Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Canadian National Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, and Distributing, Transporting and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that James Hjelmeland (30, Canada) today pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, as well as two counts of distributing, one count of transporting, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Hjelmeland faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for his attempted enticement of a minor, a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, for each distribution and transportation offense, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the possession offense.
According to the plea agreement, on December 29, 2024, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office undercover detective posed as the guardian of a 12-year-old fictional child. Hjelmeland engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective and made plans to travel from Canada to Orlando, Florida to have sex with the child. During the course of the conversation, Hjelmeland distributed CSAM to the undercover detective. When Hjelmeland was arrested in Orlando, Florida, he possessed CSAM material on his cellular phone that he had transported to the United States involving children who had not attained 12 years of age.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Patrol, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.
Palm Harbor Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Producing and Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti has sentenced Alexander William Czech (34, Palm Harbor) to 17 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for two counts of producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and one count of receiving CSAM. Czech was also ordered to pay $133,000 in restitution and will be required to register as a sex offender. Czech pleaded guilty on August 22, 2025.
According to court documents, the FBI obtained a federal search warrant to search Czech’s residence for evidence of CSAM and found thousands of videos and photos of CSAM in Czech’s computer and an external hard drive. In Czech’s cellphone, the FBI found chats with a 16-year-old girl whom Czech personally knew. The chats showed Czech directing the minor to take sexually explicit photos of herself to send to him via a mobile application. The investigation also revealed that, on several occasions, Czech engaged in sexual activity with the minor after picking her up from school.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Largo Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
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.
Justice Department Opens Investigation into SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Aquatica Orlando for Disability DiscriminationRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced that they have launched an investigation into United Parks & Resorts Inc. to determine whether it violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by discriminating against guests with disabilities. United Parks & Resorts is a global theme park and entertainment company that owns or licenses seven brands including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Aquatica Orlando.
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability by public accommodations, including theme parks.
The Department opened this investigation after receiving complaints from members of the public with disabilities who allege that three of its parks violate the ADA by banning guest use of certain walkers, known as “rollator walkers.” Complainants allege that they cannot access the parks without their rollators and the only alternative the parks offer would require them to use mobility aids that are inappropriate for their individual disabilities and to incur additional charges, among other allegations.
“The ADA protects every American from disability-based discrimination in places of public accommodation, including theme parks,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are committed to upholding our federal civil rights laws so that no guest is denied access or charged more because of a disability.”
“Every year, millions of people from around the world travel to Florida to visit our theme parks,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “No one should ever be denied equal access to public accommodations based on disability. Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that all individuals with disabilities are guaranteed their rights under the ADA.”
Trial Attorney David K. Gardner from the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra N. Karahalios from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida are handling this case.
If you believe you have been a victim of disability discrimination by United Parks & Resorts Inc., including parks such as SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Aquatica Orlando, please file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division online at www.civilrights.justice.gov, or by calling the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (1-833-610-1264 (TTY)). For more information on the ADA and the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.ada.gov or www.justice.gov/crt.
Sanford Cocaine Trafficker Convicted of Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Terrence Denard Perkins (45, Sanford) guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Perkins faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 4, 2026. Perkins was indicted on January 8, 2025.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on January 9, 2024, law enforcement executed a narcotics search warrant on a house in Sanford, Florida, occupied by Perkins’ elderly stepfather. Inside the house, agents found an electronic money counter, revolvers in the bedrooms, and a loaded AR-15 semiautomatic rifle concealed behind a sofa cushion.
AR-15 found in the sofa
Revolver in Perkins' bedroom
In a backyard carport, agents found bags of cocaine and a cocaine cutting, packaging, and distribution station. Next to the packaging station, on the hood of Perkins’ Corvette, was another loaded AR-15 and a MAC-10 handgun wrapped up in a t-shirt.
AR-15 and MAC-10 on the hood of the Corvette
Hidden inside two broken-down cars on the back yard lawn, agents found Perkins’ cocaine inventory—18 vacuum sealed kilogram bricks of cocaine—along with more AR-15s, handguns, an AK-47 rifle, a machinegun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Financial records, DNA results, videos saved on Perkins’ stash house surveillance system, and Perkins’s own social media posts proved at trial that the seized items were tools and inventory of Perkins’ prolific drug trade. The United States is forfeiting the firearms and ammunition involved in the offense.
Bricks of cocaine, firearms, and cocaine trafficking paraphernalia seized from Perkins' house
Perkins is a seven-time convicted felon, including convictions for conspiracy to traffic cocaine, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and aggravating fleeing and eluding. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office’s City County Investigative Bureau (CCIB), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Varadan and Michael P. Felicetta. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington is handling the forfeiture of firearms and ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Sentenced to 30 Months for Possessing A Firearm as an Unlawful Drug UserRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Bryan Byers (58, Jacksonville) to 30 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user. Bryan Byers pleaded guilty on July 10, 2025.
According to court documents, a convicted felon was arrested with a Taurus 9mm pistol, which police learned had been purchased by Byers. The felon indicated that he got the firearm from Byers in exchange for crack cocaine, and that the sale was facilitated by a sex worker who would often set up deals where Byers would sell firearms to drug dealers in exchange for drugs. Law enforcement reviewed text messages between Byers and the sex worker, which demonstrated that Byers had been selling his prescription drugs, agreeing to sell firearms in exchange for drugs, and paying for sex work with money or drugs.
On April 2, 2025, federal agents executed a search warrant at Byers’ residence and seized multiple firearms, including a Marlin .22 caliber rifle; a Norinco 7.62 x 39mm rifle with a large capacity magazine; a Palmetto State Arms 9mm pistol; two firearm frame/receivers; multiple rounds of assorted ammunition; and used crack (cocaine) pipes. The day after agents executed the search warrant and seized the firearms, Byers went to a licensed firearms dealer in Jacksonville and attempted to purchase another firearm. However, agents arrested Byers before he was able to make the purchase.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.
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.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to over Nine Years in Prison for Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Mar’keise Bates (31, Jacksonville) to nine years and two months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Bates pleaded guilty on August 20, 2025.
According to court documents, police were dispatched to the River City Inn on March 3, 2025, in response to a disturbance. A hotel employee reported she had asked Bates to leave the hotel. Despite that, Bates returned with what appeared to be a gun in his waistband. The employee then saw another individual running while saying that Bates had pulled a gun on him. Police obtained surveillance video, which showed Bates holding a gun and pointing it at another person before running off. After viewing the surveillance video, police apprehended Bates and recovered the firearm he possessed, a Beretta M9 9mm semi-automatic pistol, in one of the hotel rooms. Prior to this, Bates was convicted of multiple felonies, including felony battery, robbery, aggravated battery upon a pregnant female, and sale of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.
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.
Bahamian National Indicted for Illegal Voting, Passport Fraud, and False Claim of United States Citizenship to Obtain State BenefitsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Rochelle Deborah Johnson (65, The Bahamas) with illegal voting, passport fraud, and false claim of United States citizenship to obtain state benefits. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Johnson was born in The Bahamas and is not a citizen of the United States. In 2016, Johnson used a passport that she secured by falsely claiming to be a United States citizen to take an international flight. Then in 2018, she attempted to renew her passport by, once again, falsely claiming to be a United States citizen. Johnson also unlawfully voted in the 2020 Presidential election and falsely claimed to be a United States citizen to renew and replace her Florida driver’s license.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.
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.
U.S. Citizens and Chinese Nationals Arrested for Exporting Artificial Intelligence Technology to ChinaRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL — U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that two U.S. citizens and two nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—all residing in the United States—have been charged with a conspiracy to illegally export cutting-edge NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which have artificial intelligence (AI) applications, to the PRC.
Those arrested include Hon Ning Ho, aka “Mathew Ho,” a U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong, 34, residing in Tampa, Florida; Brian Curtis Raymond, U.S. citizen, 46, Huntsville, Alabama; Cham Li, aka “Tony Li,” PRC national, 38, San Leandro, California, and Jing Chen, aka “Harry Chen,” PRC national on F-1 nonimmigrant student visa, 45, Tampa, Florida. On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Ho and Chen were arrested and appeared in court in the Middle District of Florida, while Raymond was arrested and appeared in the Northern District of Alabama. Li was also arrested yesterday and is scheduled to appear today in the Northern District of California.
“As demonstrated by this indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is firmly committed to safeguarding our country’s national security,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Thanks to the dedicated investigative work by our law enforcement partners, these defendants who wrongfully exported this sensitive technology are facing justice.”
According to the indictment, the PRC seeks to become the world leader in AI by 2030 and seeks to use AI for its military modernization efforts and in connection with the design and testing of weapons of mass destruction and deployment of advanced AI surveillance tools. The PRC seeks cutting-edge U.S. technology in furtherance of that goal, including NVIDIA GPUs. To protect U.S. national security, beginning in October 2022, the Department of Commerce implemented new license requirements for the export of these technologies to the PRC.
As alleged, from September 2023 to November 2025, Ho, Raymond, Li, and Chen conspired to violate these critical U.S. export controls, by illegally exporting advanced GPUs to the PRC through Malaysia and Thailand. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the conspirators used Janford Realtor, LLC—a Tampa, Florida-based company owned and controlled by Ho and Li—as a front to purchase and then illegally export controlled GPUs to the PRC. Despite its name, Janford Realtor, LLC, was never involved in any real estate transactions. Raymond, though his Alabama-based electronics company, supplied NVIDIA GPUs to Ho and others for illegal export to the PRC as part of the conspiracy.
As further alleged in the indictment, the conspiracy encompassed four separate exports of NVIDIA GPUs to the PRC. The first and second exports resulted in 400 NVIDIA A100 GPUs being exported to the PRC between October 2024 and January 2025. The third and fourth exports to the PRC were disrupted by law enforcement and therefore not completed. These attempted exports related to ten Hewlett Packard Enterprises supercomputers containing NVIDIA H100 GPUs and 50 separate NVIDIA H200 GPUs.
Despite knowing that licenses were required to export these items to the PRC, none of the conspirators ever sought or obtained a license for any of these exports. Instead, they lied about the intended destination of the GPUs to evade U.S. export controls. The indictment further alleges that the conspirators received over $3.89 million in wire transfers from the PRC to fund this unlawful scheme.
As set forth in the indictment, the United States will also seek forfeiture of 50 NVIDIA H200 GPUs, which are property constituting an item or technology that was intended to be exported unlawfully.
The chart below summarizes the charges against each defendant:
Name and Nationality
Age and Residence
Charges
Max. Term of Imprisonment
Hon Ning Ho, aka “Mathew Ho,” U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong34, Tampa, FLConspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA),
ECRA violations (4 counts),
smuggling (3 counts),
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and
money laundering (9 counts)
20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering countBrian Curtis Raymond, U.S. citizen46, Huntsville, ALConspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA),
ECRA violations (2 counts),
smuggling (1 count),
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and
money laundering (7 counts)
20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering countCham Li, aka “Tony Li,” PRC national38, San Leandro, CAConspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA),
ECRA violations (1 count),
smuggling (1 count), and
conspiracy to commit money laundering
20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering countJing Chen, aka “Harry Chen,” PRC national on F-1 nonimmigrant student visa45, Tampa, FLConspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA),
ECRA violations (1 count),
smuggling (1 count), and
conspiracy to commit money laundering
20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering countAn indictment is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph K. Ruddy and Lindsey N. Schmidt of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Three Defendants Sentenced for Their Roles in California-Based Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Court Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Hopeton Goslin (57, St. Petersburg) to 20 years in federal prison, Tony Marsh (25, Bradenton) to 10 years in federal prison, and Colin Zirpoli (46, Sarasota) to 30 months in federal prison for their roles in conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in the Middle District of Florida.
According to court documents, as well as testimony and evidence presented during court hearings in the case, in February of 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Colin Zirpoli for suspected methamphetamine distribution, which led to led to Zirpoli’s supplier, Elizabeth Poff. The investigation into Poff led to her supplier, Tony Marsh, which led investigators to Marh’s supplier, Hopeton Goslin. Search warrants for Goslin’s home and storage unit led to the recovery of over 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. Goslin, Marsh, Poff, and Zirpoli all pled guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Poff was previously sentenced to 37 months in federal custody.
Subsequent investigation led to the identification of Goslin’s source of supply in San Diego, California, an origin city for narcotics to be distributed to the east coast. Agents identified Omar Pitter as Goslin’s source of supply, and the investigation revealed that Pitter had been shipping Goslin cocaine and methamphetamine since 2023 via FedEx and UPS. Investigators testified at trial that the estimated combined weights of the shipments were 34 kilograms of cocaine and 697 pounds of methamphetamine.
Pitter, and two additional co-defendants, Keona Fulton and Ciarra Guss, were arrested in California. Their case proceeded to trial in September of this year and a federal jury convicted Pitter and Guss of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine on September 25, 2025. The jury also convicted Pitter and Fulton of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Pitter, Guss’s and Fulton’s sentencings are scheduled for December 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
Polk County Felon Convicted at Trial for Assaulting Deputy U.S. Marshal with A FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Myles Andrew Strickland (36, Bartow) guilty of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Strickland faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Strickland was a convicted felon and fugitive wanted on a state arrest warrant out of Polk County. A U.S. Marshals Service task force located Strickland in Lee County. When confronted, Strickland led authorities on a foot chase. During the chase, Strickland turned to face a Deputy U.S. Marshal that had been pursuing him and racked the slide of a firearm he was carrying inside of a jacket, thus preparing the firearm to fire. Strickland was then struck by gunfire from pursuing law enforcement. A spent cartridge casing showed that Strickland had discharged his firearm.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
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 Convicted Felon Who Attempted to Pawn A Firearm Sentenced to Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Shymiere Montese Howell (31, Ocala) to five years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Howell entered a guilty plea to the offense on July 22, 2025.
According to court documents, Howell is a 19-time convicted felon with prior convictions that include possession of a firearm by a felon, child neglect, felony battery, and drug possession. On November 8, 2024, Howell entered a Leesburg pawn shop and attempted to sell a loaded handgun. When law enforcement arrived at the pawn shop, Howell attempted to push past them and run out of the store. He was quickly apprehended. As a convicted felon, Howell is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Leesburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
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).
Founder of “Leadership Training” Company and Co-Conspirator Found Guilty of Defrauding COVID Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury found Shawn Michael Simmerer (49, Florida) and Seth Downes (30, Michigan) guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). Simmerer was also found guilty of four counts of submitting false claims to the IRS, related to fraudulent Employee Retention Credits and Sick and Family Leave Credits. Simmerer and Downes face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count, and Simmerer faces a maximum penalty of 5 years on each false claim count. Their sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 17, 2026.
Simmerer and Downes were indicted on February 28, 2024. A superseding indictment was later returned on January 29, 2025.
According to the testimony and evidence presented at trial, starting in April 2020, the defendants participated in a scheme to fraudulently obtain PPP proceeds and to then live off the proceeds. The scheme involved the submission of PPP loan applications on behalf of multiple companies, including two applications on behalf of “Your 10 Life Foundation,” a “leadership training” company founded by Simmerer. These applications falsely claimed employees and payroll that did not exist. The applications also attached phony payroll records and tax returns that were either never filed, or differed from the versions filed, with the IRS. Through these applications, the defendants were able to obtain over $344,000 in PPP loans. They were later able to have the loans forgiven through a series of loan forgiveness applications, which also included false and fraudulent information.
In addition, Simmerer prepared and submitted tax returns on behalf of Your 10 Life Foundation, which claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars of COVID-related tax credits. The evidence at trial showed that these tax credits, Employee Retention Credits and Sick and Family Leave Credits, were fraudulent. Based on these fraudulent credits, Simmerer was ultimately able to obtain over $680,000 in refunds from the IRS.
“These defendants didn’t just cheat the system—they stole from the American people,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Their scheme was built on lies, but thanks to the relentless work of IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners justice caught up with them. We will continue to follow the money and hold fraudsters accountable—no matter how complex the scheme.”
“These two individuals engineered a multi-pronged fraud scheme that included exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program to steal valuable funds meant for small businesses that depended on them,” said Caroline O’Brien-Buster, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Orlando Field Office. “The U.S. Secret Service and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring fraudsters like Mr. Simmerer and Mr. Downes are held accountable for their crimes.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert D. Sowell and Noah P. Dorman.
U.S. Citizens and Chinese Nationals Arrested for Exporting Artificial Intelligence Technology to ChinaRead the Press Release
Two U.S. citizens and two nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—all residing in the United States—have been charged with a conspiracy to illegally export cutting-edge NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which have artificial intelligence (AI) applications, to the PRC, announced Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg for the Justice Department’s National Security Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida.
Those arrested include Hon Ning Ho, aka “Mathew Ho,” a U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong, 34, residing in Tampa, Florida; Brian Curtis Raymond, U.S. citizen, 46, Huntsville, Alabama; Cham Li, aka “Tony Li,” PRC national, 38, San Leandro, California, and Jing Chen, aka “Harry Chen,” PRC national on F-1 nonimmigrant student visa, 45, Tampa, Florida. On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Ho and Chen were arrested and appeared in court in the Middle District of Florida, while Raymond was arrested and appeared in the Northern District of Alabama. Li was also arrested yesterday and is scheduled to appear today in the Northern District of California.
“The indictment unsealed yesterday alleges a deliberate and deceptive effort to transship controlled NVIDIA GPUs to China by falsifying paperwork, creating fake contracts, and misleading U.S. authorities,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “The National Security Division is committed to disrupting these kinds of black markets of sensitive U.S. technologies and holding accountable those who participate in this illicit trade.”
“As demonstrated by this indictment, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida is firmly committed to safeguarding our country’s national security,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Thanks to the dedicated investigative work by our law enforcement partners, these defendants who wrongfully exported this sensitive technology are facing justice.”
According to the indictment, the PRC seeks to become the world leader in AI by 2030 and seeks to use AI for its military modernization efforts and in connection with the design and testing of weapons of mass destruction and deployment of advanced AI surveillance tools. The PRC seeks cutting-edge U.S. technology in furtherance of that goal, including NVIDIA GPUs. To protect U.S. national security, beginning in October 2022, the Department of Commerce implemented new license requirements for the export of these technologies to the PRC.
As alleged, from September 2023 to November 2025, Ho, Raymond, Li, and Chen conspired to violate these critical U.S. export controls, by illegally exporting advanced GPUs to the PRC through Malaysia and Thailand. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the conspirators used Janford Realtor, LLC—a Tampa, Florida-based company owned and controlled by Ho and Li—as a front to purchase and then illegally export controlled GPUs to the PRC. Despite its name, Janford Realtor, LLC, was never involved in any real estate transactions. Raymond, though his Alabama-based electronics company, supplied NVIDIA GPUs to Ho and others for illegal export to the PRC as part of the conspiracy.
As further alleged in the indictment, the conspiracy encompassed four separate exports of NVIDIA GPUs to the PRC. The first and second exports resulted in 400 NVIDIA A100 GPUs being exported to the PRC between October 2024 and January 2025. The third and fourth exports to the PRC were disrupted by law enforcement and therefore not completed. These attempted exports related to ten Hewlett Packard Enterprises supercomputers containing NVIDIA H100 GPUs and 50 separate NVIDIA H200 GPUs.
Despite knowing that licenses were required to export these items to the PRC, none of the conspirators ever sought or obtained a license for any of these exports. Instead, they lied about the intended destination of the GPUs to evade U.S. export controls. The indictment further alleges that the conspirators received over $3.89 million in wire transfers from the PRC to fund this unlawful scheme.
As set forth in the indictment, the United States will also seek forfeiture of 50 NVIDIA H200 GPUs, which are property constituting an item or technology that was intended to be exported unlawfully.
The chart below summarizes the charges against each defendant:
Name and NationalityAge and ResidenceChargesMax. Term of ImprisonmentHon Ning Ho, aka “Mathew Ho,” U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong34, Tampa, FLConspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA),
ECRA violations (4 counts),
smuggling (3 counts),
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and
money laundering (9 counts)
20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering countBrian Curtis Raymond, U.S. citizen46, Huntsville, ALConspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA),
ECRA violations (2 counts),
smuggling (1 count),
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and
money laundering (7 counts)
20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering countCham Li, aka “Tony Li,” PRC national38, San Leandro, CAConspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA),
ECRA violations (1 count),
smuggling (1 count), and
conspiracy to commit money laundering
20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering countJing Chen, aka “Harry Chen,” PRC national on F-1 nonimmigrant student visa45, Tampa, FLConspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA),
ECRA violations (1 count),
smuggling (1 count), and
conspiracy to commit money laundering
20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering countThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph K. Ruddy and Lindsey N. Schmidt of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Cocaine and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Torrey Taylor (45, Tampa) to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Taylor pleaded guilty on August 28, 2025.
According to court records, Taylor conspired with his co-defendant, Temeko Evans, to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Between February 11 and March 26, 2025, detectives from the Tampa Police Department conducted a series of controlled purchases from Evans and Taylor to include approximately two ounces of crack cocaine and two ounces of methamphetamine.
Evans pleaded guilty on October 2, 2025, and her case is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Sarasota Man Indicted for Perpetrating an Investment Fraud Scheme in Southwest FloridaRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Brent Adam Seaman (51, Sarasota) with five counts of wire fraud, four counts of money laundering, and two counts of making a false tax return. If convicted, Seaman faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count, up to 10 years’ imprisonment on each money laundering count, and a maximum penalty of 3 years for each count of making a false tax return.
According to the indictment, from approximately June 2019 to November 2022, Seaman was a resident of Naples, Florida and operated multiple Florida LLCs collectively referred to as “Accanito.” Seaman falsely perpetrated an investment fraud scheme representing himself as a successful investor, currency trader, and entrepreneur. As a part of the scheme, the indictment alleges that he falsely promised guaranteed rates of return on investments to investors, caused investors to lose substantial portions of their investments, and used investor funds to repay other investors.
The indictment further alleges that Seaman used investor funds for luxury and personal items. He is charged with laundering money to pay personal rent, purchase a Ferrari, buy jewelry, and charter a private jet. Seaman is also charged with underreporting his income on his 2019 and 2020 federal tax returns.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan and Trial Attorney Timothy J. Coley of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
IndictmentMarion County Man Enters Guilty Plea to Attempted Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Clayton Lee Harris (22, Ocklawaha) has pleaded guilty plea to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Harris faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the court records, on July 26, 2025, Harris contacted an undercover officer on an online dating website. The undercover officer was posing as a 14-year-old girl. Harris agreed to meet the “girl” at a local gas station for a sexual encounter. When Harris arrived at the gas station, he was apprehended by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
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 Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Kevin Eugene Leeks, Jr. (34, Leesburg) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Leeks faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the court records, Leeks has been a convicted felon since 2013. His prior felony convictions include robbery with a deadly weapon. As a convicted felon, Leeks is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. On July 13, 2019, a deputy from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office stopped an automobile driven by Leeks. During the traffic stop, Leeks had a passenger toss a loaded firearm out of the car window. Leeks subsequently confessed that he had stored the firearm under his seat in the automobile.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
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.
Federal Inmate Indicted for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Billy Boortz (43, Duval County, TX) for one count of possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possession of contraband by a federal prisoner. If convicted, Boortz faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, on the drug distribution count and up to 20 years for the contraband offense.
According to the indictment, on July 18, 2025, Boortz was a federal inmate in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. On that date, Boortz possessed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. The methamphetamine possessed by Boortz is also a prohibited object in federal prison.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Federal Correctional Officer Enters Guilty Plea to Bribery and Introduction of Contraband into PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Micheal Jason Brooks (37, Citra) has pleaded guilty plea to one count of receipt of a bribe by a public official and one count of providing contraband to a federal prisoner. Brooks faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the bribery offense and up to 6 months’ imprisonment for the contraband offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, on June 12, 2024, Brooks was employed by the United States Department of Justice, United States Bureau of Prisons, as a correctional officer at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. He knowingly and corruptly sought, and agreed to receive and accept, a bribe of $3,000 in return for smuggling 177.1 grams of loose tobacco into the federal prison for an inmate. Federal inmates are prohibited from obtaining and possessing tobacco in prison as it is contraband. Brooks provided the tobacco to the inmate on June 12, 2024.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Naples Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kyle C. Dudek has sentenced Alexis Garcia to 30 months in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Garcia was also ordered to pay $4,262,797.34 in restitution to the IRS. Garcia pleaded guilty on August 18, 2025.
According to court documents, Garcia conspired with his co-defendant to defraud the United States for the purpose of impeding or impairing the IRS in ascertaining, computing, and collecting federal payroll taxes, specifically Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes (Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and federal income tax).
Between 2017 and 2019, Garcia managed and directed the operations of Tape Drywall Services Inc., located in Naples, Florida. General contractors entered into agreements with Tape Drywall to provide workers for various construction contracts and provided checks in the name of Tape Drywall for payment. Garcia and his co-conspirator cashed the checks at a check cashing business and paid a fee out of every check cashed. Garcia and his co-conspirator provided cash to the foremen who used the cash to pay the workers. In total, Garcia and his co-conspirator cashed more than 3,600 checks totaling approximately $28 million.
Garcia and his co-conspirator did not report the wages that were paid to the workers in cash to the IRS, and they did not withhold Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from those wages and pay them over to the IRS, as required by law. As a result, Garcia caused a loss to the United States of more than $4.2 million.
In addition, Garcia and his co-conspirator’s scheme to defraud facilitated the avoidance of the higher cost of obtaining adequate workers’ compensation insurance for many workers on the work crews when they substantially misrepresented the amount of Tape Drywall’s payroll.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael C. Boteler of the United States Department of Justice, Tax Division.
Former Orlando Middle School Teacher Sentenced to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed has sentenced Italo Rafael Brett Bonini (26, Orlando) to life in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and 30 years’ imprisonment prison for the production of child sexual abuse material. The sentences will run concurrently. The court also ordered Bonini to forfeit a desktop computer, which he used to commit the offenses. Bonini pleaded guilty on May 1, 2025.
According to court documents, on January 12, 2025, Bonini video chatted from his residence in Orlando with two child victims in Maryland through an online communication platform. During that video chat, Bonini offered currency in an online videogame in exchange for the victims to show their genitals on screen. Both child victims pulled down their pants at Bonini’s request, and one of the child victims complied with Bonini’s request to display his genitals on screen.
Further investigation revealed that Bonini has victimized minor victims across the globe. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has found evidence of chats between Bonini and approximately 30 minor victims, many of whom have been identified. The chats revealed that Bonini engaged in sexual activity with young children online, including exposing himself on camera, requesting and receiving sexually explicit photos, urinating and defecating on camera. Bonini also tried to entice minor victims to perform sexual acts with their minor siblings and to engage in bestiality.
Prior to his arrest, Bonini was a music teacher at a middle school in Orange County, Florida. He also taught private music lessons to children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Cruz.
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.
Davenport Man Indicted for Intending to Distribute over A Kilogram of CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Alexis Irnel Cintron Victoria (39, Davenport), a/k/a “Gordo,” with the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a cocaine. If convicted, Cintron Victoria faces a minimum penalty of five years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Cintron Victoria that the United States intends to forfeit any assets used in the commission of the offense.
According to court records, on November 6, 2025, officers from the Lakeland Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle Cintron Victoria was driving. During the stop, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle. A wrapped brick-like object was found under a false bottom within the center console. It tested positive for the presence of cocaine.
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, with assistance from the Sarasota Police Department and the Lakeland Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Child Predator Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced William Isaak Sparks (24, Kalamazoo, Michigan) to 16 years and 9 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity via the internet. After being released from prison, Sparks will be required to register as a sex offender. The court also ordered Sparks to forfeit a cellphone that was used in the offense. Sparks pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025.
On two separate occasions in May 2024, Sparks encountered an online undercover FBI agent posing as the father of an 11-year-old daughter who was available for sex. Sparks described his desire to have sex with the purported child and asked the agent to purchase a bus ticket so that Sparks could travel from Michigan to Jacksonville to have sex with the purported child. Before Sparks could make the trip to Jacksonville, he was arrested trying to meet a different fictitious 11-year-old for sex in Michigan.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Township of Kalamazoo (Michigan) Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
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.
Jury Convicts Software Distributor of Conspiracy to Traffic in Illicit Microsoft Certificates of AuthenticityRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Heidi Richards (52, Brandon) guilty of conspiring to traffic in illicit Microsoft certificate of authenticity (COA) labels. Richards faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 26, 2026.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richards, doing business as Trinity Software Distribution, paid co-conspirators millions of dollars for thousands of genuine, standalone Microsoft COA labels at prices significantly lower than the retail price of the associated software. Richards and her employees harvested product key codes from the labels and then sold them in bulk to her customers. Federal law prohibits the trafficking of standalone COA labels separate from the software programs they were intended to accompany.
COA labels authenticate Microsoft software, assist customers in identifying genuine software, and bear security features intended to dissuade counterfeit duplication. There is an illicit, secondary market for COA labels because they bear product key codes used to activate Microsoft software. COA labels are not to be sold separately from the license and hardware that they are intended to accompany, and they hold no independent commercial value.
The Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Risha Asokan of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Jared Hosid of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) prosecuted the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Child Predator Sentenced to 35 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Evin Scott Young (39, Texas) to 35 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Young pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025.
According to court documents, Young pursued four children solely for sex. Using various social media applications, he drew each of the victims – ranging from 15 to 17 years old – out of their homes after their parents went to sleep, instructed them to meet him at the front of their neighborhoods, and brought each back to his apartment. Young recorded himself having sex with two of the victims and invited another man to have sex with one victim. Over a 10-month period, Young continued his sexual abuse of another victim, sent him CSAM he made of the victim, and told the victim never to get caught with it. Over six months, Young repeatedly groomed and courted the final victim for sex. Law enforcement caught Young after following the thread of a CyberTip identifying explicit communications between him and one of the victims. From there, further investigation revealed evidence of his crimes.
“Protecting our nation's children from predators who exploit and abuse children is among the most critical responsibilities we hold as a society,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran. “This sentence reflects HSI’s unwavering commitment, alongside our state, local and federal partners, to ensuring justice is served and safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron.
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.
Social Media Child Predator Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Charles William Maitski (60, St. Cloud) to life in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and enticing children to engage in sexual activity. Maitski pleaded guilty on July 8, 2025.
According to court documents, after following up on a tip in June 2024, law enforcement discovered that Maitski had been sexually exploiting children using the internet since at least 2012. Through a series of search warrants and victim interviews, law enforcement learned that Maitski hid behind an online persona of a 14-year-old boy named “Chuck.” He met his young victims online and then groomed them using the social media platforms Instagram and Discord.
To build trust with his victims, Maitski sent his victims hundreds of messages a day, including explicit images and videos of the young teenaged boy he had adopted as his persona. In return, Maitski demanded that his victims perform for him on video calls and record and send him increasingly graphic and degrading CSAM. Maitski also attempted to convince a victim to molest children she was babysitting. Between 2023 and 2024, Maitski exchanged more than 50,000 messages with his victims, contacted nearly 300 minors and suspected minors on Instagram and Discord, and sent, received, or directed the production of hundreds of images and videos of CSAM.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Cloud Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan.
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 Aiming A Laser Pointer at A Sheriff’s Office HelicopterRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Adam Santiago Lugo (41, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to a federal indictment charging him with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. Santiago Lugo faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on the night of August 2, 2025, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter (“Air 1”) was in flight over Ocala working a burglary investigation when it was repeatedly struck with a green laser coming from Santiago-Lugo’s residence. The laser strikes interfered with the two-man flight crew’s ability to operate the helicopter and placed it in danger. The crew was forced to fly the helicopter primarily by instrumentation, shielding their eyes with their hands from the laser strikes.
Using the helicopter’s cameras, the crew located Santiago Lugo in his front yard. He was wearing binoculars and holding a laser pointer in his right hand.
Santiago Lugo in his driveway with the laser pointer and binoculars
(as seen from “Air 1’s” cameras).
Santiago Lugo pointing the laser at “Air-1.”
A deputy was quickly dispatched to the residence and arrested Santiago Lugo. He was still wearing the binoculars around his neck and had the green laser pointer in his hand. After waiving his constitutional rights, Santiago Lugo admitted that he was “just being silly” when he repeatedly struck the helicopter with the green laser. He said he knew the aircraft was a sheriff’s office helicopter because it “flies over his house all the time.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Air Marshals, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
Colombian Citizen Charged with Adopting Identity of U.S. Citizen to Obtain Passport and Driver License and to Vote in Federal ElectionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Carlos Felipe Jaramillo Grajales (55, Jacksonville) with making false statements in an application for a U.S. passport, falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen to obtain a Florida driver license (3 counts), falsely claiming that a Social Security number had been assigned to him (4 counts), falsely claiming to be a U.S citizen to vote in an election, voting by an alien in a federal election, and aggravated identity theft (9 counts). If convicted, Grajales faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the passport fraud count, 5 years for each false claim of U.S. citizenship count and each fraudulent use of a Social Security number count, 1 year imprisonment for the voting by an alien count, and a mandatory 2 years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence.
According to the indictment, Grajales is a Colombian citizen who used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to apply for a passport. He used those same identifiers and claimed to be a U.S. citizen to obtain a Florida driver license on three occasions and to vote in the November 2020 general election.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Cape Coral Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for His Role in Firearm Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek has sentenced Derick Desir (28, Cape Coral) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for his role in a firearm trafficking conspiracy. Desir pleaded guilty on July 23, 2025, to conspiring to make a false statement to a firearms dealer and making false statements to a firearms dealer.
According to court records, in May 2022 Desir joined a conspiracy to “straw purchase” handguns on behalf of others. In June 2022, in coordination with another conspirator, Desir purchased approximately twelve Glock handguns across seven transactions from six different federally licensed firearms dealers in Lee County. While making these firearms purchases, Desir falsely represented to each firearm dealer that he was the “actual buyer or transferee” of the firearms, when he knew that the firearms he was purchasing would be trafficked to Canada by others. At least five of the twelve handguns purchased by Desir during the conspiracy have since been recovered in Canada during various Canadian law enforcement investigations.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.
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).
VRA Enterprises Agrees to Pay over $17 Million for Allegedly Billing Medicare for Over-The-Counter COVID-19 Tests That Were Not Provided to Beneficiaries, or That Were Sent to Beneficiaries Months After Being Billed to MedicareRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – VRA Enterprises, LLC dba Precision Rx (VRA), a pharmacy located in Tampa, Florida, has agreed to pay the United States $17,069,371 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by knowingly submitting or causing the submission of false claims to Medicare for Over-The-Counter (OTC) Covid-19 tests that were not provided to beneficiaries, or that were sent to beneficiaries months after VRA had billed them to Medicare.
Between April 2022 and May 2023, VRA distributed OTC Covid-19 tests in connection with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) OTC Covid-19 Test Demonstration Project (Demonstration Project). During the Demonstration Project, Medicare Part B beneficiaries could request OTC Covid-19 tests from participating providers, such as VRA, and CMS would reimburse those providers for up to eight OTC Covid-19 tests per beneficiary per month, at a fixed rate of $12 per test.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that VRA knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to Medicare for OTC Covid-19 tests in connection with the Demonstration Project. The United States contends that, between August 2022 and May 2023, VRA submitted claims to Medicare for OTC COVID-19 tests that it did not provide to beneficiaries. The United States also contends that, in January 2023, VRA submitted approximately 136,491 claims to Medicare for OTC COVID-19 test it did not ship to beneficiaries until April 2023. VRA received thousands of complaints from beneficiaries during the Demonstration Project about missing OTC COVID-19 tests. VRA also repeatedly acknowledged internally that it had “billed Medicare” for tests it “failed to ship” and should “issue a refund” to Medicare “immediately” for such tests, but did not do so. As a result of this conduct, the United States contends that VRA knowingly submitted or caused to be submitted false claims to the Medicare Program in violation of the False Claims Act.
“The Department of Justice has been vocal in prioritizing the pursuit of civil fraud cases against providers that raided federal health programs during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “This settlement is an excellent example of our district’s commitment to meeting this important challenge.”
“When providers bill for services that were never delivered for matters such as COVID-19, they not only squander taxpayer dollars, but they also drain critical resources in our public health response,” said Christian J. Schrank, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stamp out deceptive schemes that violate the False Claims Act and undermine the integrity of our nation’s federal health care programs.”
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, and HHS-OIG. This matter was handled by Civil Division Fraud Section Trial Attorney Lindsay DeFrancesco and by AUSA Carolyn Tapie.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Yitzchak Reuven Baum (37, Tampa) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted transfer of obscene material, receipt and access with intent to view child sex abuse material (CSAM). Baum pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025.
According to court documents, between August and October 2023, Baum attempted to coerce or entice an individual, whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, to engage in sexual activity. Baum also sent obscene material to the purported minor during the conversations. In March 2024, following the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement located numerous conversations on social media sites in which Baum had requested and received CSAM.
This case was investigated by the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
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, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearms as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell has sentenced Denzel Ingram (28, Tampa) to six years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Ingram to forfeit the firearms used in the commission of the offense. Ingram pleaded guilty on August 6, 2025.
According to court records, an officer with the Tampa Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle Ingram was driving for a traffic violation. Ingram parked the vehicle in front of a nearby residence and went inside, refusing the officer’s commands to stop. Ingram ultimately fled from the residence and was arrested at a later date. Two loaded handguns were recovered from the driver’s side floorboard where Ingram had been seated. Prior to the offense, Ingram had been convicted of multiple felonies including a conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2013. As a convicted felon, Ingram is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
St. Petersburg Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Bank Fraud and Mail TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Ah’Jhzae Diamondric Artag Berry (30, St. Petersburg) to five years and five months in federal prison for bank fraud and theft of mail. Berry pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025.
According to court documents, on many occasions, usually at night, between January and June 2024, Berry, aided and abetted by others, broke into U.S. Postal Service receptacles using a stolen Postal Service key. Berry stole the mail and opened it to remove contents of value, including debit cards, credit cards, gift cards, and checks. On at least one occasion, Berry stole election ballots. Berry and his accomplices then altered the payee on the stolen checks and fraudulently deposited them at federally insured banks. In total, they victimized hundreds of individuals with a total intended loss of over $380,000.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
St. Augustine Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Use A Minor Child for the Production of A Sexual Abuse VideoRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jack Dymond Leach (43, St. Augustine) has pleaded guilty to attempting to use a minor child to produce and send him videos and photos depicting the child being sexually abused by a child sex trafficker in the Philippines. Leach faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. On May 29, 2025, Leach was arrested by federal agents and has been custody since that time. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2026.
According to court documents, in March 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were investigating child sexual exploitation activities involving a particular telecommunications application (“app”). An HSI analyst in Jacksonville discovered certain information associated with a specific app account that was communicating with two other app accounts had been used by individuals in the Philippines in 2023 to traffic children for sexual exploitation. This app account was determined to have accessed the internet in St. Augustine. Further investigation revealed that this account belonged to and was used by Leach.
Between November 19, 2023, and March 20, 2024, Leach’s app account and the other two app accounts used by child traffickers in the Philippines exchanged 1,287 messages and 32 media files. In an app text message that Leach sent to a trafficker on November 21, 2023, Leach stated, “i like 3y, 5y, 8y.” The trafficker responded, “I c[a]n get that age.” On November 22, 2023, Leach texted, “will [the minor child] make dirty pics or vids …,” and “sure, i’ll pay for them.” On December 2, 2023, Leach sent a message offering to pay the trafficker for producing a video depicting a minor child engaging in specific sexually explicit conduct and sending it to Leach. Leach and the trafficker discussed by text message possible methods of payment. On December 5, 2023, Leach sent the trafficker about $160 using an electronic payment system to produce and send the video of the child being sexually abused.
On May 8, 2025, federal search warrants were executed at Leach’s residence and his business. Law enforcement seized numerous electronic devices belonging to and used by Leach. A forensic examination of these devices revealed that several contained visual depictions of prepubescent children being sexually abused.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another 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, rescue, and seek justice for victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Plant City Man Found Guilty of Transmitting Threat Against Brandon High School on Social MediaRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Janye B. Evans (19, Plant City) guilty of interstate transmission of a threat. Evans faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 2026.
According to evidence presented at trial, in June 2024, law enforcement became aware of a social media posting by a man who was pictured in front of a school, and included a caption, “Ill go back to school and kill everybody.” The man also posted a photo of himself pointing a firearm at the camera. Investigators determined that the post was made by Evans, the school was Brandon High School, and Evans was a former student who had recently withdrawn from the school.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Pilots Indicted for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging two Florida men—Jean Paul Lacruz Romero (30, St. Cloud) and Jordan David Coursey (38, Haverhill)—with one count of wire fraud. If convicted, Romero and Coursey each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit money that is alleged to be traceable as proceeds of the offense—$305,231.34, from Coursey and $479,818.66 from Romero.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, between October 10, 2021, and July 27, 2023, Romero and Coursey knowingly devised a scheme to defraud their employer, Constellation Productions, Inc. Constellation is an aviation and production company in Marion County, Florida. It was part of their scheme that the two pilots personally paid the costs to fuel Constellation aircraft. They then created false invoices with material misrepresentations that overstated the fueling costs and electronically submitted them by email to Constellation for reimbursement. Romero and Coursey fraudulently obtained a total of $785,050 from this overbilling scheme.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Parrish Man Sentenced to More Than Eleven Years for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Jason Peterson (29, Parrish) to 11 years and 5 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Peterson to forfeit the firearms possessed in connection with the offense. Peterson pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025.
According to court records, on November 16, 2024, deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a residence in Parrish. The caller stated that Peterson had previously battered her and was in possession of a firearm. Deputies arrested Peterson and recovered a Smith & Wesson handgun and a Bauer handgun from the residence.
ATF agents interviewed Peterson after his arrest. Peterson admitted to possessing the Smith & Wesson handgun and knowing that he could not possess a firearm as a convicted felon. During the same interview, Peterson also discussed a Rossi shotgun that his wife had purchased for him at a gun store in Sarasota, which he subsequently sold to another felon. ATF agents subsequently recovered surveillance video showing Peterson in possession of the shotgun in October 2024.
Prior to possessing the firearms, Peterson knew he had been convicted of multiple felonies, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and delivery of a controlled substance. As a convicted felon, Peterson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Odessa Man Indicted for Stealing More Than $250,000 in PPP FundsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Clarence Gardener (50, Odessa) with one count of wire fraud. If convicted, Gardener faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Gardener that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $261,253.00, which represents the alleged proceeds traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, between April 2020 and October 2020, Gardener devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting a false and fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application. The PPP was one source of economic relief provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help small business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Ocala Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery of A Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Johnisaac Felix (23, Ocala) to 10 years in federal prison for interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The court also ordered Felix to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offenses. Felix pleaded guilty on February 25, 2025.
According to court documents, at approximately 12:10 p.m. on July 16, 2024, Felix robbed a convenience store on East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala. During the robbery, Felix pointed a loaded firearm at the store’s clerk and demanded money. The clerk gave Felix access to the cash register and handed him a stack of trackable bait bills. Officers with the Ocala Police Department soon located Felix, who attempted to run. After apprehending Felix, the officers discovered more than $700 in cash, the bait bills, and the loaded firearm in his possession.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ocala Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.
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.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jorge Mazariegos-De Leon (39, Mexico) has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. Mazariegos-De Leon faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, at some time between May 2014 and April 2024, Mazariegos-De Leon voluntarily entered the United States, with knowledge that he had previously been removed and that he was not legally permitted to reenter. On April 1, 2024, officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations found Mazariegos-De Leon in Manatee County. Mazariegos-De Leon is a native and citizen of Mexico and was previously removed from the United States on two different occasions in 2014.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.
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.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Mexican National Indicted for Immigration, Fraud, and Identity Theft CrimesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Juan Jaramillo Vazquez, a/k/a Juan Vazquiz (49, Bradenton), with one count of illegal reentry by a deported alien, two counts of Social Security fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Vazquez faces a minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment for each count of Social Security fraud, and up to two years in prison for illegal reentry.
According to the indictment, Vazquez was found to be voluntarily present in the United States after having been previously removed from the United States three times in 2012. Vazquez had not received the consent of the Attorney General or Security of Homeland Security to reapply for admission. Vazquez is a citizen of Mexico. Vazquez also fraudulently used the Social Security number related to Victim 1 to gain employment and tax benefits, fraudulently representing himself to an employer and the Social Security Administration.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
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.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Mexican National Extradited Back to Florida to Face Forced Labor ChargesRead the Press Release
Alexander Villatoro Moreno, also known as “Quichi,” 53, made his first appearance in federal court today after the Mexican government recently apprehended and extradited him to the United States. Villatoro Moreno faces four charges, including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to commit forced labor, conspiracy to obstruct proceedings before agencies, and one count of forced labor for conduct alleged to have occurred between September 2015 and December 2017.
According to the indictment, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants fraudulently recruited Mexican nationals to lawfully enter the United States to perform seasonal agricultural work, often lying to the victims about how much they would be paid, the hours they would work, the working conditions, and the reimbursement they would receive for paying recruitment fees and other expenses. Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants then misled the United States to secure valid H-2A visas for the victims.
Once in the United States, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants compelled the labor and services of the victims by, among other actions, having the victims engage in long hours of physically demanding agricultural work while paying them far less money for their work than they were entitled to under the law. Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants also took the victims’ passports to prevent them from leaving, warned the victims that family members back in Mexico could get harmed if they did not comply with their demands, and threatened them with arrest and deportation.
When officials began investigating, Villatoro Moreno distributed fake reimbursement receipts to the victims to make it appear that Los Villatoros Harvesting (LVH), the Farm Labor Contractor that Moreno helped manage, was reimbursing the workers for their travel-related expenses.
Villatoro Moreno’s four co-defendants previously pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in the scheme. Bladimir Moreno, Alexander Moreno’s brother, owned LVH and pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Efrain Cabrera Rodas and Christina Gamez, LVH supervisors, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act while Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza, another LVH supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct a federal investigation. In 2022, Bladimir Moreno was sentenced to 118 months in prison and ordered to pay over $175,000 in restitution to the victims while Rodas and Gamez were sentenced to 41 months and 37 months in prison, respectively. Mendoza was also sentenced in 2022 to serve eight months of home detention and a $5,500 fine to be paid over 24 months of supervised release.
If convicted, Villatoro Moreno faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Task Force received assistance from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program and Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project.
The Government of Mexico, including the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), provided significant assistance in the extradition of Villatoro Moreno to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Villatoro Moreno.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilyssa Spergel for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and Villatoro Moreno is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lehigh Acres Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for His Role in Orchestrating Multi-Million Dollar Covid Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Lester John Parker, Jr. (55, Lehigh Acres) to ten years and one month in federal prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. Parker pleaded guilty on July 9, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, between 2020 and 2021, Parker orchestrated and carried out a scheme to defraud the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and various SBA-approved lenders by submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of himself and numerous other individuals and businesses. Forgivable PPP loans—which were 100% guaranteed by the federal government—were one of the sources of economic relief provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The fraudulent applications submitted by Parker included false documents such as forged bank statements and bogus IRS records, as well as fraudulent representations regarding the PPP applicant’s average monthly payroll, in an effort to deceive the SBA and various SBA-approved lending institutions into approving large PPP loans for applicants who did not qualify for such loans. Altogether, more than 100 fraudulent PPP applications were linked to Parker’s conspiracy, which resulted in over $3 million in fraudulent loan proceeds being disbursed.
Aside from filing fraudulent PPP applications, Parker’s conspiracy also included an intricate scheme to launder fraud proceeds to bogus employees of sham businesses controlled by Parker. In some instances, stolen identities were used by conspirators in furtherance of the fraud.
This case was investigated by the United State Secret Service and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by contacting the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Leader of Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to over 13 Years for Conspiring to Traffic over 43,000 Kilograms of Cocaine Valued at $1.3 BillionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle has sentenced Jorge Hernan Gonzalez-Ortiz (49, Colombia) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. Gonzalez-Ortiz pleaded guilty on January 14, 2025.
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, from 2016 until 2023, Gonzalez-Ortiz established and led a drug trafficking organization in Colombia responsible for transporting cocaine via commercial airplanes and maritime vessels. Conspirators loaded commercial aircraft with cocaine disguised in boxes of fruit at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, Colombia and intended for Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés Island, Colombia. With the assistance of no less than 20 corrupt Colombian police officers, the conspirators exported the cocaine out of the San Andrés Island airport and then smuggled the narcotics by boat to either Nicaragua or Honduras, then to Mexico and the United States via land routes.
From 2016-2023, Gonzalez-Ortiz’s organization smuggled cocaine onto at least 27 commercial flights in Cali, totaling at least 43,000 kilograms, and worth approximately $1.3 billion (USD).
In addition to corrupt police officers, Gonzalez-Ortiz’s drug trafficking network included a security supervisor at the Cali airport who was responsible for diverting security cameras away from the airport’s external gates where the cocaine was imported. Other conspirators in the drug trafficking network included airport personnel who altered the cargo manifests, as well as luggage cart drivers and warehouse personnel at both airports who loaded and unloaded the cocaine onto and from the commercial aircraft. On July 29, 2023, one of the organization’s cocaine shipment (1,310 kilograms) was interdicted by the Colombian National Police after it was offloaded from a commercial aircraft in San Andrés Island.
(July 29, 2023, drug interdiction seizure)
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations, and the prosecution was led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Colombian National Police’s Dirreccion de Antinarcotics (DIRAN), and the Colombian Equipo de Trabajo Investigativo Control Aeronaves (ETICA). This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Pardo.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than Four Years for Possessing Destructive DevicesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Matthew Reid Davisson (36, Jacksonville) to four years and five months in federal prison for possessing destructive devices which were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Davisson pleaded guilty on February 18, 2025.
According to court documents, Davisson was arrested on unrelated state charges on October 26, 2023. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives subsequently received information that Davisson had large amounts of chemicals and possible grenades at his residence in Jacksonville. After obtaining a search warrant for the home, law enforcement recovered two improvised explosive bombs, one improvised explosive grenade, items constituting combinations of parts from which three improvised explosive grenades could be readily assembled, quantities of homemade high explosives and detonators, large volumes of explosive precursor chemicals, and homemade explosive manufacturing equipment. None of the destructive devices were registered to Davisson in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.
One of Davisson’s family members also surrendered to law enforcement one of Davisson’s firearms, which was later determined to be an unregistered machinegun with an unregistered homemade silencer attached to the barrel.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Rachel Lasry.
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.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for Robbing Two Pizza Shops with A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Eugene Campbell IV (35, Jacksonville) with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted, Campbell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery offense, and a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, for each firearms offense.
According to the indictment, on August 4, 2025, Campbell robbed a pizza shop in Jacksonville while discharging a firearm. The next day, Campbell robbed another pizza shop in Jacksonville while discharging his firearm again.
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, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.
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).
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Homosassa Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced John Hill (41, Homosassa) to seven years in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving young children. The court also ordered Hill to forfeit the cellphone used in the offense. Hill pleaded guilty on April 10, 2025.
According to court documents, in February 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received multiple cyber tips from a cloud-based storage provider reporting that hundreds of files containing CSAM had been uploaded from Hill’s cellphone. Search warrants executed on the storage provider revealed that Hill had uploaded at least 300 images of CSAM, including an image of a young child. In September 2024, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Hill’s residence and seized his cellphone. When interviewed, Hill did not deny that he had CSAM on his phone but claimed that he had been “hacked.”
A subsequent forensic examination of Hill’s cellphone revealed multiple CSAM images involving young children. The images were found within a folder saved to the camera roll, as well as on the phone’s “Clipboard,” which stores screenshots or information that has been otherwise copied by the user. The phone’s browser history revealed hundreds of visits to websites related to CSAM, and the browser’s cache contained images of minors as young as 3 years old. Investigators found no evidence that the phone had been hacked.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.
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.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Georgia Non-Profit Entity Pays $3.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Involving Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Southside Communities Fire Protection, Inc. (Southside), a nonprofit entity providing emergency services to Chatham County, Georgia, has agreed to pay a settlement of $3,499,619 to resolve allegations that Southside violated the False Claims Act by improperly obtaining a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized these businesses to seek forgiveness of the loans if they spent the loan funds on eligible expenses. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications. The PPP was administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Under the PPP rules and regulations, nonprofit entities organized under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code were not eligible for PPP loans.
GNGH2, Inc. (GNGH2) filed a qui tam complaint in the Middle District of Florida alleging that Southside improperly obtained a $3.1 million PPP loan. According to the allegations in the complaint, Southside was ineligible for its PPP loan because it was a Section 501(c)(4) nonprofit entity. The United States investigated GNGH2’s allegations with the cooperation of Southside. This settlement concludes the litigation and GNGH2 will receive $318,115 as a share in the recovery.
“This settlement is the latest demonstration of our Office’s commitment to the recovery of money from individuals and entities that improperly obtained loans under the PPP program,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida.
“The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies, such as the Small Business Administration, working in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to recover the pandemic relief funds improperly procured,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell G. Davis.
This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Florida and the Southern District of Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Emden from the Middle District of Florida and Jennifer Thompson from the Southern District of Georgia led the investigation, with assistance from the Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Former Banker Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Jennifer Lamanna (49, Venice) to 15 months in federal prison for embezzlement by a bank employee and for making a false statement to an agency of the United States. Lamanna pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025.
According to court documents, Lamanna worked for an FDIC-insured financial institution. Over a period of months, Lamanna embezzled $280,000 from the institution by stealing funds from the bank vault. After embezzling the funds, Lamanna deposited the majority of funds into a bank account under her control. To balance out the vault and conceal her embezzlement, Lamanna made multiple large withdrawals and subsequent matching deposits out of a customer’s account. To make the sham transactions appear legitimate, Lamanna filed fictitious Currency Transaction Reports (CTR).
On June 8, 2023, Lamanna made a materially false statement to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a sub-agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, when she completed and submitted a CTR falsely stating that a bank customer deposited $160,100 in cash into his account knowing that no such deposit took place.
This case was investigated by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Florida Woman Sentenced for Role in Mortgage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Angel Jackson (45, Astatula) to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Jackson pleaded guilty on February 10, 2025.
According to court documents, Jackson and others conspired to create and execute a mortgage fraud scheme targeting financial institutions. To ensure that otherwise unqualified borrowers obtained mortgage loans from financial institutions, Jackson created fictitious and fraudulent paystubs that falsely indicated that the borrowers worked at particular companies for certain periods of time and earned income that they did not. Further, Jackson altered legitimate Social Security benefit letters to reflect exaggerated monthly disability income. She also altered bank statements to show falsely inflated account balances.
This case was investigated by Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.