the State of Florida, the State of North Carolina, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s claims in that case. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Dontae Burton (39, Tampa) with sex trafficking of a minor. If convicted, Burton faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

According to court documents, Burton coordinated commercial sex acts on behalf of a minor victim after posting photographs of her on adult escort websites. Burton told the minor victim how the dates worked and the portion of money that he would receive from the dates. Burton transported the minor victim for the dates and received proceeds from her commercial 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 Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

If you suspect human trafficking, call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP. Callers may remain anonymous. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

 

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jeremiah Cundiff (19, Orlando) with possession of a machinegun. If convicted, Cundiff faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Cundiff that the United States intends to forfeit a Glock GMBH 23 .40 caliber pistol, a machinegun conversion device, and associated ammunition. 

According to the indictment, on October 23, 2023, Cundiff possessed a machinegun.

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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with valuable assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.  It will be 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.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Eddy Fonseca (25, Tampa) to 5 years and 11 months in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Fonseca entered a guilty plea on January 30, 2024.

According to court documents, Fonseca was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2019 and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. In May 2023, law enforcement officers observed Fonseca and his girlfriend travel to a firearms store. Fonseca’s girlfriend picked up a firearm from the store that she had filled out the paperwork for, but that Fonseca had paid for. Law enforcement followed Fonseca back to his home in Tampa where they observed Fonseca carrying the box with the firearm into his residence. During the subsequent execution of a search warrant at Fonseca’s home, law enforcement located six firearms in various locations throughout the home. Fonseca claimed responsibility for these six firearms in his plea agreement.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney James 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 – Two New Horizons Computer Learning Center franchises and their owner agreed to pay $1,350,000 to resolve allegations that the schools overcharged the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by failing to report tuition waivers and scholarships provided to VA-supported students and by falsely certifying compliance with Title 38’s ban on incentive compensation tied to student enrollment.

The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 (“GI Bill”) financially supports service members, veterans, and their eligible dependents who attend an education or training program at an educational institution. The longer a person serves in the military, the greater the benefits available under the GI Bill. If a school offers to waive tuition for a student receiving less than 100-percent assistance, that tuition waiver must be reported to the VA and the student’s portion reduced accordingly. Additionally, Title 38 prohibits participating schools from paying any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing student enrollments.

The United States alleged that, between 2017 and 2021, LTJ Group V, LLC, and Innovak of Florida, Inc., which did business as New Horizons Computer Learning Centers in Tampa, Florida, and Orlando, Florida, failed to report tuition waivers for students receiving less than 100-percent assistance under the GI Bill and falsely certified compliance with Title 38 by paying commissions, bonuses, or other incentive payments to enrollment representatives.

The settlement resolves United States v. Robert J. Remington, et al., Case No. 8:24-cv-511-TPB-UAM. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. No determination of liability has occurred.

“The Post-9/11 GI Bill recognizes the bravery and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans by providing them the opportunity to obtain education and training necessary to furthering a post-military career,” said United States Attorney Roger Handberg. “My office will continue to work with the VA to ensure compliance with GI Bill requirements and to vigilantly protect the program’s financial viability.”

“The settlement announced today demonstrates the VA Office of Inspector General’s commitment to aggressively pursuing individuals and schools who target veterans’ education benefits,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office.

“The VA OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of VA’s education benefits program.”

This resolution results from a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General. Senior Litigation Counsel Lindsay S. Griffin and Assistant United States Attorney Mamie V. Wise handled the investigation and prosecution of the case.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Angel Jackson (44, Astatula) with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. If convicted, Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, Jackson and others conspired to create and execute a mortgage fraud scheme targeting financial institutions. To ensure that otherwise unqualified borrowers obtained mortgage loans from financial institutions, Jackson created fictitious and fraudulent paystubs that falsely indicated that the borrowers worked at particular companies for certain periods of time and earned income that they did not. Further, Jackson altered legitimate Social Security benefit letters to reflect exaggerated monthly disability income, and she altered bank statements to show falsely inflated account balances. Based on Jackson’s and her co-conspirators’ misrepresentations, the financial institutions approved and funded the mortgage loans.

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 Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that April L. Brockman (42, Deltona) has pleaded guilty to theft of government property. Brockman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Brockman must also pay restitution to the Social Security Administration and forfeit the proceeds of her criminal conduct. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, “B.B.” received Social Security benefits, which were direct deposited into her checking account. Brockman, B.B.’s granddaughter, had access to the account via a power of attorney. B.B. died on June 19, 2021, at age 95. No one reported her death to the Social Security Administration, which continued to deposit monthly benefits into her account. Brockman accessed and spent all these post-death benefit payments for B.B. via a variety of online expenditures, Cash App payments to herself, and debit purchases. In total, Brockman knowingly converted to her own use and/or the use of another $66,016 in Social Security benefits to which she was not entitled.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Daniel Gonzalez (23, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Gonzalez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court proceedings, on January 1, 2023, a 16-year-old person was shot in a parking garage in St. Petersburg. After the shooting, officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department observed a vehicle fleeing from the parking garage and followed it for a short period of time until the pursuit was terminated due to weather conditions. Soon after, a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol was found in the road where officers observed the vehicle fleeing. The firearm was swabbed for DNA and Gonzalez’s DNA was present on two different parts of the firearm. Ballistic testing confirmed that three of the cartridge cases found at the scene of the shooting were a match to the firearm with Gonzalez’s DNA on it. Gonzalez is a convicted felon and, therefore, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

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 Anthony Rodriguez, Jr. (32, Orange Park) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Rodriguez that the United States intends to forfeit a Glock pistol and ammunition traceable to the firearm offense.  

According to the indictment, on May 11, 2024, Rodriguez possessed a Glock pistol. At the time of the incident, Rodriguez had seven previous felony convictions to include two convictions involving a firearm and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

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 Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

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.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Elizabeth Carpenter (44, St. Cloud) has pleaded guilty to theft of government property. Carpenter faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Carpenter has agreed to forfeit $183,079.60, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 12, 2024.

According to the plea agreement, Carpenter was employed as an accounting technician by Shades of Green, an Armed Forces Recreation Center resort owned by the Department of Defense (“DOD”) located on Walt Disney World Resort property in Lake Buena Vista. Between July 13, 2022, and March 19, 2024, Carpenter used her position as a DOD employee with computer credentials to access guest accounts to refund a portion of guests’ room payments to Carpenter’s personal credit card accounts. Carpenter engaged in at least 652 unauthorized transactions totaling approximately $183,079.

This case was investigated by the Department of the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Christian Andujar Rivera (26, Tampa), Irving Diego Bruzon (28, Tampa), Xavier Chase Gardner (31, Tampa), Mohamed Nidal Jaber (32, Tampa), Julissa Collazo (27, Port Ritchey), and Kyle Miller (33, Orlando) with racketeering conspiracy and various related charges including conspiracy to commit robbery, bank fraud, murder in aid of racketeering, arson, and possession with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana. If convicted on all counts, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies each defendant that the United States intends to forfeit any assets, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, these individuals were members and associates of a criminal organization or enterprise operating in Hillsborough County and elsewhere, known as “AP,” short for Alexander Park. AP engaged in narcotics distribution, bank fraud, obstruction of justice, and acts of violence to include murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and arson. In furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, AP members also committed acts outside of Florida including Oregon, California, and Michigan. Those acts include aggravated assault, home invasion robbery, and burglary.

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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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 https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Devaris Lemain Simmons (33, St. Petersburg) guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The jury further found that Simmons is an Armed Career Criminal after having committed three prior serious drug offenses. Simmons faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on March 23, 2023, officers with the St. Petersburg Police Department approached an idling vehicle registered to Simmons and smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from inside. When Simmons opened the vehicle, officers observed green leaf-like particles inside and conducted a search. During the search officers located a Taurus PT-111 Millennium Pro 9mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds of ammunition stored in the center console. A DNA swab of the grip and trigger of the firearm matched the DNA of Simmons.

Testimony and evidence presented at trial also established that Simmons had sold cocaine on three separate occasions in 2014 to an undercover officer with the St. Petersburg Police Department. The jury found that the above three offenses were committed on occasions separate from one another.  

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.

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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Albert Ayala (34, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Ayala faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Sentencing has been set for August 21, 2024.

According to court records, Ayala was driving a vehicle on I-4 when his girlfriend, the sole passenger in the vehicle, was ejected from the car. The woman was struck by multiple vehicles, causing her death. Ayala continued driving and crashed the vehicle at the base of an I-4 exit. Ayala then fled the scene on foot, leaving behind a pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. Ayala’s DNA was located on the firearm and airbag that had deployed during the crash. At the time, Ayala had 10 prior felony convictions and therefore is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

Although the firearms offense falls under federal jurisdiction and was, accordingly, prosecuted in federal court, any investigation or prosecution related to [decedent’s] death lies with state officials.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff.

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 – U.S. District Judge Sherri Polster Chappell today sentenced Nicholas Munson Troemner (41, Marco Island) to 5 years and 5 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Troemner to forfeit the firearm and ammunition. Troemner entered a guilty plea on January 24, 2024.

According to court documents, on February 16, 2023, Troemner possessed a loaded Taurus pistol in North Fort Myers. At the time, had multiple prior felony convictions and there was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Zecki Halum, (40, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana. Halum faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in August 2009, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information that a recreational vehicle (RV) would be used to transport approximately 200 pounds of marijuana from Arizona to the Middle District of Florida. Agents tracked the RV as Halum’s co-conspirator, Dale Wetherholt, drove the RV to Florida. Upon Wetherholt’s arrival in Tampa, he was met by a vehicle driven by another co-conspirator with Halum in the passenger seat. Wetherholt, Halum, and the co-conspirator followed each other first to a convenience store parking lot, and then to a church parking lot in Crystal Springs, where they planned to unload the marijuana from the RV. At that time, agents arrested Halum and his coconspirators. Agents searched the RV and found over 100 kilograms of marijuana packaged in bales and wrapped in a manner consistent with drug trafficking.

Halum was indicted on September 23, 2009. In February 2010, Halum violated the conditions of his pretrial release, failed to appear for court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Halum was arrested on the warrant on March 29, 2024.

Wetherholt pleaded guilty on November 12, 2009, to the same offense and was sentenced on April 30, 2010, to 30 months in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Chang and Kelley Howard Allen.

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Daniel Michael Mohat (27, St. Cloud) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Mohat faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in August 2022, law enforcement engaged in an online undercover multi-agency operation based out of Nassau County, for the purpose of identifying and apprehending individuals using the internet to exploit juveniles for sexual activity. During the operation, Mohat contacted one of the undercover agents, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl, via social media. Over the course of several days, Mohat engaged in a sexually oriented conversation with the undercover agent. On multiple occasions, Mohat requested that the “girl” create explicit videos and pictures of herself and send them to him.      

This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.

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, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Damien Jesse Suhr (41, Kissimmee) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct. Suhr was found guilty by a federal jury on March 28, 2024.

According to evidence presented at trial, on May 27, 2023, the FBI was involved in an operation with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. As part of the operation, a profile was created by the FBI on a dating application, which indicated that the user, “Jack,” was an adult, but depicted a photo of a 14-year-old boy. On that dating application, “Jack” and Suhr began exchanging messages and then quickly switched to exchanging cellphone text messages, in which the “child” made clear to Suhr that he was 14 years old. For two weeks, Suhr spoke to the “child” about engaging in sex with him. Suhr explained in detail the sexual acts he wanted to perform on and with the “child.” Additionally, he directed the “child” to delete his text messages with Suhr to avoid detection by his mother or law enforcement. He selected a location at a gas station that was convenient for him to meet the “child.” Suhr sent messages to the “child” requesting that he wear a specific type of underwear to the meeting. On June 9, 2023, Suhr went to the gas station to meet with the “child,” where Suhr was arrested by law enforcement officers. Evidence presented at trial showed that Suhr had previously exchanged messages with other online users about his desire to have sexual encounters with children as young as 12. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kaley Austin-Aronson and Dana Hill.

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 – Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Edward Sherwood Gustafson, IV, (31, Green Cove Springs) to 6 years and 3 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Gustafson to forfeit a Smith and Wesson pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition traceable to the firearm offense. Gustafson was arrested on May 9, 2023, and ordered detained. He entered a guilty plea on August 31, 2023.   

According to court documents, on January 21, 2023, members of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) were looking for Gustafson based on an active felony arrest warrant. A CCSO deputy observed him driving and initiated a traffic stop. Upon stopping, Gustafson immediately got out of his truck and a struggle ensued between him and the deputy. The deputy eventually handcuffed and arrested Gustafson based on the felony arrest warrant. During a subsequent search of Gustafson’s truck, officers located a loaded Smith and Wesson pistol. Underneath the truck’s hood, a travel bag was zip-tied to the engine bay area which contained cocaine, methamphetamine, a scale for weighing drugs, approximately 50 small baggies, and numerous pills. Further investigation determined that the total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 22 grams and that Gustafson had seven prior felony convictions to include felony domestic battery, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and shooting a deadly missile. As a convicted felon, Gustafson is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

“As we fight the scourge of drugs that plague our communities, we are grateful for our partnership with the US Attorney’s Office. Together we will continue to hold accountable those who choose to sell this poison in our streets,” said Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook.

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.  

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.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Victor Alexander Morales-Acosta (27, Venezuela) to 24 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. Morales-Acosta entered a guilty plea on March 20, 2024.

According to court documents, Morales-Acosta is a Venezuelan citizen and national who entered the United States illegally on September 1, 2022, by crossing the border from Mexico into Texas, at a place other than a port of entry, without inspection. On November 1, 2023, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force officers (TFOs) preparing to execute a search warrant on an Orlando residence suspected of being used in drug trafficking observed Morales-Acosta run inside the home. Morales-Acosta subsequently exited the back of the house carrying a loaded Glock 27 semiautomatic 40 caliber handgun and two baggies containing approximately 56 grams of cocaine. Morales-Acosta was immediately confronted by a TFO and threw the firearm and baggies into a planter bed behind the residence. The firearm had been reported stolen by its owner in Virginia in September 2023.

During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered from Morales-Acosta’s person a fake lawful permanent resident (LPR) card. Morales-Acosta admitted buying the fake LPR card for a $100 when he arrived in the Orlando area in 2022 and needed documentation to be able to work.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, the Orlando Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

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 announces the arrests of Brock David Fischer (27, Robins, Iowa), a/k/a “iFruit,” and Miguel Angel Fortier, Jr. (24, Milwaukee, Wisconsin), a/k/a “Destined,” on an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit mail fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Fortier made his initial appearance on June 28, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was released on conditions pending his trial in Tampa. Fischer will make his initial appearance today in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

According to court documents, beginning around December 2021, the co-conspirators gained unauthorized access to the tracking platform of a multinational shipping, receiving, and supply chain management company (the Victim Company). This access allowed the co-conspirators to enter false and fraudulent tracking information for merchandise shipped by the Victim Company on behalf of victim-retailers located all over the country.

Fischer, Fortier, and Matthew Frederic Bergwall (22, Darien, Connecticut)—who has been charged federally with conspiracy, mail fraud, and computer fraud in a separate case—served as administrators for “the Service,” a chat room/marketplace on an encrypted messaging platform. The Service sold access to the Victim Company’s tracking platform. Specifically, customers used the Service to obtain full refunds from victim-retailers while maintaining physical possession of merchandise ordered, such as high-end electronics, jewelry, and designer clothing and accessories. During a five-month period, the return-fraud scheme caused nearly 10,000 fraudulent returns and resulted in victim-retailers losing more than $8 million in merchandise.

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 (HSI) Tampa, with valuable assistance from HSI Cedar Rapids, HSI Milwaukee, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Joel David Fonseca Flores (42, Orlando) guilty of conspiring to distribute fentanyl that resulted in death. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 7, 2024.

Fonseca Flores and his co-conspirator, Misty Lynn Parady, were charged by superseding indictment on August 16, 2023. Count one of the superseding indictment charged Fonseca Flores and Parady with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, resulting in N.K.’s death, as described above. Count two charged Fonseca Flores and Parady with aiding and abetting in the possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and cocaine. Count three charged Flores with knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Fonseca Flores pleaded guilty to counts two and three of the superseding indictment on June 3, 2024.

According to evidence presented at trial, Fonseca Flores and Parady sold fake “M30” pills laced with fentanyl to the victim, N.K. Between April 2020 and April 2022, Fonseca Flores and Parady sold N.K. what she, at first, believed to be oxycodone. After some time, N.K. realized that the pills she was buying from them contained fentanyl.

Specifically, on October 31, 2021, N.K. warned Parady by text message that N.K. had tested positive for fentanyl. Parady relayed that information to Fonseca Flores. Then, again on March 31, 2022, within days of purchasing “M30” pills from Fonseca Flores, N.K. sent a text message to Parady containing an image of her drug test, showing that N.K. had tested negative for oxycodone and positive for fentanyl.

Despite these and other warnings, Fonseca Flores and Parady continued to supply N.K. with the counterfeit fentanyl pills, and N.K. ultimately died from a fentanyl overdose on April 4, 2022.

Parady pleaded guilty to a superseding information on May 24, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for August 26, 2024.

Pursuant to the superseding indictment, Fonseca Flores must also forfeit all firearms and ammunition involved in or used in the charged offenses, including, but not limited to a Ruger 9mm pistol and associated ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orlando Police Department Overdose Unit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kara M. Wick and Stephanie McNeff.

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 announces that Erlin Maradiaga-Flores (31, Honduras) today pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.  Maradiaga-Flores faces a penalty of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, E-Verify is a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. E-Verify is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The SSA and USCIS check submitted information against the records of actual persons who are authorized to work in the United States. E-Verify is a voluntary program for employers and requires documents such as a Social Security number and photo identification of a prospective employee.  

From at least 2022 through May 2024, Maradiaga-Flores used another person’s means of identification in order to defeat the E-Verify system and to commit the felony offenses of misuse of a Social Security number and false claim of United States citizenship for employment purposes.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Juan Nicolas Pachay Lopez (40, Manta, Ecuador) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance or mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance or mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Pachay Lopez faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on or about February 24, 2024, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter MUNRO was on routine patrol in international waters approximately 580 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. A Coast Guard drone encountered an unnamed four-engine go-fast vessel (“GFV”) and began to investigate suspected illicit maritime activity. The drone observed three individuals on board the GFV, which was approximately 40 feet in length with a blue and green hull, with packages and fuel drums on the GFV’s deck. MUNRO’s helicopter arrived on scene and fired several warning shots after the GFV ignored Spanish language commands to stop broadcasted via the helicopter’s loudspeaker and on maritime radio channels.

A small vessel dispatched from MUNRO with a boarding team comprised of Coast Guard law enforcement personnel arrived and gained control of the GFV. Pachay Lopez, a national of Ecuador, was one of the crewmen and was identified as the vessel master. During the boarding, the Coast Guard recovered 33 bales containing an at-sea weight of 1,725 kilograms of cocaine. 

This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force comprised of agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. 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. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday sentenced Jhon Zambrano Caicedo (37, Colombia) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. He entered a guilty plea in March 2024.

According to the plea agreement, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a panga-style “go-fast vessel” (GFV) in the Pacific Ocean, about 60 miles north of the nearest point of land in Ecuador. The vessel was suspected of drug smuggling because it had several fuel barrels, no registration numbers on the hull, was flying no flag, was operating at a high rate of speed, and was sailing in a location where maritime drug smuggling by similar vessels is common. A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter and a USCG law enforcement team were deployed from USCG Cutter James to intercept the suspicious vessel. 

The helicopter signaled the GFV to stop, but the vessel and its crew were non-compliant until the firing of warning shots. The boarding team found Zambrano Caicedo and two others onboard. A search of the vessel revealed over 3,100 kilograms of cocaine, worth more than $55 million.

Zambrano Caicedo had previously been convicted in the Southern District of Florida for trafficking approximately 750 kilograms of cocaine via a go-fast vessel on the high seas in February 2016.

This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force comprised of agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. 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.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Haynes.

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Craig Anthony (25, Alabama) to 15 years and 6 months in federal prison for distribution of child sex abuse material. Anthony entered a guilty plea on January 29, 2024.

According to court documents, beginning on May 31, 2023, Anthony distributed multiple videos containing child sex abuse material to a social media account operated by an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent in Lake County. Anthony believed he was distributing the child sex abuse material to a minor. On August 3, 2023, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Anthony’s residence in Alabama. At least one image of child sex abuse material was confirmed on Anthony’s cellphone. Anthony later admitted to sending child sex abuse material over the internet to the undercover agent.  

“The distribution of child sexual abuse material creates a permanent record of a child’s darkest moments, and revictimizes them in perpetuity,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “When predators distribute images of children being sexually exploited online, it forces these victims to confront the enduring, widespread circulation of their abuse for a lifetime. This is an unacceptable scenario for HSI, as we dedicate ourselves daily to stopping this vile behavior.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces criminal charges against nine individuals in connection with alleged schemes to defraud programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled, and to obtain controlled substances through fraud. The charges filed in the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) are part of the Department of Justice’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute health care fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “This enforcement action demonstrates my office’s resolve, and that of the Department of Justice, to protect these programs and the people they benefit from exploitation.”

“It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company, if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in danger for the sake of profits.”        

The MDFL cases are part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the enforcement action, seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets.      

The Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces 32 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are prosecuting the cases in the National Enforcement Action, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.

The MDFL has worked with the Department’s Criminal Division and the following law enforcement organizations to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the enforcement period: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; and Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations.

            The following individuals have been charged in Middle District of Florida:

• Ma Gracia Cadet, 53, of Kissimmee, Florida, was charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $9.3 million in Medicare funds. According to the information, Cadet, the owner of durable medical equipment (“DME”) companies KGA Medical Supply LLC and Sapphire Medical Supply LLC, caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME that was medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement by Medicare. Cadet offered and paid illegal kickbacks to her co-conspirators at purported telemedicine companies in exchange for signed doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary orthotic braces that were ultimately billed to Medicare. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey of the Florida Strike Force.
• Eva LeBeau, 65, of Clearwater, Florida, and Lori Lebrecht, 60, of Largo, Florida, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks, as well as with paying illegal health care kickbacks to patient recruiters, all in connection with an alleged scheme to refer Medicare beneficiaries to Prestigious Senior Home Health Care, Inc. and to submit false and fraudulent claims totaling over $2 million for home health services. LeBeau owned Prestigious and Lebrecht was Prestigious’ Director of Nursing. The indictment alleges that LeBeau and Lebrecht conspired to pay, and paid, patient recruiters per patient referral that Prestigious to billed to Medicare. Medicare paid approximately $1.3 million based on the false and fraudulent claims. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Charles D. Strauss of the Florida Strike Force.
• Robert Desselle, 46, of Sarasota, Florida was charged by indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and with paying illegal health care kickbacks, in connection with a scheme to pay illegal health care kickbacks to patient recruiters in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries. The alleged scheme involved Desselle, through his company Desselle’s Sky High Enterprise, LLC, paying marketers on a per-patient basis to recruit Medicare beneficiaries for cancer genetic testing (“CGx”) tests which were not medically necessary. As a result of the charged scheme, Medicare paid approximately $4.5 million on CGx claims billed for these beneficiaries. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Charles D. Strauss of the Florida Strike Force.
• Marques Elijah Green, 29, of Windermere, Florida, was charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $3.4 million in Medicare funds. According to the information, Green, owner of durable medical equipment (“DME”) companies Onyx Medical Supply LLC and AquaMed Supply LLC, caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME that was medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement by Medicare. Green offered and paid kickbacks to his co-conspirators at purported telemedicine companies in exchange for signed doctor’s orders for medically unnecessary orthotic braces that were ultimately billed to Medicare. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey of the Florida Strike Force.

• Lisa Williams, 56, of Lithia, Florida, was charged by indictment with six counts of tampering with a consumer product and six counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud in connection with her unlawfully acquiring and tampering with fentanyl infusion bags at a hospital. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Pizzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

• Lawrence Waldman, 57, of Miami, Florida, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to solicit and receive illegal kickbacks and bribes, as well as with illegal monetary transactions, in connection with a scheme to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. As alleged in the indictment, Waldman worked for ASAP Lab, LLC as a sales representative. Waldman used his position with ASAP to travel throughout the State of Florida, and elsewhere, to obtain genetic test and respiratory viral panel test swabs from Medicare beneficiaries. Waldman and his coconspirators used the test swabs, along with requisition forms containing forged and unauthorized signatures of medical practitioners, to obtain approximately $380,000 in illegal kickbacks and bribes for causing the submission of false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement from Medicare. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

• Erin Kim, 54, of Orlando, Florida, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances, in connection with her role in an unlawful scheme to distribute Adderall and other stimulants. As alleged in the indictment, Kim was a nurse practitioner employed by Done, a California-based digital health company. In the course of her employment with Done, Kim prescribed Adderall and other stimulants that were not for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice. The indictment further alleges that Kim and others fabricated patient files and signed prescriptions for Adderall and other stimulants where Done patients did not meet the requisite diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, where the prescriptions posed a risk of diversion, and where the dosages went beyond what was normally prescribed. In total, Kim is alleged to have prescribed over 1.5 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants, for which she was paid by Done over $800,000. Trial Attorney Raymond Beckering III of the National Rapid Response Strike Force is prosecuting the case.
• Eric Brewer, 28, of Lakeland, Florida, was charged by indictment with tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud in connection with his unlawfully acquiring and tampering with fentanyl infusion bags. As alleged in the indictment, Brewer, a registered nurse who worked in intensive care units, engaged in two similar criminal schemes to divert fentanyl at five different Tampa-area hospitals across seven different dates. In the first scheme, which Brewer executed on several occasions, Brewer stole fentanyl by checking out 100 mL bags of liquid fentanyl from locked controlled substance cabinets but keeping the bags for himself rather than administering them to patients or returning them. In the second scheme, Brewer used hospital computers to research which patients were receiving fentanyl intravenously, entered those patients’ rooms even when he had no medical reason to do so, and surreptitiously siphoned fentanyl from their IV drip bags into his own vessel; Brewer would then go to the hospital bathroom, where he would inject himself with stolen fentanyl. Sometimes, Brewer tried to cover his theft by replacing the fentanyl he withdrew with an equivalent volume of saline, but sometimes he did not. In both scenarios, however, Brewer’s actions deprived the most vulnerable patients of needed medicine. Brewer was caught when colleagues observed him acting impaired during a shift and the person who entered the bathroom immediately after Brewer exited found a bloody paper towel and needle inside. Hospital officials subsequently examined records and video and discovered Brewer’s pattern of diversion.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Gordon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
• Waymon Wallace, 63, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was charged by information with conspiracy to solicit and receive illegal kickbacks and bribes in connection with a scheme to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. Wallace, a licensed physician and an enrolled Medicare provider agreed to sign, and authorize the use of his signature on, laboratory requisition forms for medically unnecessary genetic and respiratory panel tests in exchange for cash.  Wallace and his coconspirators caused over $500,000 in false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement to be submitted to Medicare. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

A complaint, indictment, or information is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Gary Dale Thrasher (56, Georgia) has pleaded guilty to five counts of bank fraud, three counts of passport fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft. Thrasher faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each of the bank fraud counts; a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the passport fraud offenses; and a 2-year minimum mandatory term of imprisonment for the aggravated identity thefts. Thrasher was indicted on March 27, 2024.

According to the plea agreement, between May and June 2023, Thrasher obtained and used, or attempted to use, fraudulent identification documents (including fraudulent United States passport cards) containing the identification of others. Thrasher used the fake documents as a means of identification to make cash withdrawals from multiple branches of four different federally insured financial institutions within the Middle District of Florida. As part of his guilty plea, Thrasher has agreed to forfeit $25,200—the proceeds of the fraud offenses.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ocala Police Department, the Wildwood Police Department, the Leesburg Police Department, and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Jonathan Howard Kuykendall (39, Tampa) guilty of one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Kuykendall faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing is scheduled for September 19, 2024.

According to evidence presented at trial, in June 2022, Kuykendall was a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. During that time, Kuykendall began messaging someone named “Ms. Glitter” online. Within the first few messages, Ms. Glitter told Kuykendall that she was 14 years old and lived on the base with her single mother. During the next two weeks, Kuykendall groomed Ms. Glitter, gradually introducing sexual topics to her. He began by talking about cuddling with her and kissing her. From there, he began sending her graphic descriptions of various sex acts that he wished to perform with her as well as numerous adult pornography images.

All of this continued until June 24, 2022, when Kuykendall, thinking Ms. Glitter’s mom was not home, agreed to come to her house on MacDill Air Force Base. Kuykendall drove to Ms. Glitter’s house, took several male sexual enhancement pills, and approached the home’s backdoor. Kuykendall learned Ms. Glitter was actually an undercover federal agent conducting a proactive Internet Crimes Against Children operation. He was arrested on scene.

This case was investigated by the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 340 at MacDill Air Force Base, the 6th Security Forces Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, and Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karyna Valdes and Daniel J. Marcet.

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.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Clarence Christofer Ward, a/k/a Khaled Yaqud Mansur-El, on an indictment charging him with one count of wire fraud, ten counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false claim to the Internal Revenue Service. If convicted, Ward faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each count of money laundering, and 3 years in federal prison for the false claim offense, along with the forfeiture of at least $4,197,981, which represents the proceeds obtained from these offenses.

According to the indictment, between January 1, 2019, and February 22, 2021, Ward devised a scheme to defraud the IRS. As part of the scheme, he electronically submitted a false tax return to the IRS for a trust. Ward falsely reported that this trust had overpaid the IRS $4,159,229. He then received a $4,197,981.28 refund from the IRS based on the fraudulent representations he made on the tax return. Afterward, Ward used the refund money in transactions with title companies and a car dealership, including the purchase of four real properties in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Trillian Mitchell (Jacksonville, 19) today pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a machine gun. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on January 7, 2024, officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling eastbound near Golfair Blvd. and Myrtle Ave. During the encounter, the officers smelled the odor of marijuana and conducted a probable cause search of the car.  They discovered a Glock handgun beneath Mitchell’s seat. The firearm was loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition in an attached extended magazine. Additionally, a “Glock-switch” was observed on the rear of the firearm’s slide. These devices are designed to convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic machine guns. JSO officers also seized controlled substances found in the vehicle and on Mitchell’s person during the encounter. 

The firearm was sent to the FBI laboratory for further analysis. The lab report indicated that the Glock pistol was functional and fully automatic, and Mitchell’s DNA was present on the firearm. JSO listed Mitchell as a documented Six Block gang member in the Jacksonville area.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kirwinn Mike.

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 – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Kenneth Bernard Graham (67, Lakeland) on an indictment charging him with distributing fentanyl resulting in death. If convicted, Graham faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison.

According to the indictment, on September 10, 2022, Graham distributed a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl to an individual who died after ingesting it. Two days later, Graham possessed fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.  

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 Lakeland Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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 https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Pardo.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Patrick Hugh Mitchell (56, Orlando) guilty of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Mitchell faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 25, 2024.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the Drug Enforcement Administration used a confidential source to conduct controlled purchases from Mitchell to identify his drug sources. During one purchase, Mitchell was identified as the source of supply for 892.5 grams of methamphetamine. Mitchell distributed the drugs in the parking lot of a gas station where he was detailing cars and selling food. Mitchell also bragged about the high quality of the methamphetamine that he sold. The methamphetamine was tested by a forensic chemist and was found to be 100% pure methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Testerman and Michael Sartoian.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces today the return of an indictment charging Alan O. Abidogun with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and three counts of filing false tax returns. If convicted, Abidogun faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the drug offense and up to 3 years’ imprisonment for each of the tax offenses. 

According to the indictment, from 2017 through December 2019, Abidogun conspired with others to distribute and dispense oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, without a legitimate medical purpose. The activity involved the filling of prescriptions that were not issued for a valid medical reason or in the usual course of professional practice. 

In addition to the drug-related offense, Abidogun is also charged with filing false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns for the same years (2017 through 2019). The indictment asserts that he failed to report additional income derived from his pharmacy business.

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 the Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Group, Tactical Diversion Squad, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kirwinn Mike.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Sedrick Williams, Jr. (24, Jacksonville) pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Williams faces a minimum mandatory term of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on December 6, 2023, detectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) were patrolling the area of Broadway Street and Garfield Street in Jacksonville related to an ongoing investigation. During the investigation, detectives observed two men exit a residence and enter two separate vehicles before departing the residence. Detectives believed one of the men to be the suspect from the investigation but did not recognize the other individual, later identified as Williams. The suspect from the unrelated investigation entered a silver sedan, and Williams entered a gray sedan. Both vehicles then departed the residence.

Detectives followed both vehicles as they traveled along Broadway Avenue, but both vehicles drove away at a high rate of speed. Detectives lost sight of the silver sedan but maintained sight of the vehicle driven by Williams. Detectives continued to pursue Williams and observed his vehicle commit multiple traffic violations, including speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, and generally operating in a reckless manner. After Williams ran a red light, detectives initiated emergency equipment to conduct the traffic stop. Williams did not stop and initiated a high-speed chase that continued along multiple streets. During this pursuit Williams drove into oncoming traffic, forcing vehicles and pedestrian traffic off the road. Williams eventually crashed in a ditch. Williams – the sole occupant of the vehicle – then fled on foot for a short distance before a JSO officer apprehended and detained him.

Detectives searched the crashed and abandoned vehicle and located a loaded black Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus handgun and a black latex glove, which contained several loose 9mm rounds. Inside the center console, detectives found various narcotics in separate bags and a loaded extended magazine. One bag contained approximately 4.3 grams of fentanyl, a second bag contained approximately 2.1 grams of cocaine base, and a third bag contained 10.5 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine. Detectives learned the firearm had been reported stolen in Jacksonville in 2022.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh.

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.

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Krishna Jade Janosky (29, Cocoa) with unauthorized entry onto a military installation, grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and damaging government property. If convicted on all counts, Janosky faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, on February 7, 2024, Janosky entered Patrick Space Force Base, a military installation within the jurisdiction of the United States, without lawful authority or credentials to enter the installation. While on the base, Janosky obtained and used the motor vehicle of another individual, knowing she was not entitled to the use of the vehicle. The indictment also charges Janosky with fleeing from law enforcement officers at a high rate of speed and in a manner demonstrating a wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property. Finally, Janosky is alleged to have willfully damaged the Patrick Space Force Base flightline gate.

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 Air Force Office of Special Investigation, the 45th Security Forces Squadron, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Hector Villarreal (36, Pasadena, TX) with possession with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. If convicted, Villarreal faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Villarreal that the United States intends to forfeit any assets involved in the offense.

According to the indictment and public documents, on May 28, 2024, deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, working collaboratively with deputies from the Lowndes County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office, were performing drug interdiction work. As Villarreal was driving a rental SUV eastbound on I-10 in Lake City, Florida, the deputies witnessed Villarreal’s vehicle fail to maintain its lane. The deputies followed Villarreal’s vehicle as it turned onto the I-75 interchange to proceed south. When deputies made a traffic stop, Villarreal told them that he was on federal supervised release for narcotics trafficking out of Texas. Ultimately, a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of sealed cardboard boxes. When a Lowndes County drug canine alerted on the vehicle, deputies found 30 kilograms of cocaine inside the boxes.

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 Drug Enforcement Administration, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A. Tysen Duva.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Albert Bayer (64, South Carolina, formerly of Hillsborough County, Florida) to one year and one day in federal prison for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $76,547, the proceeds of the offense. Bayer entered a guilty plea in March 2024.

According to court documents, Bayer’s wife, L.D., was receiving Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits. L.D. passed away on March 31, 2015, but her death was never reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Consequently, the SSA continued to make the benefit payments. From April 2015 through June 2023, Bayer accessed the funds meant for L.D. and used them to pay his own personal expenses. In total, Bayer knowingly and willfully stole approximately $76,547 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Donald Robert Smith (29, Tampa) to 24 years in federal prison for three separate Hobbs Act robberies, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to one of the robberies, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to another of the robberies. As part of his plea agreement, Smith has agreed to forfeit the firearm used in the offenses.

According to court documents, on August 1, 2022, Smith robbed a Tampa business pointing a firearm at business employees. Two days later, Smith robbed another Tampa business by pointing a firearm at the cashier and demanding money. During the investigation into the first two robberies, a search warrant for Smith’s vehicle was executed. Inside the vehicle, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives located a Taurus 9mm handgun. This firearm was then linked by a shell casing to another robbery on August 1, 2022. During this robbery, Smith approached an individual as he was turning in his work truck for the night. Smith approached the victim and demanded his wallet. As Smith walked away, he discharged the firearm.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James 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, Florida – U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Christopher Lee Thompson (46, Palmetto) to 60 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Thompson to forfeit two cellphones, an external hard drive, a box of DVDs, and a 128GB Micro SD Card, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Thompson entered a guilty plea on March 6, 2024.

According to court documents, law enforcement investigated Thompson based on allegations made against him for sexual battery of a five-year-old child. After securing and executing a residential search warrant, law enforcement discovered Thompson possessed nearly 20,000 images of child sexual abuse material and produced his own child sexual abuse material with several different victims, all 13 years of age or younger.

“While it's heartbreaking to learn of yet another case of innocence lost because of a sexual predator, it's reassuring to learn of the continued dedication of special agents and our law enforcement partners in making sure this predator spends a long time in prison for his despicable crime,” said FBI Tampa Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford.

This case was investigated by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.

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.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Lewis Tinson, Jr. (29, Ocala) on an indictment charging him with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on May 22, 2024.

According to the indictment, Tinson is a four-time convicted felon. Each of his prior felony convictions involves firearms. Specifically, he has been convicted of carjacking with a firearm (2012), possession of a firearm by a delinquent (2012), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2018), and shooting at, within, or into a vehicle (2018). As a convicted felon, Tinson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. On August 27, 2021, Tinson was in possession of three firearms and multiple types of ammunition. On September 6, 2021, he was again in possession of another firearm and ammunition.

An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

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.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Janai Chanel Stephens (38, Opa Locka) on a two-count indictment charging her with making a materially false statement or representation to a federal agency and providing contraband to a federal prisoner. If convicted, Stephens faces up to five years in federal prison. A federal grand jury indicted Stephens on May 28, 2024. 

According to the indictment, on March 10, 2024, Stephens made a materially false statement to a Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer regarding whether she was in possession of tobacco, which is a prohibited item, when she entered the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex. Afterwards, she provided the tobacco to an inmate at that prison facility.

An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted as part of a U.S. Department of Justice task force aimed at rooting out contraband and misconduct in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The task force was led by the BOP and the DOJ Office of the Inspector General, with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. 

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Nicole Harding (38, Clermont) has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Harding faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court records, between March 28 and April 14, 2021, Harding devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Association by submitting a false Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan application. PPP loans were one of the sources of economic relief provided for by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. Harding provided false representations in her PPP application to secure the loan. The loan proceeds ($19,965) were later electronically transferred into her bank account. Harding then used the money for personal expenses, including a tattoo.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Aaron Diggs (25, Tampa) to 30 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Diggs to forfeit a semi-automatic firearm, which is traceable to the offense. Diggs entered a guilty plea on March 20, 2024.

According to court documents, during a traffic stop, Diggs was found to be in possession of a semi-automatic firearm which was located under the front driver’s seat. At the time, Diggs had a prior felony conviction in Florida. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.

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 that Henry Obdulio Cordon (38, Antioch, CA) has pleaded guilty to producing a photo of him sexually abusing a child. Cordon faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Cordon was arrested in California on May 16, 2019, and has been in custody since that time. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 23, 2024.

According to court documents, the investigation began in April 2019 when an internet service provider sent a series of CyberTipline reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). These reports related to the discovery of child sexual abuse photos detected within an email account that geolocated to California. Law enforcement officers traced the email account, which contained at least five photos depicting children being sexually abused, to Cordon.

On May 9, 2019, the internet service provider submitted additional CyberTipline reports to NCMEC related to other accounts that were linked to and used by Cordon. One of the photos in the email account depicted a young child being sexually abused by an adult male. Metadata associated with the photo indicated that it had been produced on July 11, 2011, using a Blackberry device. Additional search warrants revealed that the email account was used during April and May 2019 at Cordon’s apartment.

On May 16, 2019, during the execution of a search warrant at Cordon’s residence, Cordon admitted that he had searched the internet for “nude teen pictures.” When asked if he ever had a Blackberry device, Cordon said he had one about nine years before when he lived in Florida. Investigators asked him about a particular photo depicting the sexual abuse of a young child that that was recovered from his email account. When asked who the child was and how he met her, Cordon eventually admitted that he knew what they were talking about, he knew the child depicted in this photo, and that she was “maybe” under four years of age. Cordon claimed that his sexual abuse of this child only happened one time, and that he remembered emailing this photo to himself to save. He also admitted taking the picture with his Blackberry.

Further investigation confirmed that Cordon had taken the photo and sent it to his email account. The photo was also recovered from the device he possessed in California on May 16, 2019. Law enforcement authorities in Florida confirmed the identity and age of the child, as well as the location in Florida where Cordon had taken the photo.     

This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force of Contra Costa County (California), the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

This case was 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 victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Janet Williams (44, Brooksville) today pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements to federal agents. Williams faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on February 8, 2023, Williams’s son, Sheldon Robinson, was arrested in connection with the murder of I.S., a 17-year-old Hernando County High School student. Immediately after his arrest, Williams found approximately $6,000 Robinson had hidden in two different places in her residence, money Robinson had been paid to murder I.S.

On August 9, 2023, Williams was interviewed by special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and detectives from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office detectives. Williams repeatedly denied finding any money that belonged to Robinson in her home. On August 17, 2023, Robinson spoke to Williams. During this call, Williams told Robinson about ATF’s visit, telling him; “Feds came to the house. They took over the case.” At one point, she says, “They were asking me…did you come into a whole bunch of money? I said No. But, you did come into a whole bunch of money.” 

On September 20, 2023, during the execution of a federal search warrant at Williams’s residence, Williams again told federal agents she had not found any money in the residence that belonged to Robinson. Williams also denied ever seeing Robinson with a firearm or knowing he possessed one. Agents executed a federal search warrant on Williams’s phone at the same time they searched her residence. Her cellphone contained numerous photos of Robinson routinely possessing firearms, including possessing them in Williams’s home.

Sheldon Robinson is pending trial for his alleged role in this case.

This case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office (Fifth Judicial Circuit). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.