Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Illegal Alien Sentenced in Multi-Million Dollar Wire and Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Pablo Isila Euceda-Hernandez (36), a Honduran national illegally present in United States, to 27 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. The court also ordered Euceda-Hernandez to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,214,508. The court also entered a money judgment against Euceda-Hernandez in the amount of $336,029, representing the proceeds of the wire fraud.
According to court documents, Euceda-Hernandez established a shell company that purported to be involved in the construction industry. Euceda-Hernandez obtained a workers’ compensation insurance policy in the name of the shell company to cover a minimal payroll for a few purported employees. He then “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance to work crews who had obtained subcontracts with construction contractors on projects in various Florida counties as well as contractors in other states. He sent the contractors a certificate as “proof” that the work crews had workers’ compensation insurance, as required by Florida law. By sending the certificate, Euceda-Hernandez falsely represented that the work crews worked for the shell company. Over the course of the scheme, Euceda-Hernandez “rented” the certificates to dozens of work crews, defrauding the worker’s compensation carrier, typically allowing undocumented illegal workers to be employed unlawfully.
As part of the scheme, the contractors issued payroll checks for the workers’ wages to the shell companies and Euceda-Hernandez cashed these checks, then distributed the cash to the work crews after deducting their fee, which was typically about 6% of the payroll. During the scheme, Euceda-Hernandez cashed payroll checks totaling approximately $5 million. Neither the shell company nor the contractors reported to government authorities the wages that were paid to the workers, nor did they pay either the employees’ or the employer’s portion of payroll taxes – including Social Security, Medicare, and federal income tax. According to the IRS, the amount of payroll taxes due on wages collected by Euceda-Hernandez totaled $1,214,508.
The scheme also facilitated the avoidance of the higher cost of obtaining adequate workers’ compensation insurance for the numerous workers on the work crews to whom Euceda-Hernandez “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance. The policy that Euceda-Hernandez purchased and then “rented” out was for an estimated payroll of $169,400 and the insurance company issued a policy for a premium of approximately $11,352. Had a workers’ compensation insurance policy been purchased for the actual payroll totaling approximately $5 million, the policy premium would have totaled approximately $591,978.
“Under-the-table cash payroll schemes, especially those designed to pay illegal immigrants not authorized to work in the United States, jeopardizes the integrity of the construction industry and undermines the legal framework intended to protect workers and ensure fair business through legal and ethical standards,” said Tim Hemker, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville assistant special agent in charge. “HSI, through our strong law enforcement partnerships, is committed to uncovering the schemes of criminals and ensuring that justice is served for those who seek to exploit the system.”
“This defendant cheated. He cheated their employees, the U.S. taxpayers, and most importantly the free-market principles which govern our society,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “By breaking the law, Euceda-Hernandez sought an unfair advantage to all their competitors who played by the rules and will now contemplate their actions from prison. We want to ensure a level playing field for the business owners doing things the right way. To those who think they can get away with this type of behavior, no matter what steps you take to cover your tracks, we will find out, and do everything we can to bring you to justice.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
Federal Inmate Convicted at Trial Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Assault with Intent to Commit MurderRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Shane McMillan (51, Texas) to 25 years in federal prison following jury verdicts finding McMillan guilty of assault with the intent to commit murder and possession of a prohibited object by a federal inmate.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, McMillan was an inmate in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. On July 9, 2023, McMillan followed another inmate into a cell, closed the door, and then stabbed the victim approximately 10 times with a shank. Another inmate heard screaming and opened the cell door, which allowed the victim to escape. The victim suffered multiple puncture wounds to his neck, chest, and torso. The victim was transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he eventually recovered from the injuries. When interviewed by the FBI, McMillan admitted that he wanted to kill the victim.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Eleven-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Bryan Jermaine Davis (37, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Davis faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to court documents, on July 5, 2024, an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of Davis for failing to wear 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 have no serial number and are therefore untraceable. When the officer found the ammunition and ghost gun, Davis attempted to flee on foot but was caught and detained by officers who had responded to the scene. At the time of the offense, 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 ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney 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.
Middle District of Florida Law Enforcement Personnel Receive U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. Award recipients in the Middle District of Florida recipients included Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo Police Department.
This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.
“Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.”
Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was recognized for his diligent work, study and understanding of new technologies, and commitment to pursuing the truth. Detective Newbold was able to crack a cold case that had gone unsolved for 36 years. Over his 24 years of service, Detective Newbold’s steadfast commitment has delivered justice to countless victims and their families, leaving an indelible mark on the community.
Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo Police Department were honored for their extraordinary efforts that have transformed the lives of over 500 individuals experiencing homelessness. In addition to this team’s creative solutions like partnering with a homeless shelter or drafting new city ordinances, they have also shown their dedication, their deep understanding of the nature of these challenges, and their unwavering commitment that has made such a change for the community.
“Working collaboratively with communities to address concerns and reduce crime is the cornerstone of effective policing,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “The law enforcement personnel recognized in our district today are among the best in the nation. Their active engagement and innovative approaches towards public safety has greatly improved the quality of life for the citizens of our district.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
Florida Inmate Pleads Guilty to Mailing Threats to Prosecutor and JudgeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Taylor Ryan Hill (27, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to mailing threatening communications. Hill faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 12, 2024, Hill was a state inmate at Hardee Correctional Institution in Bowling Green. On that date, he mailed a threatening letter to an Assistant State Attorney in Clay County who had prosecuted Hill for his underlying convictions of violent crimes. The letter threatened to have that prosecutor, as well as the judge who had sentenced him, killed. It was signed “Taylor Ryan Hill” and was mailed in an envelope with a return address of Taylor Hill, his inmate number, and the address for the Hardee Correctional Institution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the Office of the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Lasry and Michael J. Coolican.
Clay County White Supremacist Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 10 Years on Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Danny Ray Boree (39, Keystone Heights) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Boree to forfeit a Raven Arms pistol traceable to the firearm offense. Boree was arrested on September 8, 2023, and ordered detained. He entered a guilty plea on July 10, 2024.
According to court documents and proceedings, Boree is a member of the Unforgiven, a violent white supremacy gang. On June 8, 2023, a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) pulled over a vehicle for a stop sign violation in Keystone Heights. Upon approaching the car, the deputy observed Boree in the passenger seat with a meat cleaver/hatchet directly in front of him and a knife in a sheath by his feet. For his safety, the deputy directed Boree to step out of the car. As Boree exited the vehicle, the deputy observed part of a clear baggie in the waistline of Boree’s shorts. During a pat down of Boree, the deputy removed the baggie which contained a large amount of methamphetamine. During a subsequent search of the car, the CCSO located a Raven Arms pistol and additional methamphetamine.
At the time of the offenses, Boree had previously been convicted in Florida state court of 10 felonies, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2007, 2019). As a convicted felon, Boree is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. Boree was released from the Florida Department of Corrections in January 2023 for his last firearm conviction.
“We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office as we continue our shared commitment to combating drugs and preventing the violence that often accompanies them,” said Sheriff Michelle Cook. “Together, we are making significant strides in keeping Clay County safe.”
“Residents of Northeast Florida are much safer with this violent criminal in federal prison,” said ATF Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “Disrupting the Unforgiven’s nefarious activities takes unwavering commitment and we’re proud to have helped the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and federal prosecutors with this huge win.”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to More Than 27 Years for Producing Child Sex Abuse Material via Hidden Camera in Smoke DetectorRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced Joshua Scott Landers (48, Bradenton) to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison for producing and possessing child sex abuse material. A federal jury found Landers guilty on August 27, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Landers installed a video camera inside a smoke detector on the ceiling of the teenage victim’s bedroom. Landers then manipulated the footage to save photos and videos of the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and 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.
Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Producing Videos and Photos Depicting the Sexual Abuse of A ChildRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kevin John Merritt (63, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to producing videos and photos of him sexually abusing a child. Merritt faces a minimum penalty of 25 years, up to 50 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. Merritt is a registered sex offender, having been convicted in August 2011 of possessing child sexual abuse materials. Merritt was arrested on March 16, 2023, and has been in custody since that time. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 18, 2025.
According to court documents, an investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a “CyberTipline Report” from an online social media app advising that certain files depicting child sexual abuse materials had been sent through the messaging function on the app on September 14, 2022, by user “Jackie Frost” to another user who was ultimately identified and located in Jacksonville. This information was forwarded to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) for further investigation. JSO detectives obtained search warrants and subpoenas for the internet and cellphone service providers and social media apps that were connected to Merritt. The investigation confirmed that the user “Jackie Frost” was Merritt, and that Merritt had distributed child sexual abuse materials to another individual.
On March 16, 2023, JSO detectives and other personnel executed a search warrant at Merritt’s residence. Merritt was at the home and was arrested. Several of Merritt’s electronic devices were seized, including his cellphone. Forensic examination of the cellphone revealed an email account that was linked to the “Jackie Frost” social media account. It also contained more than 100 photos and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor child who was later identified.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Elisibeth Adams.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Multiple Conspirators Sentenced in $54.3 Million Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Luis Lacerda (37, West Palm Beach) to three years and five months in federal prison, Omar Solari (36, Fort Lauderdale) to 2 years and six months in federal prison, Michael Murphy (38, Fort Lauderdale) to 15 months in federal prison, and Joelson Viveros (45, Boca Raton) to 5 years’ probation for their respective roles in a $54.3 million health care fraud scheme in which the defendants paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketers and telemedicine providers to secure orders for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were billed to Medicare. The court also ordered Lacerda to forfeit $15,600,333.30 and pay $54,303,526 in restitution; Solari to forfeit $6,341,240.58 and pay $36,246,251 in restitution; Murphy to forfeit $3,650,943.36 and pay $8,374,175 in restitution; and Viveros to forfeit $894,116.45 and pay $3,017,135 in restitution. Each previously pleaded guilty to their role in a conspiracy in which the co-conspirators owned and operated pharmacies that participated in the Medicare program, including one located in Jacksonville.
According to court documents, from approximately 2018 through 2021, the co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketing companies in exchange for recruiting Medicare beneficiaries to accept prescriptions for various medications – mainly topical creams – which the beneficiaries did not want or need. Some of the co-conspirators also operated companies that engaged in telemarketing activities to develop beneficiary leads.
The co-conspirators then paid kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies that employed or contracted with physicians who signed the prescriptions. The physicians had no physician-patient relationship with the beneficiaries and typically signed the prescriptions after a cursory telephone conversation with the beneficiary or with no contact at all. After obtaining Medicare beneficiary information and the signed prescriptions, the co-conspirators submitted claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary medications, sometimes through multiple pharmacies they owned and controlled in a practice known as “recycling.” Over the course of the conspiracy, the defendants’ pharmacies were reimbursed more than $54.3 million for medically unnecessary prescriptions by Medicare Part D.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian and Trial Attorney Gary Winters of the Department of Justice – Criminal Division, Fraud Section. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer M. Harrington and Mai Tran.
Orlando Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jonen Castillo (24, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to smuggling goods from the United States. Castillofaces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in June 2023, Castillo concealed five firearms and nine firearm magazines inside record players and mailed them to a recipient residing in Canada.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.
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.
Operators of Jacksonville Roofing Business Plead Guilty to Payroll Tax Fraud and Workers’ Compensation FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Travis Morgan Slaughter and Tripp Charles Slaughter have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud related to a Jacksonville roofing business that they operated. They each face a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for the tax fraud offense and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the mail and wire fraud offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Travis Slaughter has agreed to forfeit to the United States $2,780,947 in proceeds he obtained from the mail and wire fraud offense and to pay restitution of $6,768,612 for the payroll tax loss, $2,780,947 for unpaid workers’ compensation insurance premiums, and $271,217 for two paid workers’ compensation claims. Tripp Slaughter has agreed to forfeit to the United States $416,800 in proceeds he obtained from the mail and wire fraud offense and to pay restitution of $623,269 for the payroll tax loss, $416,800 for unpaid workers’ compensation insurance premiums, and $137,778 for a paid workers’ compensation claim.
According to their plea agreements, since 2007 the Slaughters have operated a roofing business in Jacksonville, first under the name Great White Construction, then under the name Florida Roofing Experts, and finally under the name 5 Star Roofing Services. Although the names changed, each business operated in the same manner, banked at the same financial institutions, and employed the same employees.
The company contracted with professional employer organizations (PEOs) to prepare payroll checks for employees, after making deductions for payroll taxes, and to file payroll tax returns and forward tax payments to governmental authorities. However, the company did not provide the PEOs with information about all the hours worked by, or all the wages due to, its employees. Instead, the company also paid the employees directly, with separate checks drawn on company bank accounts, and did not deduct payroll taxes from these checks. By paying employees with “split checks”—one from the PEO and one from the company—the company avoided paying the full amount of payroll taxes due to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
During the period of January 2017 through July 2020, the PEOs issued payroll checks to the employees totaling approximately $4,930,613, after deducting and paying over to the IRS the payroll taxes due. During that same period, the company issued checks to the employees totaling approximately $18,545,845, with no payroll taxes being deducted or paid. The total unpaid payroll taxes on that amount were $2,768,377.
The PEOs also secured workers’ compensation insurance coverage for the company. The premiums charged by the workers’ compensation insurers were based on the total amount of payroll that the company reported to the PEOs. If the company had reported the actual amount of payroll, the insurers would have charged additional premiums totaling $2,780,947.
In addition to causing the company to underreport their payroll to the IRS, the Slaughters also underreported their personal income to the IRS. For the tax years 2014 through 2019, the total unpaid taxes due on Travis Slaughter’s unreported income totaled $2,467,183. For the tax years 2015 through 2019, the total unpaid taxes due on Tripp Slaughter’s unreported income totaled $263,614.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Department of Financial Services. 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.
Tampa Man Indicted for Attempting to Coerce and Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Yitzchak Reuven Baum (36, Tampa) with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, receipt of child sex abuse material, and accessing with intent to view child sex abuse material. If convicted on all counts, Baum faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to the indictment, between August and October 2023, Baum attempted to persuade an individual Baum believed to be a minor to engage in sexual activity. In October 2023, Baum attempted to transfer an explicit image to an individual Baum believed to be under the age of 16. On October 30, 2023, Baum knowingly received a visual depiction that involved the sexual abuse of a minor. On December 29, 2023, Baum accessed with the intent to view an image depicting the sexual abuse of a minor.
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 Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). 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.
Ruskin Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Javier Alejandro Anaya-Leal (31, Ruskin) to eight years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. The court also ordered Anaya-Leal to forfeit $9,750, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Anaya-Leal entered a guilty plea on July 11, 2024.
According to court documents, from 2022 through 2023, Anaya-Leal possessed with the intent to distribute more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine and four kilograms of cocaine. In July, August, and September 2022, Anaya-Leal sold more than 1,400 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine to a confidential informant (CI) working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On March 4, 2024, Anaya-Leal agreed to sell two to three kilograms of cocaine. The CI met with Anaya-Leal at his residence in Hillsborough County to complete the transaction. A courier, later identified as Matias Sanchez Cardosa, arrived a short while later with the cocaine. After the courier’s arrival, the CI left the residence to retrieve payment for the drugs. During this time, law enforcement agents moved in to arrest Anaya-Leal and Cardosa. Four kilograms of cocaine were discovered in Cardosa’s vehicle. Anaya-Leal was supposed to receive all four of the kilograms to distribute throughout the Middle District of Florida.
Matias Sanchez Cardosa was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on October 21, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
Plant City Man Indicted for Unlawfully Removing His Child from the United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jet Sern Law (36, Plant City) with international parental kidnapping. If convicted, Law faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, in August 2024, Law removed a minor child from the United States with the intent to obstruct the parental rights of the child’s mother.
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 FBI. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
Pasco County Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Jason Alan Wacker (28, Pasco County) to 10 years in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Wacker to forfeit two cellphones, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Wacker entered a guilty plea on August 12, 2024.
According to court documents, in May 2023, Wacker, a registered sex offender, was on supervised release for transportation and possession of child sex abuse material when law enforcement received a cyber tip that he was again accessing child sex abuse material. Forensic examinations of Wacker’s cellphones revealed more than 100 images and videos of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
This case was investigated by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney Derry and Jennifer Peresie.
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.
Federal Prisoner Arrested for Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Brandon Ejae Elliot (34, Tampa) on a criminal complaint charging him with second-degree murder. If convicted, Elliot faces up to life in federal prison.
According to court records, on December 3, 2022, Elliot was a federal inmate in the United States Penitentiary-II in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. During a lockdown at the prison, other inmates heard fighting and yelling coming from Elliot’s cell. When prison staff opened the cell, they found Elliot’s cellmate unresponsive with multiple puncture wounds to his body. The victim was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries. An investigation revealed that Elliot had multiple scratches on his body that were consistent with the victim attempting to fight off the attack. Staff members also located a sharp metal object in Elliot’s cell. Another inmate told investigators that Elliott had talked to him through an air vent after the attack and had admitted to killing the victim.
A criminal complaint is merely an 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This case is being prosecuted by Hannah Nowalk.
Bradenton Felon Sentenced to Nineteen Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Andre Adams, Jr. (43, Bradenton) to 19 years in federal prison for possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Adams to forfeit four firearms and assorted ammunition. A federal jury found Adams guilty on July 17, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, after a complaint from a concerned citizen, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) began investigating an unknown individual in Bradenton for selling fentanyl and using a finance app for payment. Investigators determined the identity of the individual as Andre Adams, Jr. Over the next several months, investigators observed frequent visitors to Adams’s residence. The visitors briefly met with Adams and appeared to make exchanges with him. Adams’s finance app records showed that tens of thousands of dollars had been paid to Adams over a short period of time. Many of the senders had known drug addiction issues and used coded drug language such as “Scooby snacks,” a street term for heroin or fentanyl.
On August 4, 2022, detectives with MCSO executed a search warrant at Adams’s residence and located a loaded handgun, scales, drug cutting agents, a money counter, a kilo press, $22,000 in cash, 55 grams of methamphetamine, 400 grams of cocaine, and 80 grams of fentanyl. Later that day, investigators executed a search warrant at Adams’s storage unit and located two kilograms of cocaine, more than 350 grams of methamphetamine, drug cutting agents, and a digital scale. They also seized three additional firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, and several dozen rounds of ammunition.
Prior to August 2022, Adams had been convicted of trafficking in cocaine and served 15 years in Florida state prison. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
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.
Alabama Man Indicted for Transporting an Individual to Engage in ProstitutionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Ray Thomas (33, Mobile, AL) with inducement to travel to engage in prostitution and transportation of an individual to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, in December 2023, Thomas persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced an individual to travel from Massachusetts to Florida for the purpose of engaging in prostitution and sexual activity. He also transported the individual from Massachusetts to Florida.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
Tampa Dentist Pleads Guilty to Sending Threats to Multiple Victims, Including an Election OfficialRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL — A Florida dentist pleaded guilty today to sending threats to three victims in 2019 and 2020 and to an election official in 2024.
According to court documents, from September 2019 to July 2020, Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, of Tampa, sent over 100 threats to various public figures based on their political commentary via Facebook and Instagram messages, email, and text. As charged in the superseding information, those threats included a threat sent via email to an author, a threat sent via text to a religious persona, and a threat sent via Instagram to a television personality. Kantwill also sent at least seven additional threats to four public figures via Facebook from April 2022 to April 2024, including a threat to an election official in another state on Feb. 9, 2024.
“With this plea, the Justice Department is ensuring that Richard Kantwill faces accountability for targeting an election official and other public figures with over 100 heinous threats,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In the three years since I created the Department’s Election Threats Task Force we have worked to aggressively combat the dangerous increase in violent threats against the public servants who administer our elections. Today’s action is yet another warning: the Justice Department will not stand for threats of violence that endanger people’s safety and endanger our democracy.”
“Today’s guilty plea is the next step in holding Richard Kantwill accountable for his almost year-long campaign of terror, sending more than 100 violent threats to over 40 victims including various public figures and an election official,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Make no mistake, using electronic communications to threaten victims with violence is illegal and the FBI will continue to pursue those who seek to cause fear and terror by sending such violent threats.”
“Richard Kantwill sent more than 100 violent threats to multiple public figures, including an election official,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Justice Department has zero tolerance for conduct that seeks to intimidate public servants from doing their jobs. I am proud of the work the Election Threats Task Force has done over the past three years to hold accountable those who threaten election workers with violence.”
Kantwill pleaded guilty to four counts of interstate transmission of a threat. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Aaron L. Jennen of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abigail K. King for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Three years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they join the task force in its critical work.
Under the leadership of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Imran Siddiqi (40, North Port) to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor and committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender. Siddiqi entered a guilty plea on July 22, 2024.
According to court documents, between January 31 and March 6, 2024, Siddiqi engaged in a conversation with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 13-year-old girl. During the conversation, Siddiqi repeatedly described his desire to have sex with the child, sending multiple explicit photographs of himself along with images of adult pornography to the undercover officer. Siddiqi, a registered sex offender, previously was convicted in state court of traveling to meet a parent to solicit/entice a child to commit a sex act in 2016.
“This recidivist predator once again attempted to violate the innocence and vulnerability of a child,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners at all levels, is steadfast in our commitment to work tirelessly investigating anyone who attempts to exploit children.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Orlando Man Indicted for Possessing an Unregistered Machinegun as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Timothy Stephens (25, Orlando) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing an unregistered machinegun. If convicted of the felon in possession offense, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison. If convicted of possessing an unregistered machinegun, Stephens faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, on October 17, 2024, Stephens, having previously been convicted of a felony, was found in possession of a Glock Model 30 with a machinegun conversion device installed. As a convicted felon, Stephens is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. Additionally, the machinegun was not registered to Stephens in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
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, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orlando Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Ocala Tax Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Clients and IRSRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Steven Cabrera to three years in federal prison for assisting in preparing false tax documents, submitting false tax documents, and willfully failing to file tax returns. Cabrera entered a guilty plea on August 16, 2024.
According to court documents, Cabrera worked as a tax preparer in the Ocala area. From 2017 to 2019, Cabrera engaged in widespread tax fraud, adding unauthorized and fraudulent deductions and credits to his clients’ tax returns without their knowledge and then embezzling the additional tax return proceeds for his own use. Cabrera also defrauded clients directly by telling them to make out checks to “IRS” and pledging that he would send the funds to the IRS himself. Instead, he deposited those checks into an account he controlled for a fictitious business, “International Resort Services.” Cabrera’s years of fraudulent activity caused total losses of nearly $1 million.
“It’s certainly a bold move to invoke the name of the ‘IRS’ when attempting to defraud not only the government, but people who are putting their trust in you,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “The real ‘IRS’ is always going to show up, investigate, and put a stop to these types of scams. If your return preparer exhibits any of the behaviors shown in this case, please visit IRS.gov and click on the ‘Get your tax record’ button. From there, you can verify the accuracy of the information on your tax record and, if necessary, report any fraudulent or inaccurate information.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
Marion County Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Marcus Cleaver Morgan, Jr. (24, Ocala) to four years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Morgan entered a guilty plea on July 25, 2024.
According to court documents, on January 14, 2023, officers from the Ocala Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Morgan. Morgan failed to stop and a high-speed pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed into an embankment. Officers located a backpack near the open driver’s side door where Morgan had been seated. The backpack contained two loaded handguns, approximately 239 grams of marijuana, 33.5 grams of MDPV, and a scale. Testing by the FBI confirmed Morgan’s DNA on the trigger, grip, and slide of one of firearms. Morgan has a previous state felony conviction for carrying a concealed firearm. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Jury Finds Windermere Attorney Guilty of Wire Fraud and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Amaris Marie Delapena (50, Windermere) guilty of 15 counts of wire fraud and 22 counts of bank fraud. Delapena faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of wire fraud. Her sentencing hearing is set for February 19, 2025.
According to evidence and testimony presented during the four-day trial, Delapena used illegal wire transfers and check deposits to embezzle funds during her employment as a paralegal for an Orlando law firm. Her fraud centered on re-routing checks from and to law firm clients and vendors into accounts Delapena controlled and transferring client payments from the law firm’s account to accounts Delapena controlled.
Between the time Delapena committed the offenses and her trial, she earned a law degree and became a licensed attorney in Florida.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate.
Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud, Passport Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Gary Dale Thrasher (56, Georgia) to four years and nine months in federal prison for bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture for $25,200, the amount representing the proceeds of Thrasher’s fraud offenses. Thrasher entered a guilty on June 27, 2024.
According to court documents, between May and June 2023, Thrasher obtained and used, or attempted to use, fraudulent identification documents, including fraudulent United States passport cards, containing the personal information of others. Thrasher used the fake identification documents to make cash withdrawals from the accounts of the victims at multiple branches of four different federally insured financial institutions in the Middle District of Florida.
“Identity theft is not a victimless crime, and these fraud schemes undermine the trust in our financial systems and damage the lives of innocent people,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI, alongside our state and local partners in Florida, are committed to seeking these fraudsters out and holding them accountable for their actions.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ocala Police Department, the Wildwood Police Department, the Leesburg Police Department, and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Fort Lauderdale Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Medicare in the Provision of COVID-19 Test KitsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kevin Karl Wills, Jr. (48, Ft. Lauderdale) today pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive kickbacks in return for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries for the provision of COVID-19 tests and to purchase and sell Medicare beneficiary identification numbers. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Wills and a co-conspirator owned and operated a company that engaged marketers who illegally obtained Medicare beneficiary identifying information. They entered into “consulting” agreements with medical service providers whereby they introduced the marketers to the providers, and the marketers agreed to supply the providers with lists of Medicare beneficiaries and their identifying information, including their Medicare beneficiary identication numbers. The providers then shipped COVID-19 tests to the identified beneficiaries and billed Medicare for the tests, then paid both the defendant’s company and the marketers a set dollar amount per beneficiary. However, the providers paid this amount only if a claim submitted on behalf of a beneficiary was reimbursed by Medicare. Such payments were illegal kickbacks under federal law.
The actions of Wills and his co-conspirators caused the submission of approximately 152,00 fraudulent claims to Medicare by several different medical service providers, which resulted in reimbursements from Medicare totaling approximately $14,405,700. Wills received a total of approximately $652,312 in kickbacks, which he agreed to forfeit to the government.
One of the providers who purchased Medicare beneficiary identifying information was SWL Services, a business in Jacksonville, Florida. The owners and operators of SWL Services, Courtney Shauta’ Lewis (31, Jacksonville) and Latania Renee Smith-Washington (50, Jacksonville), pleaded guilty to the conspiracy on March 14, 2024, and are scheduled for sentencing on December 2, 2024. One of the marketers that Wills introduced to SWL Services, Noel Gary Beres (64, Sunny Isles), pleaded guilty to the conspiracy on August 27, 2024, and is scheduled for sentencing on April 22, 2025.
This case was investigated by Health and Human Services–Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Harrington.
Florida Telecommunications and Information Technology Worker Sentenced for Conspiring to Act as Agent of Chinese GovernmentRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, was sentenced to 48 months in prison today for conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General. Li was further ordered to pay a fine of $250,000 and to serve three years of supervised release.
According to the plea agreement and other court filings, the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is in charge of civilian intelligence collection for the PRC. The MSS often uses “cooperative contacts” located in countries outside of the PRC in furtherance of their intelligence goals, which include obtaining information concerning foreign corporate or industrial matters, foreign politicians or intelligence officers, and information concerning PRC political dissidents residing in those countries. These cooperative contacts assist the MSS in a variety of ways, including by conducting research on topics of interest to the PRC that can be used to further the MSS’s mission.
Li is a U.S. citizen who immigrated to the United States from the PRC. At various times, Li worked for a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.
Li admitted that, from at least as early as 2012, he served as a cooperative contact working at the direction of officers of the MSS to obtain information of interest to the PRC government. Li obtained a wide variety information at the request of the MSS, including information concerning Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations, and reported that information to the MSS. Li also provided the MSS with information obtained from his employer. Li used a variety of anonymous online accounts for the purpose of communicating with the MSS, and traveled to the PRC to meet with the MSS.
For example, in August 2012, an MSS officer requested that Li provide information about practitioners of Falun Gong and pro-democracy advocates in the United States. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a religious movement that originated in the PRC in the 1990s. Falun Gong is not one of the five religions formally recognized by the PRC government, and it has been banned since 1999. Its adherents both in China and abroad are of particular interest to the PRC government because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the PRC government. Less than a week after receiving this request, Li sent the name and biographical information of an individual affiliated with Falun Gong residing in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In March 2015, an MSS officer requested information from Li about branch offices that Li’s employer, a major U.S. telecommunications company, had opened in the PRC. Li responded with the requested information three weeks later.
In March 2017, an MSS officer requested a training instruction plan from Li. In April 2017, Li responded indicating that he had uploaded materials to an online account that he shared with the MSS officer and asked the MSS officer to delete the materials after reading them.
In May 2021, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning hacking events targeting U.S. companies, including a widely publicized hacking of a major U.S. company by the Chinese government. Within four days, Li responded with the requested information.
In March 2022, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning Li’s new employer, an international information technology company, as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training. That same day, Li sent the requested information about his employer as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training.
In June 2022, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning an individual who, according to the officer, had resided in the PRC but fled to the United States, and the officer provided Li with the name and suspected residential address in the United States of that individual. That same day, Li responded with information about the owners of that residential address.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet, Karyna Valdes, and Jordan Howard for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
Florida Telecommunications and Information Technology Worker Sentenced for Conspiring to Act as Agent of Chinese GovernmentRead the Press Release
Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, was sentenced to 48 months in prison today for conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General. Li was further ordered to pay a fine of $250,000 and to serve three years of supervised release.
According to the plea agreement and other court filings, the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is in charge of civilian intelligence collection for the PRC. The MSS often uses “cooperative contacts” located in countries outside of the PRC in furtherance of their intelligence goals, which include obtaining information concerning foreign corporate or industrial matters, foreign politicians or intelligence officers, and information concerning PRC political dissidents residing in those countries. These cooperative contacts assist the MSS in a variety of ways, including by conducting research on topics of interest to the PRC that can be used to further the MSS’s mission.
Li is a U.S. citizen who immigrated to the United States from the PRC. At various times, Li worked for a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.
Li admitted that, from at least as early as 2012, he served as a cooperative contact working at the direction of officers of the MSS to obtain information of interest to the PRC government. Li obtained a wide variety information at the request of the MSS, including information concerning Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations, and reported that information to the MSS. Li also provided the MSS with information obtained from his employer. Li used a variety of anonymous online accounts for the purpose of communicating with the MSS, and traveled to the PRC to meet with the MSS.
For example, in August 2012, an MSS officer requested that Li provide information about practitioners of Falun Gong and pro-democracy advocates in the United States. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a religious movement that originated in the PRC in the 1990s. Falun Gong is not one of the five religions formally recognized by the PRC government, and it has been banned since 1999. Its adherents both in China and abroad are of particular interest to the PRC government because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the PRC government. Less than a week after receiving this request, Li sent the name and biographical information of an individual affiliated with Falun Gong residing in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In March 2015, an MSS officer requested information from Li about branch offices that Li’s employer, a major U.S. telecommunications company, had opened in the PRC. Li responded with the requested information three weeks later.
In March 2017, an MSS officer requested a training instruction plan from Li. In April 2017, Li responded indicating that he had uploaded materials to an online account that he shared with the MSS officer and asked the MSS officer to delete the materials after reading them.
In May 2021, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning hacking events targeting U.S. companies, including a widely publicized hacking of a major U.S. company by the Chinese government. Within four days, Li responded with the requested information.
In March 2022, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning Li’s new employer, an international information technology company, as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training. That same day, Li sent the requested information about his employer as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training.
In June 2022, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning an individual who, according to the officer, had resided in the PRC but fled to the United States, and the officer provided Li with the name and suspected residential address in the United States of that individual. That same day, Li responded with information about the owners of that residential address.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet, Karyna Valdes, and Jordan Howard for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
Florida Dentist Pleads Guilty to Sending Threats to Multiple Victims, Including an Election OfficialRead the Press Release
A Florida dentist pleaded guilty today to sending threats to three victims in 2019 and 2020 and to an election official in 2024.
According to court documents, from September 2019 to July 2020, Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, of Tampa, sent over 100 threats to various public figures based on their political commentary via Facebook and Instagram messages, email, and text. As charged in the superseding information, those threats included a threat sent via email to an author, a threat sent via text to a religious persona, and a threat sent via Instagram to a television personality. Kantwill also sent at least seven additional threats to four public figures via Facebook from April 2022 to April 2024, including a threat to an election official in another state on Feb. 9.
“With this plea, the Justice Department is ensuring that Richard Kantwill faces accountability for targeting an election official and other public figures with over 100 heinous threats,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In the three years since I created the Department’s Election Threats Task Force we have worked to aggressively combat the dangerous increase in violent threats against the public servants who administer our elections. Today’s action is yet another warning: the Justice Department will not stand for threats of violence that endanger people’s safety and endanger our democracy.”
“Today’s guilty plea is the next step in holding Richard Kantwill accountable for his almost year-long campaign of terror, sending more than 100 violent threats to over 40 victims including various public figures and an election official,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Make no mistake, using electronic communications to threaten victims with violence is illegal and the FBI will continue to pursue those who seek to cause fear and terror by sending such violent threats.”
“Richard Kantwill sent more than 100 violent threats to multiple public figures, including an election official,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Justice Department has zero tolerance for conduct that seeks to intimidate public servants from doing their jobs. I am proud of the work the Election Threats Task Force has done over the past three years to hold accountable those who threaten election workers with violence.”
Kantwill pleaded guilty to four counts of interstate transmission of a threat. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Aaron L. Jennen of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abigail K. King for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Three years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they join the task force in its critical work.
Under the leadership of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, the task force is led by PIN and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Tampa Woman Sentenced to Prison for Smuggling More Than $100,000 in Cash into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Mirtza Ocana (39, Tampa) to five months in federal prison for smuggling bulk cash into the United States. The court also ordered Ocana to pay a $10,000 fine and to forfeit more than $100,000 that she had tried to smuggle into the United States. Ocana entered a guilty plea on August 12, 2024.
According to court documents, on February 5, 2024, Ocana returned to the United States on a flight from Cuba. As Ocana passed through passport control, she told U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents that she did not have anything to declare, including any cash over $10,000. When agents searched Ocana’s bags, they discovered $31,409 in cash in her luggage and purse. Agents then patted down Ocana and found an additional $71,300 concealed under her clothing. In total, Ocana attempted to smuggle approximately $102,400 into the United States.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Recruiting Individuals to Pass Counterfeit Federal Reserve NotesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Trentavius Quntez Scott (37, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. Scott faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and restitution to the victims he defrauded. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents and public records, Scott appeared in federal court on September 26, 2024, pursuant to a writ bringing him to Jacksonville from the Hillsborough County Detention Center where he is serving a sentence for a counterfeit-related crime. The court ordered Scott detained. Scott is also wanted on a felony arrest warrant out of Hernando County on an unrelated financial crime case.
According to the plea agreement, in July 2023, Scott recruited an individual to assist him in passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. Scott provided the individual with counterfeit the counterfeit currency, then the two traveled to Ocala. In Ocala, Scott and the individual went to a retail store and passed multiple counterfeit bills. In March 2024, Scott recruited two more individuals and provided them with counterfeit cash. Scott and the two individuals traveled to St. Johns County where they passed more counterfeit Federal Reserve notes at a retail store.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
St. Petersburg Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Eric L. Lemon (46, St. Petersburg) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for drug trafficking offenses. Lemon entered a guilty plea in July 2024.
According to court documents, Lemon and his co-conspirators sold methamphetamine, cocaine, bath salts, and a variety of prescription pills out of various trap houses in St. Petersburg. During the investigation into Lemon, law enforcement seized more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and four firearms. Lemon previously served 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking offenses.
This case was investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Sullivan and James A. 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.
Orlando Man Indicted for Committing Multiple Sexual Exploitation Offenses Against MinorsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Brandon Laverne Parsons (30, Orlando) with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted production of child sexual abuse material, attempted unlawful transfer of obscene material to a minor, and two counts of distributing, and one count of possessing child sexual assault material. If convicted, Parsons faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted enticement offense, a minimum penalty of 15, up to 30, years for the attempted production offense, a minimum penalty of 5, up to 20, years for each distribution offense, up to 20 years for the possession offense, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted transfer of obscene material.
According to court documents, between October 1 and 17, 2024, Parsons communicated with an individual whom he believed to be a 13-year-old child via a social media platform. The individual was an uncover law enforcement officer. During the course of that conversation, Parsons requested that the “child” send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM), attempted to set up a meeting with the 13-year-old, and sent the child explicit images of himself.
In addition, Parsons distributed CSAM in March and April 2024. Parsons also possessed CSAM in October 2024, including videos and images where the victim was under 12 years of age.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Orlando Police Department, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jury Finds Convicted Sex Offender Guilty of Attempted Child Sex OffenseRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Chad Allen Pease (48, Fort Pierce) guilty of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. Pease faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. He must also forfeit a cellphone which he used in the commission of the offense.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on February 3, 2024, Pease began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) whom Pease believed to be the father of a 13-year-old girl. During the course of the conversation, Pease made plans to meet up with the UC and his “daughter” so that Pease could sexually assault the child. Pease drove 18 miles to the meeting location and conducted countersurveillance before fleeing the scene. Nevertheless, law enforcement was able to identify Pease, reconstruct his activities that evening, and later arrest him at his residence in Fort Pierce.
Pease was previously convicted of a sex offense in 2008 after sending explicit photographs and traveling to have sex with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He has been required to register as a sex offender ever since.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
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.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Mauricio Chahine (52, Jacksonville) with five counts of money laundering and attempted money laundering. If convicted, Chahine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. Chahine was arrested on a criminal complaint on November 12, 2024, and has been ordered detained while awaiting trial.
According to the indictment and other court documents, beginning in March 2024, Chahine met several times with undercover federal agents who were posing as drug traffickers. Chahine explained to the undercover agents the various ways that he could launder money for a fee on their behalf. On four separate occasions, Chahine accepted cash from the agents, totaling more than $200,000. Chahine then caused the cash to be divided up and deposited into the bank accounts of various corporate entities, only to return the money to the agents – less his fee – through a series of wire transfers to a bank account controlled by the agents. The purpose of these transactions was to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the cash, which Chahine believed to be drug trafficking proceeds. The indictment also alleges that Chahine attempted to engage in money laundering on a fifth occasion shortly before his arrest.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Milliron and Michael J. Coolican.
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.
Jacksonville Contract Postal Carrier Pleads Guilty to Credit Card Fraud and Theft of Mail ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Daniel Diaz Garcia (35, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to credit card fraud and theft of mail. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the credit card fraud offense, up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the mail theft offense, and payment of restitution to the victims in the case. Garcia was arrested on July 29, 2024, by the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, in September 2023, Garcia began working as a highway contract carrier handling First Class mail delivery in Jacksonville. While working in that capacity, Garcia stole mail, opened it, and removed the contents to include credit cards. An investigation by the USPS-OIG determined that Garcia stole credit cards belonging to various victims on his mail route. Video surveillance from various businesses showed Garcia using the stolen credit cards to purchase more than $1,000 in merchandise. While questioning Garcia about his use of the stolen credit cards, law enforcement located an additional stolen credit card in his wallet.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Former Detective Sentenced More Than 24 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting A MinorRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Josue Garriga (35, St. Augustine), a/k/a “Sway,” to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for enticing a child to engage in sexual activity. Following his release from prison, Garriga is also required to register as a sex offender and serve a term of supervised release of 10 years. The court also ordered Garriga to forfeit two cellphones that Garriga had used to commit the offense. Garriga entered a guilty plea on July 16, 2024. He was remanded into custody following the sentencing hearing.
According to court documents, Garriga, who at the time was a detective with the gang unit of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), met the minor victim, who was 17 years old, at church in 2023. Garriga pursued a sexual relationship with the child victim until approximately March 7, 2024. This included reaching up the victim’s skirt while she worked serving coffee before church service. At some point, Garriga used his JSO-issued cellphone and an undercover social media account to reach out to the victim and obtained her phone number. Garriga then used his personal cellphone to communicate with the victim, directing their messages to an encrypted app set to automatically delete the messages after 24 hours. Garriga requested nude photos from the victim and sent her nude photos of himself.
On at least two occasions, Garriga used his JSO work vehicle to travel to the victim’s neighborhood in Clay County to meet up with her and engage in sexual contact that was illegal under Florida law. On another occasion, Garriga met up with the victim at a coffee shop in Clay County and enticed her to his JSO work vehicle where he engaged in sexual activity with the victim and physically restrained her from leaving the vehicle until she relented and performed a sex act on him.
“This individual violated his position of trust in the community and sought to take advantage of a child for his own satisfaction,” said Tim Hemker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) in Jacksonville. “This conviction stands as a testament to the commitment of HSI and our law enforcement partners with the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, including the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. HSI is committed to identify and bring to justice those who exploit the vulnerability of our children.”
This case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, to include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Kelly S. Milliron.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Bradenton Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Terry McDonald, Jr. (32, Bradenton) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. McDonald faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, on October 5, 2023, deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a home in Bradenton based on a series of controlled fentanyl purchases from another individual at the residence. At the time of the execution, McDonald was the sole occupant of a vehicle backed into the driveway. The vehicle was searched, and McDonald was found to be in possession of a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun, a digital scale, fentanyl, and cocaine. At the time, McDonald had multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, and carrying a concealed firearm. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
McDonald has agreed to forfeit a Smith & Wesson firearm and ammunition which were used in the commission of the offenses.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Perry Ivory Wims (39, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Wims entered a guilty plea in August 2024.
According to court records, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) learned that Wims was selling fentanyl out of his motel room in Tampa and obtained a search warrant for the room. Prior to the execution of the warrant, officers observed Wims point a firearm at individuals in the motel parking lot. Inside the motel room, officers located fentanyl, cocaine, two firearms, ammunition, and a drum magazine.
Wims previously served a 15-year federal sentence for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He completed serving that sentence less than three months before his arrest in this matter. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Sullivan and James A. Muench.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Middle District of Florida Prosecutors Indict 72 Firearms and Violent Crime Defendants During Fourth Quarter of 2024 as Part of Project Safe Neighborhoods StrategyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today the results of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, ending on September 30, 2024, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida indicted 72 defendants. These individuals face federal firearms, narcotics, and violent crime charges. Law enforcement also seized more than 100 firearms associated with these cases. (See chart for case details)
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also engaged in community outreach efforts aimed at violent crime prevention throughout the year. Members of the Office spoke with more than four hundred people as part of outreach efforts during the fourth quarter of 2024, including hundreds of students. Prosecutors also spoke to more than 80 recently released individuals at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office DISMAS program at the Jacksonville Bridge Community Release Center.
“The residents of the Middle District of Florida deserve to work and live in communities safe from violence,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “Over the past three fiscal years, the United States Attorney’s Office has increased its number of violent crime and firearms prosecutions by more than 75%. We are committed to working with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and federally prosecute perpetrators of violent crime.”
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. This evidence-based program has proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in communities and developing comprehensive solutions that reduce crime. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based re-entry programs to reduce recidivism.
MDFL Fourth Quarter PSN Case Highlights
United States v. Latrel Jackson (Ft. Myers)
In August 2024, Latrel Jackson was sentenced to life in federal prison for conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire. According to court records, in November 2019, Jackson, along with a co-conspirator (now deceased), traveled from Chicago to Fort Myers to commit murder in exchange for $10,000. Jackson was hired by Marvin Harris, Jr. Harris was sentenced to 45 years in prison in connection with the crime. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Myers Police Department, with assistance from the Joliet (Illinois) Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
United States v. David Wayne Riddle (Jacksonville)
On September 9, 2024, David Wayne Riddle was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court documents, in January 2023, Riddle was stopped by officers from the
Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office for a seatbelt infraction. When officers encountered Riddle, they smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A search was conducted and a loaded Smith and Wesson pistol was recovered from under the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Riddle had multiple prior felony convictions for serious drug-related offenses and violent crimes making him prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
United States v. Jerome Junior Swopshire (Ocala)
In August 2024, Jerome Swopshire was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. According to court records, in August 2023, the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Swopshire on outstanding state warrants. A search of Swopshire’s backpack revealed a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an extended ammunition magazine, a digital scale (coated with cocaine residue), a jar of marijuana, and small plastic baggies used to distribute drugs. In Swopshire’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered fentanyl and a spent 9mm shell that matched the ammunition in Swopshire’s firearm. At the time, Swopshire had previous state felony convictions for robbery, child abuse, resisting an officer with violence, felony domestic battery, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States v. Angel Velazquez Delgado, Jesus Hernandez, Edgar Jimenez, Jesus Paulino, Jonathan Borja, and Jesus Andres (Orlando)
Angel Velazquez Delgado, Jesus Hernandez, Edgar Jimenez, Jesus Paulino, Jonathan Borja, and Jesus Andres were charged in Orlando with a series of federal firearms laws. According to court records, in May 2023, ATF began investigating a firearms trafficking organization led by Velazquez Delgado operating in Central Florida. These individuals purchased high-caliber firearms in the United States for resale to Mexican drug cartels. It is alleged that the firearms were purchased at the request of the cartels and transported to the cartels soon after purchase. Using the eTrace Firearm Recovery Notification Program, Mexican authorities were able to confirm the presence of at least one of the trafficked firearms in Mexico. On March 22, 2023, Mexican State Police and Mexican Military Personnel were involved in a shooting with suspected cartel members in Michoacan, Mexico. Two individuals were killed during the exchange of gunfire. After the shooting, a Barrett .50 caliber rifle purchased by Jesus Hernandez on November 8, 2022, was recovered. At some point during its operation, the trafficking organization began removing the serial numbers from the firearms to avoid tracing by law enforcement. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Volusia Bureau of Investigations and the Deland Police Department.
United States v. Johnny Flores (Tampa)
In July 2024, Johnny Flores was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for 3 counts of Hobbs Act robbery. According to evidence presented at trial, in February 2022, Flores robbed three Tampa businesses wearing a hooded sweatshirt and facial covering. During the robberies, he brandished and threatened the victims with a weapon, removed cash from the registers, and verbally and physically assaulted the victims. Flores was initially identified through video surveillance showing him leaving two of the robberies in a vehicle that was traced back to another individual who died prior to the trial. A second individual had dropped Flores off near the robbery. Although he testified that he did not know that Flores had committed a robbery, the individual testified that he had driven Flores to a location near the robbery. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tampa Police Department.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
These cases are being prosecuted by the Assistant United States Attorneys in all five divisions throughout the Middle District of Florida. For additional information on Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit our website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/project-safe-neighborhoods-0.
PSN Chart
Los Angeles Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring with Fort Myers Man to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Esdras Joel Garcia De La Rosa (28, Los Angeles, CA) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. De La Rosa faces up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, De La Rosa conspired with Durand Dijuon Demetiu Colbert (34, Fort Myers) to distribute various controlled substances including methamphetamine and fentanyl. De La Rosa resided in the Los Angeles area and supplied Colbert, a Lee County resident, with controlled substances that were later distributed to others. The controlled substances were sent by De La Rosa in California to Colbert in Lee County through the U.S. mail or other packaging carriers.
During the conspiracy, on November 17, 2023, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Colbert’s Florida residence and seized approximately 1,700 fentanyl pills, which investigators determined were sent by De La Rosa.
Colbert pleaded guilty to his role in this case on September 16, 2024. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 12, 2024.
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.
Lehigh Acres Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Engage in Sexual Activity with A MinorRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Cosme Bejaran (34, Lehigh Acres) today pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor. Bejaran faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, beginning on May 17 and continuing through May 18, 2024, Bejaran communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl. After learning of the girl’s age, Bejaran engaged in a sexually explicit conversation, asked the girl for explicit photographs, and sent an explicit photo of himself. Bejaran was apprehended by deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office when he arrived at a residence with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with the girl. Bejaran later admitted to deputies and the FBI that his intentions with the girl were sexual.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
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.
Kissimmee Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet A 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Pooran Ramjattan (61, Kissimmee) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Ramjattan faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to court documents, on May 1, 2024, an undercover agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Ramjattan contacted the undercover agent’s account and, after learning the child’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Ramjattan then arranged to meet the “child” at a predetermined location in Orange County to engage in sexual activity. When Ramjattan arrived at the meeting location, he was arrested by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
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.
Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Drive-By Shooting on I-95 in St. Johns CountyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Toney (19, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, committing a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Toney faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. Toney has also agreed to forfeit $1,000, which represents illicit proceeds derived from drug trafficking.
According to court documents, between October 2022 and July 2024, Toney served as an armed distributor for a Jacksonville-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) operated and led by Toney’s brother, Nathaniel Hatcher, III. The DTO trafficked bulk marijuana from Northern California to Jacksonville by smuggling marijuana on commercial airlines, shipping marijuana through the U.S. mail system, and transporting marijuana by vehicle across state lines. Once the marijuana arrived in Jacksonville, Toney and other DTO members transported the marijuana to various short-term rental homes throughout Jacksonville. Members of the DTO rented these homes to store, package, and distribute the marijuana. Toney and other members of the DTO routinely carried and possessed firearms at these residences to protect themselves, their drugs, and their drug proceeds during drug sales. Federal agents determined that Toney was responsible for trafficking between 100 and 400 kilograms of marijuana during the conspiracy. In addition to trafficking, transporting, smuggling, and selling marijuana, Toney was also responsible for carrying out violence on behalf of the DTO.
On September 18, 2023, Toney and other DTO members arranged a drug transaction with subjects they had met that evening in Jacksonville. The drug transaction, which occurred at a gas station along Old St. Augustine Road, failed. The other subjects never provided the promised marijuana, and instead, stole approximately $45,000 in cash from Hatcher and Toney. After the failed drug transaction, Hatcher contacted a former police officer who illegally accessed law enforcement databases to provide Hatcher with the names and home addresses of the subjects who had stolen the money. In the following days, Toney and other DTO members tracked, surveilled, and cyberstalked the other subjects and their family members. In text messages, Toney and others discussed and plotted retaliation for the robbery, including committing acts of violence.
On October 17, 2023, Toney traveled to the Duval County courthouse for a scheduled court date in an unrelated pending criminal matter. Toney and other DTO members were aware that one of the subjects from the September 18 drug transaction also had a court hearing that day for a separate criminal matter. After court concluded, Hatcher, Toney, and other DTO members surveilled this subject as he exited the Duval County courthouse, accompanied by a female, and enter his white sedan. Hatcher, Toney, and other DTO members, operating multiple vehicles, including a red sedan and a gray SUV, followed the white sedan from downtown Jacksonville to I-95, traveling southbound toward St. Johns County. Toney was traveling in the red vehicle and Hatcher was traveling in the gray SUV. At approximately 11:20 a.m., during the pursuit along I-95 South, the red and gray vehicles boxed the white sedan into the left lane of traffic. Then, individuals from the red and gray vehicles discharged dozens of rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition at the white sedan. Following the shooting, the red and gray vehicles fled the scene.
Deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriffs’ Office and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene and secured the area. The driver of the white sedan, who was the male subject from the courthouse, sustained one gunshot wound but survived and was airlifted to a trauma unit. The front passenger of the white sedan, the female subject from the courthouse, suffered injuries from broken glass. Emergency personnel also transported her to a nearby hospital. The white sedan sustained gunshots to the passenger side, the rear, the front and hood, the front windshield, the interior, and the engine block. On scene, deputies recovered approximately 25 spent 7.62 caliber shell casings. According to ballistics analyses, two different firearms were used during the shooting.
On June 28, 2024, federal agents secured a criminal complaint for Toney based on his alleged role in the drug conspiracy. On July 3, 2024, federal agents and detectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office attempted to arrest Toney on the federal warrant, but Toney and an associate fled, and a high-speed chase ensued through populated areas of Jacksonville. Toney ultimately escaped and fled to Gainesville. On July 8, 2024, agents located Toney in Jacksonville and arrested him. In Toney’s possession was his cellphone and $1,000 in cash.
Toney’s co-defendant, Al’Donta Easterling, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces a minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
Hatcher’s case is pending, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aakash Singh and Kirwinn Mike.
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.
Gainesville Man Arrested for Attempting to Meet A 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Jose Raul Andreu Rodriguez (22, Gainesville) on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted, Rodriguez faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the complaint, an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) posed as a 13-year-old girl on an online social media platform. Rodriguez contacted the undercover agent’s account. On November 14, 2024, after learning of the girl’s age, Rodriguez engaged in a sexually explicit conversation and sent the minor multiple videos of himself masturbating. Rodriguez arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at a predetermined location in Marion County. When Rodriguez traveled to the location, he was arrested by law enforcement.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Fort Myers Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing A Loaded Firearm as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Melina Ariel Maldonado (28, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Maldonado faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on September 4, 2024, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of Maldonado, who had active felony arrest warrants. Deputies located a loaded pistol under Maldonado’s seat, and she told deputies the pistol belonged to her. Maldonado has previously been convicted of armed robbery and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. As a convicted felon, Maldonado is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Casselberry Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet A 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Juan Fernandez (37, Casselberry) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Fernandez faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 1, 2024, an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Fernandez contacted the undercover agent’s account, and after learning the child’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Fernandez then arranged to meet the “child” at a predetermined location in Orange County to engage in sexual activity. When he arrived at the meeting location, he was arrested by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
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.
Armed Career Criminal Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Otis Shivers (50, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Shivers faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, in October 2021, officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office encountered Shivers outside a motel in Jacksonville where he was acting in a strange manner. The officers approached Shivers to check on his situation. When Shivers saw the officers, he immediately raised his arms. The officers observed a revolver in his waist band, took Shivers into custody, and seized the loaded revolver. A criminal record check revealed that Shivers had five prior felony convictions, including four that involved the sale of cocaine or heroin. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Two Florida Men Sentenced in Multimillion-Dollar Tax Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Two Florida men were sentenced today for their involvement in the “Note Program,” a tax fraud scheme. Jasen Harvey, of Tampa, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and Christopher Johnson, of Orlando, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 to 2018, Johnson and Harvey conspired to promote a scheme in which Harvey and others prepared tax returns for clients that claimed that large, nonexistent income tax withholdings had been paid to the IRS on behalf of clients and sought large refunds based on those purported withholdings. The conspirators charged clients fees and required the clients to pay a share of the fraudulently obtained refunds to them.
Overall, the defendants claimed over $3 million in fraudulent refunds on their clients’ returns, of which the IRS paid about $1.5 million.
In addition to the terms of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. for the Middle District of Florida ordered Johnson to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $864,117.42 in restitution to the United States. Judge Dalton Jr. ordered Harvey to serve three years of supervised release and pay $785,858.42 in restitution.
Co-defendant Arthur Grimes is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 13, 2025.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind, Jeffrey McLellan and Caroline Pearson of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Hu for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Orlando Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Producing Child Sex Abuse Images with Infant VictimRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Leonardo Marino (22, Orlando) to 22 years in federal prison for producing child sex abuse images. The court also ordered Marino to forfeit his smart phone that was seized on the date of his arrest. Marino entered a guilty plea on April 2, 2024.
According to court documents, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando initiated an investigation after receiving a report from a witness stating that they had received messages from Marino on social media, which included videos of Marino sexually abusing an infant child at his home. A search warrant for Marino’s home and electronic devices was secured and executed. During the search, investigators identified the room and other items that had been captured in the videos depicting Marino’s sexual abuse of the child. Forensic examination comparing the items seized from the room to Marino’s DNA profile revealed a match. Further, after obtaining and searching Marino’s smart phone, OCSO and HSI were able to connect Marino to the social media account utilized to send the videos, as well as trying to block the witness he had messaged.
“This conviction sends a clear message to those who exploit and harm the most vulnerable in our community—you will be held accountable for your actions” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “This 22-year sentence reflects the gravity of this horrific crime, and through the importance of our law enforcement partnerships, HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations – Orlando, the Winter Park Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian.
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.