Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Clearwater Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Brett Reichold (35, Clearwater) to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and production and possession of child sexual abuse material. Reichold pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025.
According to court documents, Reichold texted and used social media to communicate with approximately 12 minor females. Reichold offered the victims money, alcohol, and marijuana in exchange for sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves. On one occasion, Reichold met a minor in person and offered to pay her for sex.
“The sentencing of Brett Reichold sends a strong message to those that engage in sexual exploitation of children and use social media to target their victims, that we will find them and hold them accountable for their actions,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “HSI alongside our partners at the Clearwater Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida vow to continue protecting our most vulnerable from becoming lifetime victims.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Clearwater Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
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.
Builder of Smuggling Vessels That Attempted to Send 9,500 Kilograms of Cocaine to Mexico and Central America Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Juan Carlos Castro Vasquez (50, Colombia), a/k/a “Juanca,” to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to traffic cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Castro Vasquez was arrested in Colombia in October 2022 pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant requested by the United States and extradited to the United States in April 2024.. Castro Vasquez pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024.
According to court documents, Castro Vasquez was a member of a transnational criminal transportation organization that dispatched cocaine-laden go-fast, low-profile, and self-propelled semi-submersible vessels from Colombia into the eastern Pacific Ocean bound for Central America and Mexico. Castro Vasquez built the vessels. Investigators attributed five maritime smuggling ventures to Castro Vasquez, all of which were interdicted by the United States Coast Guard and prosecuted in the United States. In total, the vessels he built for those ventures carried more than 9,500 kilograms of cocaine.
This prosecution 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. This effort was developed as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative. OCDETF utilizes a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of multiple law enforcement agencies to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Colombian National Police provided critical investigative support. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Stoia.
Parrish Man Indicted for Arson of A VehicleRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Kendarius Devonta Stitten (25, Parrish) with a violation of the federal Anti-Arson Act. If convicted, Stitten faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Stitten that the United States intends to forfeit assets that are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, on March 20, 2025, Stitten set fire to a rental van that was parked at a motel in Bradenton.
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 Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations, and Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
Mexican National and Florida Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Carlos Antonio Leon (29, Plant City) and Luis Fernando Aguirre Marin (29, Mexico) with drug trafficking conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. If convicted on all counts, Leon and Aguirre Marin each face a minimum of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Leon and Aguirre Marin that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition alleged to be involved in, or used to facilitate, the offense.
According to the indictment, beginning not later than March 2025, Leon and Aguirre Marin conspired to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. The indictment specifically alleges that, on March 21, 2025, they possessed with intent to distribute more than 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Further, it is alleged that they possessed a firearm in furtherance of those offenses.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Plant City Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
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).
Los Angeles Man Sentenced for Conspiring with Lee County Man to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Esdras Joel Garcia De La Rosa (28, Los Angeles, CA) to nine years in federal prison for conspiracy with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. De La Rosa pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024.
According to court documents, De La Rosa conspired with Durand Dijoun Demetiu Colbert (35, Lee County) to distribute various controlled substances including methamphetamine and fentanyl. De La Rosa resided in California and supplied Colbert, a Florida resident, with controlled substances that would later be distributed to others. The controlled substances were sent by De La Rosa to Colbert through the U.S. mail or other packaging carriers.
On November 17, 2023, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Colbert’s residence. At that time, Colbert had roughly 1,700 fentanyl pills at his residence, which investigators determined had been sent by De La Rosa.
Colbert previously pleaded guilty for his role in this case. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 2025.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
Jury Convicts Pasco Drug TraffickerRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Pierre Marquis Fowler (36, Tarpon Springs), a/k/a “Durk,” guilty of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of cocaine; possessing with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of cocaine; possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; and two counts of illegal monetary transactions. Fowler faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Pierre Marquis Fowler and his brother, Marcus Jamar Fowler, a/k/a “Drastic,” conspired with each other and others to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The Fowlers used a stash location in Tarpon Springs as a place to distribute narcotics. Between 2020 and 2022 one witness estimated that Pierre Fowler had provided them with at least 75 kilograms of fentanyl, hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, and multiple kilograms of cocaine.
Firearms recovered from safe at stash location
Evidence from search warrants included eight firearms, including two machineguns, 989.1 grams of fentanyl, 715 grams of methamphetamine, and 781 grams of cocaine at the stash location. In addition, seven parcels had been shipped from California to the Middle District of Florida, in the span of one week, which contained 3,981 grams of fentanyl and 4,458 grams of methamphetamine.
Contents of two boxes bound for a residence in Pasco County
Evidence also showed that Pierre Fowler had used proceeds of drug trafficking to make purchases of more than $10,000, including a piece of real property in Holiday. Certain assets being forfeited by the government include property located in Holiday and $10,409 in cash seized from Pierre Fowler during a search warrant on February 8, 2023.
Marcus Jamar Fowler previously pleaded guilty for his role in this case. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tarpon Springs Police Department, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman. The forfeiture is being handled by AUSA James Muench.
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.
Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to the Unlawful Transportation of Aliens and Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Timoteo Son-Gonzalez (40), a Guatemalan national, has pleaded guilty to unlawful transportation of an illegal alien for the purpose of financial gain and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Son-Gonzalez faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, in February 2025, agents from the U.S. Border Patrol stopped a car driven by Son-Gonzalez. The car contained six passengers, all of whom were illegal aliens. After interviewing the passengers, agents determined that Son-Gonzalez was transporting illegal aliens for financial gain. Son-Gonzalez was also found to be unlawfully present in the United States, after having been removed in June 2024.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.
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).
Fort Myers Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for $3.4 Million COVID Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Barber has sentenced Timothy Craig Jolloff (48, Fort Myers) and Lisa Ann Jolloff (58, Fort Myers) to eight years and one month, and three years, respectively, in federal prison for wire fraud, bank fraud and illegal monetary transactions. The Court also ordered the Jolloffs to pay $3.4 million in restitution to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and to forfeit $3.4 million which was the proceeds of the offense. The Jolloffs entered guilty pleas on April 24, 2024.
According to the indictment and other court documents, between April and March 2021, Timothy Jolloff and his wife, Lisa Jolloff, submitted false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to the SBA, as well as PPP approved lenders. In PPP loan applications, the Jolloffs falsely represented the number of employees and average monthly payroll for the applicant businesses. The Jolloffs also falsely represented and certified that PPP funds would be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments.
In EIDL applications, Timothy Jolloff misrepresented the gross revenue and cost of goods sold for the applicant businesses for which he sought EIDL funds. Timothy Jolloff also misrepresented the number of employees the EIDL applicant businesses had. Moreover, in loan documents signed and submitted by Timothy Jolloff for EIDL loans, he mispresented that EIDL proceeds would be used solely for working capital and to alleviate economic injury.
The Jolloffs’ false and fraudulent representations caused the SBA and PPP lenders to approve and fund eleven EIDLs and eight PPP loans, as well as EIDL Advances, totaling approximately $3,403,265. The Jolloffs then used the funds to purchase three pontoon boats totaling more than $300,000, real estate in Fort Myers, Florida and Angola, Indiana, home furnishings, outdoor kitchens for their homes, a 2019 GMC truck, a 2020 Polaris UTV, as well as jewelry, and two dogs. The Jolloffs also fraudulently used more than $600,000 in EIDL funds to purchase a furniture business in Indiana and a landscaping business in Sarasota, Florida, which had no connection to the businesses for which the Jolloffs obtained COVID relief money.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if the business spends the proceeds on these expenses within a set time-period and uses at least a certain percentage of the loan toward payroll expenses.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant United States Attorney Jesus M. Casas.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Spending More Than $300,000 in COVID Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Denys Perez (31, Tampa) has pleaded guilting to wire fraud related to COVID relief funds. Perez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. In addition, he faces a forfeiture order of $502,900, as well as a forfeiture order for the property he purchased with proceeds of his offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, between September 2021 and January 2022, Perez applied for COVID relief funds through the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Based on the information submitted by Perez, he was awarded $502,900 in EIDL funds. As part of the application process, Perez certified he would use all the EIDL proceeds solely as working capital to alleviate the economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to this certification, Perez fraudulently spent more than $300,000 of his EIDL on personal expenses, including the purchase of a house.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
This case was investigated by the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn E. Hoenemeyer.
To report a COVID-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Tampa Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking Three VictimsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Demontrae Clarence Fagan (34, Tampa) with three counts of sex trafficking. If convicted on all counts, Fagan faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to the indictment, between January and November 2022, Fagan knowingly trafficked three victims to engage in commercial sex acts.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
Oklahoma Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing A Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Andre Dominique Barnes (35, Lehigh Acres) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Barnes faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2024, Barnes was stopped in Lee County by the Florida Highway Patrol for speeding. Barnes was identified by his Oklahoma identification card and had a suspended driver license. During a search of his vehicle, troopers located a loaded pistol. Court records show that Barnes was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses in Oklahoma. DNA swabs taken from the pistol and from Barnes linked him to the firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Barnes is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
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).
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Diego Ricardo Murillo-Almanza (25), a Mexican national, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Murillo-Almanza faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 24, 2025, a deputy from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office observed Murillo-Almanza’s vehicle committing multiple traffic violations, including swerving in and out of the lane of travel. Murillo-Almanza was in the driver’s seat and could not produce a valid driver license. When Murillo-Almanza exited the vehicle, he had flakes of what appeared to be marijuana on his person. Three other undocumented individuals were also in the vehicle. A deputy searched the vehicle and recovered a marijuana cigarette, a small container of marijuana, and a Taurus 9mm pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition near the driver’s seat. Murillo-Almanza admitted to law enforcement that he was in the country illegally and that the pistol was his. He agreed to forfeit the pistol and associated ammunition seized from him on the date of incident.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry.
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).
Marion County Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years for Transporting A Minor with the Intent to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Thomas Allen Ebersole (32, Dunnellon) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity. Ebersole is also required to register as a sex offender. He entered a guilty plea on January 6, 2025.
According to court records, in December 2023, Ebersole met and communicated with a 16-year-old girl through online video games. On December 28, 2023, Ebersole drove from his home in Marion County to Ohio, where the minor lived. He then drove the victim back to his Florida home to engage in sexual activity with her. After the victim’s family reported her missing, law enforcement identified the Internet Protocol (IP) address the victim had used to play video games while at Ebersole’s home. Law enforcement located and removed the victim from Ebersole’s home on January 3, 2024. The victim told law enforcement that she never left Ebersole’s home during the week she had been missing. She also admitted that Ebersole had engaged in sexual intercourse with her multiple times, which was subsequently confirmed through DNA testing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lima (Ohio) Police Department. 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.
Honduran National Indicted for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Alexander Neptali Mejia-Martinez (36), a Honduran national, with illegal reentry into the United States by a removed alien. If convicted, Mejia-Martinez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, in 2016, Mejia-Martinez was convicted of unlawful reentry of a removed alien and removed from the United States shortly thereafter. At some point, Mejia-Martinez illegally reentered the United States and was found to be living in Jacksonville on April 2, 2025.
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 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry.
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).
Guatemalan National Arrested for Illegally Possessing Firearm After Shots Fired from VehicleRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Elmer Gustabo Vasquez-Lopez (19, Guatemala) on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. If convicted, Vasquez-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, 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 witnessed gunshots from a vehicle, and officers arrested the vehicle’s occupants, including Vasquez-Lopez. The occupants were arrested on state charges and two firearms were seized from the vehicle. The next day, Vasquez-Lopez admitted to agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that he had shot one of the firearms recovered from the vehicle and that he was a Guatemalan national. A review of Vasquez-Lopez’s immigration history showed that the U.S. Border Patrol previously arrested Vasquez-Lopez as an inadmissible alien and that he is in removal proceedings.
A complaint is merely a formal allegation 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 will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
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).
Fort Pierce Men Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud and Mail TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Aquarius Jones (24, Fort Pierce) and Johnathan Bryant (26, Fort Pierce) have pleaded guilty for their roles in a mail theft scheme. Jones pleaded guilty to bank fraud and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. Bryant pleaded guilty to mail theft and faces up to five years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set.
According to court documents, on July 22, 2022, Jones and Bryant assembled mail “fishing” devices using shoelaces, mouthwash bottles, and mouse glue traps. They lowered the fishing devices into the mail slot of a United States Postal Service collection box and stole mail from inside the box. Additionally, between January and July 2022, Jones obtained checks which had been stolen from mailboxes, altered the names of the recipients on the stolen checks, and fraudulently deposited those checks into various bank accounts belonging to individuals other than the intended check recipients.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Winter Park Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.
Former Bank Officer Pleads Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Edward L. Jenkinson (47, Trinity) has pleaded guilty to misappropriation of bank funds and embezzlement. Jenkinson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. Jenkinson has also agreed to forfeit to the United States $122,004.04, the proceeds of his criminal activity. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement and court proceedings, Jenkinson was employed as a bank officer at Bank 1, an FDIC insured institution that was a member bank of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. As a bank officer, Jenkinson was responsible for managing a Bank 1 financial center located in Tampa. One of Jenkinson’s duties was to oversee the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and teller cash drawers at the financial center.
Between March and November 2024, Jenkinson embezzled FDIC-insured funds. As part of his embezzlement scheme, Jenkinson redeemed certificates of deposit without the customers’ knowledge or consent. He then prepared deposit tickets and deposited the redeemed funds in customer checking accounts. Subsequently, Jenkinson embezzled the funds from the victim customers’ accounts and drafted cashiers’ checks payable to himself, which he deposited into his own bank accounts. Jenkinson depleted most of the embezzled funds through cash withdrawals. He also embezzled $52,000 from the ATM machine at the Bank 1 financial center he managed in Tampa, as well as $2,500 from a bank teller drawer. Jenkinson spent the embezzled funds on gambling, paying off debt, and retail purchases.
This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Federal Employee Charged with Possession of A Firearm by an Unlawful Drug UserRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Bryan Roger Byers (57, Jacksonville), a United States Postal Service employee, with possessing a firearm as an unlawful drug user. If convicted, Byers faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
According to court documents and proceedings, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Byers after a firearm he had purchased was recovered during a drug trafficking investigation. During that investigation, a felon was found to be in possession of a firearm and admitted purchasing the firearm from Byers in exchange for crack cocaine.
Investigators located text messages, which reflected that Byers used sex workers to find buyers for his firearms and those buyers then exchanged drugs for the firearms. Records reflect Byers purchased at least 10 firearms over the last four years.
On April 2, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Byers’s home. Law enforcement officers located seven firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, and two suspected crack pipes, all of which were seized by ATF. The next day, Byers attempted to purchase another firearm and was arrested by ATF agents.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.
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).
Dark Web Fentanyl Distributor Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced James Bookman (30, Largo) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Bookman pleaded guilty on October 2, 2024.
According to court documents and statements presented at the sentencing hearing, Bookman, from the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, using a dark web marketplace, distributed significant amounts of fentanyl (disguised and sold as oxycodone pills), methamphetamine (disguised and sold as Adderall pills), and other drugs, throughout the United States. One such sale resulted in the fentanyl overdose death of an internet customer in Montana.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Boston), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Montana State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Butte-Silver Bow (Montana) Law Enforcement Department, and the Mantatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jim Preston.
Colombian National Sentenced for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Juan Leon David Vazquez (37, Colombia) to 46 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an alien illegally unlawfully in the United States. Vazquez pleaded guilty on November 21, 2024.
According to court documents, Vazquez brandished a firearm at an individual after they went to get food around 1:30 a.m. When the victim saw the firearm, he attempted to push the firearm away. Vazquez then discharged the firearm, striking the victim’s hand. Vazquez took the victim’s phone and threw it on the ground, where it broke, and then drove away leaving the victim behind. The firearm was later located at Vazquez’s residence.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brooke M. Padgett.
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.
Florida Businessman Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL - A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison for evading more than $5.5 million in taxes, interest, and penalties that he owed the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, David Albert Fletcher, of Deltona, owned and operated furniture liquidations businesses, including Century Liquidators. For tax years 2004 through 2013, Fletcher did not timely file his federal income tax returns or pay the taxes he owed. After an audit, the IRS assessed a total of $1.7 million in taxes, interest, and penalties against him.
To evade collection of these taxes, Fletcher concealed his income and assets from the IRS. For example, Fletcher used nominees to hide his purchases of luxury vehicles, including Rolls Royces. Fletcher also filed false income tax returns that understated his income by several million dollars, and when an IRS special agent interviewed him, Fletcher falsely represented the amount of income he earned.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger for the Middle District of Florida ordered Fletcher to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $7,112,689 in restitution to the United States.
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 investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Zachary A. Cobb and Charles A. O’Reilly of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Florida Businessman Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison for evading more than $5.5 million in taxes, interest, and penalties that he owed the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, David Albert Fletcher, of Deltona, owned and operated furniture liquidations businesses, including Century Liquidators. For tax years 2004 through 2013, Fletcher did not timely file his federal income tax returns or pay the taxes he owed. After an audit, the IRS assessed a total of $1.7 million in taxes, interest, and penalties against him.
To evade collection of these taxes, Fletcher concealed his income and assets from the IRS. For example, Fletcher used nominees to hide his purchases of luxury vehicles, including Rolls Royces. Fletcher also filed false income tax returns that understated his income by several million dollars, and when an IRS special agent interviewed him, Fletcher falsely represented the amount of income he earned.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger for the Middle District of Florida ordered Fletcher to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $7,112,689 in restitution to the United States.
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 investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Zachary A. Cobb and Charles A. O’Reilly of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Involving A Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Larry E. Denson, Jr. (31, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud involving COVID relief fraud through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Denson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to the United State government. Denson has also agreed to forfeit $18,190, the proceeds of the charged criminal offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in April 2021, Denson submitted a PPP loan application to a lender authorized by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to lend funds for approved PPP loan applications. The PPP loan application falsely claimed that Denson operated his own janitorial services business with a gross income of $87,312. Throughout the loan application, Denson made false statements regarding his purported payroll and operating expenses. In support of his PPP loan application, Denson submitted a fraudulent IRS form that contained false statements about expenses and income for his purported business. Upon reliance of the false statements in his PPP loan application and supporting documentation, Denson received a PPP loan for $18,190.
After receiving the PPP loan proceeds into his bank account, Denson began making withdrawals and spending the funds on personal expenses, including meals at restaurants, retail purchases, and cash withdrawals. In July 2022, Denson filed a PPP Loan Forgiveness Application, falsely stating that he had spent the $18,190 on payroll. Relying on his false statements, the SBA forgave the entire loan amount.
This case was investigated by Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Fugitive Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Billy Ruiz (46, California) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. A federal jury found Ruiz guilty on January 8, 2025.
According to evidence presented during the three-day trial, in March 2016, Ruiz sold large amounts of methamphetamine to a lower-level dealer for redistribution in central Florida. Ruiz was a prolific distributor of methamphetamine operating out of southern California, who, along with others, shipped methamphetamine to Orlando by overnight delivery. The methamphetamine was then repackaged and distributed in central Florida. Ruiz sold two batches of methamphetamine, each weighing approximately two pounds.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lake Mary Police Department, and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Sowell and Chauncey Bratt.
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 Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Meet A 13-Year-Old to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Alexander Thomas Daugherty (24, Ocala) to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Daugherty entered a guilty plea on December 20, 2024.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2024, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) posed undercover as a 13-year-old girl on an online social media platform. Daugherty contacted the undercover agent’s account and, after learning the child’s age, discussed engaging in sexual activity. Daugherty arranged to meet the minor for sex at a predetermined location in Marion County. Daugherty then traveled to the location and was arrested by law enforcement. After his arrest, Daugherty provided a written statement in which he apologized for the “disgusting intentions” he had with “the underage female.”
“This sentencing sends a strong message that any attempts to exploit and harm minors will not be tolerated,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI, alongside our partners at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, are dedicated to protecting our children and ensuring that those who seek to endanger them face severe consequences for their actions.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Eleven-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Bryan Jermaine Davis (37, Jacksonville) to six years and five months in federal prison for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Davis entered a guilty plea on December 3, 2024.
According to court documents, on July 5, 2024, an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop after seeing that Davis was not wearing a seatbelt. During questioning, Davis admitted to having marijuana in his possession. The officer conducted a search of Davis’s vehicle and recovered a bag containing assorted rounds of ammunition and a ghost gun under the driver’s seat. Ghost guns are firearms that have no serial number and are, therefore, often untraceable. When the officer found the ammunition and firearm, Davis attempted to flee on foot but was caught and detained by officers who had responded to the scene. At the time, Davis had multiple prior felony convictions including robbery, selling heroin, possession of cocaine, dealing in stolen property, and possession of a weapon by a state prisoner. As a convicted felon, Davis is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.
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.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Jimmy Altidor (42, Bradenton) to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Altidor pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025.
According to court documents, in early March 2023, Altidor spoke with a confidential source (CS) about the price of methamphetamine and offered to sell the CS a pound. A few days later, the CS had numerous calls with Altidor to coordinate a deal. On March 8, 2023, the CS traveled to Altidor’s place of work in Bradenton. Altidor went to the CS’s vehicle and sold the CS a pound of methamphetamine. Altidor has a prior federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradenton Police Department, and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.
Three Orlando Residents Plead Guilty to Scheme That Facilitated Evasion of Payroll Taxes and Workers’ Compensation Requirements in Construction IndustryRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Eduardo Anibal Escobar (44), Carlos Alberto Rodriguez (35), and Adelmy Tejada (57), all residents of Orlando, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. Each are legal permanent residents from El Salvador. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and up to 5 years in federal prison for the tax fraud offense. These individuals are subject to an order requiring them to forfeit at least $8,764,652 in proceeds which they obtained as a result of the wire fraud offense and two houses in Orlando that were purchased with those proceeds.
The defendants are also subject to an order requiring them to pay restitution in the amounts of $12,992,908 to four insurance companies for unpaid workers’ compensation insurance premiums, $397,895 to two of the companies for workers’ compensation claims that the companies paid, and $36,957,616 for unpaid employment taxes on approximately $146,077,535 in payroll that was not reported to the IRS. The sentencing dates have not yet been set.
According to court documents, over the period of approximately January 2015 through August 2024, the defendants engaged in a scheme to defraud involving misrepresentations concerning workers’ compensation insurance. The purposes of the scheme were to facilitate the employment of workers who were not legally authorized to work in the United States, to avoid paying for adequate workers’ compensation insurance, and to avoid paying required payroll taxes.
To carry out the scheme, Escobar, Rodriguez, and Tejada obtained workers’ compensation insurance policies in the names of companies they registered with the State of Florida. The policies covered a handful of employees and a minimal payroll. They then reached agreements with hundreds of construction subcontractors to represent to construction contractors that the subcontractors were employed by the defendants’ companies. The subcontractors provided the defendants with the names of the contractors for whom they wanted to perform work, and the defendants sent the contractors documents representing that the subcontractors worked for the defendants’ companies and that they were covered by the companies’ workers’ compensation insurance. This representation allowed the subcontractors to obtain contracts with, and perform work for, the construction contractors. The contractors wrote payroll checks to the defendants’ companies for work performed by the subcontractors and the defendants distributed the payroll to the workers, after keeping 6% to 8% as a fee. Most of the workers were undocumented aliens working illegally in the United States. Over the course of the scheme, approximately $146,077,535 in payroll flowed through the companies, on which the defendants were paid fees totaling at least $8,764,652.
Although the workers’ compensation insurers believed they were providing coverage for the limited payroll reflected in the insurance applications and reported by the defendants, the insurers unknowingly provided coverage for the approximately $146,077,535 in payroll that flowed through the defendants’ companies. If the insurers had known the amount of payroll they were in fact covering, they would have charged additional annual premiums totaling at least $12,992,908. Neither the defendants nor the contractors nor the subcontractors reported to the IRS the payroll that flowed through the defendants’ companies, and no one paid either the employees’ portion or the employers’ portion of payroll taxes due. If the total payroll of approximately $146,077,535 had been properly reported to the IRS, the total payroll taxes due would have been approximately $36,957,616.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is part of a continuing investigation by those agencies of the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.
- Ponte Vedra Man Indicted for Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms and Controlled Substances
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice A Child into Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that William Isaak Sparks (24, Kalamazoo, Michigan) has pleaded guilty to attempted online enticement of an 11-year-old child to engage in sex acts. Sparks faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Following any imposed prison sentence, he will be required to serve at least 5 years’ supervised release and register as a sex offender. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Sparks has also agreed to forfeit a cellphone that was used to facilitate the offense.
According to court documents, an FBI special agent was conducting an online undercover investigation designed to identify and target adults who were seeking sexual activity with children. The undercover agent, posing as the parent of an 11-year-old girl, made contact with Sparks in a chat group on a social media app. Sparks offered to travel from Michigan to Florida for the purpose of sexually exploiting the “child.” Sparks provided his cellphone number to the undercover agent, distributed to the undercover agent two videos of children being sexually abused, and offered to send an explicit video of himself. Via text message, Sparks continued to make arrangements to travel to Florida.
The undercover agent again encountered Sparks in a chat room on May 21, 2024. During that conversation, Sparks again offered to travel to Florida to sexually abuse the 11-year-old “child.” Sparks provided his true name to the undercover agent so that the agent could book a bus ticket from Michigan to Florida for Sparks. The agent later learned that on May 24, 2024, Sparks had been arrested by the Michigan State Police after information was provided by a private citizen that Sparks was attempting to engage in sex acts with a purported 11-year-old child in Michigan. Sparks was arrested after he showed up with a condom and $45 in cash expecting to sexually abuse the purported 11-year-old child in Michigan.
While he was detained pending trial in this case, Sparks was found to be possessing in his jail cell drawings depicting children being sexually abused.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Michigan State Police, and the Township of Kalamazoo Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mexican National Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Herman Vazquez-Padilla to 15 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after committing an aggravated felony. Vazquez-Padilla was found guilty on December 23, 2024.
According to court documents, Vazquez-Padilla, an alien and citizen of Mexico, reentered the United States without obtaining permission, after removal, following a conviction of an aggravated felony. Vazquez-Padilla was convicted of conspiracy to transport one hundred or more illegal aliens on September 19, 2012. He was ordered removed on June 7, 2021, and was removed on November 10, 2021. Sometime after November 10, 2021, Vazquez-Padilla voluntarily and illegally reentered the United States. Vazquez-Padilla did not receive the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. On August 28, 2024, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers found Vazquez-Padilla in Hillsborough County, Florida.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States District Judge Richard A. Lazarra has sentenced Julio Cesar Paniagua (55), a Mexican national, to 37 months in prison for illegal reentry into the United States by a Removed Alien. Paniagua pled guilty on January 13, 2025.
According to court documents, in 2011, Paniagua was convicted of a narcotics distribution conspiracy, and following a sentence of incarceration, was removed from the United States on December 3, 2015. Later in 2018, Paniagua attempted to illegally reenter the United States and was charged, convicted, and incarcerated. Later that year, he was once again removed from the United States. At some point thereafter, he illegally reentered the United States and was found to be living in Dade City, Florida on November 18, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.
Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegal Reentry into the United States After Being Previously DeportedRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Samuel Ortiz-Ordonez (24, Guatemala) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Ortiz-Ordonez faces up to two years in federal prison and subsequent deportation and removal from the United States.
According to court documents, Ortiz-Ordonez was previously removed from the United States on June 15, 2023. Ortiz-Ordonez has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to lawfully reenter the United States. On March 13, 2025, Ortiz-Ordonez was found voluntarily back in the United States in Jacksonville, where he was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. After being approached by ICE officers, Ortiz-Ordonez abandoned the vehicle that he was driving and fled on foot through a local residential neighborhood. After a brief chase, he was apprehended by ICE officers.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
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).
Clearwater Man Indicted for Transportation of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Brian Francis McArdle (34, Clearwater) with transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possession of CSAM. If convicted on all counts, McArdle faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, from January 1, 2023, through April 2, 2024, McArdle transported and shipped a visual depiction, the production of which involved the sexual abuse of a minor. McArdle also knowingly possessed a visual depiction of the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12.
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. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Orlando Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing over Nine Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Desean Williams (38, Orlando) to 14 years in federal prison for distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Williams entered a guilty plea on December 20, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, on January 31, 2024, Williams distributed 4,459 grams of methamphetamine to another individual, Stephen Godbolt. Godbolt then sold 1,331 grams of that methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with law enforcement. The remaining methamphetamine provided by Williams was recovered from Godbolt’s vehicle.
On September 13, 2024, Godbolt was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine for his involvement in this offense.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Mexican National Sentenced to 14 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Armando Bravo-Coyote (43) to 14 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a deported alien. Bravo-Coyote pleaded guilty on October 31, 2024.
According to court documents, on August 19, 2024, Bravo-Coyote, a citizen and national of Mexico, was found to be voluntarily in the United States. Bravo-Coyote was physically removed from the United States to Mexico on four occasions, April 29, 2009, March 22, 2010, August 7, 2013, and May 2, 2019. Bravo-Coyote has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to re-enter the United States after being removed/deported from the United States. Bravo-Coyote had previously been convicted of a felony offense.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.
Mexican National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Agustin Hernandez-Diaz (28, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Hernandez-Diaz faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison.
According to court documents, Hernandez-Diaz is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on January 31, 2016. On March 11, 2025, he was found voluntarily back in the United States. Hernandez-Diaz has not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States to apply for readmission to the United States.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by United States Customs and Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
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.
Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Thousands of Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Cristian Javier Vente Ocoro (39, Colombia), a/k/a “Shrek,” “Happy,” and “Teletubis,” has pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Vente Ocoro faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He was arrested in Colombia in September 2023 at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States a year later. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Vente Ocoro was part of an organization that smuggled cocaine from South America to Central America and Mexico, a substantial portion of which passed through points of entry on the United States/Mexico border. Vente Ocoro handled the organization, logistics, and planning of smuggling ventures, as well as recruited and paid crewmembers. As part of the investigation, investigators associated Vente Ocoro with two failed smuggling ventures – the first on June 25, 2019, that involved 1,090 kilograms of cocaine; the second on July 31, 2019, that involved 2,125 kilograms of cocaine.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Colombian National Police provided critical investigative support. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
Jacksonville Felon Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Possessing Firearms on Multiple OccasionsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of a superseding indictment charging James Edward Bullard (27, Jacksonville) with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted on all counts, Bullard faces a minimum penalty of 30 years, up to two life terms, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Bullard that the United States intends to forfeit five firearms and their ammunition, which were used in and facilitated the offenses.
According to the indictment, on September 17, 2024, Bullard was in possession of more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine that he intended to distribute. He also possessed firearms in furtherance of this drug trafficking activity. At the time, Bullard had eight prior felony convictions, including selling cocaine and robbery. As a convicted felon, Bullard is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. On November 4, 2024, Bullard again unlawfully possessed a firearm.
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 Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Baker County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
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.
Indian National Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Kirtan Patel (24, India) to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Patel entered a guilty plea on December 18, 2024.
According to the plea agreement and court records, between May 22 and 24, 2024, Patel communicated online with someone whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The child, however, was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent. Patel engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover agent. Ultimately, Patel was arrested when he traveled to a location in Marion County to engage in sexual activity with the child. Patel was not lawfully present in the United States at the time of the events of this case.
“This predator engaged in sexually explicit online conversations and devised a plan to meet a minor for sexual activity, actions that could have had devastating consequences,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office are unwavering in our commitment to protecting our children for sexual predators who seek to destroy their futures.”
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.
Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice A 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Reagan Morales Roblero (37, Guatemala), has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Roblero faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted enticement offense and a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the attempted transfer of obscene material. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, from July 22 through September 5, 2024, Roblero communicated online with someone whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl. In actuality, the child was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent (UC). Throughout their conversations, Roblero repeatedly described the sexual activity he wanted to engage in with the child, sending explicit videos to clarify the specific sex acts he desired. On September 5, 2024, after Roblero told the UC that he “want[ed] to make love tonight,” the UC discussed meeting at a motel in in Marion County. Roblero told the UC that the “most private” motel without “cameras” was better for their “protection.” Roblero further stated that he would drive to the motel to see if they could safely meet “because u underage [and] I’m old.” Ultimately, Roblero was arrested by law enforcement in the lobby of the motel. The motel clerk advised law enforcement that Roblero had asked about obtaining a room at the back of the building.
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.
Chinese National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Access Device FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Donghui Liao (32, China) to 33 months in federal prison for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices (gift cards). Liao entered a guilty plea on December 16, 2024.
According to the plea agreement and evidence presented in court, a large retail store had been the victim of an ongoing organized gift card fraud scheme. The structure of the scheme involved individuals stealing gift cards from the store, obtaining the account information from the back of the cards, resealing the cards in their original packaging, and placing the gift cards back onto the shelves of a different store location for customers to purchase. Once a customer purchased the gift card and loaded funds onto it, the fraudsters had access to the funds without the customer’s knowledge.
On October 17, 2023, an officer with the Ocala Police Department observed Liao retrieving numerous gift cards from a black shoulder bag he was wearing and placing those gift cards on the retailer’s gift card display. Liao was also observed taking gift cards off the shelves and concealing them inside his bag before leaving the store.
Seventy-one of the gift cards that Liao had placed on the shelves showed signs of alteration and forgery. A search of Liao’s vehicle revealed 6,032 additional stolen gift cards. The combined value of the gift cards in Liao’s vehicle (pictured below), if purchased and activated by customers, would have been $1.886 million. Store surveillance identified Liao performing this same scheme on at least 28 other occasions at different locations in Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.
“Gift card scams endanger retailers, consumers, and overall public safety,” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI is actively collaborating with law enforcement at all levels to combat organized crime involved in these schemes. Our proactive approach aims to raise awareness and disrupt fraud that could cost hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars. This successful prosecution in Florida highlights our commitment to addressing this issue on a global scale.”
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
St. Johns County Man Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United Staes Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Daniel Tharp has pleaded guilty to the willful failure to pay taxes. Tharp faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, Tharp was the managing director for Hangar X Holdings, LLC, where he had the corporate responsibility to collect and account for the company’s trust fund taxes, which included income taxes, Medicare taxes, and Social Security taxes withheld from the company’s employees’ pay. From October 2014 through December 2019, the company paid wages to employees and withheld these trust fund taxes. Tharp, however, knowingly and intentionally failed to pay this money to the IRS. In total, Tharp caused the company to fail to pay over $1.2 million in such taxes.
This case was investigated by IRS—Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Defraud MedicareRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL - A Florida man pleaded guilty on Monday to purchasing Medicare identification numbers and using those numbers to cause over $8.4 million of false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare.
Corey Alston, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and to illegally purchase Medicare beneficiary identification numbers in connection with a scheme to bill Medicare for COVID-19 test kits that were ineligible for reimbursement. According to court documents, Alston and his co-defendant, Latresia A. Wilson, conspired to unlawfully purchase Medicare beneficiary identification information (including Medicare Beneficiary Identification Numbers) and used that information to submit millions of dollars in claims to Medicare for COVID-19 test kits that the beneficiaries did not want or request.
Over the course of just seven months, from July 2022 through February 2023, Alston, Wilson, and others, through companies they owned and controlled, submitted over $8.4 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare that were ineligible for reimbursement. Medicare paid over $2.6 million based on the false and fraudulent claims.
Wilson previously pleaded guilty on June 10, 2024, to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to illegally purchase Medicare beneficiary identification. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15. Alston is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9. Alston and Wilson each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Shane Butland and Keith Clouser and Senior Litigation Counsel Catherine Wagner of the National Rapid Response Strike Force of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Acting Assistant Chief Justin Woodard assisted in charging the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Tampa Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl and Cocaine Causing an Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Brandon Lewis Graham (43, Brandon) has pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and cocaine resulting in the death of a victim. Graham faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, and up life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on March 31, 2022, law enforcement responded to a home in Tampa involving a deceased individual. During the investigation, law enforcement retrieved a clear plastic baggie from the victim that contained fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the victim’s cause of death was intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol.
A witness stated to law enforcement that the victim had purchased the narcotics from Graham on March 30, 2022, at a gas station in Riverview. The victim had fallen asleep and in the morning was unresponsive. Emergency personnel arrived at the residence, but the victim was deceased when they arrived.
Law enforcement retrieved video surveillance information from the gas station that showed the victim arriving and meeting with Graham. As a result, law enforcement obtained Graham’s vehicle information and registration. Additionally, the victim’s cellphone was recovered, it contained information identifying Graham via a telephone number that was registered to him.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
Ocala Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Attempting to Entice A 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Francisco Alvarez-Tello (28, Ocala) to 12 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Alvarez-Tello pleaded guilty on October 24, 2024.
According to court documents, in July 2024, Alvarez-Tello responded to an ad on an online dating app from an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a 13-year-old child. Alvarez-Tello engaged in sexually oriented conversation, telling the undercover officer in detail what he planned to do with the child. When Alvarez-Tello arrived at a pre-determined location to engage in sex with the child, law enforcement arrested him and found a firearm inside his vehicle. During an interview with officers, Alvarez-Tello admitted to sending the messages and told officers that he was trying to have a “freaky Friday” and they had “ruined that.”
“HSI and our law enforcement partners are continually monitoring and combating the dangerous misuse of social media that puts our children at risk,” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI, in collaboration with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, remains steadfast in our mission to safeguard children from predators who exploit them for their perverse desires.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Alan Ellis Gillespie, Jr. (31, Ocala) to four years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Gillespie to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Gillespie entered a guilty plea on November 12, 2024.
According to court documents, on August 27, 2024, a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle. Gillespie exited that vehicle through the passenger door and fled on foot. During the chase, Gillespie threw a backpack to the ground. Once Gillespie was apprehended, a search of his backpack revealed an AK-47 style pistol loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Gillespie had multiple prior state felony convictions, including battery, carrying a concealed firearm, and possession of cannabis more than 20 grams. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was 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.
Mount Dora Man Found Guilty of Possessing and Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Following a bench trial, U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber found Brett Eugene Baldwin (43, Mount Dora) guilty of one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and three counts of receiving CSAM. Baldwin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count, with a 5-year minimum sentence on each receipt count. The sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Baldwin was indicted on December 20, 2023. A superseding indictment was returned on February 6, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, on November 28, 2023, Baldwin’s cellphone was seized during an unrelated state investigation. Pursuant to a search warrant, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) reviewed an extraction of Baldwin’s cellphone that revealed Baldwin had thousands of files depicting CSAM, primarily of young children. After his first cellphone was seized by law enforcement, Baldwin obtained a second cellphone. The second cellphone was later seized and searched pursuant to a warrant. FDLE found that Baldwin had downloaded thousands of files depicting CSAM onto his second cellphone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Mount Dora Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 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.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Rosel Jimenez-Martinez (34, Mexico) has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. Jimenez-Martinez faces up to two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Jimenez-Martinez was arrested on a criminal complaint on December 23, 2024, and ordered detained.
According to court documents, Jimenez-Martinez is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on February 28, 2020. Jimenez-Martinez was found voluntarily back in the United States on December 2, 2024, when he was encountered by law enforcement in Orange County. Jimenez-Martinez had not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian.
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.
Little League Coach Sentenced to Ten Years for Attempting to Meet A 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Joseph Rocco Quaranta (48, Dunnellon) to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Quaranta entered a guilty plea on November 19, 2024.
According to court documents, on July 25, 2024, an undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Quaranta contacted the detective’s account and, after learning the child’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Quaranta then arranged to meet the child at a predetermined location in Marion County to engage in sexual activity. When Quaranta arrived at the meeting location, he was arrested. After his arrest, Quaranta admitted to deputies that he had been volunteering as a local youth baseball coach.
“The sentencing of this former Little League baseball coach serves as a reminder that predatory action against children will not be tolerated, and we will use every resource at our disposal to ensure that justice is served,” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI, alongside our partners at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, is unwavering in its commitment to protect our children from predators who seek to exploit them.”
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
The 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.