Middle District of Florida

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jose Raul Andreu Rodriguez (22, Gainesville) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Rodriguez faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, for the enticement offense and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for the obscene material offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, an undercover agent from Homeland Security Investigations posted as a 13-year-old girl on an online social media platform. Rodriguez contacted the undercover agent’s account. On November 14, 2024, after learning the girl’s age, Rodriguez engaged in a sexually explicit conversation and sent multiple explicit videos of himself. Rodriguez arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at a predetermined location in Marion County. When Rodriguez traveled to the location, he was arrested 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 Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Christopher Davies (31, Cape Coral) was arraigned in federal court on an indictment charging him with one count of making threats against the President of the United States. If convicted, Davies faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, Davies wrote and delivered a letter to an official at the Charlotte Correctional Institute stating in substance that he intended to kill President Donald Trump.

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 Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Brandon Palmore (30, Tampa) to six years and six months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Palmore to forfeit a Sig Sauer firearm and assorted rounds of ammunition possessed during the commission of the offense. Palmore pled guilty on March 12, 2025.

According to court records, agents were conducting surveillance on Palmore at an apartment complex in Tampa in relation to an outstanding arrest warrant and observed him walking to his vehicle. As Palmore was given commands to exit the vehicle, he was seen reaching toward the center console and passenger floorboard areas of the vehicle. A Sig Sauer handgun was found where Palmore was seen reaching. The handgun was loaded and had previously been reported stolen. Prior to the offense, Palmore knew he had been convicted of multiple felonies, including convictions for aggravated assault and shooting at, within, or into a vehicle in 2019. The 2019 convictions resulted from an incident where Palmore fired a handgun into an occupied vehicle. As a convicted felon, Palmore is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. 

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

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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Christina Gates Thagard (40, Ocala) with bank robbery. If convicted, Thagard faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Thagard was arrested on May 24, 2025. She is currently detained pending the resolution of the case. 

According to the indictment, on May 3, 2025, Thagard took money belonging to TD Bank by using force, violence, and intimidation. The bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

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

This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Scott Alan Colson (60, Ocala) to 15 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Following the prison term, Colson must serve a lifetime of supervised release. He entered a guilty plea on February 6, 2025. 

According to court records, on July 24, 2024, an undercover detective from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed as a 15-year-old girl on an online messaging application. Colson contacted the undercover detective’s account, inquired as to whether the fictional minor had ever “been with older men” and asked to meet her. Colson added, “You keep secrets if we meet up.” Colson then engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective. Colson arranged to meet the “minor” at a predetermined location in Marion County where he was arrested by law enforcement. When interviewed by law enforcement, Colson admitted to engaging in the sexually explicit conversation and then traveling to meet the fictional minor to engage in sexual activity. An examination of Colson’s cellphone revealed other child sexual exploitation materials. 

“The attempt to entice and meet a minor for sexual activity is a reprehensible crime that strikes at the heart of our community’s safety and moral foundation,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to protect our children from these kinds of predators. The safety and security of our youth is non-negotiable, we will protect them at all costs.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was 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 the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Brady Kyle Milton Williams (29, Florida) has pleaded guilty to two counts possession of a firearm or ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Williams faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents, on November 3, 2022, during an investigation into a stolen vehicle, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office discovered Williams had a loaded pistol tucked inside his waistband. Several weeks later, on January 13, 2023, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on another suspected stolen vehicle. Williams, the driver of that vehicle, fled from law enforcement. Once law enforcement disabled the vehicle, Williams fled on foot into a nearby field where he was apprehended. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded revolver in the vehicle’s driver-side door pocket. The passenger in the vehicle confirmed the firearm belonged to Williams. 

At the time of these events, Williams already was a nine-time convicted felon. His previous state convictions included fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, grand theft of a motor vehicle, owning and operating a chop shop, and possession of methamphetamine. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. 

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

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

Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Alberto Christian Quiroz (33, Gainesville) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Following the prison term, Quiroz will spend the rest of his life on court supervision. The court also ordered Quiroz to forfeit the cellular phone which he used to commit the offense. Quiroz entered a guilty plea on January 28, 2025.

According to court documents, Quiroz was an employee of a care agency that was contracted with the Florida Department of Children and Families to provide services for children. On July 26-27, 2024, Quiroz used an online messaging service to communicate with an undercover detective portraying a 14-year-old girl. Quiroz arranged to meet the undercover detective at an Ocala restaurant for sexual activity. Agents arrested Quiroz upon his arrival at that location.

“This predator’s attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity was a gross violation of the position of trust he held,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding all offenders accountable, no matter what title they hold. Protecting our children is our highest priority and we will do everything in our power to ensure those who prey on them face swift and decisive justice.”   

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ocala Police Department, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

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

Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced a federal inmate, Jessie Wooden (36, Miami), to 10 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. A co-defendant, Janai Chanel Stephens (38, Opa Locka), also was sentenced to 18 months’ probation for her role in introducing contraband into a federal prison and making false statements to a federal agent. A federal grand jury indicted Wooden and Stephens on May 28, 2024. Both defendants entered guilty pleas to the charges in January 2025.

According to the court records, on March 10, 2024, Wooden was an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Coleman) in Sumter County, Florida. On that date, Stephens visited Wooden at the prison. She entered FCC Coleman with a bag containing contraband 78 grams of methamphetamine and tobacco cigarettes that she intended to give to Wooden. Federal inmates are prohibited from possessing such items because they threaten the order, discipline, and security of the prison.

Prior to the visitation, Stephens falsely represented to a corrections officer on a written form that she did not have any contraband in her possession. When she subsequently met with Wooden in a visitation room, however, she threw him the bag containing the contraband. After being confronted by law enforcement, Stephens confessed to bringing in the contraband for Wooden, though she claimed only to know about the tobacco products. Wooden admitted that he had planned to distribute the methamphetamine and other items to inmates inside FCC Coleman.

“Individuals who smuggle contraband into federal prisons put lives at risk,” said Eric Fehlman, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region. “The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep federal prisons safe and hold those who would exploit our correctional system for personal gain accountable.”

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Mario Espino (25, Holiday), Jacob James Guest (24, Holiday), and Joey Lawrence Eugene Young (25, Pensacola) to 22 years and 6 months, 20 years, and 25 years in federal prison, respectively, for drug trafficking, kidnapping, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes. Each previously pleaded guilty to the offenses.

According to court documents, Espino plotted with Guest and Young to kidnap a drug trafficker with whom Espino formerly worked. Espino lured the victim to Florida by promising to pay an outstanding drug debt. When the victim arrived at Espino’s residence, Espino, Guest, and Young bound, beat, and tortured him over the course of 18 hours. During that time, Espino, Guest, and Young demanded 10 kilograms of fentanyl as ransom from the trafficker’s cartel drug sources.

On October 11, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office rescued the victim from a vehicle that Espino, Guest, and Young abandoned when law enforcement approached. Agents found the victim in the back seat with a pillowcase over his head and zip ties and electrical cords around his wrists. In addition to their victim, Espino, Guest, and Young left behind 22 kilograms of methamphetamine, 100 grams of fentanyl, a firearm, and more than $10,000 in cash. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.

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

Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Luis Ernesto Sanchez (20, Apopka) to two years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Sanchez pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025.

According to the court records, Sanchez was previously convicted of three state felony offenses—principal to burglary of a conveyance while armed, principal to grand theft of a firearm, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He was released from state prison on August 12, 2023, and began a period of probation. A few months later, on December 27, 2023, while Sanchez was still on probation, a deputy from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle Sanchez was driving. Sanchez exited the vehicle with his hands up and told the deputy that he had a firearm in his waistband. A subsequent search revealed a fully loaded pistol on Sanchez’s person, along with a ski mask and burglary tools located inside the vehicle. As a convicted felon, Sanchez is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. Sanchez was separately sentenced to 14 years in prison for violating his state probation. This federal sentence will run consecutively to that term of imprisonment. 

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

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Court Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Brendan Wells (29, Tampa) to 29 years and 5 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Wells pleaded guilty on November 18, 2024.

According to court documents, on February 14, 2023, law enforcement searched a storage unit that Wells, along with his co-conspirator, Emmanuel Dourthe, used to store narcotics they were selling and intending to sell. Inside the storage unit, law enforcement located 408 grams of methamphetamine, 399.7 grams of fentanyl, and 27.7 grams of cocaine. In addition, numerous bottles and baggies with various powders suspected to be cutting agents, as well as mixing tools, were found. Law enforcement also located a Smith & Wesson M&P semiautomatic rifle along with numerous gun cases, magazines, and ammunition. Earlier that day, law enforcement had recovered a backpack belonging to Wells, a search of which revealed what the DEA laboratory would later confirm to be 143.98 grams of methamphetamine.

Both Wells and Dourthe are previously convicted felons and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

Dourthe pled guilty to the same charges and was previously sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

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

Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of a six-count indictment charging Darius Reshodd Alexander (29, Eustis) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, up to 5 years in prison on the controlled substances offenses, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to life, for carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, which must be served consecutively to one another and to any other prison term imposed in the case. 

According to the indictment, Alexander has five previous felony convictions. On December 3, 2023, and on October 16, 2024, he was in possession of marijuana and firearms, which he carried during and in relation to the marijuana-trafficking crimes. At the time of the December 2023 offenses, Alexander had three prior felony convictions. At the time of the October 2024 offenses, however, he had five felony convictions—two of which he had just received the month prior. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Daytona Beach Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.

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).

Jacksonville, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Otis Shivers (51, Jacksonville) to 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Shivers pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024. 

According to court records, on October 29, 2021, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) were on patrol and observed Shivers talking loudly to himself. Officers approached Shivers and immediately observed that he had a firearm in his waistband. The officers secured the firearm, a loaded revolver, and conducted a records search on Shivers. Officers discovered that Shivers had multiple prior felony convictions, including sale of heroin in 2009, sale of cocaine in 2007, sale of cocaine in 2003, and sale of cocaine in 1991. Shivers had been sentenced to Florida state prison on three prior occasions, including a 10-year sentence for selling heroin, thus qualifying him for an enhanced penalty as an Armed Career Criminal.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.

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

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton today sentenced Orlando Rosa Rodriguez (59, Orlando) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and money laundering. The court also ordered Rosa Rodriguez to forfeit two vehicles, both of which were traceable proceeds of the offense. Rosa Rodriguez pleaded guilty on February 24, 2025.

According to court documents, co-defendants Jayson Perez-Quinones (48, Orlando) and Jovan Rivera Rodriguez (36, Kissimmee) arranged to receive shipments of thousands of pills that were pressed to look like pharmaceuticals but contained fentanyl – (so-called “fenta-pills”). At their home in Orlando, Perez-Quinones and co-defendant Karen AltaGracia Perez (44, Orlando) packaged those pills into individual pill bags (pictured below) for street delivery.

Perez-Quinones and Perez then distributed those bags to mid-level distributors such as Rosa Rodriguez for resale. Rosa Rodriguez distributed those pills to customers, including in the parking of his workplace at the U.S. Postal Service. Rosa Rodriguez earned more than $300,000 in one 20-month period on top of his salary from the U.S. Postal Service and VA disability benefits. He used those proceeds to purchase sports cars, including a Corvette worth approximately $80,000, a Porsche 911 Carrera Coup worth approximately $92,000, and a Porsche 718 Cayman Coup worth approximately $120,000.   

On June 13, 2023, AltaGracia Perez was sentenced to five years and six months in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy. On August 8, 2023, Perez-Quinones and Rivera Rodriguez were sentenced to 15 years’ and 5 years’ imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.       

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

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron today sentenced Robert Donoso (33, Orlando) to seven years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Donoso pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025. 

According to court documents, Donoso engaged in importing and distributing methamphetamine for a year leading up to his arrest in April 2024. In April 2023, Donoso received a vehicle shipped from California that contained approximately 15 kilograms of methamphetamine and 10 pounds of marijuana that was concealed inside a hidden “trap.” On April 8, 2024, Donoso received a delivery of 11 kilograms of methamphetamine from Pherai Bogeajis and was detained by law enforcement. The next day, Bogeajis’s home was searched and agents located another 50 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than $700,000.

Bogeajis (35, Orlando) previously pleaded guilty for his role in the case and was sentenced in November 2024 to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, and the Oviedo Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Almando Sapp, Jr. (39, Tampa) to eight years in federal prison for receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Sapp will also have to register as a sex offender and forfeit a cellphone used in the commission of the offense. Sapp pleaded guilty on January 9, 2025. A restitution hearing is scheduled for July 8, 2025.

According to court documents, through digital payment systems, Sapp purchased CSAM over a social media application. Law enforcement recovered online communications between Sapp and individuals over the app where Sapp admitted to spending hundreds of dollars to purchase CSAM and stated his desire for “real cp” and images or videos containing “intercourse.” Through a search of Sapp’s cellphone, agents recovered hundreds of images and videos of CSAM.

“This is another clear message that those who traffic in child sexual abuse material will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Homeland Security Investigations remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community by ensuring justice is served.”

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.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Trang Johnny Nha Phan (25, Minnesota) with attempted arson of federal property, possessing a Molotov cocktail as a convicted felon, and using a Molotov cocktail in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted on all counts, Phan faces a minimum penalty of 35 years, up to 65, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Phan that the United States intends to forfeit assets that are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. 

According to the indictment, on February 14, 2025, Phan attempted to set fire using a Molotov cocktail to a M-60 A-3 tank owned by the U.S. Army. At the time, Phan had been convicted for threats of violence and possessing three grams or more of heroin.

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).

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Capers Scott Hammond (35, Bradenton) to 5 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Hammond was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution, a $30,000 fine, and will be required to register as a sex offender. The court also ordered Hammond to forfeit an iPad, three thumb drives, a MacBook, a custom PC tower, and an iPhone, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Hammond entered a guilty plea on February 13, 2025. 

According to court documents, Hammond used a file-sharing network to distribute and receive CSAM. Pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement searched Hammond’s apartment, seized various electronics, and determined he had received and possessed seven images and four videos of CSAM.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.

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

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Wilmer Sanchez Aquino (36, Loxahatchee) guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and attempting to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it. Sanchez Aquino faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 27, 2025.

On May 1, 2025, co-defendant Luis Garcia-Serrano (36) pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A third co-defendant, Antonio Gonzalez Prado (49), pleaded guilty on May 13, 2025, to cocaine trafficking. He faces a minimum of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. 

According to evidence presented at trial, in September 2021, Sanchez Aquino received a package containing two kilograms of cocaine on behalf of Garcia-Serrano. In November 2021, investigators intercepted a kilogram of cocaine intended for an address in the Middle District of Florida and replaced the cocaine with a block of wood. Garcia-Serrano and Sanchez Aquino discussed the block of wood inside the package and how Sanchez Aquino already had a buyer lined up to buy the kilogram. Financial records from Sanchez Aquino’s checking account showed cash deposits going into the account during the conspiracy. Sanchez Aquino testified in his defense at trial and claimed that he was not the person in certain phone calls despite his phone number being used in those calls and being referred to in one call as “Wilmer.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza. The forfeiture is being handled by AUSA Suzanne Nebesky.

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Dodi Garcia Flores (45, Guatemala) to two years in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Garcia Flores pleaded guilty on March 3, 2025. 

According to court documents, Garcia Flores is a native and citizen of Guatemala. He was previously removed from the United States on three occasions—October 15, 2008, May 15, 2009, and February 5, 2020. Prior to these removals, Garcia Flores was convicted of two felony offenses: (1) resisting an officer with violence and assault in the second degree, and (2) intent to cause physical injury with a weapon.

This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Schmidt. 

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Edward Anderson (44, Bradenton) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a machinegun. If convicted, Anderson faces up to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and up to 10 years in federal prison for the machinegun offense.

According to the indictment, Anderson was previously convicted of nine felonies, including two prior firearms offenses. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Beginning on an unknown date and continuing through July 30, 2024, Anderson possessed a Glock pistol that had been modified with a replacement slide cover plate, making the handgun capable of firing as a fully automatic weapon.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

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 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).

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Dennis Jackson (36, Clearwater), a/k/a “Miami,” to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Jackson pleaded guilty on November 30, 2022.

According to court documents, Jackson was a distributor of fentanyl. On the night of April 1, 2020, first responders found M.B. dead from an apparent overdose at a residence in Clearwater. Evidence of opioid use was found near the body and the autopsy and toxicology results confirmed that there was a lethal level of fentanyl in M.B.’s body. Eyewitness information identified Jackson as the supplier. Two days later, Jackson appeared for a voluntary interview at the Clearwater Police Department. During that interview, Jackson admitted to his involvement in the overdose.

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

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Hernan Nicolas Fuentes Alfaro (44, Chile) and Eduardo Luis Portilla Romero (19, Chile) with possessing fraudulent Peruvian passports and aggravated identity theft. The indictment also charges Fuentes Alfaro with illegally reentering the United States after deportation. If convicted on all counts, Fuentes Alfaro and Portilla Romero face a maximum penalty of 12 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Fuentes Alfaro and Portilla Romero that the United States intends to forfeit assets alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to court records, on April 2, 2025, Fuentes Alfaro and Portilla Romero were found with fraudulent Peruvian passports. Both fraudulent passports contained identifying information belonging to real individuals. Fuentes Alfaro was previously deported from the United States on March 3, 2020.

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).

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, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Elizabeth Danielle Rowe (24, Tampa), a/k/a Simon Roe, with transmitting interstate a true threat to injure. If convicted, Rowe faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, on January 24, 2025, Rowe sent the following message on a social media platform to victim A.A.: “I am coming to kill you. I will kill your pets first while you watch. Die expletive.”

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’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Hilario Diaz-Velazquez (32, Mexico) with illegal reentry after deportation and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. If convicted, Diaz-Velazquez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

According to court records, on March 30, 2025, the Palmetto Police Department responded to a call for service regarding shots fired on 14th Street in Palmetto. An officer from the Palmetto Police Department witnessed gunshots from a vehicle, and officers arrested the vehicle’s occupants. The occupants were arrested on state charges and two firearms were seized from the vehicle. One of the occupants was identified as Diaz-Velazquez. A review of Diaz-Velazquez’s immigration history showed that he was previously deported from the United States on November 26, 2012.

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).

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Palmetto Police Department, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Jose Antonio Cax-Mach (47, Guatemala) to 18 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a convicted felon. Cax-Mach pleaded guilty on February 24, 2025. 

According to court records, Cax-Mach is a native and citizen of Guatemala. He was initially removed from the United States on February 19, 2020. Prior to his removal, Cax-Mach had three separate convictions for aggravated driving under the influence on July 15, 2019, March 5, 2019, and November 15, 2010.

This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Larry Anthony Brame, II (44, Lakeland) has pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking.  Brame faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, between June and August 2023, Brame obtained a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol and a DPMS Panther Arms AR-15 rifle which he later sold, knowing the purchaser had planned to smuggle the firearms into Canada. Brame purchased the Glock 23 from a firearms store in Clearwater and lied on the ATF Form 4473 in connection with that sale. Brame stated on the form that he was the actual transferee when he had obtained the firearm to transfer to another individual who planned to smuggle the firearm to Canada.

Further, Brame knew that the purchaser had planned to obliterate the firearms’ serial numbers and smuggle the firearms into Canada illegally. During the sale, Brame suggested ways to smuggle the firearms across the border to avoid law enforcement detection.    

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Adam W. McCall.

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

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Nijah Jahni Mitchell (23, Orlando) guilty of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Mitchell faces a minimum penalty of 28 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2025. Mitchell was indicted in April 2024, along with co-defendant Dany Telfort (20, Orlando). Telfort previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.  

According to evidence presented at trial, between March 23 and April 1, 2023, Mitchell and Telfort committed a string of nine armed robberies of convenience stores throughout Central Florida. The robberies occurred over three sprees on three separate evenings: the first spree included four stores, the second spree included three stores, and the third spree included two stores. During each of the robberies, Mitchell or Telfort entered the store, pointed a firearm at the clerks, and demanded money from the cash registers. 

After the second spree, a witness obtained a partial license plate for the vehicle used by Mitchell and Telfort. The following evening, during the third spree, law enforcement observed the vehicle after the ninth robbery and gave chase. Mitchell and Telfort bailed from the moving vehicle and fled on foot. Telfort got away but Mitchell was apprehended that night. At the time of his arrest, Mitchell was wearing the same clothing and mask that he had worn during the third robbery spree, as depicted below. Mitchell also had a loaded Glock pistol on him when he was arrested. Telfort left behind a loaded Taurus pistol in the vehicle, which was later found to contain DNA linked to both Telfort and Mitchell.

Surveillance video of Mitchell during the eighth robbery on April 1, 2023

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Clermont Police Department, the Ocoee Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oakland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Noah P. Dorman, Rachel S. Lyons, and Megan Testerman.

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.

WASHINGTON – Two Florida men pleaded guilty today before Magistrate Judge Leslie Hoffman Price for the Middle District of Florida for their roles in a years-long off-the-books payroll scheme. The pleas must be accepted by a U.S. district court judge.

The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Michael Mayorga and Francisco Alvarez conspired with others to operate an illegal, off-the-books cash payroll system for construction workers to avoid paying employment taxes to the IRS and to defraud workers’ compensation insurance companies. Through the scheme, Mayorga and Alvarez facilitated the employment of undocumented aliens working illegally in the United States.   

From 2015 to 2022, Alvarez and Mayorga and their co-conspirators created a series of shell companies to run an unlicensed check cashing and cash courier service business that cashed approximately $89 million in checks from subcontractors in the construction industry. The subcontractors used the cash to pay their workers. Mayorga provided bookkeeping and tax preparation services for some of the shell companies, and Alvarez and others facilitated the distribution of millions in cash to subcontractors. Mayorga also prepared false returns for the shell companies and members of the conspiracy that Alvarez, and others, filed. Specifically, Alvarez caused the filing of false tax returns and tax documents on behalf of one of the shell companies.   

In total Mayorga caused a tax loss to the IRS of $8,647,824.

In total Alvarez caused a tax loss to the IRS of $2,331,731.

In addition to the tax crimes, Alvarez filed a false worker’s compensation insurance application. This allowed the shell companies to pay small insurance premiums. After fraudulently getting the insurance, Alvarez “rented” it to subcontractors so that the subcontractors could falsely provide proof of insurance when placing bids with contractors. Mayorga also provided false documents to insurance companies auditing them.

Alvarez and Mayorga will be sentenced at a later date. They each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating.

Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Kavitha Bondada and Rebecca A. Caruso of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Daniels for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. 

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Stephen K. Gainous (38, Jacksonville) to 30 months in federal prison for making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. Gainous pled guilty on February 14, 2025.

According to court documents, Gainous completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Gainous indicated on the required paperwork that he was not a felon. This was a false statement, in that Gainous was previously convicted of seven felonies, including battery on a child, making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm, possession of cocaine, criminal use of personal identification, and fraudulent use of a credit card.

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

This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.  

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia H. Covington has sentenced Justin Ryan Culmo (40, Oldsmar) to 75 years in federal prison for three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of distribution of CSAM, one count of possession of CSAM, and one count of production of CSAM that is an adapted or modified depiction of a minor. The court also ordered Culmo to forfeit five computers/laptops, 13 cameras, four CDs, four floppy drives, two MP3/audio players, 14 hard drives, three phones, one surveillance camera, one gaming console, three SD cards, five thumb drives, two encryption keys, and one tablet, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Culmo pled guilty on December 5, 2024.

According to court documents, over the course of 11 years, Culmo filmed himself sexually abusing dozens of children, including infants and toddlers. He subsequently distributed those images and videos on dark websites dedicated solely to child sexual abuse material. Culmo possessed nearly 86,000 images and 845 videos of CSAM and approximately 8,500 artificial intelligence-generated CSAM images. 

“The investigation into Justin Ryan Culmo underscores our unwavering commitment to protect our children from this, or any kind of exploitation,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “His actions in creating child sexual abuse material and exploiting the innocence of children, with both real and AI-generated imagery, is an egregious violation of a child’s inherent right to safety and dignity. HSI Tampa will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who exploit children face the full force of the law.” 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.

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

Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces a criminal complaint charging Nicki Wayne Goodman (49, Largo) with conveying false information to perpetuate a hoax. If convicted on all counts, Goodman faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Goodman made his initial appearance in federal court today, in Tampa, and was ordered detained.

According to the criminal complaint, in the early morning of May 20, 2025, the FBI Tampa Field Office discovered a suspicious black backpack placed outside the main security gate, along with a cardboard sign that identified federal agents by name and a YouTube account belonging to Goodman. The sign also stated, among other things, “My name is Nicki Goodman” and “ABolish Government,” and displayed racial epithets. Agents also discovered several other cardboard signs with messages placed nearby the main entrance gate. Surveillance footage from the previous night revealed that Goodman had placed the bag and signs outside the security gate.

Once the backpack was discovered, a large law enforcement response for public safety was initiated, including the deployment of the Tampa Police Department’s bomb squad and patrol units, and Tampa Fire Rescue engines and ambulances. The public safety response resulted in the closure of the public roadways near the incident, denied access to public businesses, and the shutdown of FBI’s Tampa Field Office for approximately five hours. No explosive materials were found in the backpack.

While first responders were on scene, Goodman posted a short video from nearby, depicting multiple emergency vehicles and personnel in the background. In the video Goodman stated: “see all the way down that street right there? Guess that’s cause of me. (inaudible) I uh the FBI office right down the road there. Look at that shit. That’s crazy huh? Wrote a few notes. Found a bag..” and “they got the SWAT team. They got the look like they got a bomb squad or something going on there.”

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Tampa Police Department and Tampa Fire Rescue. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Alberto Ismael Salinas Valencia (21), an Ecuadorian national residing illegally in Orlando, to 15 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Salinas Valencia pled guilty on January 23, 2025.

According to the plea agreement, between August 2023 and August 2024, Salinas Valencia ran an online business selling firearms, fentanyl, and cocaine in the Orlando area. An undercover law enforcement officer found Salinas Valencia’s online store and set up several undercover transactions. Over the course of the investigation, Salinas Valencia sold the undercover officer several firearms, including two machineguns, fentanyl pills, and cocaine. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan.

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

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Court Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ana Juanita Andrade-Reyes, a Honduran national illegally present in United States, to 37 months in federal prison in connection with her conviction for three counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit tax fraud. The court also ordered Andrade-Reyes to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $2,084,182. The court also entered a money judgment against Andrade-Reyes in the amount of $664,588, representing the proceeds of the wire fraud. 

According to court documents, Andrade-Reyes established a shell company that purported to be involved in the construction industry. She obtained a workers’ compensation insurance policy in the name of the shell company to cover a minimal payroll for a few purported employees. She then “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance to work crews who had obtained subcontracts with construction contractors on projects in various Florida counties, as well as contractors in other states. She sent the contractors a certificate of insurance as “proof” that the work crews had workers’ compensation insurance, as required by Florida law. By sending the certificate, Andrade-Reyes falsely represented that the work crews worked for the shell company. Over the course of the scheme, Andrade-Reyes “rented” the certificates to dozens of work crews, defrauding the worker’s compensation carrier, typically allowing undocumented illegal workers to be employed unlawfully.

As part of the scheme, the contractors issued payroll checks for the workers’ wages to the shell companies and Andrade-Reyes cashed these checks, then distributed the cash to the work crews without withholding any payroll taxes. As part of the scheme, she deducted a fee, which was typically about 6% of the payroll. During the scheme, Andrade-Reyes cashed payroll checks totaling approximately $8 million. Neither the shell company nor the contractors reported to government authorities the wages that were paid to the workers, nor did they pay either the employees’ or the employer’s portion of payroll taxes – including Social Security, Medicare, and federal income tax. According to the IRS, the amount of payroll taxes due on the wages totaled $2,048,182.

The scheme also facilitated the avoidance of the higher cost of obtaining adequate workers’ compensation insurance for the work crews to whom Andrade-Reyes “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance. The policy that Andrade-Reyes purchased and then “rented” out was for an estimated payroll of $169,400 and the insurance company issued a policy for a premium of approximately $11,352. Had a workers’ compensation insurance policy been purchased for the actual payroll totaling approximately $5 million, the policy premium would have totaled about $591,978.

“Worker’s compensation insurance fraud schemes are a built on unlawful hiring practices of illegal aliens and are directly tied to our border security. These schemes drive down wages, compromise the safety and future of workers who are hurt on the job, and disadvantage law-abiding contractors through the increase of legitimate premiums,” said Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Hemker. “Homeland Security Investigations, alongside our partners at the Internal Revenue Service, are committed to investigating the criminal networks that perpetuate these fraud schemes which inflict grave damage on the construction industry and incentivizes illegal immigration.”

“A level playing field is essential for an industry to thrive in our society,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “Cheating to get an unfair advantage undermines that. No matter how sneaky you think you are, we will find out, we will investigate, and we will do everything we can to balance the free market by bringing you to justice.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.  

Tampa, FL –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Cortevious Torrez Crews (31, Tampa) guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Crews faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. 

According to the evidence presented at trial, on May 3, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Crews’ car in Clearwater Beach, Florida. When officers searched the car, they located two firearms. Despite knowing he was a felon and that he was prohibited from owning firearms, Crews had purchased one of the recovered firearms off the streets about a week earlier. 

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

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

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Juan Santiago (36, Deltona) to 57 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material. Santiago entered a guilty plea on December 19, 2024.

According to court documents, between August and December of 2022, Santiago purchased child sexual abuse material on multiple occasions from an individual that he communicated with via the messaging application Telegram.  Santiago’s cell phone contained over 80 files of child sexual abuse material, including images depicting prepubescent children, toddlers, and infants.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.

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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Ataire Carl Ray (30, Tampa) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Ray qualified as an Armed Career Criminal after having committed at least three prior serious violent or drug offenses. 

According to the evidence presented at trial, on April 1, 2022, Ray got into an argument during which he waived around a 9mm firearm with an extended magazine, while making various threats. Tampa Police Department officers were called to the scene and approached Ray, who ran and threw the loaded gun into a neighboring property, where it was quickly recovered. Ray was apprehended about a block away from where he threw the firearm. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced William Robert Braddock, III (41, St. Petersburg) to three years in federal prison for interstate transmission of threat to injure. Braddock pled guilty on February 3, 2025.

According to court documents and evidence discussed in open court, in 2021 Braddock and Victim-1 were candidates in the primary election to represent the 13th Congressional District of Florida in the United States House of Representatives. Braddock viewed Victim-1, the Republican party frontrunner, as his only obstacle to winning that race. For months, Braddock disparaged Victim-1 with her peers and attempted to inject himself into her life. During a June 2021 telephone call with Victim-2, a private citizen and acquaintance of Victim-1, Braddock threatened to have Victim-1 murdered if she continued to poll well in the race for the 13th District. Specifically, Braddock threatened, in part, to “call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” and make Victim-1 “disappear.” Braddock further stated, “I will be the next congressman for this District. Period. End of discussion. And anybody going up against me is f---ing [expletive] ignorant for doing so. [Victim-1]’s ignorant so I don’t have a problem taking her out, but I’m not going to do that dirty work myself obviously.”

In November 2021, Braddock flew to Thailand on a one-way ticket, and ultimately settled in the area of Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. He remained in the Philippines until self-surrendering to authorities in Manila in June 2023. Braddock remained in foreign custody until being transported to the United States in September 2024.

This investigation was led by the FBI Tampa Division and the St. Petersburg Police Department. The United States Marshals Service provided substantial assistance. The investigation also benefited from foreign law enforcement cooperation provided by the Philippine Department of Justice, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, and the Manila Office of the Legal Attaché. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons and Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger has sentenced Alton Wayne Cope, III (64, St. Augustine) to four years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and conspiring to deal firearms without a license. Cope entered a guilty plea in October 2024.

According to court documents, agents began investigating Cope and a co-conspirator when agents learned that Cope may have been illegally selling firearms. During the summer of 2024, agents conducted multiple controlled purchase operations during which they purchased 11 firearms from Cope and a co-conspirator. Throughout the investigation, agents learned that Braden Hobbs was the original purchaser of multiple firearms purchased from Cope and a co-conspirator. Cellphone records later showed that the co-conspirator regularly purchased firearms from Hobbs. Additionally, at least two of the firearms sold by Cope and a co-conspirator had previously been reported stolen. In August 2024, agents executed a federal search warrant at Cope’s residence. During the search, agents found an additional firearm in his bedroom.

Although he engaged in the business of dealing firearms, Cope is not a federally licensed firearms dealer, as required by federal law. Additionally, Cope was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including two counts of possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

In related court proceedings, co-conspirator Braden Hobbs has been charged by indictment and is scheduled for trial later this year. If convicted, Hobbs faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 95 years, 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 was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the North Florida HIDTA Tri-County Narcotics Task Force with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

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

Orlando, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces an indictment charging Tranard Dell (21, Port Orange) with influencing, impeding, and interfering with a federal official by threat to murder. If convicted, Dell faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, on April 24, 2025, Dell threatened to murder federal law enforcement officer J.E. with intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with J.E. while engaged in the performance of official duties.

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 Secret Service, with valuable assistance provided by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Port Orange Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Jessie William Korff (30, North Fort Myers) with being a felon in possession of firearms. If convicted, Korff faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. 

According to the complaint, Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD) officers responded to a Fort Myers residence, where they declared a suspected hostage situation. Officers entered the lanai of the residence and saw a firearm appear during a scuffle with a male and female. Officers separated the male from the female and tried to detain the male. The male was later identified as Jesse William Korff.

Officers observed what appeared to be a bomb on Korff’s person when trying to detain him. Korff spontaneously said, “I have bombs” when being detained. In addition to the firearm, officers observed a bulge with wires coming out of Korff’s pocket and another object next to Korff, along with loaded magazines. A federal warrant was obtained for Korff’s vehicle and agents located an AR-style firearm, multiple suspected silencers, ammunition, and a tactical-style vest.

Korff was previously convicted on February 19, 2015, of multiple felonies, including the transfer and possession of a toxin for use as a weapon, smuggling toxins from the United States, and conspiracy to kill, maim, or injure a person in a foreign country. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

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

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

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

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Brian J. Davis has sentenced Kevin Vasquez-Hernandez (33) to one year and three months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. Vasquez-Hernandez entered a guilty plea in February 2025.

According to court documents, Vasquez-Hernandez is a native and citizen of Honduras, and had been granted voluntary removal in 2012 after it was determined he was illegally in the United States. In 2014, he was encountered by law enforcement in Virginia and deported to Honduras in 2015. In 2016, Vasquez-Hernandez was again encountered by law enforcement in Texas and deported to Honduras. In 2019, he was encountered by law enforcement in North Carolina and convicted of illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. In 2020, after his release from federal prison, he was again deported to Honduras. 

In December 2024, Vasquez-Hernandez was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol Agents when they conducted a traffic stop on the car he was driving. During the stop, Vasquez-Hernandez provided agents with a fraudulent identification card. After confirming Vasquez-Hernandez’s identity, he was arrested. Vasquez-Hernandez admitted to law enforcement that he had again unlawfully reentered the United States in 2022.

This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

Pinellas Eye Care, P.A. doing business as Gulfcoast Eye Care (“Gulfcoast Eye”), an ophthalmology practice with offices in Pinellas Park, Palm Harbor, and St. Petersburg, Florida, has agreed to pay $615,000 to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act and an analogous Florida statute arising from its billing for trans-cranial doppler ultrasounds (“TCDs”) provided through a kickback arrangement with a third party. Gulfcoast Eye has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations of other participants in the alleged scheme.

The settlement resolves allegations that Gulfcoast Eye knowingly submitted, and caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary TCDs. Gulfcoast Eye and a third-party provider of TCD services performed TCDs on thousands of patients and billed Medicare and Medicaid hundreds of dollars per test. Before the patients received the results of the test, Gulfcoast Eye and the third-party provider identified the patients as having received a serious diagnosis — most commonly of occlusion and stenosis of their cerebral arteries — that could qualify the patient for reimbursement of a TCD by Medicare or Medicaid. However, nearly all patients who received TCDs never had occlusion and stenosis of cerebral arteries, and that diagnosis was accordingly not reflected in the patient’s medical history or in the TCD results. Gulfcoast Eye paid the third-party TCD provider based on the volume or value of tests ordered and referred the patients to the TCD provider’s preferred radiology group for the TCD’s professional component. 

The United States alleged that, as a result of this scheme, Gulfcoast Eye submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for TCDs that were medically unnecessary, that were premised on false diagnoses, and that resulted from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law. Of the $615,000 total settlement amount, $602,046 is to be paid to the United States, and $12,953 is to be paid to the State of Florida for its share of Medicaid, which is a jointly funded federal and state program.

“Patients trust their healthcare providers to administer reliable and competent care consistent with their medical needs and ethical standards,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “When this relationship is exploited for personal gain or greed, the integrity of our healthcare system is compromised. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect patients from potential harm and maintain the integrity of our federal programs.”

“Kickback schemes will always be an investigative priority for the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “Our mission is to protect the American people which includes safeguarding them from deceitful actions threatening our nation’s federal healthcare system.”

“Kickback arrangements can corrupt legitimate medical decision-making and undermine the integrity of federal healthcare programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan P. Lynch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate improper billing and kickback schemes to protect both Medicare and Medicaid as well as those served by these programs.”

The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam was filed by a whistleblower who will receive $116,850 in connection with the settlement.

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the FBI. The United States previously resolved allegations that another ophthalmology practice in Florida engaged in a similar scheme with the same third-party TCD provider.

The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Trial Attorney Nelson Wagner in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Mamie Wise for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. 

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Marquis Lamar McCullough (39, Tampa) to imprisonment for life for distributing fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the deaths of two victims. On February 13, 2025, a federal jury found McCullough guilty of two counts of distribution of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the death of a person, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The court sentenced McCullough to life imprisonment for each count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, 30 years on the count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and ordered that the sentences be served consecutively to prison sentences McCullough is currently serving in the Florida Department of Corrections.

According to court records and the evidence presented at trial, on April 22, 2021, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies responded to the residence of K.K. to conduct a wellness check. They found K.K. dead when they entered his apartment and found two baggies with small quantities of fentanyl in the residence. Detectives reviewed K.K.’s cellphone and found communications with a woman who appeared to help K.K. purchase fentanyl the previous evening. During the investigation, detectives found the woman, who explained that K.K. could not get heroin from his usual source, so he asked her to buy some for him from her source. She arranged a meeting with McCullough, who was her supplier, and she purchased the fentanyl and provided it to K.K. The woman provided McCullough’s phone number to the detectives. 

On May 6, 2021, the son of N.M. found his father dead, lying in his bed, and called 911 to report the death. HCSO deputies and detectives responded to the residence, and inside N.M.’s wallet they found a baggie with a small amount of fentanyl. While reviewing calls and texts on N.M.’s phone, a detective determined that the last three calls placed by N.M. were to McCullough’s phone number, and the call and text history indicated that McCullough was N.M.’s supplier. Later that day, detectives planned to purchase fentanyl from McCullough, using N.M.’s cellphone to set up the meeting. When McCullough arrived at the meet location, he tried to call N.M., but when his calls went unanswered, McCullough fled the area. An arrest team pursued his vehicle and apprehended McCullough. 

The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office investigated both deaths and determined that the use of fentanyl caused the deaths of K.K. and N.M.

Before he committed these offenses, McCullough had been convicted in Hillsborough County, Florida, for trafficking in cocaine, and he served a prison sentence of 60 months. He was also convicted in state court in 2022 for trafficking in fentanyl and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and he is currently serving a sentence of seven years in the Florida Department of Corrections for those crimes.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Sinacore and Ross Roberts.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Henry Noe Murillo Castellanos (29, Honduras), Juan Diaz Mendez (29, Mexico), Esteban Pashanno Gomez (30, Mexico), and Hermilo Jimenez Vazquez (23, Mexico) have been arrested on federal criminal complaints charging them with illegal reentry after being previously deported or removed from the United States. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison.

These arrests took place during an immigration enforcement operation carried out in in Sumter County during the week of May 12, 2025. According to court records, Murillo Castellanos had been previously deported from the United States on at least three occasions; Diaz Mendez had two prior deportations; Pashanno Gomez and Jimenez Vazquez each had one prior removal. None of these individuals applied for or received permission from the Attorney General, or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to return to the United States. 

These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Florida Highway Patrol. They are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

The investigations are 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.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Pinellas Eye Care, P.A. d/b/a Gulfcoast Eye Care (“Gulfcoast Eye”), an ophthalmology practice with offices in Pinellas Park, Palm Harbor, and St. Petersburg, Florida, has agreed to pay $615,000 to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act and an analogous Florida statute arising from its billing for trans-cranial doppler ultrasounds (“TCDs”) provided through a kickback arrangement with a third party. Gulfcoast Eye has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations of other participants in the alleged scheme.

The settlement resolves allegations that Gulfcoast Eye knowingly submitted, and caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary TCDs. Gulfcoast Eye and a third-party provider of TCD services performed TCDs on thousands of patients and billed Medicare and Medicaid hundreds of dollars per test. Before the patients received the results of the test, Gulfcoast Eye and the third-party provider identified the patients as having received a serious diagnosis—most commonly of occlusion and stenosis of their cerebral arteries—that could qualify the patient for reimbursement of a TCD by Medicare or Medicaid. However, nearly all patients who received TCDs never had occlusion and stenosis of cerebral arteries, and that diagnosis was accordingly not reflected in the patient’s medical history or in the TCD results. Gulfcoast Eye paid the third-party TCD provider based on the volume or value of tests ordered and referred the patients to the TCD provider’s preferred radiology group for the TCD’s professional component.

The United States alleged that, as a result of this scheme, Gulfcoast Eye submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for TCDs that were medically unnecessary, that were premised on false diagnoses, and that resulted from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law. Of the $615,000 total settlement amount, $602,046 is to be paid to the United States, and $12,953 is to be paid to the State of Florida for its share of Medicaid, which is a jointly funded federal and state program.

“Patients trust their healthcare providers to administer reliable and competent care consistent with their medical needs and ethical standards,” said U.S. Attorney Kehoe. “When this relationship is exploited for personal gain or greed, the integrity of our healthcare system is compromised. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect patients from potential harm and maintain the integrity of our federal programs.”

“Kickback schemes will always be an investigative priority for the FBI,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor. “Our mission is to protect the American people which includes safeguarding them from deceitful actions threatening our nation’s federal healthcare system.”

“Kickback arrangements can corrupt legitimate medical decision-making and undermine the integrity of federal healthcare programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan P. Lynch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate improper billing and kickback schemes to protect both Medicare and Medicaid as well as those served by these programs.”

The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam was filed by a whistleblower who will receive $116,850 in connection with the settlement.

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the FBI. The United States previously resolved allegations that another ophthalmology practice in Florida engaged in a similar scheme with the same third-party TCD provider.

The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Trial Attorney Nelson Wagner in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Mamie Wise for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Esequiel Maldonado (46, Texas), Martin DeJesus Maldonado, Jr. (46, Fort Myers), Ron Ramirez, Jr. (23, Texas), and Schuyler Jordan Thompson (31, Virginia) with conspiracy, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, and use of communication facilities in the commission of drug trafficking crimes. If convicted on all counts,Esequiel Maldonado and Martin DeJesus Maldonado, Jr., because of their prior convictions for serious drug felonies, face a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Ramirez and Thompson each face a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 44 years, in federal prison.   

According to court documents, each of the charged individuals played a distinct and critical role in the conspiracy. Esequiel Maldonado was the Texas-based leader of the drug trafficking organization (DTO). He authorized sales of kilogram-quantities of cocaine, served as the DTO’s broker, and set cocaine prices. Ramirez handled logistics and communications. On behalf of Esequiel Maldonado, Ramirez recruited and paid a courier, Thompson. Ramirez arranged for Thompson to fly to Florida and get cocaine supplied by (according to Martin DeJesus Maldonado, Jr.) Los Chapitos, known to law enforcement as a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, and to deliver it to Martin DeJesus Maldonado, Jr. The cocaine was then distributed by Martin DeJesus Maldonado, Jr. in the Middle District of Florida. Martin DeJesus Maldonado, Jr. also arranged for drug proceeds to be paid back to Esequiel Maldonado. 

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 Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

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).

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Rigoberto Albizar Martinez (57, Tampa) to one year in federal prison, followed by a term of home confinement of one year, for threatening to plant a bomb in the district office of a member of the United States House of Representatives. A federal jury found Martinez guilty on December 12, 2024.

According to court documents, on May 1, 2024, Martinez called the Tampa district office of a member of the United States House of Representatives and left a vulgar, racist, obscenity-laden voicemail. In the voicemail, he threatened to plant a bomb in the representative’s office.

This case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police – Threat Assessment Section. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III and Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes. 

Jacksonville, FL – U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Berger has sentenced Robert David Gulledge (60, Jacksonville) to three months in federal prison for making a false statement to a federal agency. Gulledge pleaded guilty on December 19, 2024.                  

According to court documents, Gulledge created a fraudulent Form DD-214 military discharge document thatlied about his service in the United States Marine Corps. Specifically, he falsified several positions he never held and multiple awards he never received, including the Bronze Star with V Device, Navy/Marine Jump Wings, and the Iraq Campaign and Kuwait Liberation awards, among others. In 2009, he first submitted the false form for an Intelligence Analyst position on a government contract, which he received. He later submitted the false form for government contracting positions and to repeatedly claim VA benefits never owed to him. Gulledge tried to use the false form for employment or benefits at least 10 times over 15 years.

“The Diplomatic Security Service is firmly committed to making sure that those who commit document fraud face consequences for their criminal actions,” said Deputy Assistant Director William Ferrari of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service Office of Special Investigations. “The strong relationship we enjoy with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies is vital towards ensuring the integrity of official U.S. documents and protecting greater U.S. interests.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Office of Special Investigations, the Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Angel Antonio Trochez-Cruz (39) to six years in federal prison for illegal reentry by an aggravated felon. Trochez-Cruz pleaded guilty on January 22, 2025.

According to court records, Trochez-Cruz is a native and citizen of Honduras. He was initially removed from the United States on August 8, 2014, following his release from a state prison sentence for robbery. Trochez-Cruz subsequently reentered the United States. On December 21, 2023, federal immigration authorities encountered Trochez-Cruz after he had been arrested on state charges.

The case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.