Middle District of Florida

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has found David Robinson, Jr. (24, Tampa) guilty of possessing an unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm. Robinson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2023. Robinson had been indicted on October 11, 2022.

According to evidence presented at trial, deputies from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office encountered Robinson in September 2022. Robinson had in his possession a loaded short barrel rifle. The barrel length was approximately 12.5 inches long. The rifle was not registered to Robinson in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer record.  

This case was investigated by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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 – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Timothy Eric Evans (41, Leesburg) under the Armed Career Criminal Act to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the handgun and ammunition used in the offense. Evans had pleaded guilty on June 8, 2022.

According to court documents, on May 21, 2021, officers from the Tavares Police Department discovered Evans in possession of a stolen vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers located MDMA and a loaded handgun in the center console. Evans admitted that the MDMA belonged to him but denied possessing the firearm. An analysis of Evans’s cellphone revealed a large volume of messages and images of illegal narcotics and firearms, including messages in which Evans tried to buy and sell firearms.

Evans has eight prior state felony convictions, including attempted strongarm robbery (1998), robbery with a firearm (1998), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (1998), strongarm robbery (2003), attempted second-degree murder (2008), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2008), sale of cocaine (2008), and possession of cocaine (2020). Therefore, he is 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 our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Tavares Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Nacoe Ray Brown (55, Baltimore, Maryland) to 10 years in federal prison for bank robbery and violating the terms of his supervised release. The penalties included 8 years for the robbery offense and 2 years consecutive for violating the terms of his supervised release related to his previous convictions for bank robbery in the District of Maryland. Brown had pleaded guilty on January 4, 2023.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Brown was previously convicted of robbing three banks in the Baltimore area in 2001. After a federal jury convicted him of the robberies, he was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. In 2020, Brown was released early on compassionate release grounds based upon concerns over the pandemic. Brown then began serving his term of supervised release under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office in Baltimore.

On June 28, 2022, while visiting Florida, Brown robbed the McCoy Federal Credit Union in Belle Isle. Wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, a surgical style facemask, and plastic gloves, Brown passed a note to the teller threatening that he had a gun and demanding money. He fled the bank with $4,296 in stolen cash. Surveillance cameras captured Brown as he appeared to the teller during the robbery:

A witness watched Brown flee the bank and enter a nearby gas station where he had staged a change of clothes. The witness reported this to the Belle Isle Police Department, who quickly responded and located Brown at the hotel where he was staying. Police recovered the demand note and the stolen cash from Brown’s bag. They also recovered the disguise he had discarded in the restroom of the gas station.

After he was arrested, Brown told authorities that he committed the bank robbery because he was filming a movie in Florida and had run out of money to pay for the production.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Belle Isle Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.

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 Tevin OBrian Oliver (30, Homestead), Jameal Kaia Phillip (30, Trinidad and Tobago), and Edward Soloman King III (31, Tampa) have pleaded guilty to federal charges. Oliver and Phillip pleaded to conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, and King pleaded guilty to disposing of a firearm to an alien who had been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa. Oliver and Phillip each face a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. King faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The defendants also agreed to forfeit various firearms, ammunition, and related items, which facilitated the offenses.

According to the plea agreements, Oliver, Phillip, and King were part of a ring that unlawfully exported firearms, firearms components (including upper/lower receivers and gun parts kits), and related items from Florida to Trinidad and Tobago between 2019 and 2022. Oliver and Phillip are both nationals of Trinidad. The firearms, which included pistols and long rifles, and related equipment were concealed within boxing/fight equipment, speakers, and other household items to avoid detection by law enforcement and customs authorities. King helped Phillip and Oliver acquire and transfer firearms in the Tampa area. Conspirators also acquired firearms from different sellers through straw purchases, falsely representing the identities of the actual purchasers and recipients of the firearms, as well as their ultimate destination.

On or about April 7, 2021, Oliver shipped a package concealing and containing various firearms and related equipment, including a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, a SAR Arms SAR-9 9mm pistol, a Taurus G3 9mm pistol, and a Ruger Security-9 9mm pistol, from Miami to Trinidad and Tobago. Authorities in Trinidad seized those firearms and other related items at Piarco International Airport on or about April 22, 2021.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), including HSI’s Attaché (Caribbean), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of National Security (Transnational Organized Crime Unit) and Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (Special Investigations Unit), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.

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

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Cody Mack McCormick (35, Middleburg) today pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition as a convicted felon. McCormick faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents, on December 12, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a search warrant authorizing the search of McCormick’s home. The next day, McCormick agreed to be interviewed by a Special Agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  During the interview, McCormick told the agent that there were no firearms in his home, but that there was ammunition. McCormick admitted that he was a convicted felon and confirmed that he knew that he could not legally possess firearms.

After interviewing McCormick, law enforcement searched his home, during which they located 317 rounds of ammunition on shelves in McCormick’s bedroom.  When asked, McCormick provided the combination to a safe, which was also in his bedroom. Inside the safe, agents found 43 additional rounds of ammunition and the registration to McCormick’s car. As a previously convicted felon, McCormick is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.

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 results achieved by the Middle District of Florida’s efforts to combat fraud related to COVID-19. Those efforts have included complementary actions by the United States Attorney’s Office’s (USAO-MDFL) Criminal, Asset Recovery, and Civil Divisions, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

“The Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting the integrity of government programs established to provide relief for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “These cases should serve as a warning to those who might have engaged in similar fraudulent activity that holding those accountable for these crimes remains a high priority for federal authorities.”

The USAO-MDFL’s Civil Division, in conjunction with the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, recently announced a $325,000 settlement with Florida companies Kingwood Orlando Reunion Resort LLC and Kingwood Crystal River Resort Corp. (“Crystal River”) regarding allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act by knowingly providing false information in support of a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan forgiveness application submitted by Crystal River.

On the criminal enforcement front, the USAO-MDFL and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combined resources in March 2020 to form the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the Task Force has prosecuted 57 defendants for fraud schemes designed to exploit federal programs including the PPP, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”), Unemployment Insurance (“UI”), the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”), and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”). Collectively, these defendants sought to defraud the United States of over $65 million. 43 of those defendants have already been found guilty, while prosecution remains pending against 14 defendants.

(See chart for criminal case details.)

For example, in February 2023, Keith Ingersoll (46, Orlando) was sentenced to nine years and one month in federal prison for a variety of fraud schemes, including a real estate scam and a fraudulent EIDL application.

Also in February 2023, Daniel Joseph Tisone (35, Naples) was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison for a variety of COVID-19 fraud offenses. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to forfeit properties, an engagement ring, ammunition, and cash seized from bank accounts and must pay more than $2.6 million in restitution. Tisone, a convicted felon, submitted false and fraudulent EIDL, MSLP, and PPP loan applications containing false representations, including about his criminal history, average monthly payroll, number of employees, and gross revenues.

Further, the USAO-MDFL’s Asset Recovery Division and federal seizing agencies have completed the forfeiture of more than $16.8 million of EIDL, UI, and PPP funds that were fraudulently obtained, depriving the fraudsters of their ill-gotten gains and recovering the proceeds for the victims. More than $9.8 million in additional pandemic fraud proceeds have been seized and are pending civil or criminal forfeiture.

The U.S. Attorney General has established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Through the PPP, the federal government authorized over $600 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The EIDL program provides economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The MSLP provided support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. UI programs provided unemployment benefits to eligible workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own.

The criminal cases charged by the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force have been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, the Department of Labor—Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Service, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Small Business Administration, the Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General (SBA  OIG), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation—Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Reserve Board – Office of Inspector General, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Winter Park Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys throughout the Middle District of Florida.         

The Department of Justice needs the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Complaints filed will be reviewed at the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation.

Charged Cases

Defendant(s) (Age)

Charge(s)

Max. Imprisonment

Type of Fraud*

Intended Loss

Amount

Tampa Division

Joseph Abdo

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP

$500k

Alexander Leszczynski

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP

$200k

Charles Cunningham

Bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

PPP

$800k

Ellyn Pinkney

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL

$14M

Kieanna Garrett

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL

$40k

Nicole Bramble-King

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP

$40k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo, Candace Rich, and Jennifer Peresie

Orlando Division

Evan Edwards

Joshua Edwards

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

Bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

Visa fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

False statements

Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

PPP

$8M

Emmet Bowens

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP

$740k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Kara Wick, Chauncy Bratt, Shannon Laurie, and Amanda Daniels

Jacksonville Division

Jacob Byrd

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP

$20k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA Kevin Frein

Fort Myers Division

Venera Price

Mail fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

ERAP

$82k

Ismaelle Manuel

Bank Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years

Wire Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP

$280k

Denis Casseus

Bank Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years

Wire Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP

$298k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSA Yolande Viacava

Ocala Division

Henry Wade

Wire Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL

$500k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

Adjudicated Cases

Tampa Division

Keaujay Hornsby

Racketeering conspiracy

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

Access device fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

UI

$3M

Kareem Spann

Racketeering conspiracy

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

Access device fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

UI

$3M

Richard Simpkins

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP

$1.9M

Steve Moodie

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

UI

$1.5M

Marqus Willard Johnson

Bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years

Money laundering

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP

$500k

Omar Esquivel Bello

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL

$242k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Diego Novaes, Tiffany Fields, Jennifer Peresie, and Greg Pizzo, and DOJ Trial Attorney John Scanlon

Orlando Division

Brian Blake

Possession of device-making equipment

Maximum Prison Term: 15 Years

Access device fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

PPP/UI

$832k

Daniel Johnson

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

Unlawful transfer of firearm

Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years

UI

$2.3M

Teresa McIntyre

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses

Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years

EIDL

$730k

Jaheim Davis

Access device fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

UI

$219k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Chauncey Bratt, Amanda Daniels, Jennifer Harrington, Shannon Laurie, and Dana Hill, and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg

Jacksonville Division

Desmond Williams

Wire fraud conspiracy

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP

$40k

Kenneth Landers

Wire Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Money Laundering

Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years

PPP

$1.4M

These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA Kevin Frein and Michael Coolican

Fort Myers Division

Al Clint LaRoche

Bank Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years

PPP

$1M

This COVID Fraud case from the Fort Myers Division is being handled by AUSA Trent Reichling

Sentenced Cases

Tampa Division

Louis Thornton, III

Wire Fraud

Sentence Imposed: 42 months in federal prison

EIDL/PPP

$815k

Kary Stevenson

Corey Quinn

Conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 5 years, 10 months in federal prison (Stevenson)

Sentence Imposed:7 years in federal prison (Quinn)

UI

$1M

Bridgitte Keim

Bank fraud

Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison

PPP

$588k

Wayne Ganaway

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 4 years in federal prison

EIDL

$300k

Eriaius Bentley

Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

Sentence Imposed: One year in federal prison

UI

$3M

Rolanda Wingfield

Access device fraud, Aggravated identity theft

Sentenced Imposed: 3 years in federal prison

UI

$135k

Tywon Spann

Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

Sentence Imposed: 6 years and 9 months in federal prison

UI

$3M

Randy Jones

Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 5 years and 1 month in federal prison

EIDL/UI

$250k

Julio Lugo

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Sentence Imposed: 7 years and 6 months in federal prison

EIDL/PPP

$4.4M

Keith Nicoletta

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Sentence Imposed: 24 months in federal prison

PPP

$1.9M

Rosenide Venant

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

EIDL/PPP

$413k

Melinda Hernandez

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Wire fraud and aggravated identity theft

Sentence imposed: Three years and six months in federal prison

UI

$1.5M

Bri’antina Mills

Wire fraud and theft of government funds

Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison

 

$10K

Jorge Gutierrez Echeverria

Wire fraud

Sentence imposed: Two years and six months in federal prison

EIDL

$150k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo, Tiffany Fields, Diego Novaes, Jennifer Peresie, and SAUSA Chris Poor

Orlando Division

Jacquavius Smith

Possession of short-barreled rifle; felon in possession of firearm; and aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 1 month in federal prison

PPP

$10k

Johnson Eustache

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

EIDL/PPP

$2.2M

Joseph Harrison

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 12 months in federal prison

UI

$2.1M

Tomas Ziupsnys

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; bank fraud; aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

PPP

$2M

Holly Urban

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

Sentence Imposed: 30 months in federal prison

PPP

$1.5M

Joel Greenberg

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses while on pretrial release

Sentence Imposed: 11 years in federal prison

EIDL

$430k

Don Cisternino

           

Wire fraud, illegal monetary transactions, and aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 8 years and 6 months in federal prison

PPP

$7.2M

Keith Ingersoll        

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

Sentence imposed: 9 years, 1 month in federal prison.

EIDL

$66k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division were handled by AUSAs John Gardella, Amanda Daniels, Chauncey Bratt, Emily Chang, and Jennifer Harrington, and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg

Fort Myers Division

Casey Crowther

Bank fraud, false statement to a financial institution, illegal monetary transaction

Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1 month in federal prison

PPP

$2.7M

Anthony Bruey

Amber Bruey

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Wire fraud

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Illegal monetary transactions

Sentence Imposed:

Anthony Bruey: 4 years, 3 months in federal prison

Amber Bruey: 4 years in federal prison

PPP/EIDL

$881k

Edrica Leann Watson

False statement to a lending institution

Sentence Imposed: 15 months in federal prison

PPP

$392k

Daniel Joseph Tisone

Wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person

Sentence Imposed: 7 years in federal prison

PPP/EIDL/MSLP

$10.7M

Liliana Gonzalez

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed:  5 years of probation with 18 months of home confinement

PPP

$169k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSA Trent Reichling and AUSA Jesus M. Casas

Ocala Division

Lavelle Harris

Wire Fraud

Sentence Imposed: 27 months in federal prison

PPP

$1.2M

This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division was handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

Types of Fraud*

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

Main Street Lending Program (MSLP)

Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today the results of the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy. During the second quarter, ending on March 31, 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has charged 63 defendants for federal firearms and violent crime offenses, removing 87 firearms from our streets in the process. In addition, law enforcement seized several silencers and machine gun conversion devises. (See chart for case details)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also engaged in community outreach efforts aimed at violent crime prevention throughout the year. Those efforts in the second quarter involved approximately 313 citizens. These community outreach efforts included presentations to elementary, middle, and high school students, meetings with community leaders, and re-entry programs.   

“Our office is committed to reducing violent crime throughout the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners and community stakeholders as part of our joint effort to make our communities safer.”

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. This evidence-based program has proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in communities and developing comprehensive solutions that reduce crime. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based re-entry programs to reduce recidivism.

Q2 PSN case highlights:

United States v. Ronald Dale Perkins (Ft. Myers)

On January 17, 2023, Ronald Dale Perkins was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and for distributing methamphetamine.  According to court documents, on April 5, 2022, Perkins, a nine-time convicted felon, sold a sawed-off .410 caliber shotgun gun and methamphetamine to an undercover ATF special agent.

United States v. Brandon Corey Skeith (Jacksonville)

In February 2023, Brandon Corey Skeith was sentenced to seven years and eight months in federal prison for possessing fentanyl and cocaine base with the intent to distribute it and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, in April 2022, after officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit observed Skeith selling fentanyl from a motel in Jacksonville, a search warrant was obtained for his room. Officers seized fentanyl packaged for sale, cocaine base, scales, beakers and a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement analyzed the pistol and found Skeith’s DNA on the firearm.

United States v. Aaron Haa (Ocala)

On February 9, 2023, Aaron Haa was sentenced to 17 years and 7 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court records, on December 9, 2020, Haa was arrested by state authorities after being found with a firearm during a traffic stop. After being released from state custody, Haa was arrested again a few weeks later. During the second incident, Haa led police on a high-speed chase on U.S. 441 in Marion County. A deputy had to force Haa’s vehicle to stop when Haa started fleeing into opposite lanes of traffic. After Haa flipped his vehicle, deputies took him into custody. Deputies recovered another firearm and 70 grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution from Haa’s vehicle. At the time, Haa had at least 20 prior state felony convictions, including trafficking in a controlled substance, fleeing and eluding, and sale of a controlled substance.

United States v. LaTravis Deyonta Mackroy (Orlando)

LaTavis Deyonta Mackroy was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for three bank robberies and an attempted bank robbery. According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, Mackroy was a federal prisoner residing at a halfway house in Orlando. After staying at the halfway house for more than a month, Mackroy was given a home pass which allowed him to spend the weekend with his family. On April 16, 2022, while on his home pass, Mackroy robbed a credit union by passing a demand note and threatening the teller. He left the credit union with $3,231 and returned to the halfway house the following day. The next weekend, Mackroy was again given a home pass. He robbed one bank on Friday, one bank on Saturday, and attempted to rob another bank on Saturday, which was not successful. During the final robbery, the teller walked away from his station after reading the demand note, which caused Mackroy to flee the bank empty-handed, leaving behind the demand note. That note contained four prints matching Mackroy’s fingerprints which were on file with the FBI. At the time of the robbery spree, Mackroy was still serving a federal sentence for a robbery of a pawn shop in Apopka in 2014.

U.S. v. Francisco Cabrera (Tampa)

In January 2023, Francisco Cabrera (28, Dover) was charged with armed robbery, armed carjacking, and attempting to murder federal agents. According to court documents, in January 2022, Cabrera robbed two smoke shops and a gas station. During each robbery, he showed victims a loaded magazine, inserted it into his pistol, and pointed the gun at the victims. Cabrera also approached a victim at a gas station and carjacked him at gunpoint. When law enforcement tried to conduct a traffic stop on Cabrera, he fled at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour in heavy midday traffic, firing multiple shots at the agents and officers pursuing him. ATF agents returned fire, striking Cabrera, which ended the pursuit. No one else was struck by the gunfire. If convicted on all counts, Cabrera faces a mandatory minimum mandatory sentence of 28 years, up to life, in federal prison. The case is currently set for trial in June 2023. An indictment or criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

These cases are being prosecuted by the Assistant United States Attorneys in all five divisions throughout the Middle District of Florida. For additional information on Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit our website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/project-safe-neighborhoods-0.  

Charged Cases

 

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Minimum/Maximum Terms of Imprisonment

Firearms Seized

Ft. Myers Division

2nd Quarter

Zachary Pegg (27)

Carjacking

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment

Brandishing a firearm during commission of a crime of violence

Min. 7 years to max. of up to life imprisonment

1

Jimmy Diggs (57)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Min. penalty 15 years up to max. penalty of life imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSA Simon R. Eth.

Jacksonville Division

2nd Quarter

Byron Keith Jones, Jr. (34)

Making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm

Max. penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment

1

Antoine Danielle Pearson, Jr. (28)

Possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment

1

Bronquell Aurion Hutchinson (23)

Misrepresentation to firearms dealer during purchase of firearm

Max. penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment

0

Cody Mack McCormick (35)

Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment

0

Day’Jon Ma’Ki Major (19)

 

Possession of a machine gun and a stolen firearm

Max. penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment per charge

2

Donnell Bernard Demps, Jr. (26)

Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Maisha K. Daniels (47)

 

Stealing contents of postal package as postal employee and possessing, selling, and disposing of a stolen firearm

Max. penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment for postal crime and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for firearm charge

1

Samuel Arthur Thompson (52)

 

Possession, receipt, and production of child sex abuse material, intrusion of protected computer causing damage; production of child sex abuse material by registered sex offender; failure to register as a sex offender; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of minimum 10 years’ imprisonment and maximum of 50 years’ imprisonment on child abuse charges and up to 15 years’ imprisonment for firearm charge

1

Tony Kenneth Paul, Jr. (22)

 

Possession of a machinegun and possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana

Max. penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment for firearm charge and up to 5 years’ imprisonment for drug charge

0

David Wayne Riddle, Jr. (29)

 

Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Pocols Lashawn Jackson (38)

 

Distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for drug charge and up to 15 years imprisonment for firearm charge

1

Trevor Jonathan Wright (31)

 

Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act and mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment for firearm charge

0

Avery Fuller (28)

 

Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act and mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment for firearm charge

0

Antonio Saquan Tate (19)

 

Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act and mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment for firearm charge

0

Jameise Vaughn Christian (32)

 

Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act and mandatory min. of 7 years to life imprisonment for firearm charge

0

Delonte Antonio Martin (33)

 

Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act and mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment for firearm charge

0

Jaylaun Brown (20)

 

Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act and mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment for firearm charge

0

Lucas Shirley (27)

Possession of unregistered short-barreled rifles and transferring unregistered short-barreled rifles

Max. penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each firearm charge

10 firearms

5 silencers

Lenwall Watts (43)

 

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and distribution a controlled substance.

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment up to life for firearm charge and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for drug charge

1

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs Frank Talbot, John Cannizzaro, Laura Taylor, Michael Coolican, Aakash Singh, Kirwinn Mike, and David Mesrobian.

Ocala Division

2nd Quarter

Luis Alicea (29)

Possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Brandon Jamal Alex Grant (22)

 

Possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Christopher Worlds (36)

Possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Brady Williams (27)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSAs Sarah J. Swartzberg, William Hamilton, and Tyrie K. Boyer.

Orlando Division

2nd Quarter

Bernard Rogers (35)

Hobbs Act robbery (2 counts), bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence (3 counts)

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act and bank robbery and mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment for each firearm charge

1

Michael Jerome Virgil (28)

Bank robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for bank robbery and mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment for firearm charge

1

Carlos Aquino (41)

Possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl

Min. mandatory of 10 years up to life imprisonment

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Min. mandatory consecutive 5 years up to life imprisonment

2

Edward Charlesalton Chappell (40)

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 10 grams or more of fentanyl analogue

Min. mandatory of 5 years up to 40 years’ imprisonment

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and Armed Career Criminal

Min. mandatory of 15 years’ imprisonment

2

Rany Jonathan Parrales (35)

Making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the purchase of a firearm

Max. penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment

7

Robert Potocnak (48)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Min. mandatory of 10 years up to life imprisonment

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes

Min. mandatory of 5 years consecutive up to life imprisonment

2

Alvarez Caprio Cosby (25) and Desmond Nyshon Smith (18)

Possession of firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

3

Jeremy Deion Middleton (24)

Receiving stolen firearms and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

13

Geoffrey Gaston (38)

Hobbs Act robbery (5 counts), and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence (4 counts)

Max. penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each Hobbs Act robbery and mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment for each firearm charge

0

Rico Allen Gandy (44)

Possession of firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Antione Oshea Ladson (28)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felon (2 counts)

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes

Min. mandatory of 5 years consecutive up to life imprisonment

1

Jahroy Elijah Sackey (43)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felon

Max. penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment

Possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin

Min. mandatory of 5 years up to 40 years’ imprisonment

1

Terrell Anthony Robinson (36)

Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment

 Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and Armed Career Criminal

Min. mandatory of 15 years up to life imprisonment

1

Antavious Anton Gray, Jr. (22)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Allen Lee Glover (24)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felon (2 counts)

Max. penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment

2

Leo Lamar Massey, III (47)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felon

Max. penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment

1

Jatariuis Nyquan Horne (26)

Possession of ammunition by convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Michael Joseph Hathaway (37)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Dana Hill, Megan Testerman, Kara Wick, Michael Felicetta, Terry Livanos, Ranganath Manthripragada, John Gardella, Aakash Singh, David Pardo, Stephanie McNeff, Beatriz Gonzalez, and Ashley Washington.

Tampa Division

2nd Quarter

Evan Ingram (42)

Distribution of controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, and mandatory min. of 15 years up to life imprisonment for each possession of firearm and ammunition charge

1

Nicholas Quinton Hanson (32)

Marcus Dewonn Mobley, Jr. (22)

Possession of ammunition as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years imprisonment

Possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

2

Terrance Paul Snow (22)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Martez Manning (26)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Meccos Donta Allen (38)

Unlawfully possessing a firearm

Mandatory min. of 15 years up to life imprisonment

1

Clinton Justesen (48)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and 20 years’ imprisonment for the drug offense

3

Francisco Cabrera (28)

Armed robbery, armed carjacking, and attempting to murder federal agents

Mandatory minimum 28 years up to life imprisonment

0

Dempsey Gilmore (32)

Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon

Maximum penalty of life imprisonment

1

Jojuan Lindsey (27)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

Maximum penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Dartis Cobb (35)

Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

0

Demetrius Sanchez Mitchell (38)

Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Shawn Lanier Lowman (23)

Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

2

Leonon Ricky Davis (37)

Felon in possession of a firearm

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Michelle Denise Herds (44)

Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment

1

Rodrick Quinelle Dallas (35)

Felon in possession of a firearm

Mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to life imprisonment

1

De’Antez Morgan (28)

Felon in possession of a firearm

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Lennard Rashard Monroe (30)

Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment

Felon in possession of a firearm

Mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to life imprisonment

1

Milton Anthony Bradshaw (42)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

Mandatory min. of 15 years up to life imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Samantha Newman, Christopher Murray, David P. Sullivan, David W. A. Chee, Diego Novaes, Samantha Beckman, and Michael Kenneth.       

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Minimum/Maximum Terms of Imprisonment

Firearms Seized

Fort Myers Division

2nd Quarter

Giovanni Francois (23)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted felon

Max. penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment

Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and MDMA

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crimes

Min. mandatory of 5 years up to life imprisonment

1

Shaborn Washington

Possession of a firearm

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Alphonso James (29)

Possession of a firearm

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Jontavious Griffin (34)

Possession of a firearm

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Mark Morgan and Simon R. Eth.

Jacksonville Division

2nd Quarter

Gregory Austin Eward (25)

Conspiracy to possess and transfer unregistered firearm silencers

Max. penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment

0

Ronald Bernard Thomas, Jr. (46)

Selling fentanyl and high-purity methamphetamine while armed and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the three counts of selling fentanyl, minimum mandatory of 10 years up to life imprisonment per count of selling methamphetamine, and

minimum of 5 years up to life imprisonment consecutive for each of two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, max. penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

2

Cory Lee Kelly (34)

Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

0

Sonja Leigh Quinn (50)

Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

0

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs Kirwinn Mike, Michael J. Coolican, Cherie Krigsman, Laura C. Taylor, and Michael Coolican.

Ocala Division

 

                   2nd Quarter

 

Antonio Eugene Brutton (35)

Possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon

Minimum of 15 years, maximum of life imprisonment

2

Christopher Richard Munroe (55)

Possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon

Maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment

3

These PSN cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSAs Tyrie K. Boyer, and Belkis Crockett.

Orlando Division

2nd Quarter

Nacoe Ray Brown (54)

Bank robbery and violating the term of supervised release

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for bank robbery and max. penalty of 3 years’ imprisonment for violating term of supervised release

1

Darius Rodney Capers (18)

Conspiracy to rob a postal carrier and attempted robbery of postal carrier

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

2

Jesus Rojas (21)

Conspiracy to rob a postal carrier, armed postal robbery,

theft of Arrow Key and receipt of stolen property

Max. penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment

0

Elsie Marie Crespo (27)

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (3 counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Min. of 10 years up to life imprisonment for drug offenses; min. penalty of 5 years’ up to life imprisonment for firearm offense

1

Bengie Emannual Silva-Ramos (31)

Unlawfully engaging in the business of dealing in firearms, transferring and possession of machine guns, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of the drug conspiracy

Mandatory min. of 10 years and

up to life imprisonment

4

These PSN cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Michael P. Felicetta, Kara Wick, and Dana Hill.

Tampa Division

2nd Quarter

Christopher Alvarez (19)

Four robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for each robbery count, and a mandatory min. of 7 years up to life imprisonment, served consecutive to any other sentence

1

Patraic Setzer (28)

Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment

1

James Junior Williams (44)

Bank robbery

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment

0

Jamaal Black (22)

Robberies and discharging a firearm during and in relation to one of the robberies.

Max. penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for each robbery count, and min. mandatory of 10 years up to life imprisonment for firearm offense

1

Omar Rochester Miller, Jr. (23)

Robbery of a postal carrier, theft of postal keys, and brandishing a firearm during the robbery

Max. penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment for armed robbery; 10 years’ imprisonment for theft of postal keys; mandatory min. of 7 years’ imprisonment for brandishing the firearm

1

Thomas Bellere (40)

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon

Mandatory min. penalty of 10 years up to life imprisonment

1

Reginald Roberts a/k/a “Rudy” (22)

 

Nathaniel Keith Carr a/k/a “Nate”(28)

 

Chrishawn De’Earl Butler a/k/a “Baby” (22)

Conspiracy to commit robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing and discharging firearms in the commission of crimes of violence

Mandatory min. of 14 years up to life imprisonment

0

Demetrius Sanchez Mitchell (38)

Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment

1

Meccos Donta Allen (38)

Unlawfully possessing a firearm

Mandatory min. of 15 years up to life imprisonment

1

Yasin Carnegie (32)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Max. penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.

1

These PSN cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Samantha Newman, Samantha Beckman, Charlie Connally, Ilyssa M Spergel, Stacie B. Harris, Diego Novaes, Michael Sinacore, and David P. Sullivan.

Sentenced Cases

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Sentence Imposed

Firearms Seized

Fort Myers Division

2nd Quarter

Ronald Dale Perkins (45)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and distributing methamphetamine

Sentence imposed: four years and nine months’ imprisonment

1

Cambrel Jamal Smart (29)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon

 

Sentence imposed: 5 years’ imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSAs Mark Morgan, and Trent Reichling.

Jacksonville Division

2nd Quarter

Brandon Corey Skeith (40)

Possession of fentanyl and cocaine base with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Sentence imposed: 7 years and 8 months’ imprisonment

1

John Nathan Hemingway (52)

Possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Sentence imposed: 9 years’ imprisonment

1

Frederick Lamont Sams (41)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 7 years’ imprisonment

1

Cornelius Dewyane Moore (30)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed:  2 years’ imprisonment

1

Raekwon Cannon (26)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 4 years’ imprisonment

2

Terry Lenard Shipman (48)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 5 years of imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division were handled by AUSAs Frank Talbot, Michael J. Coolican, and John Cannizzaro.

Ocala Division

2nd Quarter

Jaedyn Tiryse Presley

(23)

 

Possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon

Sentence Imposed: Time Served: (4 months)

1

Michael Tyrone Young (32)

 

Possession of a firearm by a felon

Sentence imposed:

33 months’ imprisonment

1

Aaron Haa (42)

 

Possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense

Sentence imposed: 17 years and 7 months’ imprisonment

3

Troy Nix (29)

Possession of a firearm by a felon; possession with intent to distribute heroin

Sentence imposed: 5 years and 8 months’ imprisonment

1

Rey Daniel Facio-Garcia (29)

 

 Possession of a firearm by an illegal alien

Sentence imposed: 2 years and 6 months’ imprisonment

1

Ricky Darnell Franklin, Jr. (30)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon.

Sentence imposed: 3 years and 4 months’ imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Ocala Division were handled by AUSAs Robert E. Bodnar, Jr., Tyrie K. Boyer, William S. Hamilton, and Hannah Nowalk.

Orlando Division

2nd Quarter

Kevin Deane Jones (30)

Unlawfully possessing ricin, a biological toxin, and for possession of two firearms as a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 10 years’ imprisonment

2

Nathan Joel Arledge (29)

Possession of machine guns, an unregistered short-barrel rifle, unregistered silencers, and child abuse material

Sentence imposed: 6 years’ imprisonment

3

Carlos Tawan Reed, Jr. (23)

Bank burglary and bank theft in connection with the destruction of an ATM

Sentence imposed:  4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment

0

Daniel Stephen King (28)

Possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 10 years’ imprisonment

9

Carlos Alberto Roman (56)

 

 

Possession of controlled substances and possessing a firearm equipped with a silencer in furtherance of drug crime

Sentence imposed: 40 years’ imprisonment

19 firearms,

6 silencers,

3 grenades

These PSN cases from the Orlando Division were handled by AUSAs Jennifer M. Harrington, Courtney D. Richardson-Jones, Michael P. Felicetta, John M. Gardella, and Dana Hill.

Tampa Division

2nd Quarter

Edwin Hill a/k/a “Z” (51)

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin, distribution of fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking

Sentence imposed: 21 years and 10 months’ imprisonment

1

Damien Boatwright (23)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 6 years and 5 months’ imprisonment

1

Terry Augusta Newsome (34)

Unlawful possession of a firearm

Sentence imposed: 7 years’ imprisonment

1

Robert Humberston (39)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed:  6 years’ imprisonment

3

Thaddeus Timeaus Howard (30)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 10 years’ imprisonment

1

Raequin Smith (27)

Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking

Sentence imposed: 6 years and 3 months’ imprisonment

1

Demetrius Haynes (32)

Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine

Sentence imposed: 14 years’ imprisonment

1

Marques Howard (31)

Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit that robbery, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 17 years and 3 months’ imprisonment

1

Cedric Durham Jr. (22)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 4 years’ imprisonment

1

Dallas Robinson, Jr. (22)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 6 years and 6 months’ imprisonment

1

These PSN cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Dan Baeza, Samantha Beckman, Charlie Connally, David P. Sullivan, Maria Guzman, Shauna S. Hale, Samantha Newman, and David W. A. Chee.

 

 

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced William Franqui (37, Tampa) to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Franqui’s wife, Marie Rodriguez (41, Tampa), was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in federal prison for distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Franqui and Rodriguez had both pleaded guilty on May 31, 2022.

According to court documents, beginning no later than September 1, 2017, and continuing through August 27, 2020, Franqui and others, including his wife and codefendants Kevin Darnell Diaz Tirado, Edgardo Colon Rosado, and Orlando Muniz Escalera, conspired to distribute heroin and fentanyl in in the Middle District of Florida. Franqui, who was the leader of his drug trafficking organization, used “runners” to field calls from customers and fulfill orders. The runners distributed the heroin to users in plastic baggies for $10 per bag. Well over a kilogram of heroin was distributed through the runner network alone. Franqui also distributed larger quantities of heroin and fentanyl to other drug dealers.

On three occasions between June 17 and August 14, 2020, Franqui and Rodriguez arranged transactions and sold heroin to a confidential source (CS). Franqui and Rodriguez provided the CS with more than 83 grams of heroin. In one of the distributions, fentanyl was mixed with the heroin.   

Kevin Darnell Diaz Tirado, Edgardo Colon Rosado, and Orlando Muniz Escalera, who were all part of Franqui’s runner network, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and were sentenced in previous hearings. Diaz Tirado was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, Muniz Escalera was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, and Colon Rosado was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.

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

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Derek Wallace (46, Tampa) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Wallace had pleaded guilty on November 29, 2022.

According to court documents, on January 5, 2022, Wallace arranged a drug transaction with a confidential source. Officers arrested Wallace when he arrived at the transaction location, he had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his possession. An additional 45 grams of fentanyl and 234 grams of methamphetamine were located in his residence. Wallace was on probation at the time.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Anthony David Keels (61, Titusville) to 15 years in federal prison. In December 2022, Keels had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as using a minor to distribute methamphetamine.

According to evidence admitted at sentencing, Keels had an extensive criminal history involving more than 20 felony and 10 misdemeanor convictions. From March through September 2022, during undercover drug buys and pursuant to a search warrant at Keel’s home. law enforcement recovered more than 200 grams of a fentanyl analogue, approximately 190 grams of fentanyl, approximately 25 grams of methamphetamine, 3.5 grams of cocaine, and .5 grams of crack cocaine. In addition, during this conspiracy, Keels enlisted the assistance of at least three others, one of which was a 14-year-old child, to distribute methamphetamine.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey stated, "I applaud this partnership and the agencies involved who brought this dangerous drug dealer to justice. Through their outstanding efforts, an individual who actively participated in the distribution of a powerful drug responsible for the majority of our overdose deaths has been removed from our communities.” 

“Illicit fentanyl is the primary driver of the drug overdose and poisoning deaths currently devastating our communities. DEA remains committed to holding anyone who chooses to bring this poison into our communities accountable for their actions, particularly those who endanger children for their own profit,” said Deanne Reuter, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Miami Field Division. “This investigation highlights our dedication and our commitment to working with our local law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and healthy.”

This case was investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Billie Harold McDuffie, Jr. (36, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to a six-count indictment charging him with one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, one count of possessing device making equipment, one count of possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. He faces a minimum mandatory term of 10 years, up to life, in prison for the enticement offense, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the access device offenses, and a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of 2 years’ imprisonment on each aggravated identity theft offense. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 18, 2023.

According to court documents, McDuffie met the 15-year-old child victim online and enticed her to engage in sexually explicit conversations using a cellphone and social media. For five months, McDuffie repeatedly engaged in sexual contact with the child victim, even after she confirmed that she was a minor. An online tipster notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation of McDuffie’s sexual misconduct with the child.

On July 21, 2022, a search warrant was executed at McDuffie’s residence, where agents found both McDuffie and the child victim. Agents returned the child to her family and arrested McDuffie.

During their search of the residence, agents found evidence related to McDuffie’s fraud activities. The evidence included blank check paper, packets of stolen identities, multiple fraudulent debit and credit cards, fraudulent driver licenses, card encoders, and printers.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones.

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

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Fiona Eyana Palmer (39, Wesley Chapel) guilty of sexual abuse of an inmate. Palmer faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date. Palmer had been indicted on December 20, 2022.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Palmer was employed as a correctional officer at the Coleman Federal Correction Complex when she engaged in sexual acts with an inmate at the prison. In two recorded phone calls between Palmer and the inmate, Palmer discussed the sexual acts and offered to send money to one of the inmate’s relatives.

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William S. Hamilton and Hannah Nowalk.

Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Wendell Harp (24, Orlando) to 30 months in federal prison for bank burglary and bank theft in connection with the destruction of an ATM. Harp had pleaded guilty on December 16, 2022. He is the second defendant sentenced in this case. Judge Dalton previously sentenced Carlos Tawan Reed, Jr. (23, Orlando) to four years and three months in federal prison for the same offense. A third individual, Deontrae Walden (23, Orlando), has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

According to court records, Harp, Reed, and Walden wrapped a chain around an ATM at a Chase Bank on Colonial Drive in Orlando. Using a stolen F-250 truck, the men then destroyed the casing of the ATM and stole the cash boxes inside, containing $116,650. The three men fled in a rental car driven by Reed. Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office pursued them on the ground and in the air. Reed failed to stop and led police on a high-speed chase, which ended when deputies deployed spike strips and disabled the car. All three men then attempted to flee on foot but were quickly apprehended. Inside the vehicle, police recovered all of the stolen money.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.

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 Mary Scriven has sentenced Cameron Porter (35, Plant City) to three years and one month in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $5,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Porter had pleaded guilty on guilty on January 9, 2023.

According to court documents, in March 2019, Porter conspired with Christopher Alholm and others to defraud an FDIC insured bank (“Bank 1”) with branches located throughout the Middle District of Florida. Bank 1 was a member institution of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. During the conspiracy, Porter obtained a victim bank customer’s (“Customer 1”) stolen Home Equity Line of Credit (“HELOC”) account number and personally identifying information (“PII”), including name, signature, date of birth and Social Security number from a co-conspirator, and passed that information to Alholm. Alholm subsequently used the stolen PII and impersonated Customer 1 at a Bank 1 branch located in Spring Hill to conduct a fraudulent $495,000 advance of funds from the Customer 1’s HELOC account to an intermediary account at Bank 1. After Alholm had completed the fraudulent advance of funds, another conspirator subsequently wired the stolen HELOC funds from the intermediary account to offshore bank accounts. Porter then received a share of the stolen proceeds for his role in the conspiracy.

Alholm previously pleaded guilty to his role in this case. In November 2022, he was sentenced to five years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Omayra Ujaque (52, St. Cloud) guilty of three counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Ujaque faces a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment for each bank fraud count and a mandatory 2-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft county. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 5, 2023. Ujaque had been indicted on February 15, 2023.

According to evidence presented at trial, Ujaque, in her capacity as a licensed mortgage loan officer, created and executed a mortgage fraud scheme targeting the financial institution where she worked. To ensure that otherwise unqualified borrowers were approved for mortgage loans, Ujaque falsified the borrowers’ income by fabricating or inflating the amounts of their monthly child support payments on mortgage loan applications that she signed and certified to the financial institution’s underwriting department. In furtherance of her scheme, Ujaque created fictitious Final Judgments of Dissolution of Marriage and Final Orders Modifying Child Support that fraudulently represented that the borrowers were entitled to receive non-existent monthly child support payments. Ujaque then used the names of judges from the Circuit Court of the Ninth District of Florida and forged their signatures on the fabricated Final Judgments of Dissolution of Marriage or Final Orders Modifying Child Support.

Ujaque also created bogus Florida Department of Revenue Statements listing fraudulent monthly child support payments, as well as phony prepaid debit card statements listing fake borrower withdrawals of the non-existent monthly child support payments. In most cases, the borrowers did not, in fact, have the listed children and/or had never been married. Ujaque submitted bogus paperwork to the financial institution to support the false monthly income on the loan applications. Based on Ujaque’s misrepresentations, the financial institution approved and funded the mortgage loans.

This case was investigated by Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Ciera Anderson (28) and Tequan Ramsey (28), both of St. Petersburg, with conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. If convicted on all counts, each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, from December 8, 2022, through March 3, 2023, Anderson and Ramsey conspired to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and 50 grams of more of methamphetamine. The distributions occurred in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.

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 Clearwater Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.

 

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Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Ivon Javier Cobbs, Sr. (41, Clearwater) to eight years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl. Cobbs had pleaded guilty on January 5, 2023.

According to court documents, law enforcement received information identifying Cobbs as a distributor of fentanyl in Clearwater and began an investigation as to his drug activities in Pinellas County. On August 26, 2021, Cobbs distributed 25.36 grams of fentanyl and xylazine to a confidential source assisting in the investigation.

This case was investigated by the Clearwater Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.

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

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has found Wayne Allen Phillips, Jr. (45, Brooksville) guilty of one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon. Phillips qualifies for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2023. Phillips had been indicted on March 29, 2022.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial and throughout the prosecution, deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office encountered Phillips while attempting to serve a warrant for his arrest on another matter. Phillips ran from the deputies but was apprehended after a brief foot chase. Phillips was searched incident to his arrest, and deputies located a revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition in his pants pocket. As a previously convicted felon, Phillips is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

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 Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Jesus Rivas (29, Tampa) to eight years and four months in federal prison for unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Rivas had pleaded guilty on November 4, 2022.

According to court documents, On November 22, 2021, just after midnight, Tampa Police Department (TPD) officers observed a silver Infiniti use the shoulder of the road to illegally pass another car. The officers activated their police emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop and Infiniti pulled over to the side of the road. As officers approached the car on foot, the Infiniti fled from the scene and the officers radioed out a description of the car and the events that had just occurred. Another TPD officer was in the area, heard the radio call, and observed two men walking away from a silver Infiniti that was had just been parked. The officer looked inside the silver Infiniti and saw a firearm poking out from under the driver’s seat and radioed his findings. The officers from the earlier traffic stop responded to the scene and saw the two men walking, approached them. Rivas was one of the two men. During an interview with the officers, Rivas admitted that he had been driving the silver Infiniti and that he had fled from the scene.

During a search of the silver vehicle, officers located a ghost gun—a firearm that is assembled from different parts of firearms—loaded with 22 rounds of Blazer ammunition under the driver’s seat. After collecting a DNA sample from Rivas and the swabbing the found gun for a comparable, forensic testing determined that the samples matched. As a previously convicted felon, Rivas 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 Charlie D. Connally.

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 the return of an indictment charging Ionut Vaduva (34, Orlando) with 11 counts of bank fraud and 2 counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Vaduva faces up to 30 years in federal prison on each bank fraud count, a consecutive minimum mandatory penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment for each aggravated identity theft count, and payment of restitution to the victims he defrauded.

According to the indictment, Vaduva obtained donation checks made payable to various religious institutions by stealing them from mail receptacles at churches located throughout the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere. Vaduva then deposited the stolen checks, using ATM machines, into various bank accounts that he controlled. In total, Vaduva deposited more than $150,000 in stolen donation checks into his accounts.

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 United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, with the assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.

 

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Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Ethan Rabin Coleman (33, Green Cove Springs) to six years and eight months in federal prison for distributing videos of children being sexually abused. The court also ordered Coleman serve a five-year term of supervised release and pay $31,000 to victims of his offenses. Coleman entered a guilty plea October 20, 2022.

According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Jacksonville received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that four files depicting child sexual abuse had been uploaded over the internet on January 6, 2021. The report indicated that the upload of the files came from an account with the username of “bige1131990,” an associated email address, and an IP (Internet Protocol) address that traced back to an address in Green Cove Springs. After reviewing the files and upon further investigation, HSI agents and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office executed a federal search warrant at the residence on November 9, 2021. During the execution of the search warrant, agents encountered Coleman, who exited the residence holding a phone in his hand. An onsite preview of the phone yielded numerous files depicting the sexual abuse of children, including one of the files identified in the reported uploads.

During an interview with law enforcement, Coleman admitted that the associated email address belonged to him and acknowledged that he “got banned for some reason” from a social media account reported by NCMEC. At first, Coleman denied sending any child sexual abuse files over the social media application. When asked again, he acknowledged such files were shared in a group to which he belonged. Further, Coleman admitted to viewing the files on multiple occasions, downloading files showing children being sexually abused from a file-sharing application onto his phone, sharing images with others, and acknowledged knowing the individuals depicted being sexually abused were young, including a file depicting the sexual assault of a toddler. When asked why he thought it was wrong, Coleman stated, “Because they’re little kids.”

“This predator, knowing it was images of children being sexually abused, decided to feed his perversion by collecting, viewing, and sharing the digital files many times over with others on the internet,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Thanks to our partnership with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the efforts of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, we have pulled another predator offline and stopped him from his continued victimization of children.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

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 – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Jeremy Brown (48, Tampa) to seven years and three months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of unregistered short-barrel firearms, possession of unregistered explosive grenades, improper storage of explosive grenades, and retention of classified information. In addition, he was ordered to forfeit the unregistered devices traceable to the offense, pay child support arrears and a special assessment in the amount of $525.

Brown was found guilty after a jury trial on December 12, 2022. According to evidence presented at trial, on Sept. 30, 2021, the FBI executed an arrest and search warrant at Brown’s residence in Tampa. During the search, agents found an unregistered AR-15-style rifle, modified to have a 10” barrel, in Brown’s bedroom. Agents also found a sawed-off shotgun, also unregistered, on a couch inside of Brown’s recreational vehicle (RV), which was parked near his home. Inside a briefcase next to the shotgun, agents found a classified Trip Report that Brown had authored shortly before he retired from the U.S. Special Forces. Inside the bedroom of that same RV, agents found an ammunition vest containing two M-67 fragmentation grenades hidden in the pockets. U.S. Army records confirmed that the grenades had originally been in the possession of the U.S. Army.

Trial evidence also established that Brown had served as a weapons sergeant in the Special Forces, which would have given him access to M-67 fragmentation grenades. Finally, the evidence established that the classified Trip Report contained highly sensitive information about U.S. Department of Defense intelligence – gathering tactics, techniques, and procedures, including information about a human source that, if released, could have caused the source to be arrested, tortured, or killed.

“The communities we serve can be assured by investigations such as this that the FBI and its law enforcement partners are working diligently and tirelessly to support the mission of protecting the American people and upholding the United States Constitution,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge David Walker.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Risha Asokan, and by National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section Trial Attorney Menno Goedman.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Trevor Lang (29, Oviedo) to 30 years in federal prison for receipt of child sex abuse material. The court also ordered Lang to forfeit a computer and hard drive which were used in the commission of the offense. Lang had pleaded guilty on November 17, 2022.

According to court documents, after a cyber tip was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), federal agents executed a search warrant on Lang’s residence and recovered several electronic devices. A search of those devices revealed that Lang had sent, received, and viewed hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. At the time, Lang was on sex offender probation for a prior state offense.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.

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

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Preston Percyville Cresser (22, Orlando) to 40 years in federal prison for production and possession of child sexual abuse material, to by followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The court also ordered Cresser to forfeit the electronic device utilized in the commission of the offense and to register as a sex offender. Cresser had pleaded guilty on December 7, 2022.

According to court documents, Cresser engaged in a “sextortion” scheme where he would engage minor females on various social media platforms and coerce them to create and send him child sexual abuse material. Cresser would demand additional sexual images or videos, and if the victim did not want to comply, would threaten to send the previous images to the victim’s family or post them to social media. Cresser would often demand that the minor video-call him, and he would surreptitiously record the minor performing the requested sexual acts.

“This investigation demonstrates the FBI and its law enforcement partners’ vigilance in rescuing young victims of sextortion and ensuring justice for their abusers,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “We’ve seen an alarming increase in sextortion schemes and encourage parents and caregivers to talk to their children about it. You can find information at www.fbi.gov/stopsextortion.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Apopka Police Department, and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.

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 that Jamica Nelms, Capriesha Cummings, Camille Harper, and Ashley Flournoy have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit tax fraud and aiding or assisting in the preparation of false income tax return documents. Each faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, from January 2017 through April 2019, Nelms, Cummings, Flournoy, and Harper were income tax return preparers at Business #1 in St. Petersburg. They conspired to defraud the United States by preparing false income tax returns for numerous clients of Business #1 in order for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to issue tax refunds in excess of what the clients were entitled to receive. In doing so, Nelms, Cummings, Flournoy, and Harper documented on Schedule C forms they prepared that clients owned fictitious businesses which maximized the clients’ ability to claim the Earned Income Credit on their tax returns and thereby increase their tax refunds. They also fraudulently reported that clients were entitled to claim credits for fuel taxes or education expenses paid to make it appear that their clients were entitled to tax refunds.

“The defendants’ admissions today stress the importance of the taxpayer acting as the first line of defense against unscrupulous preparers and their scams,” said IRS-CI Tampa Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne. “With the filing season deadline just a week away, this investigation is a timely reminder about why the taxpayer must do their due diligence when selecting a preparer because ultimately you are responsible for your return.”     

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo, Jay Trezevant, and Maria Guzman.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Frantz Brignol has pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of failing to file a tax return. Brignol faces up to six years in federal prison on the offenses. A federal grand jury had returned the indictment against Brignol on November 22, 2022. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the court records, Brignol, a dentist, had amassed almost $900,000 in tax liabilities to the IRS. Between approximately 2014 and 2020, Brignol evaded his tax payments by hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in his mother’s bank accounts (for which he had signatory authority), trading funds overseas, and failing to disclose a bank account to the IRS. Despite an annual income of more than $200,000 in the calendar year 2020, Brignol also failed to file an income tax return as required under federal law.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James John Hall (34, Zephyrhills) has pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully making a firearm (destructive device). Hall faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Hall has also agreed to forfeit the destructive device, which includes a pipe, Tannerite, pyrotechnic powder, and pyrotechnic fuse.

According to court documents, on November 1 and 2, 2022, Hall spoke on the phone with a man to whom he had sold firearms in the past. In these conversations Hall offered to sell the man a “pipe bomb” that Hall had built. Hall shared with the man that he had contemplated using the “pipe bomb” to target an individual with whom he was angry. The man with whom Hall was communicating was a confidential informant with the Pasco Sherriff’s Office. The confidential informant reached out to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, who then coordinated further investigation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Later in the evening on November 2, the confidential informant and an undercover Pasco Sheriff’s detective met with Hall, where the detective purchased the “pipe bomb.” When asked about future purchases, Hall indicated he “had enough to build six more now.” Hall also indicated that the device he was selling to the detective had a magnet on the bottom of it.

The suspected destructive device was then disassembled by ATF bomb technicians, revealing a metal pipe sealed at both ends with end caps and filled with suspected pyrotechnic powder, with suspected pyrotechnic fuse inserted into one of the end caps. The pipe was taped to suspected mixed explosive materials. Further analysis by the ATF concluded that the device was designed to function as a weapon and would be characterized as both an improvised explosive bomb and destructive device. ATF found no records for Hall in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record, indicating he was unlawfully in possession of the device.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. 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.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven has sentenced Enrique Marquez (26, Tampa) to 17 years and 11 months in federal prison for four Hobbs Act robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during the commission of the robberies. Marquez had pleaded guilty on December 5, 2022.

According to court documents, on May 5, 2022, Marquez and his co-defendants robbed two convenience stores in the Tampa area. During the robberies, Marquez brandished a firearm. The next morning, Marquez and his co-defendants robbed two more Tampa area convenience stores in the same manner. In addition, on May 1, 2022, Marquez shot two individuals when he and one of his co-defendants attempted to rob an individual in an effort to obtain narcotics.

Marquez’s co-defendants, Christopher Alvarez and Dyonnie Alvarez, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in this case. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for April 18, 2023.

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 Suzanne Nebesky.

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Robert Frascella (55, Bradenton) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for bank robbery. The court also ordered Frascella to forfeit $5,000, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense. Frascella had pleaded guilty on December 12, 2022.

According to court documents, on August 8, 2022, Frascella entered a bank in Parrish and asked to complete a $10,000 wire transfer. When he was advised that he didn’t have sufficient funds for the transfer, he left the bank. A short time later he returned to the bank, pulled a box from his backpack, and placed it on the ground of the lobby floor. Frascella indicated it was an explosive device and demanded money.  He left the bank with $5,000, the only money the teller had available. As a result of the bomb threat, the bank employees and customers were evacuated from the building. Law enforcement and a bomb squad determined that the box did not contain an explosive device. Frascella was identified and arrested later that day.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Sarasota division, and the Manatee County Sheriffs’ Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Kenneth Fowler with three counts of making and filing false federal income tax returns. If convicted, Fowler faces a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment as to each count.

According to the indictment, between the end of December 2013 and August 2018, Fowler, who was then working as a payroll coordinator at the Salvation Army Suncoast Adult Rehabilitation Center in St. Peterburg, engaged in a scheme to embezzle funds from the Salvation Army. Fowler falsely altered records to reflect that employees who had left the employment of the Salvation Army were still on its payroll so that Fowler could collect their paychecks and ultimately forge their signatures and deposit those checks into his own personal bank accounts. Fowler also misdirected direct deposit checks from the former employees’ bank accounts into his own personal bank account. In this manner, Fowler obtained more than $239,000 in Salvation Army funds to which he was not entitled. He then failed to include those stolen funds as income on his 2016, 2017, and 2018 Individual Income Tax Returns. By doing so, he avoided the payment of substantial taxes due and owing to the United States.

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

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Pinellas Park Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Terry Lenard Shipman (48, Jacksonville) to five years and five months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Shipman had pleaded guilty in December 2022.

According to court documents, on February 5, 2022, an officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office observed Shipman steal two alcoholic beverages from a RaceTrac gas station in Jacksonville. Shipman hid the beverages in his coat pocket and was confronted by the officer as he exited the store. Once detained, the officer retrieved the stolen merchandise from Shipman’s pocket, along with a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver. At the time, Shipman had multiple prior felony convictions and had recently been released from prison for selling narcotics. As a previously convicted felon, 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 Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.           

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 Clayton Everett Colborn (31, Wesley Chapel) has pleaded guilty to two counts of enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity, five counts of using minors to produce child sexual abuse images and videos, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. Colborn faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison and mandatory court-ordered restitution. Colborn has agreed to forfeit electronic devices and his black Chevrolet Corvette, which were used in the commission of the offense. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents, between 2018 and continuing through 2020, Colborn used a social networking application to find minors for the purpose of engaging in sex acts. Colborn, who was between the ages of 27 and 28 at the time of his offenses, created a fictitious profile named “Jason Rich” and indicated that he was 16 years old. The social networking application is designed to help people make friendships and has two distinct age groups based on a user’s profile: 1) ages 13 to 17 years old, and 2) ages 18 years and older. Using the fictitious profile, Colborn met the victims in group one—ages 13 to 17 years old. He told the victims he was 16 years old and enticed them into engaging in sexual intercourse with him at various locations throughout the Middle District of Florida, including his car, apartment, and victims’ residences. In one instance, the Ocoee Police Department caught Colborn in a public park in the middle of the night with a child victim. Colborn’s pants were unzipped at the time officers chased and apprehended him in the park. Law enforcement officers obtained DNA evidence which showed that Colborn had engaged in sexual activity with the child victim.

To date, the FBI has identified and interviewed seven child victims who all resided within the Middle District of Florida. Colborn victimized each child victim in a similar manner.

During the investigation, the FBI obtained a federal search warrant for Colborn’s iCloud account and found approximately 30 videos and 81 images that Colborn had produced of himself engaging in sexual acts with various young girls between the ages of 13 and 17 years old.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ocoee Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

Anyone with information regarding Clayton Everett Colborn, also known as “Jason Rich,” “Jason,” “Clay,” or “Clayay” should call ‪1-800-CALL-FBI (1-‪800-225-5324) or submit online at tips.fbi.gov.

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 return of an indictment charging Brady Williams (27, Ocala) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, on January 13, 2023, Williams knowingly possessed a Heritage Arms firearm. Williams is a nine-time convicted felon, including offenses of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and owning or operating a chop shop. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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 – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced Keenan Hunter (32, Jacksonville) to two years and three months in federal prison for his escape from custody from a halfway house in Jacksonville. Hunter had pleaded guilty on December 29, 2022.  

According to court documents, on October 29, 2018, Hunter was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In August 2020, the Federal Bureau of Prisons placed Hunter in a halfway house, in Jacksonville, to complete his sentence. He had an estimated release date of February 5, 2021. 

On December 9, 2020, at 9:45 a.m., Hunter walked out of the halfway house without authorization. He was therefore listed as an escapee. Paperwork from the halfway house confirms that Hunter was informed of the rules of the halfway house, including that a failure to remain there could result in prosecution for escape. He also electronically signed a written acknowledgment. Hunter never returned to the halfway house.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.

 

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Frederick Lamont Sams (41, Jacksonville) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. Sams had pleaded guilty in December 2022.

According to court documents, on February 16, 2022, Sams was seen by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer driving a stolen vehicle. Officers followed Sams which led to a pursuit where Sams fled from the vehicle. As Sams was fleeing, he threw a Glock .45 caliber pistol loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition, which was recovered once Sams was arrested.

Sams is a multi-convicted felon and was recently released from prison after having been convicted of burglary and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was out of prison less than six months before committing this offense. As a previously convicted felon, 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 Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.

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 Erotida Natasha Harden Ortiz to eight years in federal prison and Aida Cortes to four years and six months in federal prison. A federal jury had found Harden and Cortes guilty in October 2022. Harden was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States and six counts of aiding in fraudulent and false statements related to IRS tax returns. Cortes was convicted of one count conspiracy to defraud the United States.

According to evidence admitted during the trial and sentencing hearing, Ortiz owned Certified Taxes, LLC and Cortes was her office manager. Prior to opening Certified Taxes, Harden and Cortes both worked for two other tax businesses that had been closed down by the IRS. From 2016 through 2018, Ortiz and Cortes orchestrated a scheme to file taxes for unsuspecting taxpayers by filling out fraudulent Schedule C forms, which showed a business loss and enabled the taxpayers to obtain the Earned Income Tax credit. By obtaining the Earned Income Tax credit, the taxpayers were able to receive refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled. As a result, the taxpayers continued to come back to Certified Taxes every year. The evidence revealed that Certified Taxes did not provide the tax returns to the taxpayers to review or review the tax returns with the taxpayers prior to filing them with the IRS.

During the conspiracy, Certified Taxes filed more than 3,600 tax returns with the IRS, with only 1 tax return resulting in a taxpayer owing money to the IRS. For each tax return Certified Taxes charged the taxpayer approximately $400, resulting in Certified Taxes receiving more than $1.2 million in tax preparation fees. In addition, in the last year of operation, Harden claimed income from Certified Taxes of approximately $394,000 but due to a fraudulent Schedule C, which claimed expenses of $379,000 on her tax return, she was able to qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit and receive a refund of $6,375.

At sentencing, Harden and Cortes were ordered to repay the IRS $3.796 million in restitution for the fraudulent tax returns that generated tax refunds to which taxpayers were not entitled.

“Knowingly submitting false documents to the IRS is a crime,” said Ronald A. Loecker, IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge. “The defendants personally benefitted from filing false tax returns for clients and yesterday’s sentence demonstrates that willfully interfering with the integrity of our nation’s tax system will result in fraudsters spending time in prison.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

Tampa, FL – A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida returned a superseding indictment charging two additional Florida residents with federal crimes arising out of a series of targeted attacks on pregnancy resource facilities in the state. Caleb Freestone, 27, and Amber Smith-Stewart, 23, were previously charged with the same offenses in March.

According to the superseding indictment, Gabriella Oropesa and Annarella Rivera, along with Freestone and Smith-Stewart, engaged in a conspiracy to prevent employees of reproductive health services facilities from providing those services. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants allegedly targeted pregnancy resource facilities and vandalized those facilities with spray-painted threats. Some of the co-conspirators are alleged to have spray painted threats, including “If abortions aren’t safe than niether [sic] are you,” “YOUR TIME IS UP!!,” “WE’RE COMING for U,” and “We are everywhere,” on a reproductive health services facility in Winter Haven, Florida. Facilities in Hollywood, Florida, and Hialeah, Florida, were also allegedly targeted.

The superseding indictment also alleges that Rivera, along with Freestone and Smith-Stewart, violated the FACE Act by using threats of force to intimidate and interfere with the employees of a reproductive health services facility in Winter Haven because those employees were providing or seeking to provide reproductive health services. The superseding indictment further alleges that Rivera, along with Freestone and Smith-Stewart, violated the FACE Act by intentionally damaging and destroying the facility’s property because the facility provides reproductive health services. 

If convicted of the offenses, Rivera, Freestone and Smith-Stewart each face up to a maximum of 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines of up to $350,000. Oropesa faces up to a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Miami Field Office, the Miami Police Department, the Hialeah Police Department and the Hollywood Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Thelwell for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. 

Anyone who has information about incidents of violence, threats, and obstruction that target a patient or provider of reproductive health services or damage and destruction of reproductive health care facilities, should report that information to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov.

For more information about clinic violence, and the Department of Justice’s efforts to enforce FACE Act violations, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/national-task-force-violence-against-reproductive-health-care-providers.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Leonon Ricky Davis (37, Tampa) with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Davis faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

According to statements made in open court, on December 1, 2022, Davis crashed into a parked vehicle while driving drunk on 26th Street in Tampa. Eyewitnesses reported that Davis was waving a black pistol when he exited the vehicle. Davis fled from the scene of the crash on foot, abandoning the pistol, a bag of crack cocaine, and cash along the way. Officers from the Tampa Police Department responded to the scene and apprehended Davis minutes after the crash.

Davis has multiple prior felony convictions, including for possession of cocaine, felony battery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As such, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms and ammunition.

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 Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.

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.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kori Ann Moreno (26, Ponte Vedra Beach) has pleaded guilty to theft of mail. She faces up to five years in prison and payment of restitution to the victims in the case. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Moreno was arrested on November 29, 2022, by the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and subsequently released on a bond.   

According to court documents, in 2020, Moreno began working as a highway contract carrier delivering U.S. Mail on multiple highway contract routes (HCRs), primarily in the area of Ponte Vedra Beach. In July 2022, the USPS-OIG received multiple complaints regarding a high volume of stolen and undelivered mail on various HCRs handled by Moreno. On July 13, 2022, the USPS-OIG put a greeting card containing two $20 bills in a mail depository for outgoing U.S. Mail at a condominium complex on one of Moreno’s HCRs in Ponte Vedra Beach. Later that morning, while Moreno was processing mail at the condominium complex, USPS-OIG agents determined that Moreno had opened the greeting card. Agents who were in the area approached Moreno and located the greeting card which had been opened and was missing the cash. Moreno subsequently handed the missing money over to the agents.

During an on-scene search of Moreno’s car and personal belongings, agents located mail and gift cards that had been stolen out of the mail. During an interview with agents, Moreno stated in substance that since around December 2021 she had been opening mail – two to three letters a day. If the mail contained cash and/or gift cards, she would steal the contents and throw the cards in the trash. She was unsure how much money she obtained through her theft of mail.

This case was investigated by United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced John Nathan Hemingway (52, Lake City) to nine years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base – also known as “crack” cocaine – and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hemingway had pleaded guilty on October 4, 2022. As part of his plea, Hemingway agreed to forfeit the cash, firearm, and ammunition found in his home.

According to court documents, on multiple occasions, a confidential informant purchased crack cocaine that had been supplied by Hemingway at his home in Lake City. Following these controlled purchases, a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a federal search warrant authorizing the search of Hemingway’s home. On February 15, 2022, law enforcement searched the home and located a digital scale, plastic baggies, more than $11,000 in cash, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, methamphetamine, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is handling the forfeiture of assets.

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 Christopher Leo Daragjati (33, Middleburg) with seven counts of wire fraud, ten counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of theft of government property over $1,000, and two counts of false representation of a Social Security number (SSN). If convicted, Daragjati faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count, a consecutive minimum mandatory penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment for each aggravated identity theft count, up to 5 years on each false SSN representation count, up to 10 years in prison on the charge of theft of government property, and payment of restitution to the victims he defrauded. Daragjati appeared in federal court yesterday. The court ordered him temporarily detained and set a detention hearing for April 3, 2023. No trial date has been set.

According to the indictment, Daragjati obtained the personal identifiable information (PII), including the SSNs of multiple victims. Using the victims’ PII, Daragjati went to the Lake County Tax Collector and the Orange County Tax Collector and obtained Florida Identification cards in the identity of two victims. Using the two Florida Identification cards, he then applied for three different Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the identity of the two victims. When applying for the three PPP loans Daragjati allegedly submitted numerous fraudulent tax related documents and repeatedly made false statements when completing the Small Business Administration loan application for each of the loans. In reliance on this false information, lenders approved the loan applications and Daragjati received approximately $150,000 in PPP loan proceeds for the three approved loans. As part of the scheme, he also set up bank accounts in the identities of the victims in order to receive the PPP loan proceeds.

In another fraud scheme Daragjati opened four commercial lines of credit with Sunbelt Rentals, using the PII of four victims. After being approved for the lines of commercial credit under the victims’ identities, he rented thousands of dollars of equipment. Rather than return the rented equipment, Daragjati pawned some of the items using the identities of various victims or otherwise disposed of the stolen equipment. In at least one incident, this resulted in a felony arrest warrant being issued and entered into the National Crime Information Center for a victim of identity theft.

In another scheme, in January 2022, Daragjati filed a false tax return, using the identity of a victim. In reliance on the false documents and use of the stolen identity by Daragjati, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approved a tax refund in which he received a tax refund of more than $1,000 in under the assumed victim’s identity. Daragjati arranged to have the fraudulently obtained tax refund deposited directly into a bank account that was in the name of the victim but controlled by Daragjati.

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), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol – Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Download Indictment

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven has sentenced Michael Conover (32, Plant City) to 20 years in federal prison for distribution, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Conover was also ordered to serve a 20-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender. The court also ordered Conover to forfeit an Apple iPhone, which was used in the commission of the offense. Restitution will be determined at a later time. Conover had pleaded guilty on September 1, 2022.

According to court documents, federal agents received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a user on a social media platform distributing images and videos of minors engaged in sexual activity. That same user was also the subject of an additional cyber tip which referenced the hands-on abuse of a child. Federal agents executed a search warrant on Conover’s cellphone and social media accounts and discovered that Conover had sent, received, and viewed hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse.

“This predator traded child sexual abuse material of very young children online and has caused irreparable harm to his victims,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “The abhorrent actions of child predators will not go undetected, and thanks to the painstaking, tireless efforts of the HSI Special Agents, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service, he will be held accountable for his actions.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

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.

A Honduran woman was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for a large-scale conspiracy to traffic cocaine for importation into the United States.

According to court documents, from 2006 until 2015, Erlinda Ramos-Bobadilla, aka Chinda, 62, served as a leader in the Montes-Bobadilla drug-trafficking organization, or Los Montes, one of the most significant drug-trafficking organizations operating in Honduras. The Los Montes drug-trafficking organization was based in the town of Francia on the northeastern coast of Honduras. There, the organization received clandestine maritime and air shipments of cocaine from sources in South America. Individual shipments of cocaine usually carried hundreds of – and sometimes more than a thousand – kilograms of cocaine. After receiving a shipment of cocaine, Los Montes worked with other drug traffickers to transport the cocaine inland through Honduras into Guatemala and, eventually, Mexico, where the cocaine would then be imported into, and distributed within, the United States.

“Today’s sentencing reflects the Department of Justice’s commitment to holding traffickers like Ramos-Bobadilla accountable and dismantling the trafficking organizations they support,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state, and international partners to ensure that our communities are kept safe.”

Ramos-Bobadilla played an active leadership role in Los Montes. Among other responsibilities, she participated in the negotiation of cocaine transactions with other drug traffickers in Central and South America, managed the proceeds that the organization made from the sale of cocaine and, at times, paid sources of supply for cocaine that Los Montes purchased. Ramos-Bobadilla employed armed individuals to work at her direction and control, including by providing security for her and her cocaine shipments.

“The defendant and her family lead a dangerous drug cartel that brought thousands of kilograms of poisonous drugs into the United States from Honduras and left murder, corruption, violence, and terror in its wake. EDVA prioritizes the investigation, dismantling, and prosecution of organizations like The Los Montes cartel that destroy communities across nations,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Today’s sentence would not have been possible without the coordinated efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to stop illicit drugs and violence from infiltrating our neighborhoods.”

Ramos-Bobadilla also participated in procuring, planning, and arranging acts of violence, including murders, in furtherance of the conspiracy. For example, Los Montes and other Honduran drug-trafficking organizations conspired to finance the murder of the head of Honduras’ anti-drug trafficking agency in December 2009. In June 2013, along with her son, Noe Montes-Bobadilla, and another co-conspirator, Ramos-Bobadilla also participated in coordinating and directing the murder of a permanent resident of the United States in Tocoa, Honduras, in retaliation for perceived cooperation with the U.S. government.

In addition to her participation in these acts of violence, Ramos-Bobadilla engaged in bribery in furtherance of the conspiracy. Ramos-Bobadilla and her co-conspirators made payments to public officials in Honduras, including police officers and other law enforcement officials, to facilitate and protect the family’s drug-trafficking operations.

“The Montes-Bobadilla Drug Trafficking Organization terrorized and poisoned communities under Ramos-Bobadilla’s leadership,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the DEA Washington Field Office. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to the capabilities and commitment by DEA to ensure that any domestic or foreign criminal who peddles deadly drugs into our neighborhoods and puts our families at risk will be held accountable.”

“Erlinda Ramos-Bobadilla played a leadership role in a major operation trafficking narcotics into and distributing them throughout the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. “There is no way to know for sure just how much damage Ramos-Bobadilla left in her wake; however, thanks to the collaborative efforts of HSI and our law enforcement partners, Ramos-Bobadilla’s drug trafficking days are over now. HSI will continue to exhaust every resource at our disposal to bring such drug traffickers to justice and ensure the safety of the communities we have sworn to protect.”

On Oct. 8, 2015, Ramos-Bobadilla and five co-conspirators were charged by indictment in the Eastern District of Virginia with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for importation into the United States. Three of Ramos-Bobadilla’s co-conspirators have been convicted and sentenced in this case:

Noe Montes-Bobadilla was sentenced in April 2019 to 37 years in prison.

Arnulfo Fagot-Maximo was sentenced in May 2019 to 33 years in prison.

Jose del Trancito Garcia-Teruel was sentenced in February 2022 to 13 years in prison.

One co-conspirator, Tito Montes-Bobadilla, aka Alejandro Montes-Bobadilla, aka Pimpi, is deceased.

The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) supported this case.

The DEA Washington Division investigated the case with assistance from FBI’s Washington Field Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) HSI Washington, D.C., and the Virginia State Police. The Honduran National Police and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.

Trial Attorneys Douglas Meisel and Janet Turnbull of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas W. Traxler, Anthony T. Aminoff, and James L. Trump of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of New York, the Middle District of Florida, and the Southern District of Florida also provided assistance. 

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Cambrel Jamal Smart (29, Fort Lauderdale) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Smart to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he illegally possessed. Smart had pleaded guilty on December 1, 2022.

According to court documents, on January 5, 2022, at around 3:00 a.m., a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper pulled over a vehicle Smart was driving after it was observed traveling at a high rate of speed on I-75 in Collier County. The car was searched, after a Trooper could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and observed a clear plastic baggy containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, in the center console. Upon searching the vehicle, a Trooper found a loaded firearm between the front and back passenger-side seats. The firearm was loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition. Subsequent DNA testing linked the firearm to Smart, who is a multi-convicted felon. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.

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. 

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that David Wayne Hogle, Jr. (29, Cherry Point, North Carolina) has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a 13-year-old child to produce sexually explicit photos of herself and send them to him over the internet. Hogle faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. Hogle was arrested at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point in North Carolina and was transported to Jacksonville for prosecution. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents, on July 13, 2022, an FBI agent in Jacksonville began an undercover investigation to identify individuals using the internet to engage in sexual activity with children. This FBI agent (UC) posted a message in a chat room on a particular social media application (“app”) posing as the “mother” of a 13-year-old child. App user “Kaligula,” who was later identified as Hogle, responded, “Interested in domination, degrading, breeding, inc’est, and very young girls.” When asked about his age preference for children, Hogle responded, “No lower age limit.” The UC explained that her daughter was 13 years old, and Hogle replied, “Typically [I] like younger …” The UC confirmed that she and the “child” were located in Florida, and Hogle replied that he lived in North Carolina. After exchanging phone numbers, Hogle texted the UC, “So when do I get to see … your daughter?” He stated that he had previously had sex with a 13-year-old and a 2-year-old. Hogle sent the UC a hyperlink to a cloud storage account that contained 28 photos of infants and toddlers being sexually abused.

On July 15, 2022, Hogle texted the UC, who was portraying the “child,” stating “I understand your only 13, so there is going to be a lot of things you still need to learn. I [am] happy to teach you about them.” Hogle then requested the “child” take a “naughty pic” or a video of her genitalia for him and directed her as to how to do so using her smart phone. The next day, Hogle texted the UC, asked again for an explicit photo of the “child,” and provided step-by-step instructions as to how to take a picture of the “child’s” genitalia. To demonstrate what kind of picture that he wanted the “child” to take, Hogle sent the “child” a photo of his own genitalia.

The FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) confirmed that Hogle was a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps stationed at MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina. Further investigation revealed that Hogle was accessing the internet during his online conversations with the UC while onboard MCAS Cherry Point.

On July 29, 2022, Hogle was arrested by the FBI onboard MCAS Cherry Point. During an interview with law enforcement, Hogle admitted that he had sent the UC a hyperlink containing child sexual abuse materials to show to the 13-year-old “child,” that he directed the “child” to take a picture of her “privates,” and that he was sexually interested in children aged “double digits, ten, twelve and plus.” A search of Hogle’s computer revealed that it contained 162 images and 45 videos depicting infants, toddlers, and young children being sexually abused.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville, Florida and Greenville, North Carolina, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. 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.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Christopher Richard Munroe (55, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Munroe faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 15, 2023. Munroe had been indicted on December 20, 2022.

According to court documents, on November 14, 2022, the Ocala Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from the owner of a moving company who reported Munroe had stolen three firearms while packing a residence for customers. When officers arrived on scene, they found Munroe crouched down in some nearby bushes. Officers located the stolen firearms, seven ammunition magazines, and ammunition where Munroe had been hiding. Munroe had previously been convicted of second-degree murder in New York. He was released on parole in 2018. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.

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

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 Timothy Paul Longworth (43, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to bank robbery.  Longworth faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, at approximately 9 a.m. on July 8, 2022, Longworth entered a bank on Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, jumped over the teller’s counter, and demanded that the bank’s employees open their cash drawers. After obtaining approximately $4,000 from the bank, Longworth fled the scene and escaped in a van driven by an indicted co-conspirator, John Kennedy Braun. Braun is awaiting trial for his alleged role in the robbery.

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 Sherriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Frank Sebastian Visicaro (63, Trinity) to 24 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Visicaro to pay restitution in the amount of $1,088,440, the proceeds of funds laundered through bank accounts he controlled. Visicaro had pleaded guilty on December 9, 2021. 

According to the plea agreement, Visicaro used his real estate company, two shell companies, and bank accounts in the companies’ names to launder the proceeds of an international boiler room fraud scheme, which defrauded foreign victims via the sale of worthless investments. Visicaro used the companies and bank accounts to receive fraud proceeds. Some of the fraud proceeds were wired directly from victims overseas into these accounts. More often, fraud proceeds from the victims were wired to United States-based accounts controlled by other conspirators and then later wired to accounts controlled by Visicaro. In such instances, Visicaro’s accounts served as “buffer” accounts, that is, secondary bank accounts used to transfer and conceal foreign victims’ money and avoid detection by banks.

In total, more than $1 million in victims’ funds flowed into Visicaro-controlled accounts. Thereafter, at the direction of other conspirators, Visicaro wired most of the funds to multiple other financial institutions—held by, among others, boiler room sales agents or other conspirators—in order to promote the scheme and to conceal and disguise the source of, and to hinder any efforts to locate, those proceeds. Visicaro was compensated, via a percentage of the amount of funds he helped to launder, for his role in the conspiracy.

“We are committed to stopping transnational criminal organizations from targeting unsuspecting victims with fraudulent investment schemes that use high-pressure tactics,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Dumas. “HSI Tampa and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) are formidable investigative partners working together with our international partners to stop these fraudsters from taking peoples’ hard-earned money.”

“Illegal activity involving the investment industry has brought financial ruin to many people,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Ronald A. Loecker.  “IRS Criminal Investigation is determined to attack these fraud schemes by utilizing our forensic accounting skills and working side by side with Homeland Security Investigations and put a stop to this and other types of financial crime.”

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle DesVaux Bedke and David W.A. Chee. 

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Paul Edward Lee, Jr. (43, Jacksonville) guilty of attempting to entice a 14-year-old child to produce and send him pornographic videos and images depicting her own sexual abuse. In 2011, Lee was convicted of lascivious molestation and exhibition of a 10-year-old child and was required to register as a sexual predator. Because of these prior child sex convictions, at sentencing Lee faces an enhanced minimum mandatory penalty of 25 years, up to 50 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. Lee was arrested in Jacksonville on May 2, 2018. His sentencing hearing is set for July 10, 2023. 

According to evidence and testimony introduced at trial, in April 2018, an FBI agent in Illinois discovered that a 14-year-old child was having online contact with an adult male in Florida through a smart phone gaming application (app) designed for use by children. The messages sent to the child by the adult male were increasingly graphic and sexually explicit. The FBI was able to identify this individual as Paul Edward Lee, Jr., a registered sexual predator living in a residence in Jacksonville along with eight other registered sex offenders. On April 25, 2018, an undercover FBI agent in Jacksonville, posing as the 14-year-old child, resumed text messaging with Lee. During these communications, Lee told the “child” in graphic terms how he wanted to have sex with the “child,” and he sent several images and videos of his own genitalia to the “child.” On April 27, 2018, Lee repeatedly texted and solicited the “child” to produce and send him graphic images and videos of “her” genitalia. When FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at his residence on May 2, 2018, Lee damaged his cellphone in an effort to conceal evidence of his criminal activity.   

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 D. Rodney Brown.

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

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Demetrius Sanchez Mitchell (38, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Mitchell faces a mandatory penalty of 15 years in prison. He has agreed to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to his offense.

According to court documents, on July 2, 2022, officers with the Tampa Police Department stopped a vehicle being driven by Mitchell. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded 9 mm pistol in the center console. At the time of the stop, Mitchell had multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, carjacking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Mitchell is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.

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.