Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Relentless JusticeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Earlier today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in more than 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country.
“We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes.”
“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”
“Protecting our children is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who target, exploit, and violate our children. In addition to our enforcement efforts, our office will continue to engage and educate communities on specific strategies to prevent these heinous crimes.”
“Protecting children and preventing exploitation are central to the FBI mission,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “The FBI is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners every day to safeguard our communities and stop predators.”
“Investigative operations like this are a testament to the work our special agents and analysts do day in and day out to protect the innocent from predators,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor. “Crimes against children are among the FBI’s highest priorities, and we will continue working relentlessly to identify the predators and rescue the victims.”
Middle District of Florida Cases
Fort Myers
U.S. v. James Gregory Ford - Enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and transfer of obscene matter to a minor.
U.S. v. Jeremiah Victor Jacobs - Distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Jacksonville
U.S. v. Alec Lyle Higginbotham - Attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
U.S. v. Justin Charles Brown - Production and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Orlando
U.S. v. Chase Dean Suriano – Receipt and possession of child sex abuse material.
Tampa
U.S. v. Richard Plummer - Distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and escape.
U.S. v. Christopher Michael Barnes - Possession of child sexual abuse material.
U.S. v. Justin Travis Garner - Possession of child sexual abuse material.
U.S. v. Joel Reynolds – Production, distribution, and possession of child sex abuse material.
U.S. v. Jeremiah Kelsene Smith – Attempted production of child sex abuse material and transfer of obscene material to a minor.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material and online enticement of minors.
This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders.
The FBI's Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than 14 Years in Prison for Role in Drive-By Shooting on I-95Read the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger has sentenced Briyhon Johnson (24, Jacksonville) to 14 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, aiding and abetting the commission of a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense, and aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. Johnson entered a guilty plea in August 2025.
According to court documents, Johnson served as an armed distributor for a Jacksonville-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) operated and led by Nathaniel Hatcher, III. Hatcher’s DTO trafficked bulk marijuana from northern California to Jacksonville by smuggling the drugs on commercial airlines, shipping it through the U.S. mail system, and transporting it by vehicle across state lines. Once the marijuana arrived in Jacksonville, Johnson and other DTO members transported the marijuana to various short-term rental homes throughout Jacksonville. Johnson and other members of the DTO carried and possessed firearms at these residences to protect themselves, their drugs, and their drug proceeds during the drug sales. In addition to trafficking, transporting, smuggling, and selling marijuana, Johnson was also responsible for carrying out violence on behalf of the DTO.
On September 18, 2023, Hatcher, James Toney, and other DTO members arranged a drug transaction with subjects they had met that evening in Jacksonville. The drug transaction failed when the other subjects never provided the promised marijuana, and instead, stole approximately $45,000 in cash from Hatcher and Toney. After the failed drug transaction, Hatcher contacted a former police officer who illegally accessed law enforcement databases to provide Hatcher with the names and home addresses of the subjects who had stolen the money. For nearly a month, Johnson and other DTO members tracked, surveilled, and cyber-stalked the other subjects and their family members.
On October 15, 2023, Johnson and Toney traveled to the Jacksonville International Airport, broke into a rental car lot, and stole two vehicles with the intention of using one in the planned retaliation. The theft had been coordinated by Johnson and Toney through text messages. Two days later, Toney traveled to the Duval County courthouse for a scheduled court date in an unrelated pending criminal matter. Toney and other DTO members knew that one of the subjects from the September 18 drug transaction also had court that day for a separate criminal matter. After court concluded, Hatcher and other DTO members surveilled as the subject exited the Duval County courthouse, accompanied by a female subject, and enter his vehicle.
Toney traveled to meet with Johnson, who provided Toney with a firearm. Johnson, Toney, Hatcher, and Tavarius Blue were operating multiple vehicles, including a red sedan and a gray SUV, and followed the subject’s car from downtown Jacksonville to I-95. Darion Jerido was driving a separate sedan, acting as the lookout for the others and to keep pace of the subject’s sedan. Johnson was driving the red car, with Toney traveling in the passenger seat. Blue was driving the gray SUV, with Hatcher traveling in passenger seat. At approximately 11:20 a.m., during the pursuit along I-95 South, the red and the gray vehicles boxed the subject’s sedan into the left lane of traffic. Toney and Hatcher discharged dozens of rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition at the subject’s sedan. According to witness interviews, Johnson and Toney were both wearing masks. Following the shooting, the red and gray vehicles fled the scene.
Deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriffs’ Office and emergency medical personnel quickly arrived on scene. The driver of the sedan, who was the male subject from the courthouse, sustained one gunshot wound but survived and was air-lifted to a trauma unit. The passenger, the female subject from the courthouse, did not sustain any gunshot wounds but did suffer injuries from broken glass. She was transported to a nearby hospital. The sedan sustained gunshots to the passenger side, the rear, the front and hood, the front windshield, the interior, and the engine block. Deputies recovered approximately 25 spent 7.62 caliber shell casings. According to ballistics analysis, two different firearms were used during the shooting.
In related court proceedings, Nathaniel Hatcher pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, conspiracy to commit money laundering, committing a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Hatcher faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life plus 45 years, in prison. Hatcher has also agreed to forfeit over $2 million, which represents illicit proceeds derived from drug trafficking. See chart below for status of remaining co-conspirators.
Status of Hatcher DTO Co-conspirators
Name
Status
Al’Donta EasterlingSentenced to 10 years in federal prisonYaquasia DelCarmenSentenced to 8 years in federal prisonDesmond MaxwellPleaded guilty to straw-purchasing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces up to 25 years in federal prisonJavon DavisPleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonTavarius BluePleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, aiding and abetting the commission of a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense, and aiding and abetting the discharging of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life plus 65 years, in federal prisonDarion JeridoPleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and aiding and abetting the commission of a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense and faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 65 years’ imprisonmentJames ToneyPleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, committing a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Toney faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prisonThis was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
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.
Former United States Postal Carrier Pleads Guilty to TheftRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Delvenia Renee Mitchell (54, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to theft of government of property, over $1,000. Mitchell faces up to 10 years in prison and payment of restitution. No sentencing date has been set.
According to court documents, in 2023, Mitchell worked as a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Investigation by the USPS – Office of Inspector General determined that Mitchell, using her assigned USPS gas card, made multiple gas purchases in Jacksonville and elsewhere that were outside of her delivery area and beyond the fuel capacity for her assigned USPS vehicles. Video evidence obtained in the investigation showed Mitchell using her assigned gas card to purchase gas for other vehicles.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Clay County Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing A Firearm from A Licensed Gun DealerRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Eric Joel Valdez (24, Clay County) pleaded guilty to theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee (FFL). Valdez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to the victim. Sentencing is set for March 18, 2026. Valdez appeared in federal court on September 30, 2025, on a writ from state prison in New Jersey. He is serving a 10-year prison sentence for two armed robberies involving the firearm stolen from the FFL in Florida.
According to court documents, on November 11, 2022, Valdez entered Orange Park Gun & Pawn in Clay County and requested to see a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol. As he examined the pistol, he suddenly ran out the front door of the business and fled the area in a sedan style car. Using street cameras and surveillance footage from the area, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) identified Valdez as the individual who stole the pistol. On November 18, 2022, the Perth Amboy Police Department (PAPD) in Perth Amboy, New Jersey conducted a stop of a car driven by Valdez, as part of an armed robbery investigation. After obtaining a search warrant for the car, the PAPD located in the car the stolen Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, loaded with eleven rounds of ammunition, including one round in the chamber.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Armed Bank Robber Arrested in ClearwaterRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Shannon Luster (49, Largo) with bank robbery. If convicted, Luster faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, Luster robbed two banks in Clearwater at gunpoint. He robbed the first bank on November 5, 2025, and the second on December 9, 2025. Each time, Luster was disguised with a hat, sunglasses, and carried a laptop bag that concealed his firearm. During each robbery, Luster used an e-bike as his getaway mode of transportation. Luster entered the banks, pointed his guns at the bankers, and demanded he be taken to the tills where he stole thousands of dollars before fleeing. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Clearwater Police Department determined that Luster was the perpetrator. Law enforcement located the firearm and laptop bag in a dumpster near Luster’s house. They also recovered the e-bike, clothing that appeared to be worn during the robberies, and some of the cash stolen during the robberies from Luster’s house.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Clearwater Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yara Dodin.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Two Lake City Men Plead Guilty to Possessing Pure Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Terry Alonza Brown (54) and Doug Bradley (46), both of Lake City, have pleaded guilty to possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. They each face a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to their plea agreements, on June 23, 2025, law enforcement officers conducting surveillance at Brown’s residence in Lake City observed Bradley enter the residence, exit a short time later with a bag, place the bag in a vehicle, and then drive away. After Bradley was stopped for a traffic infraction, his vehicle was searched and officers found a vacuum-sealed plastic bag that contained a large amount of a white crystalline substance. The substance was later determined to be 100% pure methamphetamine weighing 1,340.2 grams.
Later that same day, officers observed Brown leave the residence with a multi-colored bag, place the bag in a vehicle, and then drive away. After Brown was stopped for a traffic infraction, his vehicle was searched and officers found the multi-colored bag in the backseat area. The bag contained two separate vacuum-sealed plastic bags, inside of which were additional bags containing a white crystalline substance. The substance was later determined to be 99% pure methamphetamine weighing 2,694 grams.
Subsequently, officers obtained a search warrant for Brown’s residence. During the search, they found two black bags containing packages of a white crystalline substance, $12,000 in a safe, and $1,000 in one of the bedrooms. The substance was later determined to be 99% pure methamphetamine weighing 1,786.8 grams.
Before committing these offenses, Brown and Bradley had previously been convicted of federal drug trafficking charges. In April 2013, Brown was convicted of five counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine). In November 2008, Bradley was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine).
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Career Offender Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Nicholas High (38, Jacksonville) to 12 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. High pleaded guilty on June 18, 2025.
According to court documents and records, during 2022 and 2023, High and others working with High sold a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confidential informant ounce quantities of cocaine. High, a convicted felon, also sold the ATF confidential informant a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle. High had both prior state and federal drug distribution convictions that qualified him for enhanced sentencing as a career offender. As a prior convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.
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.
Nassau County Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Samuel Walter Perkins, Jr. (46, Fernandina Beach) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and distribution of cocaine and cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine). Perkins faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in late 2024, Perkins twice sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant in Nassau County. After detectives from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office confronted Perkins about these two drug sales, Perkins agreed to work with them as a confidential informant himself. Before taking on that role, Perkins was specifically instructed that he could not engage in illegal activities, could not possess firearms, and would never be tasked “to create crime,” but instead should be “only working to interrupt ongoing criminal activity.”
Ostensibly, in his role as a confidential informant, on January 29, 2025, Perkins provided a tip to his law enforcement handler about two individuals traveling to Jacksonville to meet with an unknown subject to obtain drugs and guns. Later that day, without telling Perkins, the detectives followed up on that lead by surveilling the two targets named by Perkins. Following those individuals, the detectives saw them drive from Nassau County to Jacksonville where the pair met with only one person—Perkins—who gave the two men a black bag, which they put in the truck of their car. During a subsequent stop and search of that car, detectives located the bag, which contained a loaded 9mm pistol, cocaine, and cocaine base.
Detectives later interviewed Perkins about these events. After a detective explained what they had seen while conducting surveillance, Perkins asked, “So they got it from me?” – referring to the firearm and drugs in the black bag. The detective replied, “They got it from you.” Realizing that he was caught, Perkins then stated, “Well, I tried, man.” Asked where he obtained the gun, Perkins stated, “I just had a gun.”
Perkins is a multi-time convicted felon who previously has been prosecuted by both state and federal authorities for a variety of drug offenses. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Tampa Sex Offender Indicted for Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material and EscapeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Richard Plummer (44, Tampa) with distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and escape. If convicted on all counts, Plummer faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, in 2018, Plummer was convicted of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Between October 29 and 31, 2025, Plummer distributed and possessed a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On November 1, 2025, Plummer escaped from the Bureau of Prisons and the Tampa Residential Re-Entry Center, a facility where he was serving his sentence.
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 Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Honduran Man Sentenced to 25 Months in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft and Related Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Juan Ariel Molina-Salles (35, Honduras) to two years and one month in federal prison for aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number, and making a false claim of United States citizenship for employment purposes. The court ordered the sentence to run consecutive to his 12-year state sentence in case no. 22-CF-09348 in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court in Pinellas County for leaving the scene of a crash involving death. Molina-Salles pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025.
According to court documents, Archer Western-de Moya Group Joint Venture II (Joint Venture) is enrolled in E-Verify, a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. Molina-Salles is an illegal alien from Honduras with no lawful status in the United States. On February 16, 2022, Molina-Salles applied for employment with the Joint Venture in Pinellas County and filled out an I-9 form for use in the E-Verify system. On that form, Molina-Salles falsely identified himself as a United States citizen and used another person’s means of identification to defeat the E-Verify system. Molina-Salles provided no documents or other proof that he was trained or qualified to operate a front-end loader or other heavy construction equipment.
Molina-Salles was working at the Joint Venture’s highway construction site in Pinellas County under the stolen identity on the evening of September 22, 2022. That night, while operating a front-end loader, he struck and killed Deputy Michael Hartwick, a 19-year veteran of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Rather than staying at the scene and attempting to assist Deputy Hartwick, first responders, and investigators, Molina-Salles handed his construction helmet and safety vest to a co-worker, told the co-worker to get rid of those items, and fled. On September 23, 2022, Molina-Salles was arrested in connection with Deputy Hartwick’s death.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration–Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
Gainesville Man Sentenced to More Than Ten Years for Role in Convenience Store RobberyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland has sentenced Jhakheem Smith (26, Gainesville) to 10 years and 6 months in federal prison for the armed robbery of a convenience store in Clearwater in November 2023. Earlier this year, Smith pleaded guilty to robbing and conspiring to rob the store. He pleaded not guilty to brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. Smith proceeded to trial on the firearm charge. A federal jury found Smith guilty of the firearm offense in March 2025.
According to testimony and evidence presented at the trial, on November 8, 2023,
Store surveillance video showed Jones and Smith jumping over the counter to confront the victim. The video also showed Smith searching throughout the store for a safe which allegedly contained additional money. The safe was never found. The store surveillance video also showed Smith attempting to damage the store surveillance cameras. Text messages obtained pursuant to a search warrant for Jones’s phone revealed text messages between Jones and Smith planning the robbery.
Jones pleaded guilty to all three charges in the indictment. On February 6, 2025, Jones was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Clearwater Police Department, the Largo Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Foreign Fighter Sentenced to Consecutive Life Prison Sentences for 2018 Double Homicide and Armed Robbery of Florida CoupleRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Craig Austin Lang (35, Kyiv, Ukraine) to consecutive life sentences in federal prison as a result of his convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering with commerce, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country, and a violation of the Neutrality Act. Lang was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,886 to the family members of the victims of the offenses.
Lang was indicted on December 4, 2019, and extradited from Ukraine to the United States in 2024. Lang was found guilty by a jury on September 15, 2025.
According to testimony presented at trial, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville, Florida to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Lang was identified as one of two individuals who was believed to have murdered the couple during an armed robbery of the $3,000 that the couple had intended to use to purchase the firearms.
Lang, who had previously fought in the Ukraine, pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund his travel to Venezuela. Lang’s co-defendant, Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer, was previously convicted at trial in 2024 and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Lang’s arrest and extradition from Ukraine. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Benjamin S. Winter.
Port Charlotte Man Indicted for Enticing A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Transferring Obscene Matter to A MinorRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging James Gregory Ford (34, Port Charlotte) with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and transferring obscene matter to a minor. If convicted on all counts, Ford faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the indictment and court records, in October 2025, Ford communicated with a 10-year-old child using a social media application and engaged in sexually explicit conversations. Ford asked the child for sexual images and videos. He also sent a nude image of himself to the child.
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, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, along with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It will be 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 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Offender Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Using the Internet to View Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Matthew Eric Baumgardner (50, Jacksonville) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for using the internet to access and view child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). The court also ordered Baumgardner to serve a lifetime term of supervised release and pay $10,000 in restitution to a child victim. Baumgardner is a registered child sex offender who was convicted in 2017 of possessing photographs depicting the sexual performance by a child, traveling to meet a minor for unlawful activity, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Baumgardner was on state sex probation when he was committed this federal offense and was arrested on July 28, 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 10, 2025.
According to court documents, law enforcement received a notification from a company that owns a social messaging application (the “App”) that files containing CSAM were uploaded using the App between May 6 and June 5, 2024. Subsequent investigation revealed that these files were uploaded from a residence in Jacksonville, using an account that was associated with Baumgardner.
In April 2025, a warrant was issued for Baumgardner’s arrest based upon his violation of his sex offender probation. On that same day, a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office contacted Baumgardner and seized his cellphone. Baumgardner admitted that the email address and phone number associated with the internet uploads of CSAM were his and that he had used the App in the past. Baumgardner also admitted using the internet to access and view photos of children being sexually abused, stating that none of the child victims were personally known by him.
Subsequent forensic examination of Baumgardner’s cellphone revealed that it contained 67 photos depicting CSAM, including sadistic sexual abuse and bondage involving young children.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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 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, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Eleven Individuals Indicted for Stealing More Than Two Million Dollars in Covid Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Sherell Breus (40, Champions Gate), Jessie Perlado (63, Lakeland), Candice Harper (37, Pooler, GA), Yashica Carter (40, Ft. Lauderdale), Brandon Thomas (39, Champions Gate), Antwaun Jonson (39, Delray Beach), Jessica Sejour (33, Greenacres), Tameshia Roberson (44, Winter Haven), Vance Houston (30, Oakland Park), and Raymound Carvil Sr. (61, Ft. Lauderdale) with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies the conspirators that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $2,294,734.50, which represents the alleged proceeds traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, between April 2020 and June 2021, the conspirators devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting multiple false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications. These programs were two sources of economic relief provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help small business during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conspirators’ applications all contained fraudulent documentation which at times included Department of Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Tax Forms. After receiving their fraudulently obtained proceeds, the conspirators transferred a portion of their funds to other accounts belonging to co-conspirators.
In a separate indictment, an associate of one the conspirators, Neil Bryant (45, Winter Haven) was charged with one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Bryant defrauded the Small Business Administration by submitting a fraudulent EIDL application. If convicted, Bryant faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. Bryant was also notified that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $52,400, which represents the proceeds traceable to his offense.
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.
These cases were investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by contacting the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Indictment Indictment - Bryant FBI PosterInternational Gun Trafficking Conspiracy DismantledRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Jonathan Rafael Ortega Martinez (42) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic firearms and trafficking in firearms. Ortega Martinez previously pleaded guilty.
According to the plea agreement, between 2023 and April 2024, Ortega Martinez was a member of a large-scale firearms trafficking operation. Specifically, he and members of his conspiracy recruited individuals, known as “straw purchasers,” to illegally purchase firearms—including Glocks, rifles and AK-47s—from licensed federal firearms dealers across Florida. After obtaining the firearms, Ortega Martinez and his co-conspirators smuggled them overseas, shipping them to countries including the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Between 2023 and 2024, Ortega Martinez and his co-conspirators trafficked more than 1,000 firearms. Investigations revealed that several of these firearms were later recovered at crime scenes.
On April 18, 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations agents in Tampa and Orlando executed three search warrants at three residences in the Orlando area. There, agents found Ortega Martinez and recovered approximately 57 firearms, 30 empty gun boxes, approximately $16,000 in cash, ammunition, and money counters.
In addition to Ortega Martinez, two others were indicted and convicted of conspiracy to traffic firearms. On March 11, 2025, Ricardo Sune Giron, who was living in the United States illegally under an assumed name, and who was the subject of an active INTERPOL Red Notice from Guatemala, was sentenced to 14 years for his role in this conspiracy. On July 31, 2025, Maicor Eliud Cepeda-Garcia was sentenced to 15 years—the maximum sentenced allowed under the law—for his role in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, with support from INTERPOL Washington. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diego F. Novaes and Noah Dorman.
Federal Jury Finds Plant City Gas Station Robber GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Emarjai Walker (29, Plant City) guilty of interference with commerce by robbery and discharging a firearm during a violent felony. Walker faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, just before midnight on April 5, 2020, Walker robbed a gas station located at 2911 James Redman Parkway in Plant City. After the clerk opened the register as Walker had demanded, Walker shot the clerk in the face. While his victim was lying on the floor bleeding, Walker fired a second shot which barely missed the clerk’s head. Walker ran from the store leaving the clerk for dead. The victim was discovered by a customer 10 minutes after the shooting. Although Walker was disguised and masked, the clerk’s familiarity of Walker’s mannerisms from previous visits to the store allowed him, from his hospital bed days later, to identify Walker as the shooter. Further investigation revealed that Walker had done extensive media research following the shooting and that he had tried to sell a .38 handgun the next day.
This case was investigated by the Plant City Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tampa Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jim Preston and Brooke Padgett.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Two Men Arrested in International Firearms Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Tyler Corbin (25, Tampa), Edward Noel (26, Canada), Alfredo Santana (32, Miami), Omar Singateth (24, Canada), and Arif Jhuman (39, Canada) with conspiracy to traffic firearms, trafficking in firearms, and dealing firearms with a license. The indictment also charges Corbin with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The indictment was unsealed following the recent arrests of Corbin and Santana.
According to the indictment and court hearings, these individuals trafficked, and conspired to traffic, more than 100 firearms from Florida to Canada in 2023 and 2024. Of those firearms, 29 were recovered from Canadian crime scenes, including homicides. One firearm purchased by Corbin was recovered at the scene of a homicide 32 days after Corbin had purchased the firearm. None of these defendants are licensed to deal firearms.
These arrests were the result of joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations Miami Field Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
IndictmentFederal Court Permanently Prohibits Tampa-area Pharmacist from Filling Opioids Prescriptions and Pharmacy DissolvedRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL — Monday, a federal court prohibited a Tampa-area pharmacist from filling prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances and entered a civil penalty against him in a case alleging violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
In a complaint filed in August 2022, the United States alleges that Nathaniel Esalomi unlawfully distributed powerful opioids by filling prescriptions he knew were not valid at Apexx Pharmacy in Hudson, Florida, where he was the owner and sole pharmacist. The complaint alleges that Esalomi charged dramatically inflated prices to fill opioid prescriptions and accepted thousands of dollars in cash for the drugs. The complaint further alleges that Esalomi instructed individuals to forge signatures on certain forms and to falsify addresses. The complaint also alleges that Esalomi filled numerous controlled substance prescriptions for persons who were deceased.
“Medical professionals who knowingly facilitate the abuse of opioids violate their legal obligations,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will pursue justice against anyone who seeks to profit from unlawfully distributing opioids.”
“The opioid epidemic has devastated not only our communities here in Florida but the entire nation,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Our office will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who contributed to this crisis.”
“Approximately 70 percent of all drug overdose deaths in America involve opioids,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division. “This epidemic began in the mid-1990s, and it’s still something we’re fighting. We will remain steadfast in our effort to remove these poisons from our communities.”
Esalomi agreed to a consent judgment to settle the allegations in the complaint. The order entered by the court permanently prohibits Esalomi from distributing opioids or other controlled substances, permanently prohibits him from managing, owning, or controlling any entity that dispenses controlled substances, and requires Esalomi to pay $10,000 of a $500,000 suspended civil penalty. Apexx Pharmacy was dissolved following the United States’ August 2022 complaint and the federal court’s associated temporary restraining order, and remains dissolved under the terms of the consent order. Esalomi also pleaded no contest to charges brought by the State of Florida in a related criminal case.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber entered the judgment and permanent injunction in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The case was investigated by DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the Tampa District Office.
This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn B. Tapie and Alexandra N. Karahalios for the Middle District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Scott B. Dahlquist of the Justice Department’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations that the United States would need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence if the case proceeded to trial.
Federal Court Permanently Prohibits Tampa-area Pharmacist from Filling Opioids Prescriptions and Pharmacy DissolvedRead the Press Release
Monday, a federal court prohibited a Tampa-area pharmacist from filling prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances and entered a civil penalty against him in a case alleging violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
In a complaint filed in August 2022, the United States alleges that Nathaniel Esalomi unlawfully distributed powerful opioids by filling prescriptions he knew were not valid at Apexx Pharmacy in Hudson, Florida, where he was the owner and sole pharmacist. The complaint alleges that Esalomi charged dramatically inflated prices to fill opioid prescriptions and accepted thousands of dollars in cash for the drugs. The complaint further alleges that Esalomi instructed individuals to forge signatures on certain forms and to falsify addresses. The complaint also alleges that Esalomi filled numerous controlled substance prescriptions for persons who were deceased.
“Medical professionals who knowingly facilitate the abuse of opioids violate their legal obligations,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will pursue justice against anyone who seeks to profit from unlawfully distributing opioids.”
“The opioid epidemic has devastated not only our communities here in Florida but the entire nation,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Our office will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who contributed to this crisis.”
“Approximately 70 percent of all drug overdose deaths in America involve opioids,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division. “This epidemic began in the mid-1990s, and it’s still something we’re fighting. We will remain steadfast in our effort to remove these poisons from our communities.”
Esalomi agreed to a consent judgment to settle the allegations in the complaint. The order entered by the court permanently prohibits Esalomi from distributing opioids or other controlled substances, permanently prohibits him from managing, owning, or controlling any entity that dispenses controlled substances, and requires Esalomi to pay $10,000 of a $500,000 suspended civil penalty. Apexx Pharmacy was dissolved following the United States’ August 2022 complaint and the federal court’s associated temporary restraining order, and remains dissolved under the terms of the consent order. Esalomi also pleaded no contest to charges brought by the State of Florida in a related criminal case.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber entered the judgment and permanent injunction in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The case was investigated by DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the Tampa District Office.
This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn B. Tapie and Alexandra N. Karahalios for the Middle District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Scott B. Dahlquist of the Justice Department’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations that the United States would need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence if the case proceeded to trial.
Day Care in Plant City Settles Claim to Improve Access to Day Care Services for Children with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has reached an agreement with Autumn Leaf Academy, Inc., a day care center in Plant City, Florida that provides child care services for children ages 12 months to 12 years old, to settle allegations that it violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The United States Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into Autumn Leaf Academy after receiving a complaint from the parents of a child with Down syndrome, alleging that, in November 2022, Autumn Leaf Academy refused to enroll their daughter because she uses a gastronomy tube (i.e., “G-tube”) to eat. As a result of the investigation, the United States determined that Autumn Leaf Academy violated Title III of the ADA when it discriminated against the child and her parents, because of the child’s disability, by denying them the opportunity to participate in and benefit from its day care services. Specifically, Autumn Leaf Academy applied eligibility criteria that screened out the child and failed and refused to make the reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures that were necessary to afford her its services.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Autumn Leaf Academy must: adopt, maintain, and enforce a non-discrimination policy regarding the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability, and post such policy on its website; provide training to all personnel on all policies, practices, and procedures required under the settlement agreement, as well as the non-discrimination requirements under Title III of the ADA; designate and maintain a compliance monitor to ensure Autumn Leaf Academy complies with the terms of the settlement agreement; submit regular compliance reports to the United States; report any complaints received alleging Autumn Leaf Academy discriminated on the basis of disability to the United States; and pay the child’s family $2,000 in compensatory damages.
This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Alexandra N. Karahalios.
Title III of the ADA prohibits public accommodations, including private day care centers, from discriminating against individuals on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations (“goods or services”). In general, Title III prohibits public accommodations from subjecting an individual on the basis of disability to a denial of the opportunity to participate in or benefit from its goods or services. Specifically, a public accommodation shall not impose or apply eligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screen out an individual with a disability or any class of individuals with disabilities from fully and equally enjoying any goods or services being offered. A public accommodation must make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures necessary to afford an individual with a disability the goods or services of the public accommodation. Title III also prohibits public accommodations from discriminating against an individual because of the known disability of an individual with whom the individual is known to have a relationship or association, such as the parents of a child with a disability.
Individuals who believe they may have experienced discrimination may contact the Civil Rights Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida by calling our Civil Rights Hotline at (813) 274-6095 or emailing us at [email protected]. To fill out our civil rights complaint form, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights-complaint-form.
The Attorney General is authorized to investigate alleged violations of Title III of the ADA and to bring a civil action in federal court if the United States is unable to secure voluntary compliance in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance. Ensuring that day care centers do not discriminate against children with disabilities is an issue of general public importance.
For more information on the ADA, visit www.ada.gov or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (Voice) or (833) 610-1264 (TTY). Accessibility specialists are available to answer questions from individuals, businesses, and state or local governments. All calls are confidential.
Settlement AgreementNew Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery of A Postal Letter CarrierRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Tajmir Wyles (New Jersey, 31) has pleaded guilty to robbery of a postal mail carrier and receipt, possession or concealment of stolen property of the United States. Wyles faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, on May 15, 2023, Wyles robbed a postal letter carrier of his master keys while he was delivering mail at a shopping center. After a physical altercation over the keys, Wyles successfully fled the scene with the keys. In July 2023, Wyles was arrested in Dallas, Texas. Wyles was found with a binder of checks, stolen from the Middle District of Florida, as well as the master keys stolen in May 2023.
This case was investigated by the Unites States Postal Inspection Service in Tampa, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas, the Tampa Police Department, and the Dallas Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
Marion County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jason Shane Ejmali (51, Silver Springs) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Ejmali faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, from July 24-26, 2025, Ejmali messaged an individual whom he believed was willing to provide their 13 to 14-year-old foster child to engage in sexual activity. That individual was actually an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent. Ejmali discussed the type of sexual activity he wanted have with the minor and agreed to meet for that purpose at a location in Marion County. Once Ejmali arrived at that location, law enforcement placed him under arrest.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Marion County Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest and indictment of Phillip Washington III, a/k/a “Lil Phil” (32, Belleview) charging him with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Washington faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Washington is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.
According to the indictment, on May 13, 2024, Washington possessed with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. He also possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Marlon Jefferson Fajardo-Paiz (33, Guatemala) has pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and illegal re-entry by a previously deported alien. Fajardo-Paiz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the CSAM offense and 2 years on the immigration charge. Fajardo-Paiz is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case.
According to the plea agreement, Fajardo-Paiz is a citizen and national of Guatemala. He was previously removed from the United States on July 20, 2018, and has never received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States. On April 24, 2025, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Fajardo-Paiz during an investigation of a Cybertip relating to the upload of CSAM. Fajardo-Paiz told investigators he had participated in viewing, downloading, and transmitting CSAM. A subsequent search of Fajardo-Paiz’s phone revealed at least 20 items of CSAM.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Kimani Brennen Fletcher (26, Covington, GA) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Fletcher faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, between April 15, 2024, and April 22, 2024, co-conspirators of Fletcher placed telephone calls to victims in which they falsely and fraudulently identified themselves as members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The victims were told they had outstanding warrants and needed to pay money to avoid arrest. Fletcher posed as a bail bondsman and picked up money from these victims in the Middle District of Florida. Once Fletcher received the fraud proceeds, he provided the money to his co-conspirators. In total, Fletcher obtained approximately $40,800 in fraud proceeds.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Hillsborough County Sherrif office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
Defendant Indicted for Attempting to Meet A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Ismael Osbaldo Pedro Tomas (23, Guatemala) with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Pedro Tomas faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the indictment, between July 22 and August 11, 2025, Pedro Tomas attempted to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an individual whom he believed had not yet attained the age of 18 years to engage in prostitution and sexual activity.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Two Marion County Men Sentenced to Ten Years for Distribution of Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Gerald Douglas Dandridge, Jr. (25, Ocala) to 10 years in federal prison for six counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Scott Weaver (38, Anthony), Dandridge’s co-defendant, also was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison of his role in five of the six counts. Both men entered guilty pleas in early 2025.
According to court documents, on five occasions between May and December 2023, Dandridge and Weaver worked together to sell fentanyl and heroin to a confidential informant who was cooperating with law enforcement. Dandridge also separately sold fentanyl to the confidential informant in February and March of 2024. Dandridge and Weaver both have been previously convicted of offenses involving the possession with intent to distribute or sale of controlled substances.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Two Marion County Men Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Reshawn Graham (36, Ocala) and Tyrone Pierson (29, Ocala) with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, each faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to court documents, on October 7, 2025, an undercover law enforcement officer negotiated the purchase of a pound of methamphetamine with Graham. Later that day, Pierson met with the undercover officer and told her the source of supply was delayed. The next day, Graham again reached out to the undercover officer and stated that Pierson now had the methamphetamine. Afterward, Graham and Pierson were arrested by law enforcement at a predetermined meeting location. Pierson was wearing a bag that contained approximately 438 grams of methamphetamine.
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 Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
St. Pete Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced David Araujo (57, St. Petersburg) to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Araujo entered a guilty plea on July 23, 2025.
According to the plea agreement and court records, in July 2024 during an operation hosted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, an undercover officer from the Ocala Police Department posed online as a 14-year-old prostitute (UC). Araujo messaged the UC and, after learning the UC’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the UC. During the conversation, Araujo also described to the UC a prior relationship he had had with another minor. Araujo was arrested by law enforcement when he drove from St. Petersburg to Marion County to meet with the UC to engage in sexual activity. A search of Araujo’s cellphone revealed he had produced CSAM with the previous minor victim on September 25, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Riverview Man Receives Life Sentence for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Nicholas Van Duy (38, Riverview) to life in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in death. Van Duy pleaded guilty on March 10, 2025.
According to court documents, on May 31, 2022, Van Duy supplied fentanyl to Jaime Sue Van Hooser. Van Hooser, in turn, sold the fentanyl to a man who ingested the fentanyl, overdosed, and died. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to the victim’s residence and determined that the death appeared to be an overdose. Additional investigation resulted in the identification of Van Hooser as the person who had supplied the fentanyl to the victim, and Van Duy as Van Hooser’s supplier. After a detective arranged to purchased fentanyl from Van Duy at his residence, investigators obtained a search warrant. A search of the home revealed fentanyl, a large amount of cash, and numerous firearms. Van Duy admitted to investigators that he had sold fentanyl to Van Hooser. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that intoxication by fentanyl was the cause of the victim’s death.
Van Duy, who had a prior conviction for trafficking in illegal drugs, was subject to a mandatory life sentence. In a previous proceeding, U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell sentenced Jaime Sue Van Hooser to 20 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
Previously Removed Honduran National Guilty of Attempting to Meet A 14-Girl-Old Girl for Sexual Activity and Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Obdy Mencia Guerrero (42, Honduras) guilty of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Following the guilty verdict in September 2025, Mencia Guerrero separately entered a guilty plea to the felony offense of illegal reentry into the United States. Mencia Guerrero faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted enticement offense and a maximum of 2 years’ imprisonment for the illegal reentry offense. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mencia Guerrero was previously removed from the United States on four prior occasions between 2003 and 2014. On July 27, 2024, Mencia Guerrero began communicating online with someone whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The “girl” was a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office working in an undercover capacity. After learning of her age, Mencia Guerrero traveled to a location in Marion County to pick up the “girl” to engage in sexual activity. When he arrived at the meeting location, Mencia Guerrero was arrested by law enforcement. Mencia Guerrero’s fingerprints confirmed he was the individual previously removed from the United States on four prior occasions. Mencia Guerrero had never applied for or received permission to apply for readmission to the United States.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Polk County Man Charged with Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Bradly Dwayne Wimberly (32, Bradley) with attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). If convicted, Wimberly faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, between February 15, 2024, and July 10, 2025, Wimberly, believing he was communicating with a 13 to 14-year-old girl, asked the minor on multiple occasions to produce sexually explicit images of herself and send them to him. In actuality, Wimberly was communicating with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent. Wimberly is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Palatka Man Charged for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Jordon Roger Anchando (46, Palatka) with bank robbery. If convicted, Anchando faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Anchando was arrested on November 18, 2025. He is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.
According to the indictment, on June 2, 2025, Anchando took money from a bank using force, violence, and intimidation. The bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
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 Belleview Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Ocala Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florda – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Christina Gates Thagard (40, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Thagard faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2026.
According to court documents, on May 3, 2025, Thagard entered a bank in Marion County wearing a hat, hoodie, sunglasses, a surgical mask, and one latex glove. Thagard told the teller, “This is a robbery!” She instructed the teller to put the money in the bag and stated she had a gun and would use it if necessary. Thagard also handed the teller a note that read: “This is a robbery I have a gun and will shoot if any alarms or dye packs are inclosed [sic] fill this bag with all at least 50 k big bills only wait 2 mins to call police.” The teller then placed all the cash from her drawer ($5,075) and a tracking device into Thagard’s purse.
Thagard at the teller line during the robbery.
Based on the tracking device information, officers from the Ocala Police Department (OPD) quickly located Thagard and her vehicle. Inside the vehicle, recovered the cash from the bank, the tracking device, and the items Thagard had been wearing during the robbery. A forensic analysis later confirmed Thagard’s fingerprint on the demand note as well as on a door inside the bank.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Ocala Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Endy Gonzalez (20, Ocala) with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, Gonzalez faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison.
According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, an undercover law enforcement officer negotiated a transaction with Gonzalez for 1,000 fentanyl pills. When Gonzalez arrived at the predetermined meeting location, he was detained. A search of the vehicle that Gonzalez arrived in revealed approximately 999 fentanyl pills hidden under a seat. Testing by the DEA confirmed the pills contained fentanyl with a net weight of 109 grams.
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 Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Ocala Man Indicted for Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Benjamin Hoover (44, Ocala) with attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted, Hoover faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Hoover is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, on July 23, 2025, Hoover transferred a sexually explicit image of himself to someone whom he believed was a 15-year-old girl. In actuality, the minor was an undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
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 Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Nine Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Charged with Federal Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging nine defendants with a drug trafficking conspiracy, distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, bromazolam, and firearms offenses. A summary of the counts and associated minimum and maximum penalties follows:
Name
AGE, CITY
CHARGES
MAXIMUM PENALTIES
Christian Roux-Rey31, KissimmeeDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense
15 years, up to life, in federal prisonJeremiah Maldonado31, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl causing death
20 years, up to life, in federal prisonBenjamin Rivard31, ClermontDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl causing death
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
25 years, up to life, in federal prisonElena Falzone23, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl and bromazolam
5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonZaviar Kidd27, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine
5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonPaul Jacas31, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
10 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonOlivia Goen23, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonCarlos Carrasquillo-Rodriguez20, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
20 years in federal prisonRebecca Murray31, DeltonaDrug trafficking conspiracy
10 years, up to life, in federal prisonThe indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms used during the commission of the offenses.
According to the 27-count indictment, between approximately August 2022 and May 2024, these individuals conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Roux-Rey, Falzone, Jacas, and Goen are all charged with distributing controlled substances. Maldonado is charged with distributing fentanyl which resulted in the death of C.P. Rivard is charged with distributing fentanyl which resulted in the death of S.F. Falzone is also charged with distributing bromazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance analog.
Roux-Rey, Rivard, Kidd, Jacas, Carrasquillo-Rodriguez, and Goen are each charged with possessing controlled substances intended for distribution.
Roux-Rey, Rivard, and Jacas, are each charged with possession a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Rivard and Jacas are both charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Cloud Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
Marion County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet Two Minors to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Terry Levi Brown (36, Summerfield) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Brown faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, in July 2025, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation aimed at apprehending individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. On July 27, 2025, two detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed online as a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl. Brown messaged both undercover accounts. After learning he was speaking with a minor, Brown engaged in sexually explicit conversations with both undercover accounts. Brown was arrested when he subsequently traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the minors to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Marion County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Shawn Adampeter Grunther (42, Marion County) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Grunther faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in July 2025, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent posed online as a 14-year-old girl (UC). Grunther messaged the UC account, and after learning the minor’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. On July 24, 2025, Grunther was arrested when he traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the UC to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lake County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Meet A 13-Year-Old to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Kahlil Yanier Amilivia Rodriguez (27, Groveland) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Amilivia Rodriguez pleaded guilty on July 22, 2025.
According to court documents, on October 5, 2023, Amilivia Rodriguez had an online conversation with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. Amilivia Rodriguez graphically described to the fictional child the sexual acts he wanted to perform with her. Amilivia Rodriguez was arrested when he arrived at a pre-determined location to meet with the minor to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lake County Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jon Don Bannister, Jr. (31, Clermont) to 28 years in federal prison for two counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Bannister entered a guilty plea on July 21, 2025.
According to court documents, on April 26 and May 4, 2023, in Lake County, Bannister produced CSAM by filming himself engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old child. An investigation by law enforcement showed that Bannister had been supplying vape pens and drugs to minors. In return for these items, Bannister had asked the minors to provide him with nude images of themselves.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Mascotte Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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.
Gainesville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Meet A 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jose Raul Andreu Rodriguez (23, Gainesville) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Andreu Rodriguez pleaded guilty on May 23, 2025.
According to court documents, an undercover agent from Homeland Security Investigations posed online as a 13-year-old girl on a social media platform. Andreu Rodriguez contacted the undercover agent’s account. On November 14, 2024, after learning the girl’s age, Andreu Rodriguez engaged in a graphic sexual conversation and sent multiple explicit videos of himself. Andreu Rodriguez then arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at a predetermined location in Marion County. When Andreu Rodriguez traveled to that location, he was arrested by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Deltona Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet A 13-Year-Old Girl to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Keiron Jashua Williams (23, Deltona) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Williams faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in June 2025, a detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed online as a 13-year-old girl (UC). Williams messaged the UC account. After learning he was speaking with a minor, Williams engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. On July 5, 2025, Williams was arrested when he traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the minor to engage in sexual activity. A search of Williams’s car revealed he had brought an unopened box of condoms, a video game system, and marijuana for the meeting with the minor.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Nicaraguan National Pleads Guilty to Forcibly Resisting Federal Agents in Extended Struggle During Immigration ArrestRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Denis Napoleon Corea-Miranda (22, Nicaragua) has pleaded guilty to forcibly resisting, opposing, or impeding federal officers. Corea-Miranda faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to court records, on August 26, 2025, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) attempted to arrest Corea-Miranda in connection with a final order of removal from the United States. While being questioned by agents, Corea-Miranda attempted to flee which led to an extended struggle between agents and Corea-Miranda. During the struggle, Corea-Miranda ended up on top of the agents and held them to the ground. An ICE agent suffered a dislocated shoulder during the attempt to arrest Corea-Miranda. Corea-Miranda ultimately fled on foot before later being arrested by deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Palmetto Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl While on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Traveous Anderson (39, Palmetto) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Anderson pleaded guilty on August 27, 2025.
According to court documents, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted three controlled transactions for fentanyl – totaling approximately 28 grams – from Anderson between April and May 2024. On May 22, 2024, Anderson was arrested after bringing an additional 55.9 grams of fentanyl to a hotel in Sarasota. At the time, Anderson was serving a term of federal supervised release in connection with a prior conviction for distributing fentanyl.
Anderson’s co-defendant, Alexis Soto Escalante, was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison on June 18, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Non-Profit Organization Defrauded of over $700,000 in Foreign AssistanceRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Roseval Supreme (55, Valley Stream, NY) with seven counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Supreme faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison per count. The indictment also notifies Supreme that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $713,390, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
According to the indictment, Supreme is a Haitian national and United States Legal Permanent Resident who was employed as a country director for U.S. non-profit Action Against Hunger (AAH) from October 2020 to March 2023, and managed the AAH country office located in Haiti. AAH received foreign assistance funds, in part, from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Supreme abused his position of trust as the AAH country director, violated AAH conflict of interest and fraud and corruption policies, and steered AAH procurements to a company he owned or was affiliated with for his own financial benefit. Supreme also submitted fraudulent lease agreements and invoices to obtain AAH funding for a residence he already resided in.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Agency for International Development - Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 270 Years in Federal Prison for Producing, Distributing, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Joshua Keith Davis (53, Jacksonville) to 270 years in federal prison for production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). A federal jury found Davis guilty on August 12, 2025.
According to court documents, between 2011 and 2013, Davis produced CSAM depicting infants. He distributed the material to several individuals online. Davis was also found in possession of CSAM in 2022.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Venezuelan National Sentenced to Prison for Bank and Passport FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza has sentenced Nerio Alberto Ortega Delgado (45, Kissimmee) to 33 months in federal prison for bank fraud and passport fraud. Ortega Delgado pleaded guilty on September 4, 2025.
According to court documents, Ortega Delgado engaged in a bank fraud scheme in which he deposited fake checks into bank accounts and then withdrew or attempted to withdraw the funds before the bank detected the fraud. As part of the scheme, Ortega Delgado manufactured fake checks, obtained a false identity via a counterfeit foreign passport and other identification documents, used the false identity to create a shell company and fraudulent bank accounts, and paid other individuals to use their bank accounts to perpetrate the fraud. In total, Ortega Delgado attempted to steal over $867,000.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Del Mastro.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe has announced that Tyler Bruce McClure (24, Jacksonville) has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse materials using the internet. McClure faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. McClure was arrested on November 17, 2025, by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and made his initial appearance in federal court in Jacksonville the next day. He was ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, on or about September 26, 2025, McClure knowingly distributed over the internet the visual depiction of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On October 7, 2025, the defendant possessed on a cellular telephone visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
An indictment is only an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, to include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."