Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found David Alan Quarles (51, Odessa) guilty of conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, threats, fraud, and coercion; importation of an alien for the purpose of prostitution; transportation of an individual in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution; and using a facility of interstate commerce in aid of prostitution. Quarles faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 24, 2023. Quarles was indicted on January 13, 2021.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, for decades, Quarles recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, and maintained young women and forced them to have sex with men in exchange for money. Quarles used physical violence, threats of violence, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and financial abuse to force and coerce the victims to engage in commercial sex across the United States and throughout the Middle District of Florida. The evidence revealed Quarles frequented strip clubs and bikini bars to target and recruit young vulnerable women who were in difficult financial situations. Many of the victims lacked a stable home and had recently aged out of the foster care system. Quarles promised the victims he would provide everything they had been desiring – financial security, love and affection, and a family. Quarles and his conspirators directed the victims to engage in prostitution, posted advertisements featuring these victims, and arranged for the victims to travel across the United States to work. In addition to recruiting and obtaining women from the United States, Quarles also imported non-United States citizens into the country for the purposes of prostitution.

Quarles required that his victims send him the money that they earned or seek his permission to spend funds on necessities. The evidence demonstrated that while Quarles lacked any legitimate source of income, he benefited financially from the victims. He used their earnings to rent large homes, buy luxury clothing items, and purchase high-end cars, including a Range Rover and a Porsche Panamera. At trial, Quarles testified he had been working as a “pimp” since at least 1994 but denied needing to force or coerce the victims to engage in commercial sex.

As a result of his conviction, the United States is forfeiting multiple electronic devices that facilitated these offenses.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell and former Assistant United States Attorney Colin McDonell. Assistant United States Suzanne Nebesky is handling the forfeiture.

This case resulted from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts to collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to detect, investigate, and prosecute coercive human trafficking in the Tampa area. This includes the trafficking of minors, forced labor, transnational sex trafficking, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Christopher Alholm (39, Clearwater) to five years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. 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. Alholm had pleaded guilty plea on August 4, 2022.

According to court documents, in March 2019, Alholm conspired with others to defraud a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 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. Alholm received a victim bank customer’s (“Customer 1’s”) stolen Home Equity Line of Credit (“HELOC”) account number and personally identifying information (“PII”), including Customer 1’s name, signature, date of birth and Social Security number from a co-conspirator. Alholm then used the stolen PII to impersonate 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 completed the fraudulent advance of funds, another co-conspirator wired the stolen HELOC funds from the intermediary account to offshore bank accounts.

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

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Cornelius “Neal” Singleton (60, Miramar) to 13 years and 9 months in federal prison for international money laundering. The court also ordered Singleton to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his prison term. Singleton had been found guilty after a week-long jury trial, which concluded on April 15, 2022. Singleton was indicted on July 13, 2021.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on March 28, 2020, Singleton delivered over $600,000 in cash to a confidential witness in a grocery store parking lot, which was intended to be sent to individuals in Colombia. In cooperation with the Colombian National Police, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Tampa arranged to have the funds delivered to the intended recipients in Colombia, who were members of a group suspected of large-scale narcotics trafficking, in order to identify the recipients. After the successful delivery was made in June 2020, during an undercover operation in Bogota, Colombia, negotiations began with Singleton for additional deliveries of cash to be made to Colombia.  In June 2021, Singleton brought over $1,000,000 in cash to downtown St. Petersburg to be delivered to the same individuals in Colombia. HSI agents arrested him at that time.

Singleton committed the money laundering offense while he was on supervised release in the Southern District of Florida, after having served nearly 17 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking in Miami.

“This career criminal, even after spending more than 17 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking, worked as a money laundering mule for Colombia drug lords, supporting the peddling of their poison,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “Thanks to the diligence of our dedicated special agents, with assistance from the Colombian National Police, the Hialeah (Florida) Police Department, and the St. Petersburg (Florida) Police Department, we were able to return him to prison for another 13 years.”    

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (Tampa), with the assistance from the Colombian National Police, the Hialeah (Florida) Police Department, and the St. Petersburg (Florida) Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs, Jr.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Matthew Garrett Mink (38, Naples) to four years and three months in federal prison for possessing an illegal machinegun, possessing an unregistered firearm silencer, possessing a stolen firearm silencer, and possessing an un-serialized firearm silencer. The court also ordered Mink to pay a $20,000 fine and to forfeit the firearms and silencers involved in his crimes. Mink had pleaded guilty on May 2, 2022.

According to court records, Mink is the former manager of a Naples-based licensed gun dealer, who came to the attention of federal agents after his employment at the gun shop was terminated. An investigation revealed that Mink had engaged in various illegal firearms-related activities both during and after his employment at the gun shop, including falsifying paperwork relating to the acquisition and disposition of firearms in the gun shop’s inventory, possessing illegal modified machineguns, possessing illegal un-serialized and unregistered firearm silencers, and possessing a stolen firearm silencer and a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

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

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

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Brown Dimas III (27, Lehigh Acres) to three years and one month in federal prison for falsifying records relating to firearms purchases. Dimas had pleaded guilty on August 4, 2022.

According to court records, between November 2018 and March 2019, Dimas purchased several high-powered rifles from licensed gun dealers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral at the request of a Mexican drug cartel. Such an act is often referred to as “straw purchasing.” For each purchase, Dimas falsely certified in ATF paperwork that he was purchasing the firearms for himself, when in truth he knew he was purchasing them for a Mexican drug cartel in exchange for cash kickbacks. After the firearms were purchased, Dimas would travel to Laredo, Texas to offload the guns to a cartel associate. Since late 2019, four firearms straw-purchased by Dimas in southwest Florida have been recovered by Mexican military personnel in or near Tamaulipas, Mexico, following firefights with suspected cartel members.   

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

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

Tampa, FL – Jordan Patrick Leahy, 29, was sentenced today in federal court in the Middle District of Florida to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his racially-motivated attack against a Black man who was traveling down a public roadway with his family in Seminole, Florida. 

Leahy was convicted of willfully intimidating and interfering with J.T., and attempting to injure, intimidate and interfere with J.T. through the use of a dangerous weapon (Leahy’s vehicle), because of J.T.’s race and color, and because J.T. was traveling on a public roadway in Seminole, Florida. Specifically, the government introduced evidence at trial that, when Leahy, while driving, came upon J.T. driving on a public road, Leahy shouted racial slurs at J.T. and attempted to force J.T.’s car off the road. J.T.’s girlfriend and four-year-old daughter were in the car at the time. When officers from the Pinellas County Sherriff’s Office arrived on the scene, Leahy made numerous statements evidencing his bias motive, including telling the officers that Black people need to be kept “in their areas.”

“This federal court has sentenced Jordan Leahy to prison for his decision to weaponize his vehicle in a racist attack on J.T.’s family,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to aggressively prosecute those who seek to threaten and intimidate our community members because of their race. All persons should be free to travel on the public roadways without fear of being harmed because of who they are.”

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that racially-motivated criminal behavior is especially repugnant and unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg of the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to enforce our nation’s civil rights laws.”

“We will not allow hate motivated crimes to infiltrate our communities and threaten our citizens,” said Special Agent in Charge David Walker for the FBI Tampa Field Division. “Investigating civil rights violations is among the FBI’s highest priorities and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect communities from hateful acts of bias.”

Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Handberg and Special Agent in Charge Walker made the announcement.

The FBI Tampa Field Office, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlton Gammons for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys David Reese and Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Matthew Walker Meredith (39, St. Petersburg) for false claims against the government, theft of government property, and money laundering. If convicted on all counts, Meredith faces a maximum penalty of 75 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Meredith that the United States intends to forfeit six Mercedes Benz vehicles and real property, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

In 2016, Meredith was convicted of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute Ethylone and sentenced to three years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The Bureau of Prisons released Meredith in October 2017, and he began serving his term of supervised release. While on supervised release, Meredith began to submit claims for tax refunds to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the names of entities under his control. According to the indictment, between August 2019 and February 2020, Meredith submitted five claims to the IRS requesting more than $170 million in refunds. Each claim was false and fraudulent, in that Meredith falsified both his income and withholdings.

On or about November 23, 2019, the IRS issued Meredith a refund check in the amount of $6,374,576.92, which Meredith deposited into his bank account. In the weeks that followed, Meredith laundered the illicit proceeds by purchasing luxury vehicles and a waterfront home. Specifically, he purchased six new Mercedes Benz vehicles totaling $843,269.32.

Date of Purchase

Type of Vehicle

Cost

11.30.19

2020 Mercedes Benz S63AMG3

$187,327.68

11.30.19

2019 Mercedes Benz SL63

$156,404.27

11.30.19

2020 Mercedes Benz C63WS

$103,547.17

12.6.19

2020 Mercedes Benz GLE350W

$72,707.55

12.6.19

2020 Mercedes Benz AMG GTR

$232,368.12

12.7.19

2019 Mercedes Benz C63WS

$90,914.53

Additionally, on December 5, 2019, Meredith paid $2,625,000 in cash to purchase a 6,500 square-foot waterfront mansion in St. Petersburg.

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. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.

Orlando, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found LaTavis Deyonta Mackroy (29, Orlando) guilty of three counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. He faces a maximum penalty of 80 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 25, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Paul G. Byron.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Mackroy was a federal prisoner residing at a halfway house in Orlando and was scheduled to be released soon. After staying at the halfway house for over a month, Mackroy was given a home pass which allowed him to spend the weekend with his family. The following day, Saturday, April 16, 2022, Mackroy robbed the Fairwinds Credit Union in Winter Park by passing a demand note and threatening the teller. Mackroy left the credit union with $3,231 and returned back to the halfway house the following day.

The next weekend, Mackroy was again given a home pass, and he robbed one bank on Friday, one bank on Saturday, and attempted to rob another bank on Saturday, which was not successful. In the robbery on Friday, April 22, 2022, Mackroy took $4,000 from a teller at Chase Bank in Kissimmee, after passing her a threatening demand note. On Saturday, April 23, 2022, he robbed the TD Bank in Winter Park and took $2,820. In the final robbery, of a Regions Bank in Orange City, Mackroy was surprised when the teller walked away from his station after reading the demand note, which caused Mackroy the flee the bank empty-handed. The next day, Mackroy returned to the halfway house.

Although he wore a face mask and sunglasses to conceal his identity in all four robberies, Mackroy forgot to retrieve the demand note after the final, attempted robbery. That note was processed for fingerprints and contained four fingerprints matching the defendant’s known prints, which were on file with the FBI.

After learning that Mackroy had been released on a pass during the robberies, law enforcement conducted an investigation that ultimately confirmed that Mackroy was the disguised robber at all four banks. The FBI collected Mackroy’s cellphone, which later revealed his phone’s location at the banks at the time they were robbed.

The FBI also recovered clothing from the halfway house that matched clothing worn by Mackroy during the robberies, as depicted below.

 

One of the ways in which Mackroy was identified was a distinctive floral tattoo on his neck, which was noticed by one of the tellers and caught on surveillance video from one of robberies, and is depicted below:

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Winter Park Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange City Police Department, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill and Michael P. Felicetta.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Dominique Dragan (29, Tampa) to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release, for cyberstalking two victims. Dragan had pleaded guilty on May 25, 2022.

According to court documents, from approximately January 2020 through July 2021, Dragan engaged in a course of conduct with the intent to harass and intimidate multiple victims. Using Instagram, Dragan cyberstalked, harassed, and threatened the victims with a series of continuous messages. He made specific threats to kill the victims, including by stating, “I can’t wait to hear the bones in your neck break,” “I’m gonna put a bullet in your forehead,” and “I can’t wait to murder you.” Dragan also included racially charged language and warned the victims not to report his threats to law enforcement. Dragan’s conduct placed the victims in reasonable fear of serious injury and death.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Patrick Brian Hines has pleaded guilty to willful evasion of the payment of taxes. Hines faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,927,077.90.

According to the plea agreement, Hines owned and operated telecommunication companies from 2004 through 2011. In April 2011, after several lawsuits against the entities and Hines, the entities filed for bankruptcy. In 2012, a new telecommunication company was established in Hines’s wife’s name. Hines operated the company through nominees for his personal benefit from 2012 through 2018, during which time the company generated more than $4 million in revenue. The Federal Communications Commission issued a forfeiture order for the previous entities and Hines to pay $1.6 million. In addition, in 2016, the California

Public Utilities Commission filed a complaint against Hines and his companies, which resulted in a finding that Hines was responsible for $9.8 million plus interest, which remains outstanding. Hines used multiple nominee owners for the new company in an attempt to distance himself from the company, and to evade and defeat the payment of income taxes and other obligations.

From 2012 through 2018, Hines arranged for $2.5 million to be spent on personal expenses from nominee accounts, to include $38,000 in personal training sessions, dues for two private clubs, $275,000 in mortgage payments for a multimillion-dollar residence, and tuition for his children’s private schooling.

Hines and his spouse continued to reside in a house on Ponte Vedra Boulevard until it was sold in May 2016 for $5.3 million. Hines and his spouse personally benefitted over $1.79 million through the sale of the residence. Hines had outstanding taxes due to the IRS for tax years 2010, 2011, and 2014. Beginning as early as November 28, 2011, the IRS sent Hines collection notices of his unpaid taxes, yet Hines failed to pay. Despite advice from his accountant to pay his taxes, Hines claimed to be “broke” and living off of the proceeds from the sale of the house. On June 29, 2016, Hines filed an IRS Form 433-A, in which he falsely claimed to have no income, but was supported by his spouse who gave him $3,479 per month, even though he knew that he had received the personal benefit of at least $2 million from 2012 through 2018. Hines has accrued penalties and interest as a result of his delinquent taxes, resulting in total outstanding balance of $1,927,077.90.

“Spending money on personal trainers, private schools and private clubs instead of fulfilling legal tax obligations is a disgrace and a theft from the American public," said Brian Payne, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “Hines’ plea should help reassure honest taxpayers that those who are not paying their fair share will be held responsible.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Ali Hussein Salamey (40, Dearborn, Michigan) to two years in federal prison for passport fraud and aggravated identity theft. Salamey had pleaded guilty on June 7, 2022.

According to court documents, Salamey and R.S. had a child together, D.S., who was born in September 2014. Despite court orders prohibiting either parent from obtaining a passport for D.S. or taking the child out of state without leave of the court, Salamey applied for Lebanese travel documents from the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. for D.S. To do so, Salamey submitted a fraudulent maternal consent form on which he had forged R.S.’s signature. The embassy denied the application. Salamey then attempted to obtain travel documents from the Lebanese Consulate in Michigan. This time, Salamey submitted a fraudulent judgment of paternity that he had altered to make it appear as if the court had awarded him (rather than R.S.) sole parental responsibility. This time, the Lebanese consulate issued a Lebanese passport for D.S.

On August 25, 2018, Salamey used the fraudulently acquired passport to take D.S. to Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon is not a party to the Hague Convention, which obligates member countries to return children abducted abroad; nor does it have an extradition treaty with the United States. Salamey and D.S. remained in Lebanon for the next 10 months. Eventually, the Lebanese government agreed to help return the child to the United States. D.S. and Salamey returned to the United States on June 21, 2019, at which time the child was returned to R.S. and Salamey was arrested.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Milton Guillermo Segarra-Bartolomei (44, Kissimmee) to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for passport fraud and aggravated identity theft. Segarra-Bartolomei had pleaded guilty on June 28, 2022.

According to court documents, Segarra-Bartolomei assumed a stolen identity and used it to obtain a U.S. Passport, and then to apply for his minor son’s passport. Segarra-Bartolomei assumed the stolen identity to avoid apprehension in Puerto Rico, where a warrant had been issued for his arrest for an attempted murder that occurred in 2006.    

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Anthony Jermaine Robinson (31, Covington, Georgia) with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, seven counts of bank fraud, five counts of false representation of a Social Security number (SSN), and five counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Robinson faces up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, a consecutive mandatory minimum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment for each aggravated identity theft count, up to 5 years in prison on each false SSN representation count and payment of restitution to the victims he and his co-defendant, Kiana Fina Alphonse, defrauded. 

According to court documents and public records, Robinson appeared in federal court today pursuant to a writ bringing him to Jacksonville from Georgia State Prison where he is serving a prison sentence for violating parole on a fraud related crime. The Court ordered Robinson detained pending trial. His trial is set for January 2023. Robinson’s co-defendant, Kiana Fina Alphonse (28, Covington, Georgia) appeared in federal court on September 27, 2022. Her trial is set for February 2023.

According to the indictment, Robinson and Alphonse obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of multiple victims. They then obtained counterfeit driver licenses purportedly from Washington state and Delaware. The counterfeit driver licenses contained the PII of victims, but a picture of Alphonse. Using the PII, to include the SSN of victims, the counterfeit driver licenses, and documents created for fictitious businesses, Alphonse went to multiple banks and opened up business bank accounts in the name of various victims. These bank accounts were then utilized, as part of a scheme to defraud multiple victims with Robinson and Alphonse, among others, receiving the illicit proceeds.

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 Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service, Jacksonville Field Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Ali Akhenaten, formerly known as Darryl Oliver, to three months in federal prison for tax fraud. Akhenaten had been found guilty by a jury on April 14, 2022.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Akhenaten owned and operated a tax preparation business in Jacksonville called Florida Financial Solutions, at which he prepared tax returns for others. On the 2014, 2015, and 2016 tax returns Akhenaten prepared for the business, he underreported his business income and overstated the rent paid for his business property. On the tax returns he filed on his own behalf for 2014 and 2015, he underreported the income he earned from the business.

“Mr. Akhenaten chose to disregard the rules he himself taught to his tax and accounting students and instead prepare fraudulent returns to pad his own pockets,” said Brian Payne, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “Tax return preparers have a duty to prepare tax returns that comply with the law and we will continue to hold them true to that obligation.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Brandon Corey Skeith (40, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl and cocaine base with the intent to distribute it and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Skeith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, and up to life, in federal prison. 

According to the plea agreement and court documents, Skeith sold drugs out of a motel near Dunn Avenue in Jacksonville. In April 2022, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit observed Skeith selling fentanyl from the motel and obtained a search warrant for his room. During the execution of the search warrant, 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.    

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is handling forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition.

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 District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Dennis Lee Line (53, Winter Springs) to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to coerce or entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. A federal jury had found him guilty on August 11, 2022.

According to evidence admitted during trial, Line, who most recently taught at Oviedo High School for 18 years (ending in 2019), met who he believed to be a 15-year-old girl on a dating application on February 9, 2022. Later that day, the 15-year-old girl and Line began sending text messages to each other. In the text messages, Line initiated a discussion about sex and meeting later that night so that he could teach her about sex and perform oral sex on her. 

Line agreed to meet the 15-year-old girl in Orange County after he left his job at a theme park. Unbeknownst to Line, the 15-year-old girl was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Line was arrested when he arrived at the meeting location.

This case was investigated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kimyada Latoya Knight (41, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to credit card fraud. Knight faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to Home Depot.  

According to court documents, Knight worked in a specialized area of Home Depot (HD) business operations that primarily handled business and customer credit card accounts. Her area of responsibility included resolving charge disputes and requests for refunds from customers with credit card accounts and other accounts at HD. An initial review by HD, with follow up investigation by the United States Secret Service, determined that Knight had initiated a large number of fraudulent customer and business refunds between approximately January and August 2019 involving credit card accounts and other accounts at HD. After processing the fraudulent transactions, Knight then transferred the payments to accounts that she controlled and subsequently used the proceeds.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Mark Manuel Angeles Marino (27, Jacksonville) to 55 years in federal prison for child sex trafficking and the production, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Marino serve a life term of supervised release and pay $163,500 to victims of his offenses. Marino had been found guilty after a bench trial on November 16, 2021.

According to court documents, in March 2019, Marino began communicating with a particular email user in response to an advertisement on the dark web offering child sexual abuse material for sale. Marino responded to the ad and specifically inquired about an 11-year-old girl, requesting to see a video of the sexual assault of that child. After asking several times for depictions of specific sexual abuse of the child, the supplier requested Marino “go elsewhere.” Six months later, Marino contacted the individual again, requesting a specific video of the rape of a child wearing a diaper. The next month, Marino sent a message requesting a video of the sexual assault of a 9-year-old and requested the child’s face not be covered as he wanted to see the child’s reaction while the assault took place. On October 23, 2019, Marino sent $172.09 in bitcoin to the supplier, and the following day he received a 2-minute and 34-second video of a young child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The next day, Marino requested a 30-minute video of a child being raped by an adult and sent the supplier $909.07 in bitcoin in payment for the video. Marino continued to request the 30-minute video, but complained, in a later interview with law enforcement, that he only received a 4-minute video in exchange for the payment. Marino admitted to using bitcoin to pay for child sexual abuse material.

During the execution of a search warrant, agents seized Marino’s electronic devices and discovered thousands of files of child sexual abuse material. Further, the investigation revealed that Marino had produced child sex abuse files of a 12-year-old child known to him, using threats and coercion.     

“Child predators feel they can target and victimize children and remain hidden behind the anonymity of the Dark Web,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “HSI special agents in Jacksonville, New York, and the Philippines, utilizing cutting-edge techniques, ensured that this predator was identified and held accountable for his crimes.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

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

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the partial unsealing of an indictment charging Andi Jacques (41, Greenacres), Monika Shauntel Jenkins (33, Hollywood), Louis Noel Michel (28, Hollywood), Jeff Jordan Propht-Francisque (28, Pompano Beach), Dickenson Elan (39, Clearwater), Michael Jean Poix (31, West Palm Beach), Vladimyr Cherelus (33, Lauderdale Lakes), and Louisaint Jolteus (37, West Palm Beach) with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy.[1] Jacques, Poix, Jenkins, and Michel have also been charged with wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the RICO conspiracy count. Jacques, Poix, Jenkins, and Michel also face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud conspiracy count and a consecutive 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count.

According to the indictment and information shared in court, from 2015 through 2019, the defendants and numerous other conspirators—including a now-deceased conspirator who is referenced in the indictment as RICH4EVER4430—banded together to engage in a sophisticated cybercrime and tax fraud scheme. 

Jenkins, Michel, Propht-Francisque, Cherelus, and RICH4EVER4430 purchased on the dark web server credentials for the computer servers of Certified Public Accounting (CPA) and tax preparation firms across the country. They used those server credentials to remotely and covertly commit computer intrusions and exfiltrate the tax returns of thousands of taxpayers who were clients of those CPA and tax preparation firms. Those tax returns included the clients’ names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and financial information.

Jenkins, Michel, Propht-Francisque, Cherelus, RICH4EVER4430, and other conspirators then partnered with Jacques, Elan, Poix, Jolteus, and others to form an enterprise through which they filed thousands of false tax returns in the names of more than 9,000 identity theft victims. 

Members of the enterprise created and operated at least six fraudulent tax preparation businesses in south Florida, and used those businesses to file many of these false tax returns. The conspirators directed the resulting tax refunds to debit cards and bank accounts that they controlled. Also, to make the businesses appear more legitimate, members of the enterprise opened bank accounts in the names of these fraudulent tax businesses to receive fake “tax preparer fees.” Members of the enterprise also registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) preparer tax identification numbers using the names and information of identity theft victims, to make it appear that those victims were the individuals who were filing false returns in bulk. 

In other iterations of the charged RICO conspiracy, members of the enterprise “hijacked” the IRS-issued identification numbers of CPA and tax preparation firms and used those identification numbers to file scores of additional false tax returns.  Members of the enterprise filed false self-prepared tax returns using stolen identities as well.

To obfuscate their cybercriminal conduct, the conspirators routinely used pseudonyms, opened business entities and bank accounts in the names of nominees and identity theft victims, and conducted their illicit business using dozens of different email addresses. Altogether, the enterprise claimed more than $36 million in false tax refunds over the course of approximately four years. The actual loss amount is still being calculated but is at least $4 million.

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation in Orlando, with assistance from the FBI in Miami and IRS-CI in Minnesota. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.

 

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[1] A ninth conspirator was charged, and the indictment will be fully unsealed when that conspirator is arrested.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Cody Dillon Hogan (27, Leachville, Arkansas) to 20 years in federal prison for using the internet to solicit and pay an individual to molest a 9-year-old child and to create a video recording depicting this sexual abuse. Hogan was also ordered to serve a life term of supervised release, pay $71,000 in restitution to child victims, and register as a sex offender. Hogan was arrested on November 9, 2020 and has been detained awaiting sentencing. Hogan had pleaded guilty on June 15, 2021.    

According to court documents, in December 2019, an undercover FBI agent in Jacksonville, who was posing as a parent of a 9-year-old child, made contact with Hogan in an online social media application (app). During an online conversation, Hogan, using the user name “stonetelephone,” sent the undercover agent a photo of his genitalia and asked for “naughty” photos of the purported 9-year-old “child.” Hogan offered to pay the “parent” to create and send him a video of the “child” being sexually abused by the “parent.” Hogan gave instructions as to exactly how he wanted to see the “child” being molested in the requested video, and he sent the undercover agent a $50 gift card in prepayment for the video. For over a month, Hogan continued to solicit the undercover agent to produce and send him a video of the 9-year-old “child” being molested, and he provided instructions on alternate ways to send it to him using group sharing accounts and online cloud storage. During one online conversation, Hogan stated, “After I see this video there could be all kinds of money and requests coming your way lol.”

Later, FBI agents and other law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Hogan’s residence in Arkansas and arrested him. During an interview, Hogan admitted that he had engaged in online conversations with the parent of a 9-year-old child about producing and sending him a pornographic video of the child. He also stated that he had solicited three other children over the internet to produce and send him sexually explicit photos of themselves. Hogan stated that he has viewed pornographic images depicting infants. Forensic examination of Hogan’s iPhone and his custom-built computer revealed that these devices contained more than 1,000 videos and 5,000 images, some of which were arranged and categorized in user-created folders and all of which depicted the sexual abuse of young children, including sadistic conduct.      

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville, Florida, and Jonesboro, Arkansas, together with the Jonesboro (Arkansas) Police Department. It was 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 May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Scott Andrew Hollington, M.D. (57, St. Augustine) with 10 counts of distribution of controlled substances and 1 count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Hollington faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each distribution count and up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy count. The indictment also notifies Hollington that the United States intends to forfeit his medical license, which is alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. Hollington was arrested on October 28, 2022.  He was released on bond pending trial.

According to the indictment, Hollington knowingly distributed and dispensed Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances—that is, amphetamine, buprenorphine, benzodiazepine, and alprazolam. The indictment noted that Hollington issued prescriptions for controlled substances not for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice.

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

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kirwinn Mike.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Leslie Reio (25, St. Petersburg) to 8 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for engaging in the sex trafficking of minor children. Reio was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to pay restitution to the victims. Reio had pleaded guilty on November 16, 2021.

According to court documents, between March 6 and March 14, 2021, Reio and her co-defendant, Julius Arline, obtained, enticed, and housed two child victims in a St. Petersburg hotel room, forcing them to commit commercial sex acts. The child victims—14 and 15 years old—were rescued after being forced to take sexually explicit photographs of themselves that were used as online advertisements for commercial sex with strangers. The two children were kept in the hotel room where they were provided illegal drugs and forced to participate in a number of sex dates over the eight-day period. After being forced to engage in the sex acts and receiving payment, the child victims were required to give money to Arline and Reio.

Arline, the leader of the organization, was sentenced on June 8, 2022, to 40 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.

“Predators who hold children captive in hotels and force them to commit commercial sex acts are some of the most vile traffickers,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “HSI, alongside the St. Petersburg Police Department, are committed to rescuing child victims from these truly disturbed individuals. We will not rest until predators like her are put behind bars and held responsible for their heinous crimes.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force, with substantial assistance from St. Petersburg Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.

This case was brought as part of the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force of the Middle District of Florida, which is one of 13 task forces in the country to receive grant funding from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Task Force is a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agents working together with organizations to detect, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area. This includes trafficking of minors, forced labor, transnational sex trafficking, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. More information about the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/humantrafficking. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Mario Lenard Elbert (33, Jacksonville) with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a machine gun. If convicted of the drug offense, Elbert faces a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted of the firearms offenses, he faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to life, in federal prison for carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and up to 15 years’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The indictment also notifies Elbert that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms and ammunition traceable to the offense.

According to the indictment, on May 11, 2022, Elbert possessed fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, during which time he had a firearm and ammunition in his possession. On September 7, 2022, Elbert was in possession of a machinegun. At the time of the incident, Elbert was a convicted felon. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.  

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It will be 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.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Seth Estes Vanover (50, Diana, Texas) with attempting to entice an 11-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Vanover faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, imprisonment, and a potential life term of supervised release. Vanover was arrested on October 12, 2022, at the Longview Police Department in Longview, Texas, where he was at the time employed as a Lieutenant with that department. Vanover’s arraignment in Jacksonville has not yet been scheduled.    

According to court documents, on July 25, 2022, an undercover FBI agent in Jacksonville began conducting an online undercover operation designed to identify and target adults who were seeking to make contact with and engage in illegal sexual activity with minor children. The undercover agent, who was posing as the parent of an 11-year-old child, posted a notice in a public chat room of an online social messaging app. That day, an individual with the user name “jattleson,” subsequently identified as Vanover, contacted the undercover agent using a private messaging feature on the app. User “jattleson” confirmed that he was “into yung” and sent the undercover agent several photos depicting child erotica and a photo of a nude adult male displaying his genitalia. User “jattleson” and the undercover agent discussed the sexual experience of the 11-year-old “child,” and user “jattleson” stated that he would “love to” meet them in Florida, would “love to be naked with” the “child,” and further used explicit language. User “jattleson” and the undercover agent engaged in more online conversations on August 8, August 10, and September 19, 2022, during which the two discussed, among other things, meeting in Florida so that user “jattleson” could engage in sexual activity with the 11-year-old “child.” User “jattleson” confirmed that the “child” was “open to have sex,” discussed details of the sexual acts that he intended to perform on the “child,” and directed the undercover agent to “[t]alk to [the “child”] about [the intended sexual activity].”

Further investigation by the FBI revealed that the user name “jattleson” had used certain internet protocol (IP) addresses on the social media app during relevant time periods that were assigned to a telephone number subscribed to by the “City of Longview,” with the physical address of the Longview Police Department and the contact name “Seth Vanover.” Other IP addresses used by user “jattleson” on the app during the relevant time period resolved to a hotel in Waco, Texas, where Vanover was a registered guest at that time, Vanover’s residence in Diana, Texas, and a telephone number listed as belonging to “Set E. Vanover” at Vanover’s residential address. This telephone number was the same number used by Vanover on a website for his fishing tour guide business.     

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and Tyler, Texas, with the assistance and cooperation of the Longview (Texas) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Derrick Kamran Collins (31, Spring Hill) has been found guilty of manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes (FRN), aiding and abetting the passing of counterfeit FRN, and possession of counterfeit FRN. Collins faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count and forfeiture of funds that represents the illicit proceeds from the offenses.

According to court documents, from 2017 to March 2019, Collins acted as the source of supply for counterfeit FRN for various individuals throughout the Middle District of Florida. Collins was part of a scheme to pass the counterfeit FRN in order to defraud businesses. After successfully passing counterfeit FRN at businesses, individuals would pay Collins a portion of the proceeds. On March 26, 2019, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that contained multiple people, including Collins, at the River City Marketplace shopping center for suspicion of passing counterfeit FRN. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered multiple counterfeit $100 FRN throughout the vehicle and in the glove box. Subsequently, law enforcement was able to determine Collins as the source of supply for the counterfeit FRN that were passed by various individuals in the North Florida area, including at the River City Marketplace.

On November 21, 2019, the New Port Richey Police Department (NPRPD)

conducted a traffic stop at approximately 1:00 a.m. on a Dodge Charger driven by the registered owner, Collins. Upon making contact with Collins, law enforcement observed signs of impairment. During a subsequent DUI investigation, Collins refused to participate in field sobriety exercises and was arrested for DUI. During an inventory search in order to tow the vehicle from the area, the NPRPD located several sheets of counterfeit $100 bills in various stages of manufacturing in the trunk of the vehicle, and computer media. In the vehicle’s glove box, officers located completed counterfeit FRN and illicit proceeds from the passing of counterfeit FRN, bundled together. 

This prosecution was part of a long-term investigation into counterfeit FRN being passed in the areas of New Port Richey and North Florida. To date, Collins is the fourth individual prosecuted in connection with this activity. In February 2020, Charles Alexander Coriaty, III (Tampa) was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for passing counterfeit FRN supplied by Collins and was ordered to pay restitution to the businesses that he defrauded. In June 2020, Brett Lawrence Rozenburgh (Tampa) was sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment for passing counterfeit FRN supplied by Collins and was ordered to pay restitution to the businesses that he defrauded. In September 2020, Samantha Jade Falcone (Tampa) was sentenced to 2 years’ federal supervision for passing counterfeit FRN supplied by Collins and was ordered to pay restitution to the businesses that she defrauded.   

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the New Port Richey Police Department, and the United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Mai Tran.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judges Thomas Barber and Virginia Covington have sentenced Marvin “MJ” Mitchell (36, St. Petersburg) to 15 years in federal prison, Christopher Hughes (44, Clearwater) to 8 years in federal prison, and Emma Leifer (26, Clearwater) to 6 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine.

According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between April and June 2019, Mitchell rented and operated several rooms at the Express Inn motel in Clearwater. Mitchell then directed his conspirators, Hughes and Leifer, to sell fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine out of those rooms around the clock. The sale of these narcotics led to dozens of drug overdoses at the Express Inn and the surrounding area. On June 17, 2019, law enforcement executed search warrants at the Express Inn and discovered fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, used syringes, cash, and a drug ledger.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pinellas Park Police Department, with assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Pasco and Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

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 – Three defendants were sentenced today for their roles in a federal racketeering conspiracy that victimized over a dozen Mexican H-2A workers who had worked in the United States harvesting fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products between 2015 and 2017.

U.S. District Court Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell for the Middle District of Florida sentenced Christina Gamez, 43, to 37 months in prison; Efrain Cabrera Rodas, 32, a citizen of Mexico, to 41 months in prison; and Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza, 45, to eight months home detention and a $5,500 fine to be paid over 24 months supervised release. Judge Honeywell also ordered Cabrera to pay nearly $25,000 and Gamez to pay over $9,000 in restitution to the victims.

“These defendants exploited their victims’ vulnerabilities and immigration status, promising them access to the American dream but then turning around and confiscating their passports and threatening arrest and deportation if they did not endlessly toil away for their profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting those who use deception, isolation, intimidation, coercion and control to exploit their victims for compelled labor, and to ensuring that they are stripped of any profits so that the victims can rightfully use restitution proceeds to rebuild their lives.”

“Using coercive, deceptive, and fraudulent practices to exploit individuals’ immigration status to engage in a pattern of forced labor for financial gain is appalling,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Thanks to the diligent work by our human trafficking task force partners, this criminal enterprise was stopped in its tracks.”

“For their own personal enrichment, Christina Gamez and her co-defendants illegally conspired to victimize Mexican H-2A workers who came to the United States to participate in the harvest of fruits and vegetables,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Miami Field Office. “Their actions are unconscionable. The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue those in the agricultural industry who exploit vulnerable workers.”

According to court documents, the defendants each conspired to operate and manage Los Villatoros Harvesting LLC (LVH) –  a farm labor contracting company that brought large numbers of temporary, seasonal Mexican workers into the United States on H-2A agricultural visas – as a criminal enterprise engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity. The enterprise’s racketeering activity included subjecting LVH’s H-2A workers to forced labor, harboring many of LVH’s H-2A workers for financial gain, committing fraud in foreign labor contracting and submitting fraudulent visa related documents to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor.

Cabrera worked as a recruiter, manager and part-time supervisor for LVH. Cabrera successfully recruited approximately 40 workers to work for the criminal enterprise. He charged them fees of between $1,000 to $2,000 prior to coming to the United States to work for LVH, lied to them by telling them that LVH would reimburse them after their arrival in the United States, and misrepresented how much money LVH would pay them for their harvesting work. Cabrera understood that the workers had gone into heavy debt to pay the fees he had charged them, and that he and his coconspirators could use those debts to coerce the workers into continuing to work for LVH. Cabrera also understood that coconspirators in the enterprise confiscated workers’ passports for the purpose of discouraging the workers from fleeing so that they would continue laboring for LVH. Cabrera also threatened workers with arrest and deportation if they attempted to escape from the company.

Gamez worked as a bookkeeper, manager and supervisor for LVH. Gamez committed several overt acts in furtherance of the criminal enterprise. She confiscated the workers’ passports and knowingly submitted fraudulent payroll documents to LVH’s payroll company to make it possible for LVH to pay its workers only a very small fraction of the pay they were entitled to under their contracts for the many hours of physically demanding work they had done. She threatened workers with deportation if they did not continue to labor for LVH. Later, in an effort to mislead Department of Labor employees, she falsified payroll records and participated in preparing falsified reimbursement receipts and distributing them to H-2A workers.

Mendes worked as a supervisor and manager for LVH. In order to conceal aspects of the criminal enterprise from investigators, Mendes made false statements to federal investigators.

Earlier this year, the defendants pleaded guilty for their roles in the enterprise. Gamez and Cabrera each pleaded guilty to conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and Mendes pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct a federal investigation.

The owner of LVH, co-defendant Bladimir Moreno, 55, also pleaded guilty last month to his role in the scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 28. Moreno faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The court will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of his plea agreement, Moreno has agreed to pay more than $173,000 in restitution to the victims.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.

The Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. The Task Force received assistance from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program and Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilyssa Spergel for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Avner Shapiro, Maryam Zhuravitsky and Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. 

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Three defendants were sentenced today for their roles in a federal racketeering conspiracy that victimized over a dozen Mexican H-2A workers who had worked in the United States harvesting fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products between 2015 and 2017.

U.S. District Court Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell for the Middle District of Florida sentenced Christina Gamez, 43, to 37 months in prison; Efrain Cabrera Rodas, 32, a citizen of Mexico, to 41 months in prison; and Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza, 45, to eight months of home detention and a $5,500 fine to be paid over 24 months of supervised release. Judge Honeywell also ordered Cabrera to pay nearly $25,000 and Gamez to pay over $9,000 in restitution to the victims.

“These defendants exploited their victims’ vulnerabilities and immigration status, promising them access to the American dream but then turning around and confiscating their passports and threatening arrest and deportation if they did not endlessly toil away for their profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting those who use deception, isolation, intimidation, coercion and control to exploit their victims for compelled labor, and to ensuring that they are stripped of any profits so that the victims can rightfully use restitution proceeds to rebuild their lives.”

“Using coercive, deceptive and fraudulent practices to exploit individuals’ immigration status to engage in a pattern of forced labor for financial gain is appalling,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Thanks to the diligent work by our human trafficking task force partners, this criminal enterprise was stopped in its tracks.”

“For their own personal enrichment, Christina Gamez and her co-defendants illegally conspired to victimize Mexican H-2A workers who came to the United States to participate in the harvest of fruits and vegetables,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Miami Field Office. “Their actions are unconscionable. The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue those in the agricultural industry who exploit vulnerable workers.”

According to court documents, the defendants each conspired to operate and manage Los Villatoros Harvesting LLC (LVH) –  a farm labor contracting company that brought large numbers of temporary, seasonal Mexican workers into the United States on H-2A agricultural visas – as a criminal enterprise engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity. The enterprise’s racketeering activity included subjecting LVH’s H-2A workers to forced labor, harboring many of LVH’s H-2A workers for financial gain, committing fraud in foreign labor contracting and submitting fraudulent visa related documents to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor.

Cabrera worked as a recruiter, manager and part-time supervisor for LVH. Cabrera successfully recruited approximately 40 workers to work for the criminal enterprise. He charged them fees of between $1,000 to $2,000 prior to coming to the United States to work for LVH, lied to them by telling them that LVH would reimburse them after their arrival in the United States, and misrepresented how much money LVH would pay them for their harvesting work. Cabrera understood that the workers had gone into heavy debt to pay the fees he had charged them, and that he and his co-conspirators could use those debts to coerce the workers into continuing to work for LVH. Cabrera also understood that co-conspirators in the enterprise confiscated workers’ passports for the purpose of discouraging the workers from fleeing so that they would continue laboring for LVH. Cabrera also threatened workers with arrest and deportation if they attempted to escape from the company.

Gamez worked as a bookkeeper, manager and supervisor for LVH. Gamez committed several overt acts in furtherance of the criminal enterprise. She confiscated the workers’ passports and knowingly submitted fraudulent payroll documents to LVH’s payroll company to make it possible for LVH to pay its workers only a very small fraction of the pay they were entitled to under their contracts for the many hours of physically demanding work they had done. She threatened workers with deportation if they did not continue to labor for LVH. Later, in an effort to mislead Department of Labor employees, she falsified payroll records and participated in preparing falsified reimbursement receipts and distributing them to H-2A workers.

Mendes worked as a supervisor and manager for LVH. In order to conceal aspects of the criminal enterprise from investigators, Mendes made false statements to federal investigators.

Earlier this year, the defendants pleaded guilty for their roles in the enterprise. Gamez and Cabrera each pleaded guilty to conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and Mendes pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct a federal investigation.

The owner of LVH, co-defendant Bladimir Moreno, 55, also pleaded guilty last month to his role in the scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 28. Moreno faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The court will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of his plea agreement, Moreno has agreed to pay more than $173,000 in restitution to the victims.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.

The Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. The Task Force received assistance from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program and Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilyssa Spergel for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Avner Shapiro, Maryam Zhuravitsky and Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. 

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Alexander Leszczynski (24, North Redington Beach) with one count of murder-for-hire and one count of obstruction of justice. If convicted, Leszczynski faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Leszczynski that the United States intends to forfeit any facilitating property or assets that are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, in approximately August and September 2022, Leszczynski, while using a facility of interstate or foreign commerce, promised to pay an individual to kill two people, identified as Victim 1 and Victim Two. The indictment also alleges that, during that same time period, Leszczynski corruptly endeavored to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice in a judicial proceeding pending before United States District Court: namely, the trial of the criminal case of United States of America v. Alexander Leszczynski, Case Number 8:22-cr-155-MSS-SPF, in the Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida.

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Thomas Zayas (46, Orlando) to 35 years in federal prison for enticing a minor child to produce sexually explicit videos and for possessing that material. Zayas was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and forfeit his smartphones. Zayas had pleaded guilty on July 26, 2022.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, in approximately July 2021, Zayas, posing as a teenage boy, used a messaging application to contact a 12-year-old child. After the child grew tired of Zayas’s romantic advances, she stopped communicating with Zayas. Zayas then contacted the child again, this time posing as the sister of the teenage boy. Zayas threatened to physically hurt the child for ending the “relationship” with the fictional brother, and as a result, the child agreed to continue a friendship with the original persona. In order to scare the child and prove that Zayas knew who the child was, where she lived, and where she went to school, Zayas sent the child a photo of the child’s apartment complex and a yearbook photo of the child from the child’s middle school. Zayas then requested several nude images and videos of the child performing sexual acts, and he instructed the child on what to do in the images and videos. Initially the child refused, afraid that Zayas would post the photos on the internet to harm the child. After promising not to use the images to harm the child, the child eventually sent Zayas sexually explicit videos and photos. The demands from Zayas continued, and when the child did not comply with Zayas’s requests, Zayas became hostile, and threatened to expose the child with the nude videos and images the child had previously sent.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) was made aware of Zayas when a school resource officer was contacted by a parent who received via text message a collage depicting sexually explicit photos of the child. OSCO investigators were able to trace the aliases to Zayas through phone records, and with the help of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, also discovered evidence of an order for flowers, which Zayas had delivered to the child’s middle school, from his work-issued laptop.

“It’s heartbreaking to learn about the repeated abuse and trauma these young victims endure at the hands of sexual predators like Mr. Zayas,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “The FBI Child Exploitation Task Forces are steadfastly committed to protecting the innocent and making sure child sexual abusers are brought to justice.”

“The sentence imposed today serves as a stark warning to all VA employees that you will be held accountable for using government resources to further crimes and that the full force of the VA OIG will be employed to bring to justice anyone who preys on children,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners with whom we will continue to work to safeguard our communities from such predators.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Tevin OBrian Oliver (29, Homestead), Jameal Kaia Phillip (30, Trinidad and Tobago), and Edward Soloman King III (31, Tampa) with conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, 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 rifles, and related equipment were concealed within boxing/fight equipment, speakers, and other household items to avoid detection by law enforcement and customs authorities. Conspirators also acquired firearms in the Tampa area 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 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. On April 22, 2021, authorities at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad seized those firearms and other related items that had been concealed in the shipment.

King was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court in the Middle District of Florida on October 25, 2022. Phillip was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court in the Southern District of Florida on October 25, 2022. Oliver was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court in the Southern District of Florida on October 26, 2022.

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, including HSI’s Attaché, Caribbean, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (Transnational Organized Crime Unit and Special Investigations Unit), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and United States Customs and Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs. 

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 – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today the fourth quarter results of the Middle District of Florida’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy.  Over the last fiscal year, ending September 30, 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted more than 325 defendants and seized approximately 685 firearms, 9 silencers, and 1,813 autosears. During the last quarter in particular, prosecutors in the Middle District of Florida have prosecuted 120 defendants for federal firearms and violent crime offenses, removing more than 192 firearms from our streets in the process. (See chart below 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 fourth quarter involved more than 800 people. 

“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 reentry programs to reduce recidivism.

Q4 PSN case highlights:

United States v. Harris et al (Fort Myers)

Marvin Harris, Jr., and Latrel Jackson have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire and murder for hire as a result of murder that was committed in Fort Myers in November 2019. According to court records, Harris, Jr. was the leader of a drug trafficking organization operating in Lee County. As a result of the conspiracy between Harris, Jr., and Jackson, “K.U.” was murdered on November 2, 2019, in Fort Myers. Harris, Jr. caused Jackson to travel from Illinois to commit the murder in exchange for a promise and agreement to pay money. The trial is currently scheduled for December 2022.

United States v. Christopher Dozier (Jacksonville)

In September 2022, Christopher Dozier was sentenced to 18 years and 8 months in federal prison for two violent armed robberies of Jacksonville businesses. In the first robbery, Dozier physically struck an employee before binding the employee’s hands with wire. During the second robbery, Dozier disarmed a security guard, stealing his firearm and almost $2,000 from the business. Dozer fled to Massachusetts where he was arrested and eventually returned to Jacksonville. Dozier’s girlfriend acted as his driver in both robberies. She was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for her role in the robberies.

United States v. Tyree Townsel (Ocala)

On August 29, 2022, Benjamin Tyree Townsel (22, Ocala) was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for possessing of firearms as a convicted felon and for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. According to court records, between August 2020 and February 2021, officers from the Ocala Police Department discovered Townsel near firearms during three separate traffic stops. In each instance, Townsel had been linked to other criminal activity, including a shooting and a high-speed chase with law enforcement. An FBI DNA comparison conclusively showed Townsel’s DNA on all the recovered firearms, one of which also had an obliterated serial number. Townsel, a member of the “Bloods” street gang, had four prior state felony convictions, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

United States v. Raul Reyes Vazquez (Orlando)

In July 2022, Raul Reyes Vazquez was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison for committing bank robberies while on federal supervised release related to a bank robbery he had committed in New York in 2008. According to court documents, in July 2008, Reyes Vazquez robbed a Chase Bank in Manhattan and was later convicted and sentenced for that offense in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He also committed a series of bank robberies in 2006 in Hialeah and Miami for which he was sentenced in 2019. On February 16, 2022, Reyes Vazquez robbed a Trustco Bank branch in Orlando. Six days later, Reyes Vazquez robbed a Wells Fargo bank branch in Orlando. At sentencing, Reyes-Vazquez was determined to be a career offender under federal sentencing rules.

United States vs. Ma’at Malik Darius Lee (Tampa)

In August 2022, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment charging Ma’at Lee with carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, two counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of attempted wire fraud, and possessing a stolen firearm. The indictment alleges that from July 9 to October 27, 2021, Lee robbed three individuals at gunpoint and carjacked a fourth. When a deputy from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office located Lee in the stolen vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop, Lee responded by firing at least eight rounds and fleeing the scene. If convicted, Lee faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The trial is scheduled for January 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.   

Project Safe Neighborhoods Update

(July 1, 2022 – September 30, 2022)

Charged Cases

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Minimum/Maximum Terms of Imprisonment

Firearms Seized

Fort Myers Division

4th Quarter

Marvin Harris, Jr. (24)

 

Latrel Jackson (25)

Conspiracy to commit murder for hire

Maximum Prison Term: Life

 

Murder for hire

Maximum Prison Term: Life

0

James Blanks (26)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Jontavious Griffin (33)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 15 years

1

Doumy Joseph (26)

Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: life

2

Giovanni Francois (23)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Simon Eth, Mike Leeman, Trent Reichling, and Mark Morgan

Jacksonville Division

4th Quarter

Ronald Bernard Thomas, Jr. (45)

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Paul Bryan McCorkle (54)

 

Felon in possession of an explosive

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

0

Cory Lee Kelly (34)

 

Possession of a machine gun

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 15 years

1

Derrick Irving Gordon (47)

 

Material false statements related to purchase of a firearm

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

0

Sule Pedro (46)

 

Distribution of methamphetamine

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: 40 years

0

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs Laura Taylor, Michael Coolican, Tysen Duva, and David Mesrobian

Ocala Division

4th Quarter

Michael Latrelle Simpson (21)

Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Ralph Fontil, Jr. (24)

 

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Causing a Federal firearms licensee to maintain false information

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

3

Alexander Timothy Rosa (30)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Justin Heath Griffin (34)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Timothy James Roberts (28)

Possession of an unregistered firearm/destructive device

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 15 years

1

Lewis Tinson, Jr. (29)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

4

Brandon Jamal Alex Grant (22)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 15 years

2

These PSN cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSAs William Hamilton, Sarah Swartzberg, Hannah Nowalk, and Robert Bodnar, Jr.

Orlando Division

4th Quarter

Curtis Tyrone Johnson (34)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Daniel Steven King (28)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

9

Ramondo Zavious Williams (41)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Anthony Quantarius Brooks (21)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Bobby H. Bridges (48)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Jonathan J. Pilgrim (28)

Possession with intent to distribute control substance

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Possession of firearm by previously convicted Felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession of Machine gun

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Use or Carry firearm during drug trafficking offense

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

These PSN cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Betty Gonzalez, John M. Gardella, Shannon R. Laurie, Courtney D. Richardson-Jones, and Terry B. Livanos

Tampa Division

4th Quarter

Marques Howard (31)

 

Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Hobbs Act Robbery

Maximum Prison Term:10 years

Discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term:10 years

1

Robert Frascella (55)

 

Bank Robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

0

Ma’at Darius Lee (21)

 

Carjacking

Maximum Prison Term: 15 years

Brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Attempted wire fraud

Maximum Prison term: 20 years

Aggravated Identity Theft

Maximum Prison term: 2 years

Possession of a stolen firearm

Maximum Prison term: 10 years

1

 

Johnny Flores  (44)

 

Interference with commerce by robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

0

Donald Robert Smith (27)

 

Interference with Commerce by robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Discharging of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Felon in Possession of a Firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Dempsey Gilmore (31)

 

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: 40 years

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term:10 years

0

Dyonnie Alvarez (24)

 

Christopher Alvarez (18)

 

Enrique Marquez (26)

 

Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Interference with Commerce by Robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years

Maximum Prison Term:10 years

0

James Junior Williams (44)

 

Bank Robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

0

Thaddeus Howard (29)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Reggie Harris, Jr. (30)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Cedrick Durham (21)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Adam Saed (31)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Patraic Setzer (28)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Stephen Sherlock (58)

 

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: 40 years

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Isaac Bautista Gonzalez (20)

 

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Eddie Winman Thomas, III (32)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Jonathan Anton Williams (38)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Kenneth Lorenzo Jackson (47)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Meccos Donta Allen (38)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Mandatory Minimum Prison Term: 15 years

1

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

Adjudicated Cases

 

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Minimum/Maximum Terms of Imprisonment

Firearms Seized

Fort Myers Division

4th Quarter

Ronald Perkins (44)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Distribution of a controlled substance

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

1

Otis Marchman IV (28)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Brown Dimas III (27)

Making a false statement in records required to be kept by a firearms dealer

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

4

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

Jacksonville Division

4th Quarter

Dontae Edwards (30)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

0

Raymond Samuel Reeves (22)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Stephan Leon Marshall (22)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Brandon Bayne (25)

Conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Michael Lajaune Smith (44)

Distribution of a controlled substance

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

0

Hinduwah Sama (18)

Possession of a stolen firearm

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

James Robert Lewis (54)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Darnell Rice, Jr. (28)

Possession and transfer of a combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Making a materially false statement related to the purchase of a firearm

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

0

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs Frank Talbot, John Cannizzaro, Laura Taylor, Julie Hackenberry, Chip Corsmeier, and Michael Coolican

Ocala Division

 

                   4th Quarter

 

Aaron Haa (42)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

3

Demuntray Cox (39)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Rey Daniel Facio-Garcia (29)

Illegal alien in possession of a firearm

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Keo Ibua Mike (29)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

James Clay Bexley (34)

Possession of an unregistered firearm/destructive device

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession of a firearm in violation of a domestic violence injunction

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

18

Troy Nix (29)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Michael Tyrone Young (32)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

These PSN cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSAs Robert Bodnar, Jr, Tyrie K. Boyer, and Will S. Hamilton

Orlando Division

4th Quarter

Mandel Lamont Stewart (23)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Rossonno Borders, Jr. (25)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Isaac Millan Sepulveda (21)

Conspiracy to distribute Fentanyl

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: 40 years

7

Charles Palmatier (74)

Unlawful distribution and dealing of firearms

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

18

These PSN cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Ranganath Manthripragada, Terry B. Livanos, and Betty Gonzalez

Tampa Division

4th Quarter

Deoin Rashaud Brown (26)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Uriah Waggerby (24)

Sylvanis Brice (30)

Johan Holder (25)

Conspiracy to interfere with Commerce by robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

0

Raequan Nelson (24)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

William Shumaker (38)

Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Troy Dollman (45)

Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

2

Delon Adams (50)

Interference with commerce by robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Mailing a threatening communication

Maximum Prison Term: 2 years

0

Antwan Brown (22)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Damien Boatwright (23)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

 

These PSN cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Risha Asokan, Mike Sinacore, Michael Kenneth, David Chee, Samantha Beckman, Diego Novaes, and Chris Murray

Sentenced Cases

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Sentence Imposed

Firearms Seized

Fort Myers Division

4th Quarter

Romeo Lenell Battle (25)

 

Felon in possession of firearm

Sentence imposed: 57 months

1

Eric Maurice Brown (32)

Possession with intent to distribute 40 or more Grams of Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Cocaine Base

Sentence imposed: 164 months

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence imposed: 120 months

2

Serdarryel Dave English, Jr. (39)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence imposed: 72 months

1

Robert Reese Lyons (24)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence imposed: 46 months

1

Herman Fleming (29)

Felon in possession of firearm

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl

Sentence imposed: 120 months

1

Nickolas Rock (56)

Possession of an unregistered destructive device

Sentence imposed: 6 months

1

These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSAs Simon Eth, Michael Leeman, and Trent Reichling

Jacksonville Division

4th Quarter

Vershaun Lamar Puzie (34)

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking

Sentence Imposed: 10 years

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking

Sentence Imposed: 10 years

2

                         

Jeromy Washington (25)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 70 months

1

Edrick Jackson (28)

Distribution of a controlled substance

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence imposed: 5 years

2

Brett Amante (39)

Bank Robbery

Sentence imposed: 30 months

Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

Sentence imposed: 84 months

3

Christopher Dozier (41)

Interference with commerce by robbery

Sentence imposed: 140 months

Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

Sentence imposed: 84 months

2

Johnny Davis (46)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms

Sentence imposed: 3 months

0

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division were handled by AUSAs Laura Taylor, John Cannizzaro, Michael Coolican, David Mesrobian, and Cyrus Zomorodian

Ocala Division

4th Quarter

D’Andra Miller (21)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Sentence imposed: 32 months

1

Benjamin Townsel(22)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number

Sentence imposed: 144 months

3

Jonathan Jermaine Thomas (33)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Sentence imposed: 460 months

1

Nathanael Santiago (28)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon

Sentenced imposed: 84

1

Miguel Vargas-Narez (44)

Possession of a firearm by an illegal alien

Sentenced imposed: 180 months

1

Roddrick Anthony (33)

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Sentence imposed: 460 months

1

Timothy Ivory (44)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon

Sentenced imposed: 90 months

2

Tevaughn Johnson (28)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon

Forcibly assaulting a federal officer with injury

Sentence imposed: 100 months

1

Samuel Alexander Glover (30)

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Sentence imposed: 420 months

2

Dean Dumont (23)

Possession of an unregistered NFA weapon

Sentenced imposed: 24 months

1

Ronrico Lionel Farmer (33)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon

Sentenced imposed: 64 months

1

Marty Eugene Days (33)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon

Sentenced imposed: 27 months

1

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

Orlando Division

4th Quarter

Raul Reyes-Vazquez (50)

Bank Robbery

Sentence Imposed: 240 months

Bank Robbery with forced accompaniment

Sentence Imposed: 300 months

0

       

Yunis Isaac Mejia (28)

Possession of an unregistered firearm

Sentence Imposed: 21 months

1

       

Jarvis Jackson (31)

Hobbs Act Robbery

Sentence Imposed: 6 months

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence Sentence Imposed: 60 months

Aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 24 months

1

Zachary Nichols (28)

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

Sentence Imposed: 84 months

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Sentence Imposed: 60 months

2

Christopher DaSilva (25)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon

Sentenced imposed: 57 months

1

These PSN cases from the Orlando Division were handled by Dana Hill, Shawn Napier, Chauncey Bratt, Jennifer M. Harrington, and Ranganath Manthripragada.

Tampa Division

4th Quarter

Devin Kelly (27)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentenced imposed: 46 months

1

 

Malachi Deloch (23)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentenced imposed: 4 years 7 months

4

Elijah Howard (23)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 96 months

1

Wilbur B. Simpson IV (23)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: Time served

15

Hector Kirkland (40)

 

Interference with commerce by robbery

Sentence imposed: 57 months

Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

Sentence imposed: 84 months

0

Devontae Hunter (24)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 57 months

1

Xavier Jones (27)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 120 months

1

Chris Boone (25)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 120 months

3

Derek Owens (34)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 51 months

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Sentence imposed: 60 months

2

Timothy Mills II (38)

 

Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance

Sentence imposed: 151 months

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 120 months

0

Cecil Hickox (46)

 

Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 120 months

0

Javeon Jacobs (22)

 

Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

Sentence Imposed: 21 years

1

Reginald Wester, Jr. (23)

 

Felon in possession of ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 15 months

1

Ryland Hicks (41)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 84 months

1

                       

These PSN cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Daniel Marcet, Samantha Beckman, Jim Preston, David Chee, Craig Gestring, Charlie Connally, and Mike Sinacore

Outreach Activities

4th Quarter

Date

Event

Number of Attendees

Division

July 7, 2022

Boys & Girls Club at Marshall Middle School

84

Tampa

July 7, 2022

Boys & Girls Club at

Shields Middle School

66

Tampa

July 7, 2022

Association of Florida Colleges’ Campus Safety Symposium

10

Orlando

July 16, 2022

Orange Sheriff’s Office Back-to-School Resource Fair

600

Orlando

August 2, 2022

Fort Myers Success Academy

31

Fort Myers

September 26, 2022

Westbrooke Elementary Rising Stars Mentoring Group

27

Orlando

Total Number of Events for 4th Quarter: 6

Total Number of Attendees for 4th Quarter: 818

 

 

 

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Nathan Joel Arledge (29, Melbourne) has pleaded guilty to a two-count Information. Count One charged Arledge with possession of two machine guns, an unregistered short-barrel rifle, and three unregistered silencers. Count Two charged Arledge with possession of child sexual abuse material. Arledge faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the firearms offenses, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession of child sexual abuse material offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, an investigation was initiated into Arledge after law enforcement received a cypertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that matched Arledge’s Internet Protocol (IP) address. During the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Arledge’s residence where they found electronics, multiple firearms, ammunition, silencers, flash bangs, potassium nitrate, magnesium flakes, gun powder, tactical clothing, body armor, law enforcement insignia, and counterfeit credentials for Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A forensic examination of Arledge’s cellphone uncovered numerous visual depictions of child sexual abuse material depicting young children. During an interview with law enforcement, Arledge admitted that he had made the machine guns, multiple silencers, and downloaded the child sexual abuse material despite knowing both were illegal.

Arledge agreed to forfeit his cellphone, an AR-10 style firearm, a .308 caliber firearm; a 9mm Luger firearm utilizing a Polymer80 brand kit, Glock-type firearm parts, a FAB Defense pistol-to-rifle conversion kit; and three firearm silencers, which were used to commit the charged offenses.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones.

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 is also 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.  

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Heriberto Batista Montijo (43, Lehigh Acres) to 50 years in federal prison for producing and possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child.  The court also sentenced Batista Montijo to serve a life term of supervised release and ordered him to register as a sex offender. Batista Montijo had pleaded guilty on June 27, 2022.

According to court documents, Batista Montijo produced images and videos of his sexual abuse of two minors, and he possessed other videos depicting the sexual abuse of unidentified minors. In January 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip concerning an individual who had uploaded child sexual abuse material using his social media account, and NCMEC provided the cybertip to law enforcement. 

On May 13, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Batista Montijo’s residence and located the security camera from his bedroom. The following day, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Batista Montijo’s vehicle and located his cellphone. A subsequent forensic analysis of Batista Montijo’s cellphone and security camera revealed images and videos of Batista Montijo sexually abusing a 12-year-old child and a10-year-old child between February and March 2021. Additionally, other videos were located on his cellphone which depicted the sexual abuse of unidentified minors.

“The 50-year prison sentence handed down in this case is proof of the FBI’s vigilance and dedication to protecting children. Our Child Exploitation Task Forces work tirelessly to ensure sexual predators like Mr. Montijo, are removed from society; never to prey on the innocent again,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker.        

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

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

Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Kurt Batucan Sheldon (31, Interlachen) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for production and distribution of child sex abuse images. Sheldon was also ordered to serve a life-term of supervised release and register as a sex offender. In addition, the court ordered $13,000 in restitution for the victims of Sheldon’s offenses. Sheldon was arrested on September 4, 2020, and ordered detained during the proceedings in the case. He had pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022.

According to court documents, this case was initiated when parents of a minor female child made a report to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office about sexually explicit messages being sent by an adult to their child on two different social media applications. The adult referred to himself as “K t,” and used the username “tacticfallout.” “K t” originally began communicating with the minor child on a social media application and represented himself as a male, between 25-29 years of age. The minor child told him that she was 15 years old. “K t” told the minor child that his name was “Kurt” and that he lived in Putnam. The child told “Kurt” she lived with her parents and was in school. Their conversation later moved to another social media platform, over which “K t” requested child sex abuse material—images and videos—from the minor child and directed the child on how to take the images and how to pose. Approximately 50 images and/or videos were sent to “K t” at his direction. 

Further investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations identified Sheldon’s residence as the source of the IP address used by the account, “tacticfallout,” and for other associated accounts. 

On September 4, 2020, HSI agents and deputies and detectives from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Sheldon’s residence. Sheldon admitted there would be child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices and that he was attracted to children. He also admitted to asking girls he met via online applications, who he knew to be underage, to send him nude photographs, including a 15-year-old female. Forensic examination of his devices identified more than a thousand images and several hundred videos depicting child sex abuse.

During the same investigation, HSI also learned of a 2016 St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office investigation involving Sheldon’s IP address and residential address engaging in peer-to-peer file sharing of child sex abuse materials. Law enforcement accessed and downloaded files that contained child sex abuse materials that were later connected to Sheldon. Sheldon also admitted his involvement in this conduct.

“Men who use the anonymity of the internet to prey on the vulnerability and innocence of children are a special kind of evil,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Through our partnerships with the Clay County, Putnam County and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Offices, we will remain vigilant in targeting these dark web predators, bringing them to justice to face their crimes.”     

This case was investigated by Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.

It 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.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Shauntavus Berklin (34, Fort Myers) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon and distributing fentanyl. The court also ordered Berklin to forfeit the firearms he illegally had possessed. Berklin had pleaded guilty to the charges, which were contained in two indictments, on July 14, 2022.

According to court documents, on October 16, 2020, deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a hotel in Fort Myers where a car linked to a home invasion robbery was parked. The deputies linked the car to a hotel room occupied by Berklin and another suspect in the robbery and obtained a search warrant. During a search of the room, deputies discovered two loaded firearms hidden in a mattress box spring. Subsequent forensic analysis of the firearms linked one of the firearms to Berklin, who had recently been released from a 10-year prison sentence. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Approximately three and a half months later, on January 30, 2021, detectives from the Fort Myers Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a rental vehicle they suspected was being driven by Berklin. Berklin fled from officers at a high rate of speed before crashing the vehicle in a residential neighborhood near downtown Fort Myers and escaping on foot. Inside the vehicle, officers located a loaded firearm and multiple baggies of fentanyl packaged for sale. DNA testing of the firearm later linked the firearm to Berklin, as did other personal items found in the car, including a receipt from his bail bondsman addressed to “Tweet” Berklin, his well-known nickname.

Berklin’s criminal activities continued in April 2021, during which time he twice sold fentanyl to an individual working with the Drug Enforcement Administration for $1,800. On each occasion, Berklin met with the individual in a parking lot of a local Fort Myers businesses and provided the informant with drugs while under constant surveillance by law enforcement.

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Myers Police Department. They were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trenton Reichling and Michael V. Leeman.

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

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Juan Carlos Garcia (39, Apopka) guilty of conspiracy and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute it. Garcia faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 6, 2023. Garcia had been indicted on February 16, 2022.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Garcia conspired with a co-defendant to drive to a gas station in Apopka and sell more than a kilogram of fentanyl for $33,000. Garcia drove the vehicle and brought a loaded handgun with him, while his co-defendant brought the drugs and set up the deal. In coordination with DEA, the Apopka Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, the loaded handgun was recovered from the center console and the package of drugs was found in the backseat. Both defendants were arrested without incident. The drugs were tested by the DEA laboratory and determined to be p-Fluorofentanyl, which is an analogue of fentanyl and is on Schedule I of the Drug Enforcement Administrations’ schedules of controlled substances.

Garcia will also have to forfeit the handgun and ammunition which facilitated the drug trafficking offense.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Apopka Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John M. Gardella and Courtney Richardson-Jones.

Jacksonville, FL – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Dontae Edwards (31, Jacksonville) to 18 months in federal prison for making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Edwards had pleaded guilty on July 20, 2022.

According to court documents, Edwards attempted to purchase a .40 caliber pistol from a pawn shop in the Mayport area. He completed the required paperwork and claimed that he was not a convicted felon. At the time, Edwards had five prior felony convictions, including a 2017 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The pawn shop, also a federally licensed gun dealer, performed a background check on Edwards through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and the purchase was denied. All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.  

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot and was previously prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus Zomorodian.

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 to date by the Middle District of Florida to combat human trafficking. This includes trafficking of minors, forced labor, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. During fiscal year 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted 11 defendants for human trafficking offenses and has obtained $120,861.98 in restitution for survivors. The defendants include perpetrators directly involved in trafficking, to include recruiters, enforcers, facilitators, buyers/customers, advertisers, and individuals who financially benefit from the exploitation. (See chart below for criminal case details.)

“The fight against human trafficking, a crime that harms some of the most vulnerable members of our society, is one of the highest priorities of the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg.  “We are committed to vindicating the rights of human trafficking crime victims by bringing their traffickers to justice and working to ensure that survivors have access to restitution, services, and assistance that are needed to rebuild their lives.” 

Combatting human trafficking is also key priority for the Department of Justice. Earlier this year, the Attorney General released the Department of Justice’s National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking. The Strategy lays out the Department’s multi-year plan to combat all forms of human trafficking; focusing on efforts to protect victims of trafficking, prosecute human trafficking cases, and prevent further acts of human trafficking. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Representative cases prosecuted by the Middle District of Florida this year include:

United States v. Henry Lee White, III – Henry Lee White, III (27) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to over 24 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; transportation of an individual in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution; coercion and enticement; and being a felon in possession of ammunition. White was also ordered to pay $87,121.98 in restitution for his crimes. According to court documents, between June 2, 2020, and January 7, 2021, White used force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to cause the victim to engage in commercial sex. During that time, White trafficked the victim within the Middle District of Florida, and transported the victim from Florida to Georgia so that the victim could engage in prostitution. The victim was recovered during a Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force operation in January 2021.

United States v. Jamel Muldrew – Jamel Muldrew (33) pleaded guilty and was sentenced over 21 years in prison for sex trafficking a minor, coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, using a facility of interstate commerce in aid of racketeering, and transporting a person interstate for prostitution. Muldrew was also ordered to pay $27,740.00 in restitution for his crimes. According to court documents, an undercover officer arranged to engage in a commercial sex act with a minor victim at a local hotel. Muldrew drove the minor victim to the hotel, dropped her off, and drove to a nearby mall parking lot to wait. Law enforcement officers arrested Muldrew in the mall parking lot and searched him, recovering multiple fictious identity documents for both himself and the minor victim. Subsequent investigation revealed that, between February and April 2021, Muldrew had trafficked the minor victim across the country to engage in prostitution, including in Texas, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and ultimately Florida, where he was arrested. The minor victim was recovered during a Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force operation in April 2021.

United States v. Bladimir Moreno et al. – Bladimir Moreno (55) pleaded guilty to conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and conspiracy to commit forced labor, and he is awaiting sentencing. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Moreno has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $173,125.44 to his victims. A federal grand jury had previously returned a six-count indictment against Moreno and others for their roles in a federal racketeering conspiracy that victimized Mexican H-2A workers who harvested fruit, vegetables, and other agricultural products in the United States. According to court documents, Moreno owned, operated, and managed Los Villatoros Harvesting (LVH), a farm labor contracting company, that functioned as a criminal enterprise that forced victims to work in Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina. After charging Mexican farm workers exorbitant sums to come into the United States on short-term H-2A agricultural visas to work for LVH, Moreno and his co-conspirators coerced over a dozen workers into providing long hours of physically demanding agricultural labor, six to seven days a week, for very little pay. Moreno and his co-conspirators used various coercive means, including imposing debts on workers; confiscating the workers’ passports; subjecting workers to crowded, unsanitary and degrading living conditions; verbally abusing and humiliating the workers; threatening workers with arrest, jail, and deportation; isolating workers by preventing them from interacting with anyone other than LVH employees; and threatening to physically harm the workers’ family members back in Mexico if the workers failed to comply with their demands. Moreno and his coconspirators also harbored H-2A workers in the United States after their visas had expired, committed visa fraud and fraud in foreign labor contracting. Three co-defendants also pleaded guilty to related offenses. Christina Gamez (43) a U.S. citizen, who worked for LVH as a bookkeeper, manager, and supervisor, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and agreed to pay $9,353.91 in restitution. Efrain Cabrera Rodas (32) a citizen of Mexico, who worked for LVH as a recruiter, manager, and supervisor, also pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and agreed to pay $24,732.20 in restitution. Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza (45) a citizen of Mexico, who worked for LVH as a manager and supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct a federal investigation.

Some of the prosecutions described above were investigated by the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force, a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agents working together with organizations to detect, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area. Through this multi-agency partnership, members of the task force work together to identify victims, investigate and prosecute these crimes, and support survivors by directing them to victim-centered, trauma-informed services. More information about the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/humantrafficking.

In addition to vigorously prosecuting traffickers and customers of human trafficking, the USAO-MDFL is also committed to providing education, prevention, and technical and training assistance. Most recently, in June 2022, the USAO-MDFL led a presentation during the Circuit 5 Human Trafficking Symposium.  Attendees were trained on how to identify signs of human trafficking as well as on tactics used by traffickers. Attendees included approximately 278 law-enforcement officers, prosecutors, juvenile-justice and health-care professionals, and faith-based groups, located in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties.

The cases identified in the chart below have been investigated by the following agencies: Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Houston (Texas) Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, the Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program, the Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project, and Selah Freedom.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

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.

Human Trafficking Prosecutions in FY 2022

Charged Cases

Defendant(s) (Age)

Charge(s)

Penalties

Type of Human Trafficking

Tampa Division

Mateus Fernandes Evangelista Da Silva (22) *

Attempted Child Sex Trafficking; and

Possession of Child Pornography

Mandatory Minimum: 10 years

Maximum: Life

Child Sex Trafficking

George Thayer (51)

Child Sex Trafficking;

Production of Child Pornography; and

Possession of Child Pornography

Mandatory Minimum: 15 years

Maximum: Life

 

Child Sex Trafficking

These human trafficking cases in the Tampa Division are being prosecuted by AUSAs Lisa M. Thelwell and Ilyssa Spergel.

Jacksonville Division

Nicholas Christopher Carwise (31)

Attempted Child Sex Trafficking; and

Enticement of a Minor

Mandatory Minimum: 10 years

Maximum: Life

Child Sex Trafficking

This human trafficking case from the Jacksonville Division is being prosecuted by AUSA Ashley Washington.

Adjudicated Cases

Defendant(s) (Age)

Charge(s)

Penalties

Type of Human Trafficking

Tampa Division

Leslie Reio (25) *

 

Conspiracy to Commit Child Sex Trafficking

 

Mandatory Minimum: 10 years

Maximum: Life

Child Sex Trafficking

Bladimir Moreno (55)

Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor;

RICO Conspiracy

Maximum: 20 years

Labor Trafficking

 

Christina Gamez (43)

RICO Conspiracy

Maximum: 20 years

Labor Trafficking

Efrain Cabrerra Rodas (32)

RICO Conspiracy

Maximum: 20 years

Labor Trafficking

Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza (45)

Conspiracy to Obstruct Federal Investigation

Maximum: 20 years

Labor Trafficking

These human trafficking cases in the Tampa Division are being prosecuted by AUSAs Erin C. Favorit and Ilyssa Spergel, and Trial Attorneys Avner Shapiro, Maryam Zhuravitsky, and Matthew Thiman of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Jacksonville Division

Mark Manuel Marino (27)

 

Attempted Child Sex Trafficking;

Production, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography

Mandatory Minimum: 15 years

Maximum: Life

Child Sex Trafficking

This human trafficking case in the Jacksonville Division is being prosecuted by AUSA Kelly S. Karase.

Sentenced Cases

Tampa Division

Defendant(s) (Age)

Charge(s)

Sentence Imposed

Type of Human Trafficking

Restitution

Henry Lee White, III (27) *

 

Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion;

Felon in Possession of Ammunition

24 years, 4 months in federal prison

Adult Sex Trafficking

$87,121.98

Julius Arline (31) *

Child Sex Trafficking

40 years in federal prison

Child Sex Trafficking

$6,000.00

Jamel Muldrew (33) *

Child Sex Trafficking

21 years, 10 months in federal prison

Child Sex Trafficking

$27,740.00

These human trafficking cases from the Tampa Division were prosecuted by AUSAs Lisa M. Thelwell, Erin C. Favorit, Ilyssa Spergel, and Carlton C. Gammons.

         

* This case was investigated and prosecuted in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force of the Middle District of Florida, which is one of 13 task forces in the country to receive grant funding from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Task Force is a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agents working together with public and private organizations to detect, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area. This includes trafficking of minors, forced labor, transnational sex trafficking, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. More information about the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/humantrafficking. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Erotida Natasha Harden Ortiz guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and six counts of aiding in fraudulent and false statements related to IRS returns. The jury also found Aida Cortes guilty of one count conspiracy to defraud the United States. Ortiz and Cortes were originally indicted on April 13, 2022. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for January 2023.

According to evidence admitted during trial, Ortiz owned Certified Taxes, LLC, and Cortes was her office manager. 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 go over the tax return 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, which resulted in Certified Taxes receiving more than $1 million in tax preparation fees.   

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

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Virginia Garcia Moreta (35, Tampa) and Hector Rodriguez Mendez (47, Tampa) to 70 and 63 months in federal prison, respectively, for conspiring to commit money laundering. As part of their sentences, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $21,567,939, which represented the proceeds of the conspiracy. The couple had pleaded guilty on June 10, 2022.

According to court documents, Garcia Moreta and Rodriguez Mendez led a Tampa-based money laundering organization responsible for laundering more than $20 million in drug proceeds in over 400 transactions. During the conspiracy, the couple received substantial amounts of drug proceeds, then gave bundles of cash with purchase instructions to people whom Rodriguez Mendez had recruited in order to purchase cashier’s checks. These checks often listed as the remitter either a co-conspirator or a business registered in the co-conspirator’s name. The co-conspirators then often traveled to several banks in the same day in order to avoid suspicion. These cashier’s checks were then given to other businesses and individuals involved in the conspiracy.

On June 18, 2019, troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol stopped Garcia Moreta while she was in possession of a bag containing cashier’s checks and receipts for cashier’s checks totaling more than $1 million.

In total, investigators identified $21,567,939 that was laundered in furtherance of the conspiracy. The defendants’ share of the proceeds for their role in the scheme was approximately three percent.          

“The main motivation of these drug trafficking organizations is profit at the expense of the safety and health of our citizens. The actions of these individuals assisted the drug traffickers bringing this poison into our communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This successful collaboration between the DEA Miami Field Division and our federal partners highlights the importance of financial investigations in the fight against narcotics trafficking in Florida.”

“The dirty cash from drug trafficking cannot legally be introduced into the commerce stream, so traffickers rely on money launderers to “clean it”,” said Brian Payne, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “Those who launder drug proceeds are just as vile and culpable as the traffickers themselves, which is why today’s sentences properly hold the defendants responsible for their actions.”

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Highway Patrol. 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. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Baez. The forfeiture was handled by U.S. Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Raequan M. Nelson (23, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Nelson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2022. Nelson had been indicted on May 25, 2022.  

According to court documents, on February 13, 2022, Nelson was arrested on two active Hillsborough County warrants. At the time of the arrest, Nelson had previous felony convictions for robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. During the arrest, officers recovered a Glock 9mm pistol and various ammunition from Nelson. As a previously convicted felon, Nelson is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition 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 Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. 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 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.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Hector Enrique Veliz Villeda (30, Hialeah) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Veliz Villeda faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in June and July 2022, Veliz Villeda and unknown co-conspirators were part of a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that were moving kilogram quantities of the drug between several major cities located in the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and the Northern District of Alabama. Veliz Villeda received shipments of methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in Birmingham, Alabama and subsequently transported the methamphetamine into the Miami and Tampa metropolitan areas for resale.

On June 14, 2022, Veliz Villeda obtained crystal methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in Alabama at his residence in Hialeah, and later sold it to a confidential source in Bradenton. The following month, Veliz Villeda again travelled from Hialeah to Bradenton and sold more crystal methamphetamine which he had received from co-conspirators.        

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bradenton Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Eddie Winman Thomas (32, Lakeland) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Thomas that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense.

According to the indictment, on April 28, 2022, Thomas was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of the incident, Thomas had previous felony convictions for Hobbs Act Robbery and conspiracy to obstruct commerce by robbery. As a previously convicted felon, Thomas is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. 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 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.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Kevin Mark Streeter, Jr. (38, Tampa) to four years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy, receipt of stolen government property, and aggravated identity theft. Streeter had pleaded guilty on June 14, 2022.

According to court documents, Streeter was employed by the U.S. Postal Service at a mail processing center in Sarasota. He exploited his position by stealing approximately 40 federal tax refund checks from the U.S. mail that were enroute to the intended taxpayers living in the Middle District of Florida. Streeter and others then sold or attempted to sell the checks to third parties. The tax refund checks, issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, ranged in amounts from $4,000 to over $100,000, with an aggregate value of over $398,000.

“As a postal employee, Mr. Streeter should have been delivering the mail, not stealing it,” said Brian Payne, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge.  “Today’s sentence demonstrates the consequences for individuals, especially those in a position of trust, who steal government funds and commit identity theft.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Johnathan Anton Williams (38, Ruskin) with distribution of methamphetamine, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the drug offense, Williams faces a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted of the firearms offenses, he faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison for carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, and up to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The indictment also notifies Williams that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense.

According to the indictment, on May 4, 2022, Williams was selling methamphetamine, during which time he had a firearm and ammunition in his possession. At the time of the incident, Williams had previous felony convictions for robbery and possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make 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.

Tampa, FL - United States Roger B. Handberg announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Frank Talbot will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSA Talbot has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Middle District of Florida, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

U.S. Attorney Handberg said, “Every citizen should be free to vote without interference or discrimination and to have their vote counted in a fair and free democratic process. Similarly, those officials and staff charged with the responsibility of facilitating that process should be free to exercise their duties without fear of intimidation, threats, or violence. The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the electoral process. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).  

In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Frank Talbot will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (904) 301- 6284.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. Local FBI field offices can be reached by the public at (813) 253-1000 (Tampa/Orlando Division) or (904) 248-7000 (Jacksonville Division).

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

 

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Karey Tyrone Taylor II (42, Tampa) to 5 years and 11 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court also ordered Taylor to forfeit a firearm and magazine that were used in the offense. Taylor had pleaded guilty on May 13, 2022.

According to court documents, on January 2, 2021, Taylor brandished a firearm at a victim while she was driving on East Fowler Avenue in Tampa. The victim pulled into a nearby carwash, and Taylor confronted her. Standing face-to-face, Taylor told the victim that if he had known or seen that she was “all that,” then he would not have pulled a gun on her. The victim then told employees at the car wash what had happened, and an employee called the police.

Officers from the Tampa Police Department responded and interviewed the victim. The officers also located an SUV matching the description of Taylor’s vehicle. They found Taylor in the driver’s seat and detained him. While searching the vehicle, the officers found a black Taurus .45 caliber handgun with one round of ammunition in the chamber and 14 rounds in the magazine. A DNA sample later obtained from Taylor for comparison indicated that Taylor’s DNA matched DNA found on the handgun.

Taylor had previously been convicted of a felony offense, including possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and distribution of controlled substances in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Therefore, 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, as well as the Tampa Police Department. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement assisted with the DNA analyses.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Risha Asokan and Patrick Scruggs.

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 Thomas Johnson has pleaded guilty to one count of aiding in the filing of false tax returns. Johnson faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016 Johnson worked as a tax preparer for a tax preparation business at its office location in Seffner. In order to maximize the refunds that the IRS would have to pay his clients, Johnson prepared fraudulent Forms 1040 which falsely reported fictitious amounts for educational expenses on behalf of his clients. Many other tax returns that he prepared for clients contained fictitious information as to the Schedule C portion of the returns reflecting profit/loss from the operation of businesses. The inclusion of those types of false items helped to fraudulently inflate the refunds that the taxpayers would receive.

The indictment charged Johnson with aiding in the filing of numerous such false tax returns. The tax loss attributable to the single false tax return to which he pleaded guilty is nearly $14,000. The tax loss for other tax returns that Johnson had a role in preparing, and which contained similar false statements, is approximately $188,940. Johnson also caused large tax losses from many other tax returns which contained false education credit entries.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Meccos Donta Allen (38, Tampa) with unlawful possession of a firearm. If convicted, Allen faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Prosecutors alleged in open court that on July 29, 2022, Allen confronted multiple citizens along Tampa’s Riverwalk. In one instance, Allen approached a couple sitting on a swing. The couple departed, returning to their nearby residence, and Allen followed them and pointed a gun at them as they entered their complex. In a second incident, Allen confronted another couple that were sitting on a bench on the south end of Tampa’s Riverwalk. During this confrontation, Allen allegedly pointed his gun at one victim and groped another. Officers from the Tampa Police Department responded to the area and made contact with Allen, who fled on foot as the officers approached. While fleeing, Allen dropped a Glock pistol.

The indictment alleges that at the time of the incident, Allen had prior felony convictions for battery, delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

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

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. 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.