Middle District of Florida

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Gavin Michael Harold (23, Naples) to six years and six months in federal prison for possession of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Harold was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Harold had entered a plea of guilty on November 29, 2023.

According to court documents, between December 2022 through January 2023, an FBI Task Force Agent using a peer-to-peer file sharing program connected to Harold’s computer and downloaded files depicting a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On March 20, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Harold’s residence in Naples, Florida, and seized Harold’s laptop computer. A subsequent forensic examination of Harold’s laptop computer revealed in excess of 8,500 images and 450 videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. 

On March 20, 2023, during an interview with agents, Harold admitted that he had been downloading child pornography for a while. Harold told the agents that he did not let anyone use his laptop and told agents where he stored his collection on his laptop.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office which assisted with this investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Andrea Mitchell (54, Tampa) and Lester Best (53, Tampa) guilty of conspiring to commit wire fraud and 22 substantive counts of wire fraud. Mitchell was also found guilty of two counts of aggravated identity theft. Mitchell and Best each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each of the conspiracy and fraud counts. Mitchell faces an additional 2-year mandatory consecutive sentence on the aggravated identity theft counts. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Mitchell and Best were indicted in December 2022.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Mitchell served as a financial services manager at a higher education institution in the Middle District of Florida. Mitchell, Best, and their coconspirators used her position to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from the institution. Mitchell stole the identities of current and former students at the higher education institution and then used their student identification numbers to access their student sponsorship accounts. Mitchell identified refunds in these accounts made by the higher education institution to a tuition management business and/or a college savings program on behalf of the students and, thereby, located entries reflecting illusory balances in the students’ sponsorship accounts. Mitchell used the illusory balances to create the appearance of funds to back fraudulent checks. She then caused the higher education institution to issue the checks in the names of multiple coconspirators who had been recruited by Best to negotiate the bogus checks. None of these coconspirators were students at the higher education institution. The coconspirators cashed or deposited the fraudulent checks at various financial institutions and then shared the proceeds. As a result, the higher education institution lost more than $835,000.

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Clinton Darnelle Kaham (24, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Kaham faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court records, on July 6, 2022, officers from the Ocala Police Department discovered Kaham, a gang member, in possession of a loaded firearm. The firearm had previously been reported stolen out of Marion County. A subsequent FBI forensic analysis found very strong support that Kaham was the source of the DNA profile developed from the trigger, grip, frame, and trigger guard of the firearm. Kaham has a prior felony conviction for possession of heroin (2021). As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

 This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

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

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Michael Guy Dambrosia (61, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to interstate transmission of a threat to injure and making a false statement in connection with the attempted purchase of a firearm. Dambrosia faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on August 30, 2021, Dambrosia attempted to purchase a firearm from a local federally licensed firearms dealer. In completing the necessary paperwork to purchase the firearm, Dambrosia indicated that he was not a convicted felon even though he knew this to be false.

Later, on January 30, 2023, Dambrosia made an interstate telephone call to the victim’s office in Washington, D.C. and left an obscenity-laden, threatening voicemail stating that he would kill the victim.

This case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police – Threat Assessment Section and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joe Wheeler III and Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie Boyer.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Dominic Lawrence Carsi (34, Naples) to 12 years and 6 months in federal prison for distributing videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child. The court also sentenced Carsi to a term of supervised release for life and ordered him to register as a sex offender. Carsi had entered a guilty plea on October 31, 2023.

According to court documents, on February 27, 2023, Carsi distributed videos of young children being sexually abused through his social media account to an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) located in Minnesota. Using the chat function in another social media app, Carsi wrote to the undercover agent that he had plenty more. 

On April 11, 2023, agents with HSI in Fort Myers executed a search warrant for Carsi’s residence and seized Carsi’s cellphone and computer. The subsequent forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 600 images and over 570 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.

On April 11, 2023, during an interview with agents, Carsi admitted that he watched and downloaded child sex abuse material. Carsi remembered the conversation with the undercover agent, and he admitted that he sent a video of a baby and another video of a four-year-old child being sexually abused.    

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, a member of the Southwest Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking (INTERCEPT) Task Force, which also includes Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Juan Carlos Perlaza Caicedo (45, Colombia), a/k/a “Olindo Perlaza Caicedo” and “Gafas,” has pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Perlaza Caicedo faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Perlaza Caicedo was arrested in Tumaco, Colombia on May 4, 2019, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant. He was extradited to the United States on November 22, 2023.

According to the plea agreement, Perlaza Caicedo was responsible for the production and transportation of several tons of cocaine from Colombia to Central America from at least 2002 through 2017. In addition to transportation logistics, Perlaza Caicedo managed and operated cocaine-production laboratories in Colombia, where he manufactured large amounts of cocaine on a per-order basis. In addition to production of cocaine at laboratories, Perlaza Caicedo helped coordinate multiple maritime cocaine transportation trips, including recruitment and payment of mariners and determination of maritime routes to avoid law enforcement.

The cocaine Perlaza Caicedo produced was ultimately destined for importation to the United States. In August 2011, March 2012, and September 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted drug smuggling vessels associated with Perlaza Caicedo’s efforts. During those three interdictions alone, Perlaza Caicedo played a role in conspiring to transport at least 1,422 kilograms of cocaine. Following his arrest in Colombia, Perlaza Caicedo admitted his involvement in cocaine-smuggling along the Pacific coast of South and Central America.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché’s Office at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Colombian law enforcement authorities provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from Colombia of Perlaza Caicedo.

The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Krebs.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury today found Judy Grace Sellers guilty of conspiracy to submit false tax returns and defraud the U.S. Treasury, substantive counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, filing a false lien against the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, and failure to appear. Sellers faces a maximum penalty of 23 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2024.

Sellers originally was indicted in December 2014. Her indictment was superseded to add a charge for absconding while on bond in February 2024.

According to evidence presented at trial, in 2008 and 2009, Sellers operated a website called commercialredemption.com on which she promoted the use of IRS form 1099-OID to commit tax fraud. Sellers identified as a so-called “sovereign citizen” and perpetuated the false premise that the U.S Treasury maintains secret accounts attributed to every U.S. citizen that can be drawn on by filing a series of bogus documents with the U.S. Treasury and other government entities. 

As part of this fraud scheme, Sellers also promoted the use of IRS form 1099-OID to fraudulently report to the IRS debts – including mortgages, student loans, credit card debts, and court judgments – as income, along with 100% withholdings of that “income” in informational returns in order to overcome the IRS’s internal controls and induce the IRS to issue refunds that were not owed. The proper use of the 1099-OID form is for companies such as brokers to report to the IRS income received by the purchaser of a discounted security. Sellers personally created and submitted to the IRS 1099-OID forms that were fraudulent on their face.

After submitting the fraudulent 1099-OID forms, Sellers’s co-conspirators would prepare and submit fraudulent returns seeking massive refunds, in one case exceeding half a million dollars on a single return. All of these refunds were based on non-existent 1099-OID “income” and withholdings. The conspiracy resulted in the submission of at least 22 returns requesting fraudulent refunds totaling at least $3.4 million from the IRS.

In 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Florida filed a civil action in federal court to enjoin Sellers from promoting her fraudulent scheme on her commercialredemption.com website. In retaliation, Sellers filed a false lien against the then-U.S. Attorney and a Department of Justice tax attorney who was leading the civil action.

In 2014, Sellers was indicted on charges of tax fraud and for filing a false lien and arrested. In January 2015, Sellers was placed on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor pending trial. In May 2015, Sellers was granted permission by her probation officer to leave her home to get her hair done in preparation for her pretrial hearing a few days later. The next day, Sellers cut off her GPS ankle monitor, flung it on the side of the highway, and absconded. 

Cut GPS Ankle Monitor

Sellers was not found until more than eight and a half years later in New Mexico. Prior to this, Sellers had pleaded guilty to failing to appear for her sentencing in her previous federal counterfeiting case in 2002. In her previous case, Sellers was apprehended living under a false name in Mississippi.

This case was investigated by IRS – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Kelly Milliron.

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Steven Lukens (54, Port Charlotte) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Lukens faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and has agreed to forfeit $271,024.35, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2024.

According to the plea agreement, Lukens was the Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Atlantic International Supply, LLC (Gulf Atlantic). Gulf Atlantic entered into a sub-contract with Company-1 to procure materials needed for NASA’s space launch system at the Kennedy Space Center. However, Lukens submitted products that did not meet the quality standards and specifications required under the contract. Lukens then fraudulently led Company-1 to believe that the products met the required standards by submitting forged quality control documentation.

In total, Lukens submitted at least 191 fraudulent quality control documents to Company-1. These included fraudulent Certificates of Compliance, fraudulent Pressure Testing Certificates, and fraudulent test reports. Lukens’s materially false, fraudulent, and misleading representations caused Company-1 to pay Gulf Atlantic at least $271,024.35 for the parts it submitted.

This case was investigated by the NASA Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Hector Fabio Marin-Usme (37), Luis Arbey Vasquez-Romero (46), David Esteban Cardenas-Miramag (27), and John Janier Buitrago-Munoz (34), all from Colombia, with conspiracy to import 5 or more kilograms of cocaine into the United States. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.       

According to the indictment, the above-named individuals and others conspired to smuggle cocaine via commercial flights from Cali, Colombia to San Andrés Island, Colombia. Marin-Usme was a recruiter, Cardenas-Miramag was a cargo handler at the international airport in Cali, Vasquez-Romero was a security supervisor at the same airport, and Buitrago-Munoz was a Colombian National Police officer assigned to the airport on San Andrés Island.

Beginning on an unknown date, the conspirators initiated attempts to smuggle cocaine from a commercial flight in mainland Colombia to San Andrés Island. In order to avoid detection, the conspirators diverted cameras within the secure area of the Cali airport and disguised the cocaine in boxes of apples.

On July 29, 2023, and after the commercial flight arrived at the San Andrés Island airport, the conspirators attempted to smuggle the cocaine past an inspection area and past law enforcement. However, the Colombian National Police uncovered the scheme and seized approximately 1,300 kilograms of cocaine.

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

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities.  The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Pardo.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Christopher Froehlich (42, Wauchula) to 40 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. Froehlich entered a guilty plea on July 19, 2023.

According to court documents, Froehlich posed as a 15-year-old boy and connected with the 15-year-old victim via a live-streaming video service. Froehlich convinced the victim that they were in a relationship and coerced the child to produce sexually explicit videos and photos for Froehlich. When the child tried to stop producing sexually explicit videos and photos for Froehlich, Froehlich threatened to post the videos and photos to social media for the child’s family and friends to see. In June 2020, the child attempted to stop communication with Froehlich, at which point Froehlich posted the child’s nude photos to social media. Froehlich continued to contact the child until June 2022 by using various phone numbers and different usernames on social media platforms.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Courtney H. Derry.

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’ Office 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.

Tampa, FL - The United States has filed a civil lawsuit against two New Horizons Computer Learning Center franchises and their owner, Robert J. Remington, alleging they submitted false claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition payments. The defendants allegedly overcharged the VA by failing to report tuition waivers and scholarships provided to GI Bill students and falsely certifying compliance with Title 38’s ban on incentive compensation tied to student enrollment.

The GI Bill financially supports service members, veterans, and their eligible dependents who attend an education or training program at an educational institution. The longer a person serves in the military, the greater the benefits available under the GI Bill. If a school offers to waive tuition for a student receiving less than 100-percent assistance, that tuition waiver must be reported to the VA and the student’s portion reduced accordingly. Additionally, Title 38 prohibits participating schools from paying any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing student enrollments. 

In its complaint, the United States alleges Remington and his businesses, LTJ Group V, LLC, and Innovak of Florida, Inc., which did business as New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, repeatedly failed to report tuition waivers for students receiving less than 100-percent assistance under the GI Bill and failed to comply with Title 38 by paying commissions, bonuses, or other incentive payments to enrollment representatives based on sales of New Horizons courses to GI Bill students.

The claims asserted against Remington, LTJ Group V, and Innovak of Florida are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsay S. Griffin and Mamie V. Wise.

Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the VA Office of Inspector General at (800) 488-8244 or at [email protected].

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Benjamin Cedric Graddy (40, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute dimethylpentylone and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Graddy faces a minimum mandatory penalty of five years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on March 17, 2023, officers from the Tampa Police Department observed a vehicle being driven by Graddy fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of 22nd Street North and 27th Avenue East in Ybor City. During the traffic stop, the officers smelled the odor of marijuana and observed white powder in plain view on the driver’s floorboard. A search of the vehicle revealed a Glock 22 .40 caliber firearm located in the vehicle’s center console. The officers also recovered a distribution amount of dimethylpentylone (67.56 grams) as well as N-ethylpentylone in two containers inside the vehicle.

At the time of the offense, Graddy was also on federal supervised release for a prior felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition conviction. He also had multiple prior felony convictions, including attempted felony murder, attempted robbery with a deadly weapon, attempted burglary of an occupied building and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Graddy is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Diego F. Novaes.

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

         

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Matthew Allen Gahan (24, Summerfield) has pleaded guilty to one count of producing child sex abuse material and one count of possessing child sex abuse material. Gahan faces a minimum mandatory term of 15 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court records, on May 13 and continuing through May 25, 2023, Gahan spoke with a minor outside of the United States. Gahan coerced the minor to participate in video calls in which the minor engaged in sexual activity at Gahan’s direction. Gahan recorded these calls without the minor’s knowledge. On September 13, 2023, the FBI searched Gahan’s home pursuant to a federal search warrant and found multiple videos and images portraying the sexual abuse of young boys. Gahan also used the dark web to distribute and receive child sex abuse material.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

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

 

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Peter Lawrence (42, Jacksonville) with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm.

According to the indictment, Lawrence completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from Cash America Pawn, a federally licensed firearms dealer. Lawrence indicated on the required paperwork that he was not previously convicted of a crime involving domestic violence. The indictment alleges that this was a false statement, and that Lawrence was previously convicted of domestic battery.  

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

This case was investigated by 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.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Ruben Justus Edwards (43, Clewiston) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Edwards faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court records, on July 5, 2023, Edwards sold an undercover law enforcement agent two handguns—a Beretta and a Taurus—in Clewiston. As a multi-time convicted felon, Edwards is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.     

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.

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. 

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Ernest Jeshad Foster (32, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Foster faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court records, on August 23, 2023, Fort Myers Police Department officers conducted a routine traffic stop on a vehicle in which Foster was the front seat passenger. Upon approaching the vehicle, law enforcement observed Foster reaching into the glove compartment and quickly shutting it. As soon as Foster exited the car, the glove compartment popped open and officers saw a firearm, which was later identified as loaded Taurus handgun. As a seven-time convicted felon, Foster is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.     

This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.

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. 

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Coroy Dontavia Flournoy (40, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Flournoy faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court records, on February 21, 2023, Flournoy was arrested at a residence in Fort Myers in connection with an active warrant, after which law enforcement searched the residence and found a loaded Glock handgun, multiple magazines, and several dozen rounds of ammunition under the mattress of a bed inside the house. DNA analysis performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement later linked the firearm to Flournoy, a multi-time convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.     

This case was investigated by the Cape Coral Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.

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. 

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jddarrian Christopher Irons (33, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Irons faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court records, on October 5, 2023, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Irons was the front seat passenger. During the traffic stop, Irons initially misidentified himself to officers by providing a false name and date of birth. Then, when officers searched the car, they found a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun in a fanny pack wedged between the front passenger seat—where Irons had been sitting—and the door. Just minutes earlier before getting into the vehicle, Irons had been seen wearing the fanny pack in a nearby apartment complex. As a multi-convicted felon who had recently been released from a seven-year state prison sentence, Irons is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.     

This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.

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. 

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Willie James Hunter, Jr. (22, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Hunter faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a car in which Hunter was the passenger. The car slowed down, and Hunter exited the vehicle. The car then fled from police and was later found abandoned. Officers located a handgun and a rifle in the abandoned car. Hunter’s fingerprints were later found on the rifle. At the time, Hunter had prior felony convictions for possession of a firearm by a delinquent and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As a convicted felon Hunter is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Hunter agreed to forfeit the rifle.

This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department 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. 

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Edgar Cubillos-Burbano (63, Colombia), a/k/a “Don Julio,” “Julio El Quemado,” and “Efrain Ospina,” has pleaded guilty to conspiring to import 5 or more kilograms of cocaine into the United States. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Cubillos-Burbano was arrested in Necocli, Colombia on November 10, 2021, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant. He was returned to the United States on September 20, 2023.

According to the plea agreement, Cubillos-Burbano was the owner and operator of clandestine cocaine laboratories in northern Colombia and was permitted to operate these laboratories with the permission of Clan Del Golfo, Colombia’s largest drug cartel. He supplied various purchasers, including Clan Del Golfo, and the cocaine was sent either to Central America for ultimate importation to the United States or routed to Europe.

On July 5, 2015, Colombian law enforcement seized approximately 3,082 kilograms of cocaine near the shoreline of Capurgana, Colombia on the border between Colombia and Panama. One of the defendant’s cocaine purchasers was responsible for smuggling this shipment (pictured below), half of which was intended for the United States.

After his arrest in Colombia in connection with this case, Cubillos-Burbano admitted his involvement in this smuggling venture to federal agents. He further admitted to operating clandestine cocaine laboratories with the permission of Clan Del Golfo, including a laboratory capable of producing 300 to 400 kilograms of cocaine every 15 days.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché’s Office at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, and Colombian authorities provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from Colombia of Cubillos-Burbano.

The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara sentenced Jose Jaime Morado Zepeda (28) to three years and six months in federal prison for being an alien in possession of multiple firearms and ammunition. Morado Zepeda entered a guilty plea on November 15, 2023.

According to court documents, on June 27, 2023, a deputy from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested Morado Zepeda for driving under the influence. From the truck that Morado Zepeda was driving, deputies recovered two Colt MK IV 45 caliber pistols, a Riley Defense Inc. RAK47 7.62x39mm caliber rifle, a Romarm/Cugir GP WASR-10/63 7.62x39mm caliber rifle, a Winchester 94AE 30-30 caliber rifle, and assorted ammunition.

Subsequent to his arrest, an agent from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations performed an immigration records check on Morado Zepeda and determined that he was a native and citizen of Mexico with no legal status in the United States.

On July 14, 2023, during an interview with federal agents, Morado Zepeda admitted that he was born in Mexico, did not have legal status in the United States, and that he bought and owned the firearms located in the truck. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Sarasota, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Port Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.

Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell today sentenced Michael Shirley (40, Austin, TX) to seven years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and honest services fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $536,402.33, which are the proceeds of the offenses. Shirley was found guilty following a jury trial on July 27, 2023.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Shirley served as a campaign consultant for former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg in 2016. After Greenberg was elected, Greenberg and Shirley, through Shirley’s company Praetorian Integrated Services LLC, entered into a lucrative contract that provided Shirley with $12,500 each month for the performance of consulting services to the Tax Collector’s office. In that capacity, the evidence established that Shirley did little to no work. Additionally, Shirley began submitting grossly inflated invoices to the Tax collector’s office for printing services.

On September 25, 2017, Shirley, through Joseph Ellicott, paid Greenberg a $6,000 cash kickback and bribe. Ellicott was sentenced for his role in this scheme in 2022 and testified during the trial. As a result of the kickback and bribe, Shirley was allowed to continue billing the Seminole County Tax Collector’s office into September 2019. The evidence established that between October 2017 and September 2019, Shirley performed almost no work for the Tax Collector’s office. As a result of the kickback and bribery scheme, Shirley defrauded the taxpayers of Seminole County out of more than $634,000.

This case was investigated by United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Daniels and Chauncey Bratt.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Bryan Lyndell Chapman (26, Mississippi) with one count of manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, one count of passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Chapman faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the counterfeiting offenses, up to 15 years in federal prison on the firearm offense, and payment of restitution to the victims he allegedly defrauded. The indictment also notifies Chapman that the United States intends to forfeit a Bushmaster Firearms pistol, ammunition, and a printer traceable to the offenses. Chapman was arrested on February 26, 2024, and ordered detained.

According to the indictment and public records, from 2023 into 2024, Chapman manufactured counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. He then defrauded businesses by passing the counterfeit currency. At the time of his arrest, Chapman was out on bond for a pending felony firearm charge in the state of Mississippi. He also was previously convicted of a felony in state court in Tennessee. As a convicted felon, Chapman is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.     

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

This case was investigated by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office, and the United States Secret Service – Jacksonville Office. It will be 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.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kristian Ramos (43, Kissimmee) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ramos faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on May 23, 2023, Ramos possessed a Beretta Nano 9mm handgun. At the time of the offense, Ramos had prior felony convictions for robbery with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and robbery. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sherriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Jesse James Bertetto (30, Webster) to 27 years in federal prison for distributing, receiving, and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Bertetto to register as a sex offender and pay $74,500 in restitution. A federal jury found Bertetto guilty on April 12, 2023.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in December 2020, Bertetto possessed child sexual abuse material on his cellphone, including images and videos of minors under the age of 12. The web history on his cellphone revealed that he had searched for child sexual abuse material and had visited websites known to law enforcement as frequently containing child sexual abuse material.

In January 2022, Bertetto possessed images and videos of children on another cellphone, including young children being sexually abused. He also actively traded videos of child sexual abuse material over a social media platform in January 2022.       

“Jesse Bertetto perpetuated the abhorrent behavior of sexually exploiting children online, contributing to the severe psychological damage these children will endure the rest of their life,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Alongside partners like the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, our investigators are dedicated to removing this vile content from the dark web and holding these predators accountable for their actions.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Tampa and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa Spergel.

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, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Carmel Linot (33, Titusville) has pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Linot faces up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud and a minimum mandatory penalty of 2 year in prison for the aggravated identity theft, which will run consecutive to any other prison sentence imposed. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Linot is currently on federal supervised release in the Middle District of Florida for aggravated identity theft in a separate case. He was previously prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jacksonville Division. Linot was arrested on June 12, 2023, and the court ordered him detained on the federal supervised release case and the new indictment involving bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.  

According to the plea agreement and public records, Linot obtained the Social Security number (SSN) of a minor victim. Using this SSN, a counterfeit State of Georgia driver license, and false employment documents, Linot opened a bank account under a false identity at a credit union. After opening up the bank account in the false identity, he then obtained a credit card by using the victim’s SSN.

This case was investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

A Florida tax return preparer was sentenced today to two years in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by preparing and filing false tax returns for clients. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 through 2020, Phedson Dore and his co-conspirator ran Empire Tax Services and filed hundreds of false returns each year. Dore typically inflated federal income tax withholdings and reported fictitious itemized deductions to generate refunds for clients to which they were not entitled. To conceal his participation in the fraud, Dore did not always list on the returns his name as the person who prepared them or include Empire’s Electronic Filing Number (EFIN). Instead, he used his employees’ names and the EFINS of other return preparation businesses. Dore and his co-conspirator caused a loss to the IRS of approximately $970,000.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. ordered Dore to serve two years of supervised release and to pay approximately $970,976.00 in restitution to the United States.

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 Brian Flanagan and Marissa Brodney of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney Richardson-Jones and Shannon Laurie for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Timothy Burke (45, Tampa) with conspiracy, unauthorized access of protected computers, and violations of the Wiretap Act. If convicted on all counts, Burke faces a maximum penalty of 62 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Burke that the United States is seeking forfeiture of a website domain and 20 computer-related devices used to commit the charged criminal conduct, and $1,500, the proceeds of certain charged criminal conduct.  

According to the indictment, Burke and Conspirator 2 secured and used compromised credentials—usernames and passwords—to gain unauthorized access to protected computers owned or used by the victim entities, namely the “National Sports League” and “StreamCo,” and to obtain and steal information from those entities’ computers. As to the StreamCo-related conduct, the indictment further alleges that Burke and Conspirator 2: (1) used the compromised credentials to access a website of the StreamCo-Net, a StreamCo service that allowed its broadcaster-customers to record and transmit high-resolution encoded content and communications over the Internet; (2) obtained and stole StreamCo proprietary information from that website; and then (3) used that stolen StreamCo proprietary information to intercept, download, and save the StreamCo broadcaster-customers’ streams. The indictment also specifies two StreamCo broadcaster-customers impacted by the charged conduct.     

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, Tampa Field Office – Cyber Squad. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay G. Trezevant and James A. Muench.

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Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Saoud Al Naimi (21, Tampa) to five years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for transporting and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Al Naimi to forfeit three iPhones, an iPad Pro, and a MacBook, which were used in the commission of the offense. Al Naimi was also ordered to register as a sex offender. Al Naimi entered a guilty plea on August 22, 2023.

According to court documents, Al Naimi is a citizen of Qatar and was in the United States on a student visa, attending courses at a local college. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding Al Naimi’s use of an internet platform to upload a video of child sexual abuse. HSI agents searched Al Naimi’s electronic devices for evidence of child sexual abuse material and found hundreds of images and videos of children engaged in sex acts, including children under 12 years old. A search of Al Naimi’s iPhone revealed that he had obtained images of child sexual abuse in May 2020, while outside of the United States. U.S. border crossing records confirmed Al Naimi transported child sexual abuse material into the United States when he entered in January 2022. Between May 2020 and April 2022, Al Naimi transported child sexual abuse material between the United States and Qatar approximately three times.

“This predator contributed to the vile practice of sexually exploiting children online and has caused irreparable harm by condemning them to a lifetime of victimhood,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Alongside partners like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, HSI investigators will always seek to stop the vile actions of child predators and hold them accountable for their actions.” 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

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, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Alfred Lamar Shavers (49, Bunnell) and Tyrone James Jones (56, Palm Coast) guilty of conspiring to distribute controlled substances. Jones was also convicted of distributing methamphetamine on two separate occasions, and Shavers was convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Their sentencing hearings have been scheduled for May 28, 2024. Shavers, Jones, and seven co-conspirators were charged in a superseding indictment resulting from a joint, multi-state investigation Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Jones and Shavers were local drug dealers who operated in Volusia and Flagler counties. They were part of a drug trafficking organization that imported large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into California and Arizona, and then transported it in commercial trucks across the country into the Middle District of Florida. Jones distributed several pounds of methamphetamine on multiple occasions during the investigation.

During the investigation, Shavers purchased and sold distribution quantities of cocaine on several occasions from his Bunnell residence. On October 31, 2022, search warrants were executed at six locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Daytona Beach—including Shavers’s residence. During the search of Shavers’s residence, law enforcement seized nine firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunitions, cocaine, a digital scale, and small baggies. Shavers is a previously convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. Shavers stipulated to the forfeiture of all the firearms in the superseding indictment.

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.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Volusia Bureau of Investigation which includes the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the DeLand Police Department.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Edgar Guintivano (52, Jacksonville) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Guintivano entered a guilty plea on November 16, 2023.

According to court documents, on February 21, 2023, officers from the Jacksonville Beach Police Department conducted a traffic stop due to Guintivano not having a valid driver license. Guintivano had 256 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle. In addition to the narcotics, Guintivano had a loaded Glock pistol on his person, as well as two batons. Inside the vehicle, there was an additional firearm, as well as seven knives in the driver’s door panel.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.     

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

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Dominick Nardone (45, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. Because Nardone was previously convicted of a child sexual exploitation offense, he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, in 2014, Nardone was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for receipt of child sexual abuse material. After completing his prison sentence, Nardone began a term of court supervision. On October 31, 2020, a probation officer conducted an unannounced home visit at Nardone’s residence. When questioned about his use of electronic devices, Nardone admitted that he had used a cellphone to search for child sexual abuse material in the preceding three weeks. The probation officer immediately seized Nardone’s cellphone and had the contents forensically examined. This examination revealed that Nardone had an extensive history of viewing and downloading child sexual abuse material on the cellphone.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and United States Probation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

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

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Yadier Torres-Rivera (35, Orlando) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for distributing 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Torres-Rivera entered a guilty plea on November 12, 2023.

According to court documents, from August through December 2022, Torres-Rivera distributed fentanyl four times to a confidential source working for the Volusia Bureau of Investigation (VBI) before the VBI confidential source introduced a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover agent to Torres-Rivera. Between December 2022 and February 2023, the DEA undercover agent conducted four additional purchases of fentanyl from Torres-Rivera in the following amounts: 30.2 grams, 92.5 grams, 100.9 grams, and 104 grams. In total, Torres-Rivera was responsible for distributing nearly 500 grams of fentanyl to the VBI confidential source and DEA undercover agent.

Additionally, at the time of his arrest in September 2023, Torres-Rivera’s had on his person a loaded Glock 27 handgun with an attached auto-sear, an extended magazine loaded in the magazine well, and a round of ammunition in the firing chamber. He also had in his possession a regular-sized Glock magazine containing rounds of ammunition. As part of the plea agreement, Torres-Rivera has agreed to abandon all rights to the handgun and associated magazines and ammunition that were seized from him.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Volusia Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.

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

Ocala, Florida – Senior United States United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Wendell Doyle Goney (52, Mount Dora) to four years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Goney entered a guilty plea on October 5, 2023.

According to the plea agreement, on July 11, 2021, deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary at a 10-acre business property in Mount Dora. The deputies used a law enforcement drone to assist with the outdoor search, only to have the drone destroyed by gunfire from a neighboring property. When deputies responded to that location, they confronted Goney, who admitted that he had just shot down the drone with a .22 caliber rifle. Goney claimed the drone had been “harassing” him. Goney then admitted to the deputies that he could not lawfully possess a firearm because he was a convicted felon. A record check confirmed multiple prior state felony convictions, which included aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, illegal drug possession, burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Goney is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Devin Alan Rhoden (24, Pinellas Park), a/k/a “Denny” and “Deviinz,” and Berman Jerry Nowlin, Jr. (20, Huntsville, AL), a/k/a “Repulse” and “Zayous,” with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted, Rhoden and Nowlin each face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

According to court documents, in March 2022, Rhoden and Nowlin minted two non-fungible token (NFT) collections on the Solana blockchain named “UndeadApes” and “Undead Lady Apes.” In the weeks following the mint, the average sale price of both NFT collections (pictured below) increased significantly.

UndeadApes Collection

Undead Lady Apes Collection

In April 2022, Rhoden and Nowlin announced their intention to mint a third NFT collection named “Undead Tombstone.” In the announcement and subsequent advertisements, Rhoden and Nowlin made a number of material misrepresentations to attract victim-investors. On April 19, 2022, Rhoden and Nowlin minted 632 Undead Tombstone NFTs, resulting in approximately $135,000 USD in cryptocurrency being sent to wallets under the Rhoden and Nowlin’s control. Rhoden and Nowlin then abandoned the mint without satisfying several of the representations made to victim-investors, commonly known as a “rug pull.”

Rhoden and Nowlin transferred the fraud proceeds from the Solana blockchain to the Ethereum blockchain, also known as “chain-hopping.” This obfuscation technique is used by cybercriminals and money launderers to make identifying and tracing illicit funds more difficult. Rhoden and Nowlin then used the cryptocurrency to purchase U.S. dollars and transferred the currency into their respective bank accounts. In a matter of weeks, the three NFT collections resulted in Rhoden and Nowlin receiving more than $300,000 USD in cryptocurrency from hundreds of victim-investors all over the world.

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

This case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Pasco Sheriff's Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.

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Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Javier Joel Perez (45, Immokalee) today pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Perez faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Perez has also agreed to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used to facilitate the offenses.

According to court documents, deputies from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Perez’s residence and located marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine packaged for distribution. They also located a loaded firearm. Perez told deputies that the items located in his residence belonged to him. Perez is a nine-time convicted felon, as such he prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Collier 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. 

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Rand Paige, Jr. (50, Fernandina Beach) has pleaded guilty to using the internet to attempt to entice a 11-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Paige faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Paige was arrested on December 18, 2023, and has since been detained.  

According to court documents, on November 29, 2023, an undercover FBI agent in Jacksonville was conducting an online undercover operation to identify individuals who were seeking to meet and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as a person with access to an 11-year-old child, the undercover agent was online in a particular social messaging app when he was contacted by an individual using the app user name “ah..904,” subsequently identified as Paige. After learning the age of the “child,” Paige asked the agent if he and the “child” would “like her to be touched all over.” In a series of online conversations on the app and emails from November 29 through December 11, 2023, Paige discussed his desire to meet the “child” and engage in sexual activity with her. On December 11, 2023, Paige contacted the undercover agent online and stated “What are your thoughts on meeting? You think [the “child”] would be receptive? Do you want to have it happen?” On December 4 and again on December 11, 2023, Paige sent the undercover agent several videos depicting young children being sexually abused.

On December 18, 2023, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at Paige’s residence and arrested Paige. A review of the content on Paige’s cellphone revealed that it contained at least one photo depicting the sexual abuse of a child, as well as the email account used by Paige to communicate with the undercover agent.      

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Jacob Spinoza (50, Weeki Wachee) to nine years and Veronica Jo Barback (29, Weeki Wachee) to three years and four months in federal prison, respectively, for conspiring to distribute protonitazene and metonitazene. Spinoza and Barback were also ordered to forfeit several firearms and assorted ammunition traceable to the offense. Spinoza pleaded guilty on September 7, 2023, and Barback pleaded guilty on September 12, 2023.

According to court records, Spinoza and Barback conspired to distribute two chemicals in the nitazene class: protonitazene and metonitazene. These are chemicals intended to have similar effects on the body as fentanyl, with varying degrees of potency stronger than fentanyl. Spinoza obtained the chemicals from China and the packages were delivered to the Middle District of Florida. On October 7, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence the two shared and recovered trafficking amounts of protonitazene and metonitazene, as well as cash, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, firearms, and ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jonen Castillo (23, Orlando) with smuggling firearms from the United States to Canada. If convicted, Castillo faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Castillo that the United States intends to forfeit a Smith and Wesson firearm and four Glock firearms, which are alleged to be involved in the offense.

According to the indictment, between June 10 and June 29, 2023, Castillo concealed and attempted to export firearms from the United States to Canada, contrary to United States law and regulation.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be 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.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton today sentenced Timothy Jones, (60, Orlando) to 25 years in federal prison for bank robbery. The court also ordered Jones to forfeit $30,000 of unrecovered proceeds from his robberies. Jones pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery on September 26, 2023. 

According to court documents, on June 1, 2022, Jones was released from Putnam County Correctional Facility after having served an eight-year term of incarceration for committing a bank robbery of a Wells Fargo bank located on Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. On the morning of June 2, 2022, Jones walked into a Truist Bank on that same street in Orlando, met with an employee in an office, and announced that it was a robbery. Jones told the employee that he had a gun and would shoot everyone in the bank if they did not give him $150,000 and told the employee that there would be a “bloodbath” if he did not get what he wanted. After employees provided $30,000, Jones took the keys to an employee’s car and escaped.

Seven days later, on June 9, 2022, Jones entered a SouthState bank in Kissimmee. He walked into an office with an employee and announced it was a robbery and that he had a gun. Jones told the employee he did not want any “funny business” and demanded $50,000 that they then provided. He again took the keys to an employee’s car and escaped in that car. Later that afternoon, Jones was apprehended near the employee’s car with $1,815 in cash and $47,200 in the vehicle.

After being arrested and detained on state and then federal charges, Jones claimed to be mentally incompetent and unable to stand trial. In May 2023, Jones wrote handwritten letter to a relative and attempted to conceal it from law enforcement by marking it as though he was communicating to an attorney. In the letter to his relative, Jones explained that he was pretending to be incompetent in order to “manipulate,” “trick,” and “fool” doctors and the court system into showing him leniency and reducing his sentence. Jones had been convicted of robbery charges in 1995, 2006, and 2013 and had spent almost all of the past 18 years incarcerated for robbery charges. Jones was sentenced as a career offender.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Kissimmee Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Scott Carpenter, Jr. (46, Lakeland) to 28 years in federal prison for interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The court also ordered Carpenter to forfeit three firearms and 122 rounds of ammunition, which are traceable to his offenses. Carpenter also must pay $22,220.52 in restitution to victims, which represents the proceeds of his offenses. Carpenter entered a guilty plea on November 14, 2023.

According to court documents, between August 2018 and August 2021, Carpenter committed at least 13 commercial armed robberies victimizing businesses in Lakeland, Auburndale, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Brandon, Zephyrhills, Gibsonton, and Temple Terrace. All but one of the robberies victimized Dollar Tree store employees and followed the same pattern. Carpenter dressed in all black and waited for the targeted Dollar Tree store to close for the night. Then, as the store employee carrying the day’s proceeds either walked to his/her car in the store parking lot, or after the store employee drove to a nearby bank and prepared to drop the proceeds into night deposit box, Carpenter jumped out, accosted the store employee, brandished a gun, threatened the store employee, and demanded that the employee surrender the money. Law enforcement officers subsequently searched Carpenter’s home and truck where they found guns and clothing that he had used during the robberies.

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

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

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven has sentenced Benjamin Lara (39, Ruskin) to one year and one day in federal prison for mail fraud. The court also ordered Lara to pay $68,086.23 in restitution. Lara entered a guilty plea on November 13, 2023.

According to court documents, between March 2016 and July 2017, Lara was employed as a personal banker at a bank in West Bradenton. Through this position, Lara assisted an 85-year-old bank customer. Lara later used information gained through his position to send 31 automatic bill payment checks in his name, to his home address in Ruskin, from that customer’s accounts. Lara also electronically transferred funds from the victim’s account onto three pre-paid cards. In total, between December 2017 and July 2019, Lara stole $68,086 from the victim’s bank account.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Nicole Danielle Devilbiss (35, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos. Devilbiss faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Animal crushing is defined under federal criminal law as “actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians, is purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury.”

According to the plea agreement, in September 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Jacksonville received information regarding an individual residing in Jacksonville, who was identified as an administrator of a social media application group chat that was dedicated to the abuse, torture, and death of various-aged monkeys. The HSI investigation revealed that numerous people involved in the group exchanged hundreds of messages about the abuse and torture of monkeys, as well as videos depicting the abuse and torture of monkeys. The purpose of the group was to fund, view, distribute, and promote animal crush videos that depicted the torture, murder, and sadistic mutilation of animals, specifically baby and adult monkeys. The co-conspirators agreed to create animal crush videos using videographers and animals in other countries, to include Indonesia, which would then be sent to the United States. The name of the group changed multiple times to innocuous names that were inconsistent with the goals and interests of the group, which appeared to be in an effort to avoid detection by law enforcement. 

This investigation led to the identification of Devilbiss as a member of that group. Law enforcement was able to obtain some of those messages and videos that were exchanged involving her.

Devilbiss and her co-conspirators collectively funded the creation of animal crush videos using online payment applications. Co-conspirators outside the United States received this funding and used it create animal crush videos. Between April 14, 2022, and continuing through May 23, 2023, Devilbiss sent at least three payments to her co-conspirators using an online payment application for the purpose of funding the creation of animal crush videos. The IP addresses from the Devilbiss’s transactions were tied to her internet account at her residence.

A federal search warrant was executed at her residence and numerous electronic devices were seized. Devilbiss’s devices were reviewed and analyzed.  Law enforcement found numerous videos depicting the torture of monkeys. 

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Washington and Elisibeth Adams.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Geoffrey Gaston (29, Orlando) to seven years in federal prison for committing five armed robberies between September 12 and October 12, 2022. The court also ordered Gaston to forfeit the $1,323 stolen as well as the $517 found in his vehicle upon his arrest that were proceeds of the offenses. Gaston entered a guilty plea on November 16, 2023. 

According to court documents, at 4:30 a.m. on September 12, 2022, Gaston, dressed in all-black and wearing gloves, entered a 7-Eleven store in Orlando and displayed what appeared to be a handgun. He demanded all the money in the cash drawer. Law enforcement later obtained evidence that Gaston had been searching the internet for “realistic toy gun” in the weeks leading up to this robbery and “.380,” “.22 pistol,” and “Saturday night special gun,” after this robbery. 

On September 26, 2022, at approximately 4:20 a.m., Gaston conducted another robbery at a 7-Eleven store in Altamonte Springs wearing the same outfit and again displaying what appeared to be a firearm and robbing the store of $73 (pictured below)

Gaston went on to perpetrate the same armed robbery at another 7-Eleven store that same morning at 4:50 a.m. in Oviedo, obtaining $300 (pictured below).

On October 5, 2022, at approximately 3:50 a.m., Gaston robbed another 7-Eleven in Orlando, obtaining $100 after showing the cashier an apparent firearm (pictured below).      

 

On October 12, 2022, at approximately 4:45 a.m., Gaston returned to the first 7-Eleven he had robbed a month earlier, obtaining $350 by showing the cashier his weapon and demanding that he empty the drawer.      

Gaston was arrested later that week at the 7-Eleven where he worked.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Altamonte Springs Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dana E. Hill and Noah Dorman.

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and extradition of Paul Creighton (67, Canada). Creighton is charged with enticement of a minor and production of child sexual abuse material. If convicted on all counts, Creighton faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison.

Creighton, a citizen and resident of Canada, was arrested by Canadian authorities at the request of the United States on November 12, 2020. On February 8, 2024, Creighton was extradited from Canada to the United States. He appeared in Tampa before Untied States Magistrate Judge Sean P. Flynn on February 9, 2024, and was ordered detained pending trial.

According to the indictment, between 2012 and 2017, Creighton communicated via the internet with children throughout the United States. During this time, Creighton induced the children to send sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves. Creighton also sent pictures of himself, purchased sex toys for the children, and later flew to Orlando to meet with one of his victims.

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 investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tampa Field Office. Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the United States Marshals Service, and the Niagara Regional Police Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Brandale Swails (29, Tampa) with Hobbs Act robbery and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted on both counts, Swails faces a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years in federal prison.

According to court documents, on October 15, 2023, Swails arrived at a Tampa gas station on a bicycle, entered the business, pointed a gun at the clerk, and demanded money. The clerk immediately hid behind the counter, and Swails jumped over the counter. Swails stated he would shoot the victim if he did not open the register and demanded one-hundred-dollar bills. Swails continued to hold the victim at gunpoint while directing the victim into a bathroom. Swails then exited the business with an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on a bicycle. Swails was arrested two weeks later, hiding inside a bedroom closet.

      

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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

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

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Andi Junior Jacques and Dickenson Elan to federal prison terms for their roles in a RICO conspiracy involving cyber intrusions and millions of dollars of tax fraud. Six co-defendants were previously sentenced for their roles in the offense and one will be sentenced at a later date for his involvement in the conspiracy. See chart below for details.

Defendant

(Age, Residence)

Status

Charge(s)

Sentence Imposed

Louisaint Jolteus

(37, West Palm Beach)

Pleaded guilty July 6, 2022

RICO conspiracy

9 years, 2 months in prison; $2,928,841 in restitution

Louis Noel Michel

(29, Hollywood)

Pleaded guilty July 25, 2023

RICO conspiracy and aggravated identity theft

6 years, 8 months in prison; $1,941,533 in restitution

Andi Jacques

(42, Greenacres)

Pleaded guilty August 23, 2023

RICO conspiracy and aggravated identity theft

16 years in prison; $4,291,272 in restitution

Jeff Jordan Propht-Francisque

(29, Pompano Beach)

Pleaded guilty August 29, 2023

RICO conspiracy

4 years in prison; $2,574,235 in restitution

Michael Jean Poix

(33, West Palm Beach)

Pleaded guilty August 29, 2023

RICO conspiracy and aggravated identity theft

10 years, 10 months in prison; $130,771 in restitution

Alain Jean-Louis

(32, Miami)

Pleaded guilty August 31, 2023

RICO conspiracy and aggravated identity theft

8 years, 6 months in prison; $2,554,907 in restitution

Monika Shauntel Jenkins

(34, Hollywood)

Pleaded guilty September 18, 2023

RICO conspiracy and aggravated identity theft

7 years, 3 months in prison; $3,384,913 in restitution

Vladimyr Cherelus

(34, Lauderdale Lakes)

Pleaded guilty September 18, 2023

RICO conspiracy

Sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 29, 2024

Dickenson Elan

(40, Clearwater)

Found guilty (jury trial) November 6, 2023

RICO conspiracy

11 years, 3 months in prison; $4,291,272 in restitution

According to court documents, from 2015 through 2019, the defendants and numerous other conspirators—including a now-deceased conspirator who is referenced in the indictment as RICH4EVER4430—banded together to engage in a sophisticated cybercrime and tax fraud scheme. RICH4EVER4430, Jean-Louis, Jenkins, Michel, Propht-Francisque, and Cherelus used the dark web to purchase server credentials for the computer servers of Certified Public Accounting (CPA) and tax preparation firms across the country. They used those server credentials to remotely and covertly commit computer intrusions and exfiltrate the tax returns of thousands of taxpayers who were clients of those CPA and tax preparation firms.

Jacques, Elan, Jean-Poix, and Jolteus were involved with creating and operating fraudulent tax businesses to file false tax returns in the names of thousands of victims. They also registered preparer tax identification numbers with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using the names and information of identity theft victims to make it appear those victims were the individuals who were filing false returns in bulk.

RICH4EVER4430, Jean-Louis, Jenkins, Michel, Propht-Francisque, Cherelus, and other conspirators then partnered with Jacques, Elan, Poix, Jolteus, and others to form an enterprise through which they filed thousands of false tax returns in the names of more than 9,000 identity theft victims. 

The conspirators directed the resulting tax refunds to debit cards and bank accounts they controlled. To make the businesses appear more legitimate, members of the enterprise opened bank accounts in the names of these fraudulent tax businesses to receive fake “tax preparer fees.”

As the RICO conspiracy evolved, members of the enterprise “hijacked” the IRS-issued identification numbers of CPA and tax preparation firms and used those identification numbers to file scores of additional false tax returns. Members of the enterprise filed false self-prepared tax returns using stolen identities as well. Altogether, the enterprise claimed more than $45 million in false tax refunds over approximately four years. The actual loss to the IRS and the United States was estimated to be more than $7 million.

“The recent sentencings of these co-conspirators, highlights the unwavering dedication of IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners in combating cybercrime. Our determination remains resolute in pursuing individuals who exploit technology as a means to commit unlawful activities,” said Tara K. Reed IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge. “These sentences serve as a stark warning to potential wrongdoers that there is nowhere to hide, and IRS-CI will work tirelessly to bring you and your misdeeds to light.”

“This was a milestone investigation for the FBI because of the RICO cybercrime conspiracy,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “It underscores the evolution of the cyber threat and how criminals are learning cyber tradecraft in an attempt to advance their criminal enterprises. However, this case also demonstrates how the FBI and our law enforcement partners are evolving our approach to investigations and prosecutions to continue to successfully disrupt cyber gangs.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation in Orlando, with assistance from the FBI Miami and IRS-CI  Minnesota. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily C. L. Chang, John M. Gardella, William S. Hamilton, Dana E. Hill, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.  

Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Antione Oshea Ladson (29, Orlando) to 10 years and 6 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Ladson pleaded guilty on July 11, 2023.

According to court documents, on August 27, 2022, Ladson checked into a hotel in Orlando. While walking through an outdoor breezeway, Ladson encountered another man walking past him. After a brief verbal confrontation with the man, Ladson lifted his modified pistol and shot the man in the neck using a caliber of ammunition similar to that commonly found in military assault rifles (shell casing pictured below). The man survived the shooting.

On November 16, 2022, Ladson was apprehended by law enforcement at a convenience store in Orlando. Beneath a grocery shelf that Ladson was seen lifting, officers found a fanny pack containing Ladson’s wallet and Social Security card, two digital scales used for weighing narcotics, a pistol magazine, and plastic baggies containing cocaine and marijuana. Underneath Ladson’s fanny pack was a Glock 23 pistol loaded with 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition. At the time, Ladson had multiple prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing both firearms and ammunition under federal law.  Ladson was arrested on state charges and subsequently released on bond.

On December 27, 2022, members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Gang Enforcement Unit observed Ladson driving near Orange Blossom Trail and initiated a traffic stop. A search of Ladson’s car revealed an XD9 firearm with 19 rounds of live ammunition, an additional 12-round magazine fully loaded with 9mm rounds, a drum-style magazine (pictured below), 4.8 grams of crack cocaine, and 61.4 grams of marijuana. Photographs of the firearm and drum magazine below:

Court documents further showed that Ladson frequently livestreamed himself driving around the Orlando area while fully armed, often with modified weapons (video stills below):

                                                                                                          

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Gang Enforcement Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Pardo.

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

Ocala, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Michael Latrelle Simpson (23, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Simpson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal grand jury indicted Simpson on July 19, 2022. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to court documents, on January 26, 2022, Simpson was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement for a traffic infraction. A handgun was located near where Simpson was seated in the vehicle. Simpson’s DNA was found on the magazine, slide, and sights of that firearm. Simpson has multiple prior state convictions, including for battery on detention staff, felony battery, and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with disregard for safety. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert E. Bodnar, Jr., and Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Roger Lee Caldwell, Jr. (40, Bradenton) guilty of producing child sexual abuse material, two counts of transporting minors with intent to engage in sexual activity, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Caldwell faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2024. Caldwell was indicted on May 17, 2023.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Caldwell sexually abused both victims for approximately five years, beginning at the age of eight. Caldwell also produced an image of one of the victims at the age of nine, while forcing her to engage in a sex act. The image, recovered from Caldwell’s cellphone, depicted Caldwell wearing a uniquely designed belt, the same belt worn by Caldwell at the time of his arrest.

In March 2022, Caldwell traveled alone with both victims to Ohio, where he sexually abused them multiple times during the trip. Upon their return home, both victims disclosed the sexual abuse to law enforcement. One of the victims retained a pair of underwear worn after the last time Caldwell had sexually assaulted her during the road trip. A DNA analysis of the underwear confirmed the presence of Caldwell’s semen.

Caldwell also had a collection of child sexual abuse material on a computer seized during a search of his home.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradenton Police Department, the Palmetto Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacie Harris, Courtney Derry, and Abigail King.

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