Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Mexican National Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Ibarra (32, Mexico) to 15 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Gonzalez-Ibarra had pleaded guilty on August 17, 2023.
According to court documents, Gonzalez-Ibarra was arrested on July 16, 2023, by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for driving under the influence. He was also charged in state court with felony possession of a controlled substance after officers found methamphetamine on him during a search incident to his arrest. Gonzalez-Ibarra was found in the United States without legal authorization. He had previously been removed from the United States on eight occasions.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
Mexican National Indicted for Distribution of Fentanyl and Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Nahum Rodriguez-Jaimes (46, Mexico) with three counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. If convicted, Rodriguez-Jaimes faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment per count on the fentanyl distribution charges, and up to 15 years in federal prison for the firearm offense. The indictment also notifies Rodriguez-Jaimes that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm as well as any assets, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment,Rodriguez-Jaimes distributed fentanyl pills on September 28, October 10, and October 19, 2023, in the Middle District of Florida. On November 7, 2023, Rodriguez-Jaimes, who is not in the United States legally, was found to be in possession of a firearm, which is a violation of United States 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, the Plant City Police Department, and United States Customs and Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Jacksonville Business Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Kenneth Steven Landers (57, Jacksonville) to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud and engaging in an illegal monetary transaction. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $910,000, the proceeds of his wire fraud scheme, and also ordered him to pay full restitution to his victims. Landers had pleaded guilty on February 14, 2023.
According to court documents, during 2020 and 2021, Landers applied for federally backed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans 10 times, requesting a total of $1.41 million. He submitted the applications on behalf of four different corporate entities that he controlled, specifically, the American Fallen Veterans Service Project Inc., Tire Empire LLC, Maypops LLC, and Florida United Inc. In support of each application, Landers electronically submitted false information and documents, including fictitious or altered Internal Revenue Service tax forms.
Notwithstanding Landers’s use of fraudulent documents, seven of his ten PPP loan applications were approved and funded in the total amount of $910,000, which was deposited into financial accounts that he controlled. Rather than use the loan proceeds exclusively to pay employees or for other allowable expenses under the PPP, Landers used the funds for his personal benefit. For example, he paid off the mortgages on his home and a business property, purchased an 18kt gold Rolex watch, and bought a vintage Jaguar XKE Roadster. He also wrote checks to himself, transferred funds electronically to personal accounts, paid down personal debt, and made approximately $113,000 in cash withdrawals of funds traceable to PPP loan proceeds.
“The ripple effects of the COVID pandemic are still being felt throughout society today. Kenneth Steven Landers saw this global crisis as an opportunity to line his own pockets. IRS-CI is committed to pursuing these bad actors and ensuring that those who falsely manipulate the system are prosecuted to the fullest extent,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent In Charge Tara K. Reed. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that criminals will pay a heavy price when they steal funds intended to provide much needed relief to many Americans who were in financial despair.”
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. The asset forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mai Tran, Julie A. Simonsen, and Jennifer Harrington.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the CARES Act relief programs. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the two programs that were developed through CARES Act is the PPP. It provides funding to businesses through PPP loans for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. PPP allows the interest and principal on loans to be forgiven if the business spends proceeds on certain expense items within a designated time and uses a certain percentage of the loan on payroll expenses. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the crisis.
Four-Time Deported Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Americo Bautista-Villarreal (59, Mexico) to seven years and eight months in federal prison months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Bautista-Villarreal had pleaded guilty on November 20, 2021.
According to court documents, Bautista-Villarreal was deported from the United States on four previous occasions, including in 1998, 2008, 2015, and 2017. In February 2020, Bautista-Villarreal participated in coordinating and planning shipments of cocaine from Mexico and Texas for delivery in the Middle District of Florida.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
Fort Myers Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearm and Ammunition as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Deshon G. Walker (27, Fort Myers) to three years and one month in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Walker to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense. Walker had pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023.
According to court documents, on September 21, 2023, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with Walker was the front seat passenger. Officers located a loaded Glock pistol under Walker’s seat. DNA analysis later linked Walker to the pistol. Walker had previously been convicted of a felony and is therefore 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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark R. 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.
Former Federal Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Fourteen Counts of Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Katrina Denise McCoy (41, Minneola) has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of wire fraud. For each count, McCoy faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. McCoy has also agreed to forfeit $39,570 – representing the proceeds of the offense. McCoy was indicted on July 11, 2023. Her sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
According to court records, McCoy is a former correctional officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Between March 27, 2019, and February 23, 2021, McCoy submitted false disability claims with fictitious supporting documentation. McCoy created the supporting documentation on BOP letterhead and affixed the names of her supervisor and a medical professional without their knowledge or permission. As a result of her fraudulent scheme, McCoy caused 14 wire transfers to be deposited into her bank account totaling $39,570.
This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Investigative and Forensic Services - Bureau of Insurance Fraud and the Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Jeffrey Grant Cruikshank (43, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing child sex abuse material after a prior conviction for possession of child sex abuse material. The court also ordered Cruikshank to forfeit a cellphone and GoPro camera that he had used to commit the offense. Cruikshank pleaded guilty on September 7, 2023.
According to court documents, the investigation began with CyberTips from multiple platforms. Ultimately agents found depictions of child sex abuse material on electronic devices that belonged to Cruikshank. They also found evidence of Cruikshank searching for child chat rooms. Cruikshank was previously convicted for similar behavior and is a registered sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones.
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.
Multiple Individuals Charged for Armed Robberies of Postal Letter CarriersRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the filing of two federal complaints charging five individuals with armed robberies of United States Postal Letter Carriers.
According to the first criminal complaint, on September 5, 2023, Jordan Michelle Brown (20, Tampa), Jordan Murray (19, Tampa), and Darine Underwood (18, Tampa) robbed a U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier at gunpoint as the carrier was delivering mail at a Temple Terrace apartment complex. Brown, Murray, and Underwood held the mail carrier at gunpoint while demanding his keys and attempting to remove the keys that were hooked to the mail carrier’s pants. The individuals then grabbed the mail carrier’s cellphone and smashed it on the ground, before running to their getaway vehicle. Brown, Murray, and Underwood have been charged with armed robbery and aiding and abetting the armed robbery of a United States Postal Mail Carrier.
According to the second criminal complaint, on September 21, 2023, Christopher Raymond (20, Miramar) and Andre Hylton (19, Miramar) robbed two Postal Letter Carriers as the carriers were delivering mail on their routes in South Tampa. Raymond and Hylton pointed a firearm at one of the carriers and demanded his serialized keys. Raymond and Hylton were ultimately identified through GPS data from their vehicle which revealed that they had traveled from Miramar to Tampa for the purpose of committing the armed robberies. Raymond and Hylton have been charged with armed robbery and aiding and abetting the armed robbery of a United States Postal Mail Carrier and brandishing a firearm and aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
In another separate case, last month, Jahiem Faison (19, Tampa) was sentenced to nine years and three months in federal prison for armed robbery of a United States Postal Mail Carrier and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. According to court documents, on July 23, 2022, Faison and a juvenile co-conspirator approached a U.S. Postal Letter Carrier as he was delivering mail at a Riverview apartment complex. Faison brandished a firearm, pressing the firearm into the mail carrier’s chest while demanding his keys. Faison kept the firearm pressed against the mail carrier while the carrier removed his keys and handed them to Faison’s juvenile co-conspirator.
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa Spergel.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
Former School Bus Driver Sentenced to Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven has sentenced Stephen Donald Kearney (61, St. Petersburg) to 7 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for receiving child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Kearney to pay $13,000 in restitution to victims of the offenses. Kearney is also required to register as a sex offender. Kearney had pleaded guilty on August 14, 2023.
According to court documents, Kearney used a file sharing platform on his computer to download videos that depicted young children being sexually abused. In February 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Kearney’s residence and seized his computer. A forensic search of the computer revealed thousands of images and various videos of child sexual abuse material, to include depictions of children under the age of 12.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Ross Roberts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Three-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Allen Lee Glover (25, Orlando) to six years and five months in federal prison for possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Glover to forfeit a Glock GMBH Model 19 pistol and associated 9mm ammunition traceable to the offense. Glover had pleaded guilty on August 4, 2023.
According to court documents, on July 6, 2022, officers with the Orlando Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Glover. At the time, Glover was on felony probation and had active felony warrants from Polk County. Glover immediately fled at a high rate of speed from the traffic stop. Later, officers observed the same vehicle pulling into the driveway of a residence. When officers drove towards the vehicle, Glover exited the vehicle, fled on foot, and threw a black handgun over the fence of the residence. Glover was taken into custody. The officers recovered a loaded Glock 9mm firearm from the backyard of the residence.
At the time of this offense, Glover had previously been convicted in state court in Florida for multiple felonies, including grand theft, conspiracy to commit burglary, and burglary. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Orlando Police Department. It was 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.
Marion County Man Pleads Guilty to Impersonating A Deputy United States MarshalRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Derry Wayne Lambert (52, Belleview) has pleaded guilty to false impersonation of a federal officer. Lambert faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, on July 31, 2023, a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office observed Lambert driving a pickup truck with no agency markings that had activated red/blue emergency lights and an audible siren. When confronted by the deputy, Lambert claimed to be a Deputy United States Marshal from Texas. Though he had no law enforcement credentials, Lambert was wearing a hat with the logo “Police - U.S. Marshal.” He presented the deputy with a false U.S. Marshal badge. Further investigation revealed that Lambert had no affiliation with the U.S. Marshals Service. Deputies also recovered a .380 caliber pistol in the center console of Lambert’s truck.
Lambert’s truck, hat, and badge.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Florida Promoter of Tax Fraud Scheme Sentenced to More Than Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for promoting a scheme to file false documents with the IRS to fraudulently obtain large tax refunds.
Rafael Ramos, of Orlando, pleaded guilty on Sept. 5 to conspiring to defraud the United States, filing a false tax return, and aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. According to court documents and statements made in court, Ramos recruited clients and prepared tax returns on their behalf that falsely claimed banks and other financial institutions had withheld large amounts of taxes from the clients’ incomes, thereby entitling them to refunds from the IRS. To further the scheme, Ramos and his co-conspirators filed with the IRS false documents purporting to have been issued by banks to support the false withholding information reported on the returns.
When the IRS initiated proceedings to collect the fraudulently-issued refunds, Ramos held meetings with his clients and attempted to obstruct the IRS’s efforts by providing clients with frivolous correspondence to send to the IRS, instructing clients to falsely inform the IRS that they self-prepared their returns, and telling clients to move funds out of their bank accounts to avoid IRS levies. In total, Ramos’s scheme caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $1.15 million.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron ordered Ramos to serve two years of supervised release and to pay approximately $594,685 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida and Tara K. Reed IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge made the announcement.
IRS-CI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Jeffrey McLellan, Ezra Spiro and Caroline Pearson of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Uriel Rosales Carvajal (34, Polk County) to seven years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Rosales Carvajal had pleaded guilty on August 9, 2023.
According to court documents, Rosales Carvajal was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Middle District of Florida. Specifically, on June 13, 2022, at the direction of a co-conspirator, Rosales Carvajal provided a sample of cocaine to an undercover officer at gas station in Plant City. When Rosales Carvajal was pulled over by law enforcement later that day, he had almost one a kilogram of cocaine, a box for a cellphone containing approximately 135 grams of methamphetamine, plastic baggies, and a digital scale.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Plant City Police Department as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.
Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Dominican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Passport Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Yudelka Magdalena Herrera Dominguez (57, Kissimmee) to two years in federal prison for passport fraud and aggravated identity theft. Herrera Dominguez had pleaded guilty on August 23, 2023.
According to court documents, Herrera Dominguez is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who moved to the United States in approximately 2000. She applied for and was issued a United States Passport in 2001 and 2011. In her passport application, she used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of W.L.D.C., whom she had never met. In March 2021, the real W.L.D.C. applied for a United States Passport and discovered that an imposter had already applied for a passport in her name. Herrera Dominguez also applied for a passport renewal in W.L.D.C.’s name in September 2022, which was denied.
This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Consular Affairs and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons.
U.S.-Based Conspirators Sentenced to Prison for International Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Adetunji Adejumo (44, Oklahoma City, OK) to 33 months in prison and Ibrahim Jinadu (35, Atlanta, GA) to 27 months in prison for their roles in a transnational tax fraud scheme. Both had previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this case. A third conspirator, Olufemi Odedeyi (London, UK) is pending extradition from the United Kingdom for his role in the scheme. All three individuals were arrested in September 2021.
According to court documents, international conspirators (including Odedeyi) obtained unauthorized access to computer servers of businesses in the United States; participated in stealing from those servers the personal identifying information of United States residents; and used that information to file false and fraudulent federal tax forms seeking income tax refunds from the IRS. Adejumo and Jinadu, residing in the United States, collected fraud proceeds directed to prepaid debit cards in their possession or to bank accounts they controlled or to which they had access. They then transferred a share of the fraud proceeds to other conspirators. The conspirators filed tax returns claiming millions of dollars in refunds to which they were not entitled.
The investigation was led by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Tampa Field Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Tampa Division. Substantial assistance was provided by the IRS - CI Cyber Crimes Unit (Washington, D.C), the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, IRS - CI and FBI International Operations at Mission UK, UK authorities, and IRS-CI Dallas and Atlanta Field Offices. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones.
Illegal Alien with Prior Felony Conviction Indicted for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Luis Armando Rodriguez-Padilla (27, Fort Myers) with illegal reentry by a previously convicted felon, possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted on all counts, Rodriguez-Padilla faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, on October 29, 2023, Rodriguez-Padilla possessed an Interarms revolver. Rodriguez-Padilla had previously been deported after being convicted in state court of conspiracy to break and enter. As an alien and convicted felon, Rodriguez-Padilla 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 Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
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.
Clay County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Nationwide Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Brian Roy Lozito (54, Orange Park) to two years and two months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of his sentence, the court ordered Lozito to pay restitution to the victims he defrauded and also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $164,193.84, the proceeds of the fraud. Lozito had pleaded guilty on July 28, 2023. He was arraigned on the indictment on January 11, 2021, and initially released on bond. The court revoked his bond on November 18, 2022, and subsequently ordered him detained.
According to court documents, Lozito owned and managed American Investigative Services (AIS). AIS purported to offer consumers mortgage auditing services in exchange for a fee. Lozito and his conspirators solicited customers nationwide through mailings and telephone calls. In these solicitations, Lozito and AIS employees, under the direction of Lozito, made false and fraudulent representations to consumers, including that AIS would perform “forensic audits” of mortgage documents to uncover evidence of deficiencies in the mortgage documents. Lozito claimed AIS would obtain quitclaim deeds and other remedies so the mortgage holders would be relieved of their mortgage debt and own their properties free and clear. If AIS could not help the consumer, Lozito promised to refund their money. In reality, AIS did not perform the services paid for by consumers and did not refund money to consumers. Funds collected from consumers went to bank accounts controlled by Lozito who then used the funds to keep AIS operating and for personal expenses.
This case was investigated by United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office, the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Florida Attorney General with valuable assistance from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The asset forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mai Tran and Jennifer M. Harrington.
Citrus County Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Stolen Benefit Payments from the Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Robert Howard Lawrence II (55, Citrus County) has pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government property. Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, and a forfeiture of at least $364,497.80. His sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Lawrence had been indicted on April 25, 2023.
According to court records, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program furnishes a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of deceased military service members. If the surviving spouse remarries, however, they are no longer eligible to receive DIC benefits and must report the new marriage to the VA.
Lawrence was a surviving spouse of a military service member who died in 1994. Beginning on or about November 1, 1995, through approximately April 1, 2023, Lawrence received DIC benefits from the VA. He was not entitled to these benefits, however, because he had remarried twice—once in 1995 and again in 2023. During that time, Lawrence had repeatedly assured the VA that he had not remarried so that he could continue to illegally receive the benefit payments. By failing to report his subsequent marriages, Lawrence illegally received a total of $364,497.80 in stolen benefit payments.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
Apopka Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Stephon K’Trell Anderson (29, Apopka) to 16 years in federal prison for producing a video of child sexual abuse. Anderson was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender. Anderson had pleaded guilty on September 13, 2023.
According to court documents, the Apopka Police Department received a cyber tipline report that originated from Twitter when a Twitter account was identified as uploading a video of child sexual abuse material. On March 10, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Apopka Police Department tracked down the address of the Twitter user and executed a search warrant at the residence in Apopka. Anderson was encountered at the residence and turned over two cellphones to law enforcement.
The FBI conducted a forensic search of the cellphones and located videos that Anderson had recorded involving a child victim. The videos were recorded by Anderson using his cellphone over a period of multiple weeks. One of the videos involved Anderson engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the child victim while the child victim slept.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Apopka Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Gardella.
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.
SSNDOB Marketplace Administrator Who Sold Millions of Social Security Numbers Sentenced to Eight Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Vitalii Chychasov (37, Ukraine) to eight years in federal prison for his administration of SSNDOB Marketplace, a series of websites that operated for years and were used to sell personal information, including the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers belonging to individuals in the United States.
On June 7, 2022, seizure orders were executed against the domain names of the SSNDOB Marketplace—BLACKJOB.BIZ, SSNDOB.CLUB, SSNDOB.VIP, and SSNDOB.WS—effectively ceasing the website’s operation. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $5 million, the proceeds of the fraud, and ordered Chychasov to forfeit his interest in the BLACKJOB.BIZ, SSNDOB.CLUB, SSNDOB.VIP, and SSNDOB.WS domains.
Chychasov was arrested in March 2022 while attempting to enter Hungary. He was extradited to the United States from Hungary in July 2022.
According to court records, Chychasov and other Marketplace administrators advertised on dark web criminal forums for the Marketplace’s services, provided customer support functions, and regularly monitored the activities of the sites, including monitoring when purchasers deposited money into their accounts. The administrators also employed various techniques to protect their anonymity and to thwart detection of their activities, including strategically maintaining servers in various countries, and requiring buyers to use digital payment methods. The SSNDOB Marketplace listed for sale the personal information for millions of individuals in the United States, generating more than $19 million USD in sales revenue.
Stolen Social Security numbers, like those sold on the Marketplace, are used to commit a variety of frauds, including U.S. tax fraud, unemployment insurance fraud, loan fraud, and credit card fraud. Sales on the Marketplace skyrocketed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when federal and state governments began to disburse monies—through a variety of programs—to American businesses and families at a time of a national (and international) emergency.
The U.S. investigation was led by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Tampa Division, with assistance from the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. Substantial assistance was also provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Offices responsible for Latvia and Cyprus, the Latvian Police, the Hungarian authorities, and the Cypriot authorities.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones and asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
Indian National Sentenced for Money Laundering Conspiracy Related to Government Impersonator ScamRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Jignesh Purshottambhai Vekaria (30, Tampa) to four years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $372,000, the proceeds of the offense. Vekaria had pleaded guilty on July 20, 2023.
According to court documents, India-based conspirators working in call centers placed calls to United States residents. The conspirators falsely and fraudulently identified themselves as federal law enforcement officers, such as Social Security Administration officials, FBI agents, or IRS officers. They provided “official” titles and/or “badge numbers,” and threatened their victims with imminent arrest, a lawsuit, and/or other economic consequences—usually based on alleged drug trafficking or money laundering crimes supposedly committed using the victims’ identities. The conspirators told victims, the majority of whom were older adults, that they could avoid these consequences by mailing checks or cash equivalents to conspirators in the United States.
From April 2018 through at least September 2018, Vekaria laundered money that had been extorted from these victims in the United States. Specifically, Vekaria acted as an intermediary between other U.S.-based conspirators who had a direct line of communication to the foreign call centers and the “runners” who received and cashed the victims’ checks. Vekaria’s intermediary role involved relaying information regarding the arrival of packages containing the victims’ checks to the runners, driving the runners to pick up the checks and cash them, and retrieving the fraudulently obtained funds from the runners. Once he retrieved the fraud proceeds, Vekaria provided them to his coconspirators and was paid for his role in obtaining the funds.
“Every day, countless Americans receive annoying spam calls from imposters pretending to be with the IRS. Today’s sentencing of Jignesh Vekaria serves as reassurance that IRS-CI agents will answer the call to bring justice to those who extort money and defraud hard-working citizens,” said Tara K. Reed, IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge. “Putting dishonest fraudsters like Vekaria behind bars reinforces that the IRS is committed to ensuring the safety and trust of Americans throughout every community we serve.”
This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General (SSA/OIG), the Tampa Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.
Clay County Convicted Felon and Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Shawntae Jamell Clark (45, Clay County) to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Clark to forfeit two firearms, ammunition, and cash traceable to his offenses. He was arrested on July 6, 2022, and ordered detained. Clark pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023.
According to court documents, deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) were investigating Clark based on reports that he was selling drugs, including methamphetamine, out of a hotel room at the Stay Suites on Wells Road in Clay County. On July 2, 2021, deputies observed Clark leaving his hotel room with a backpack and getting into a car. During a subsequent traffic stop of the vehicle, a CCSO canine alerted to the car, indicating that it contained illegal narcotics. A subsequent search of the car revealed a small safe containing a loaded Beretta pistol and Taurus revolver, 7 baggies of methamphetamine, and approximately 100 small baggies. Further investigation determined that the total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 159 grams, and that Clark had multiple prior felony convictions for armed robbery, attempted lewd or lascivious act – sexual battery, and multiple convictions for possession of cocaine. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
On September 25, 2023, Judge Howard sentenced a related defendant, David Lee Rucker (35, Clay County), to six years and eight months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The court also ordered Rucker to forfeit a firearm and ammunition. Rucker had pleaded guilty on May 19, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
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.
Twenty-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Craig Antwon ONeal (54, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a convicted felon. ONeal faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, up to life, if federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to the superseding indictment, on July 20, 2020, ONeal was in possession of a firearm. As a multi-convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing either firearms or ammunition under federal law. ONeal has 20 prior state felony convictions, including strong-arm robbery, resisting arrest with violence, sale of cocaine, and burglary of a conveyance. His extensive prior record also qualifies him for a sentencing enhancement as an Armed Career Criminal.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Crockett.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former Cape Coral Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Devin Ryan Maresca (33, New Castle, PA) to three years in federal prison for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $74,700, which were the proceeds of Maresca’s mail fraud scheme. Maresca was found guilty following a three-day trial on August 23, 2023.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, while living in Cape Coral, Florida, Maresca filed more than 2,200 fraudulent indemnity claims to the United States Postal Service (USPS) claiming that Priority Mail packages that he had mailed or received were damaged. Maresca fraudulently used his mother, father, and brother’s name to submit most of the claims. Further, Maresca forged his family members’ signatures on the backs of USPS claims checks to deposit them into a bank account he controlled. The checks were mailed to UPS Store private mailboxes and Pak-Mail Store mailboxes that Maresca had opened in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Punta Gorda.
Maresca’s fraud scheme caused the USPS to issue more than $100,000 in claims checks. Internet addresses, bank, and email records, along with USPS data, linked Maresca to the fraudulent claims. In December 2021, a United States Postal Inspector and USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) Special Agent interviewed Maresca at his home in Newcastle. During the interview, Maresca admitted to submitting more than 2,200 fraudulent claims and forging his family members’ signatures on USPS indemnity checks.
This case was investigated by the U. S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service-OIG. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trent Reichling and Patrick Darcey.
Bank Robber Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced John Charles Anderson (40, Spring Hill) to 12 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for a bank robbery with an assault by using a deadly weapon. Anderson was also ordered to pay $941 in restitution. Judge Mizelle previously sentenced Anderson to 3 years in prison for a violation of his federal supervised release, to be served consecutively to the new robbery sentence. Anderson had pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023.
According to court documents, on January 14, 2022, Anderson armed himself, donned a mask, and robbed a bank just over one month after being placed on supervised release following a federal prison sentence for committing five bank robberies. On January 14, 2022, Anderson pointed what looked like a semi-automatic handgun toward the teller and demanded money and got away with $941 from the SunTrust bank located at 12902 Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. Anderson was identified, in part, by his distinct hand tattoos, which read “KILL COPS” across his knuckles.
Anderson fled the bank, and the state, making his way to Michigan. On January 20, 2022, officers from the River Rouge Police Department encountered Anderson and attempted a traffic stop. Anderson fled, crashing his car into a wall at a gas station before continuing to flee on foot. Officers recovered a loaded firearm, which had been been reported stolen in South Carolina, from the front seat of Anderson’s car. Anderson was taken into custody after hiding in a garage.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Ecorse Police Department, and the River Rouge Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.
Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL– U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Ja’Vion RaShard Jackson (23, Coleman) to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, and promethazine with codeine, as well as three counts of distribution of controlled substances. Jackson had pleaded guilty on August 14, 2023.
According to court documents, beginning in November 2022, and on a few dates thereafter, Jackson sold an undercover officer more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 52 grams of fentanyl, and bottles of promethazine with codeine in addition to cocaine and methorphan. On January 12, 2023, agents executed search warrants at two locations associated with Jackson. At one location (261 CR 222, Oxford, Florida), agents located quantities of marijuana, MDMA, and prescription pills. On the same date, Jackson was arrested at 715 Oakdale Avenue, Unit 38 in Brooksville. Agents served a search warrant on that residence and arrested another co-conspirator after locating methamphetamine, fentanyl, promethazine with codeine, and firearms inside a vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Joseph Paul (30, Cordele, Georgia) to 12 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Paul had pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023.
According to court documents, on January 17, 2022, Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop and subsequent search on a car being driven and occupied by Paul. During the search, deputies found a scale, 187.2 grams of pure methamphetamine, and 19.72 grams of fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.
St. Augustine Serial Child Molester Convicted of Hacking Jumbotron, Child Exploitation Offenses, Sex Offender Registration Violations, and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury today found Samuel Arthur Thompson (53, St. Augustine) guilty of producing, receiving, and possessing child sex abuse material (CSAM), producing CSAM while required to register as a sex offender, violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), sending unauthorized damaging commands to a protected computer, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Thompson faces a minimum mandatory term of 35 years’ imprisonment. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2024. Thompson was first charged by criminal complaint in 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, Thompson was convicted of sodomizing of a 14-year-old male child in 1998, in Alabama, and was therefore a convicted felon required to register as a sex offender, including reporting his international travel.
Thompson was hired as a contractor by the Jacksonville Jaguars around 2013 to consult on the design and installation of the Jaguars’ new video board network, referred to as a jumbotron, and later to operate the jumbotron on gamedays. Thompson’s contract with the Jaguars required him to report his conviction, but he did not. In January 2018, the Jaguars determined not to renew Thompson’s contract after learning of his conviction and status as a registered sex offender. Before the expiration of Thompson’s contract in March 2018, Thompson installed remote access software on a spare server in the Jaguars’ server room. He then remotely accessed computers that control the jumbotron during three 2018 season NFL games, causing the video boards repeatedly to malfunction, as shown below:
After conducting an investigation, the Jaguars determined that the outages were being caused by a malicious actor sending commands via the spare server. On December 16, 2018, the Jaguars set up a “honeypot” by putting the server on its own network and removing its access to the other computers that controlled the jumbotron. During the next NFL game, the spare server was again remotely accessed and attempted to be used to send commands to computers controlling the jumbotron. The Jaguars were able to capture the internet protocol (IP) address of the intruder – which the FBI traced to Thompson’s residence.
In July 2019, the FBI executed a federal search warrant at Thompson’s residence and seized a number of his computers. The FBI also seized a firearm from Thompson’s nightstand, which he was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon.
Log files from Thompson’s iPhone, iPad, and two laptops showed that all those devices had been used to remotely access the spare server. Additionally, the FBI found thousands of images and hundreds of videos on Thompson’s personal devices depicting CSAM. This CSAM included images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children, bondage and torture of children, and bestiality. The CSAM also included a video and series of photos that Thompson produced in June 2019 depicting children that had been in his care and custody. Thompson’s voice could be heard speaking to the children at the beginning of the video, and the video was taken in Thompson’s living room.
Subsequent interviews of three male children that had been in Thompson’s care in 2019 revealed that Thompson had molested two of the children, exposed himself to two of the children, exposed children to CSAM, spoken to the children about sex and masturbation, and had encouraged the children to play a “game” wherein the children were required to take off their clothes and run around Thompson’s house. It was while the children (7, 8, and 10 years old at the time) were playing the “game” that Thompson produced CSAM. A review of Thompson’s iPad further revealed that he had been searching the dark web for CSAM at the time the FBI knocked on his door with the search warrant.
Thompson traveled to the Bahamas on a work trip from July 6 - 14, 2019. The next day, on July 15, 2019, Thompson registered as a sex offender and failed to report this travel as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The same day, Thompson also received CSAM via the dark web.
On July 27, 2019, Thompson fled to the Philippines – once again failing to report his travel. Thompson’s passport was revoked, and he was deported from the Philippines on January 31, 2020. He was arrested by the FBI upon arrival in the United States and later ordered detained pending trial.
The evidence presented at trial also proved that certain assets the United States is forfeiting from the defendant, specifically, a Smith & Wesson firearm, an iPhone 7, an iPad, two laptop computers, and a custom-built desktop computer, were used in the offenses.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor, Brenna Falzetta, and Adam Duso. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mai Tran and Jennifer Harrington.
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.
Osceola County Man Admits to Unlicensed Firearms Dealing and Falsifying Gun Purchase RecordsRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kingsley Wilson (35, Kissimmee) has pleaded guilty to 1 count of dealing in firearms without a license, 14 counts of making a materially false statement to a federally licensed firearms (FFL) dealer, and 14 counts of causing an FFL to maintain false information in its official records. Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for dealing in firearms without a license; 10 years for each count of making a materially false statement to an FFL; and 5 years for each count of causing an FFL to maintain false information in its official records.
According to the plea agreement and evidence presented in court, between January 2022 and July 2023, Wilson purchased 92 firearms from multiple gun dealers in the Middle District of Florida. While purchasing these firearms, Wilson falsely certified on ATF Form 4473s (Firearm Transaction Records) that he was the “actual transferee/buyer” of the firearms. In actuality, Wilson was purchasing these firearms for other individuals in exchange for monetary payments. Wilson’s cellular telephone revealed numerous conversations between Wilson and other individuals about the illegal purchases and transfer of these firearms. Ten of the firearms purchased by Wilson have been recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes (including homicides) in the Bahamas and Canada.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Orlando Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Prison for Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Berger today sentenced Ethan Lipper (21, Orlando) to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Lipper to forfeit the cellular phone used to commit the offense. Lipper pleaded guilty on June 7, 2023.
According to court documents, on January 16, 2023, a detective with the Oviedo Police Department was posing in an undercover capacity (UC) as a 14-year-old male on a social media application. Lipper joined a group called “Orlando Teens” where he began communicating with the UC, who he believed was a 14-year-old boy. Lipper sent pictures of himself and later provided his cell phone number in an effort to entice and sexually assault the child. Lipper sent the UC six videos, at least two of which contained child sexual abuse imagery. One of the videos depicted an adult male sexually assaulting a child who was approximately 9 to 11 years old. Lipper told the UC, who he believed was a child, that he wanted to perform similar acts with him.
On February 1, 2023, Lipper travelled to an address in Oviedo, Florida to meet with, and sexually assault, the child. He was taken into custody when he arrived, and his cellular phone was seized and searched. During a forensic review of his cellular phone, over 100 images and videos of child sexual abuse imagery were located. The majority of the images depicted children approximately 5 to 10 years old. Three of the images depicted children under the age of 5, including an infant. Also located on the phone were conversations between Lipper and individuals between the ages of 12 to 17 years old. During these conversations on a social media application, Lipper asked for sexually explicit images of the minors, some of which were provided to him. To date, the FBI has located and interviewed five of these children. The search for the remaining potential victims is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oviedo Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Leader of Fenta-Pill Pressing Operation Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Patrick Silfrain (41, Winter Garden) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The court also ordered Silfrain to forfeit firearms used in the conspiracy, as well as jewelry, and over $600,000 in currency, which was traceable to the drug offenses. Silfrain had pleaded guilty on November 21, 2022. Jean Kesnor Choisil (51, Ocoee) and Kevin Jean-Gilles (41, Groveland) pleaded guilty to their roles in this conspiracy on November 22, 2022, and November 29, 2022, respectively. On August 31, 2023, Choisil was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months’ imprisonment. Jean-Gilles was sentenced to 19 years and 6 months’ imprisonment.
According to court documents, Silfrain ran an operation that pressed pills to look like legitimately manufactured pharmaceuticals that actually contained fentanyl and fentanyl analogs – so-called “fentapills.” Silfrain operated numerous pill presses at the same time, each of which had the capacity to produce 5,000 pills per hour. During the investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained evidence of numerous shipments of controlled substances and binding agents. Based on the total quantity of binding agents sent to the Silfrain operation, the DEA estimated it to be enough to press 3,760,000 pills.
On April 20, 2022, the DEA arrested Silfrain, Choisil, and Jean-Gilles and executed search warrants on multiple locations. During these searches, they recovered over 23 kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, over a kilogram of methamphetamine, 17 firearms, 11 pill presses, and over $600,000 in U.S. currency, traceable to the drug operation.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Apopka Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Jacksonville Convicted Sex Offender Indicted on Federal Charge of Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced that Alexander James Koby (38, Jacksonville) has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Jacksonville for knowingly receiving child sexual abuse material over the internet. Koby faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. On May 15, 2014, Koby was convicted of possession of child pornography in federal court in Orlando. He is currently serving a Florida state prison sentence and will be transported to Jacksonville for prosecution in this federal case.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
An indictment is only an allegation and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Florida Man Who Trafficked in Florida Box Turtles, Loggerhead Musk Turtles, and Ornate Diamondback Terrapins Pleads Guilty to Lacey Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kevin Olbrych (48, Spring Hill) today pleaded guilty to two counts of Lacey Act Trafficking. Olbrych faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, in 2018, officers from the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant at Olbrych’s residence. During the search, the officers discovered several 300-gallon pools filled with turtles and other containers for the rearing of turtles. In total, Olbrych unlawfully possessed 120 turtles. The animals were not housed properly, and Olbrych did not have proper licensure to possess them. Law enforcement confiscated the turtles and turned them over to an individual qualified to rehabilitate them on behalf of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
After the search, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began investigating Olbrych. The investigation revealed that for years Olbrych had illegally sold turtles to a co-conspirator in Oregon, who later sold them to buyers in China. Further investigation revealed that even after law enforcement seized the turtles from Olbrych’s home in 2018, he continued to traffic in turtles through 2021.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with substantial assistance from the Tampa Police Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
Dominican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry and Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida –Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Papo Encarnacion De Oleo (46, Dominican Republic) to 18 months in federal prison for illegal re-entry by a previously deported alien, falsely presenting a social security number, making a false statement of citizenship to obtain a state benefit, and possession of false identification documents. Encarnacion De Oleo pleaded guilty to the crimes on June 16, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, Encarnacion De Oleo is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was previously removed from the United States in 2014. Even though he never received permission to lawfully re-enter the country, Encarnacion De Oleo illegally returned to the United States following his removal.
In June 2019, Encarnacion De Oleo used another individual’s personal identifying information—name, date of birth, social security card, and birth certificate—to fraudulently obtain a Florida identification card. He also falsely represented himself to be a United States citizen when he obtained the card. Afterward, Encarnacion De Oleo used the card, along with the victim’s social security number, to fraudulently obtain employment with two businesses in Sumter County. Encarnacion De Oleo also falsely claimed to be a United States citizen on the employment eligibility documents for the businesses.
“This criminal repeatedly ignored the laws of our nation, illegally re-entered after being previously removed, and masqueraded under the false guise of United States citizenship by stealing someone’s identity,” said Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “This sentence demonstrates the law will not tolerate those who blatantly disregard it. Thanks to our partnership with the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, we were able to put an end to this recidivist’s activities.”
“This sentence demonstrates that misuse of a Social Security number to gain unlawful entry into the United States after deportation and to fraudulently obtain employment and state identity documents is a punishable crime,” said Rodregas W. Owens, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to curtail this type of illegal activity. I thank the Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigation for their work in this joint investigation and I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA/OIG), with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Citrus County Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida –Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Timothy Roberts (28, Hernando) to six years and five months in federal prison for possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) weapon (a short-barreled shotgun) and two counts of possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Roberts pleaded guilty to the offenses on July 28, 2023.
According to court documents, on August 7, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office stopped Roberts while he was driving a stolen vehicle. When deputies discovered a sawed-off shotgun on the back seat, Roberts admitted that he had tried to cover it with a backpack as he was being pulled over. This illegally modified shotgun was not registered to Roberts in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required under federal law.
Approximately three weeks later, Roberts was again stopped by Citrus County deputies for multiple traffic infractions. A subsequent search of his backpack revealed methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and two handguns. When questioned, Roberts claimed he had planned to sell the firearms. Roberts, who has four prior felony grand theft convictions in state court, is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Orlando Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced William Ross King III (55, Orlando) to 24 years and 5 months in federal prison for receipt and possession of child sexual abuse materials. King had pleaded guilty on August 3, 2023.
According to court documents, on October 14, 2022, after receiving a CyberTip, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at an Orlando hotel room occupied by King and seized a laptop belonging to King. Subsequent forensic analyses of the laptop revealed 42 images and 80 videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). King admitted to downloading and viewing the CSAM. These images and videos included sadistic and masochistic conduct and other violent sexual acts against children, toddlers, and infants.
“This sentence is proof that this deviant’s perverse behavior of victimizing children will not be tolerated,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Thanks to this CyberTip, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, we were able to remove this predator from continuing victimize these children over and over.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Richardson-Jones.
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.
Orlando Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Wendel Algarin to 30 months in federal prison for conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Algarin had pleaded guilty on August 15, 2023.
According to court documents, between 2012 and 2019, Algarin operated a scheme to assist various subcontractors in the evasion of payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance premiums. Algarin conspired with the subcontractors to pay their undocumented construction workers “off the books.” He facilitated the offense by operating three shell companies that he allowed subcontractors to list as their employees’ employers. In return for his assistance with the scheme, Algarin was paid fees of nearly $2 million. He used the funds to live a lavish lifestyle such as by purchasing multiple luxury automobiles. By operating the scheme, Algarin defrauded the United States out of more than $3.5 million in tax revenues.
“Mr. Algarin devised a plan to defraud the American taxpayer by establishing shell companies in the construction sector and evading employment taxes. Additionally, he employed undocumented workers, which harmed the workers’ compensation insurance industry,” said Tara K. Reed, IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that IRS-CI is dedicated to investigating and building a just and impartial tax system in which all businesses can operate.”
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Lakeland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Construction-Related Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Ramon Paz (53, Lakeland) to 33 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $500,731, the proceeds of the wire-fraud conspiracy. Paz had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2023.
According to court documents, Paz owned and managed a construction company which purported to supply construction services and labor for construction contractors and subcontractors. In order to comply with Florida law, Paz’s company was required to secure and maintain adequate worker’s compensation insurance coverage. Paz’s company had agreements with contractors and subcontractors to use workers purported to be Paz’s employees at construction sites, and these workers were often undocumented aliens who were actually working for and under the daily supervision and direction of the contractors. Paz or others would then regularly receive “payroll checks” from contractors that were cashed at various financial institutions to pay Paz’s purported “employees” and other related expenses.
During the time period charged, Paz falsely and fraudulently represented in insurance applications that his company had a very limited payroll and a very limited number of employees who worked on construction jobsites. Paz also falsely and fraudulently sent wire communications to numerous contractors representing that his company’s “employees” had full worker’s compensation coverage.
In reality, Paz’s company received and cashed more than $21 million in checks from various construction contractors for these purported “employees.” These payroll figures far exceeded the very limited payroll figures that Paz had reported to his worker’s compensation insurance company. As a result, these employees, in reality the employees of other entities, performed work on jobsites without adequate insurance coverage. In addition, the insurers lost premiums they would have charged had they been aware of the true number of workers their policies were thus being manipulated to cover.
As a result of these misrepresentations, Paz’s company also disclaimed responsibility for ensuring that jobsite workers were legally authorized to work in the United States and that required state and federal payroll taxes were being paid for these workers. The contractors who actually paid these workers’ wages and used their services were thus also able to avoid responsibility for those duties as well.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is part of a lengthy investigation by those agencies into the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Convicted Armed Bank Robber Indicted Again for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Grant Elmore Davis, Jr. (71, Mansfield, OH) with armed bank robbery, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted on all counts, Davis faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 25 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Davis that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used to facilitate the offense.
According to court documents, Davis entered Truist Bank branch in Fort Myers and discharged a handgun while making verbal commands for the teller to give him money from the cash register. After obtaining money from the teller, Davis fled the bank.
In November 2001, Davis was convicted of armed bank robbery and using and carrying a short-barreled shotgun in relation to a crime of violence. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make 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.
Armed Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody has sentenced Johnathan Anton Williams (39, Ruskin) to eight years and eight months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The court also ordered Williams to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Williams was convicted following a bench trial on April 20, 2023.
According to court documents, law enforcement observed Williams at a Tampa gas station engaged in a possible drug transaction from his vehicle. When deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s approached and observed drug paraphernalia in Williams’s vehicle, he unsuccessfully tried to flee. The deputies then searched the vehicle and recovered a Taurus 9mm pistol and various ammunition, methamphetamine, and two digital scales. Williams had previously been convicted of felonies, including robbery, possession of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Williams illegally possessed the firearm to protect his drug trafficking activities. As a previously convicted felon, 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 Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.
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.
4 Corners Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $800,000 to Resolve Claims of False BillingRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces today that 4 Corners Pharmacy, located in Spring Hill, Florida, has agreed to pay $800,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing the U.S. Department of Labor for a compound supplement that was either not ordered by a licensed healthcare provider or was never delivered to beneficiaries. The Department of Labor provides benefits authorized by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act including compensation and payment of medical expenses to eligible claimants who were injured or became ill on the job, or to their families.
“Pharmacies are not allowed to bill federal programs for medications that are not delivered to beneficiaries or that were never ordered by their healthcare provider,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “This settlement reflects our determination to hold accountable those who seek to exploit our federal healthcare programs.”
“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) programs. We will continue to work with OWCP to protect the integrity of DOL’s workers’ compensation programs,” said Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by private individuals, on behalf of the United States, under the qui tam (commonly known as “whistleblower”) provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery if the government takes over the case and obtains judgment against or reaches a monetary agreement with the defendant.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. It was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Keefe.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Two Orlando Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for 17 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Joe Braiam Pinol Garcia (30, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Previously, on June 6, 2023, U.S. District Judge Berger sentenced Hugo Morones Munoz (49, Orlando) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine. Pinol Garcia and Murones Munoz previously pleaded guilty to the offenses.
According to court documents, on August 17, 2022, Pinol Garcia and Morones Munoz traveled to Mexico so that Morones Munoz could introduce Pinol Garcia to others he knew from Mexico in order to broker a large drug trafficking transaction. Pinol Garcia, Morones Munoz, and others in Mexico came to an agreement to traffic 17 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Morones Munoz and Pinol Garcia agreed to sell the cocaine in the Central Florida area.
On October 3, 2022, 17 bundles of cocaine were sent through the border into Texas to be transported to Florida for Pinol Garcia and Morones Munoz. The cocaine was intercepted in Texas as part of an undercover operation conducted by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The agents then set up a controlled undercover operation in which they provided fake bundles of cocaine to the drug buyers in Florida so that they could be identified and arrested. On October 6, 2022, Morones Munoz and Pinol Garcia arrived at the prearranged parking lot, provided the undercover agents with the money for the transportation fee for the drugs, and accepted the duffle bag with the 17 kilograms of fake cocaine inside. Morones Munoz and Pinol Garcia were arrested as they attempted to leave the parking lot.
“These sentences are testament to the law enforcement partnerships we have across the nation to stop criminals from attempting to peddle their poison in our communities," said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. "Our agents, alongside our partners, work tirelessly to stop the importation of illicit narcotics into our communities.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Gardella.
Ohio Man Indicted for Making False Statements to Purchase Firearms and Selling/Transferring Firearms to JuvenilesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing an indictment charging Gabriel Gladman, (23, Akron, OH) with eight counts of providing false statements with the intent to purchase firearms and six counts of selling/transferring a firearm to a juvenile under the age of 18.
If convicted, Gladman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each false statement count and up to a year in federal prison for each count of selling/transferring a firearm to a juvenile. The indictment also notifies Gladman that the United States intends to forfeit the following eight firearms: a Smith & Wesson, SD40 (.40 caliber semi-automatic firearm), a Taurus G2 semi-automatic firearm, a Glock 24 semi-automatic firearm, a FMK 9C1 semi-automatic firearm, two Taurus G3 semi-automatic firearms, and two Tara TM-9X semi-automatic firearms, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, between November 22, 2022, and June 16, 2023, Gladman bought semi-automatic firearms on eight separate occasions in Tampa, providing false information to federally licensed firearm dealers each time. Gladman represented that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, when in fact he was buying the firearms on behalf of someone else. On six separate occasions, Gladman sold or transferred those firearms to juveniles under the age of 18.
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 Tampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky is handling the forfeiture of the firearms.
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.
Three Men Sentenced for $54M Fraudulent Prescriptions SchemeRead the Press Release
Three men were sentenced today in connection to a $54 million bribery and kickback scheme involving TRICARE, a federal program that provides health insurance benefits to active duty and retired service members and their families.
David Byron Copeland, 55, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison following his conviction at trial in June for paying and receiving health care kickbacks. James Wesley Moss, 60, of Huntsville, Alabama, and Michael Gordon, 60, of Fort Myers, Florida, were sentenced to two years and three months and one year and six months in prison, respectively, following their guilty pleas to a kickback and fraud conspiracy, among other charges.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Moss was a part-owner and CEO of Florida Pharmacy Solutions (FPS), a Florida-based pharmacy that specialized in compounded prescription drugs. Copeland was also a part-owner and senior sales manager at FPS, and Gordon was a lead sales representative. Moss, Copeland, and Gordon, along with their accomplices, engaged in a practice known as “test billing” to develop the most expensive combination of compounded drugs to maximize reimbursement from TRICARE. Moss, Copeland, Gordon, and their accomplices targeted physicians who treated TRICARE beneficiaries and paid bribes and kickbacks to physicians and salespeople to encourage the referral of prescriptions to FPS. The bribes included lavish hunting trips and expensive dinners. In addition, FPS employees used “blanket letters of authorization” that allowed FPS to modify the prescription components to make them more profitable.
Moss paid Copeland and Gordon millions of dollars in kickbacks based on a percentage of the amount that TRICARE reimbursed for their prescriptions, which provided an incentive to seek prescriptions for the most expensive compounded drugs possible, including pain and scar creams. Copeland facilitated the kickbacks through companies he set up to receive and funnel the payments. From late 2012 through mid-2015, FPS billed TRICARE over $54 million for its compounded pharmaceuticals.
In April, co-defendant Edward Christopher White was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty for his role in the scheme.
Acting Assistant Attorney Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DOD-OIG), Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office; Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), Southeast Field Office; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge David Walker of the FBI Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
The DOD-OIG, HHS-OIG, VA-OIG, and FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer, Clayton Solomon, and Katie Rookard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24.7 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than 36 Years in Federal Prison for Producing and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle has sentenced Mark Peterson (30, Tampa) to 36 years and 8 months in federal prison for production and distribution of child sex abuse material. The court also ordered Peterson to forfeit electronic devices used during the offense and pay $22,419.44 in restitution. Peterson had pleaded guilty on May 23, 2023.
According to court documents, between 2017 and 2018, through the social media application Facebook, Peterson enticed and coerced a 16-year-old victim to produce sexually explicit images and videos of herself. In 2020, through the social media application Discord, Peterson traded images and videos of children, including toddlers and babies, being sexually abused.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
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.
Orlando Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that O’Neil Clifton Gordon (24, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Gordon faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on March 10, 2022, law enforcement officers observed what they believed to be a drug exchange between Gordon and one of his known associates. As Gordon left the exchange, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) turned on their vehicles’ lights and sirens and attempted to stop Gordon. Instead of stopping, Gordon fled in his vehicle and eventually escaped. The next day, a felony arrest warrant was issued.
On April 28, 2022, OSCO deputies observed Gordon drive down Colonial Drive in Orlando, realized he had an active warrant, and conducted surveillance. Gordon parked outside a barbershop. While in the parking lot, OCSO observed what they believed to be a hand-to-hand drug exchange.
Gordon eventually left the parking lot, got in his car, and drove away. OCSO deputies followed Gordon until he pulled into his neighborhood. The deputies turned on their lights and sirens and attempted to arrest Gordon. Gordon exited his vehicle and began running. OCSO eventually caught up to Gordon and arrested him. They recovered $830 cash from his pockets.
Inside Gordon’s vehicle, OCSO officers located a Glock firearm, extended magazine, and 21 rounds of ammunition. They also recovered a backpack containing narcotics, including 14.46 grams of fentanyl, a digital scale, and plastic baggies from the front passenger seat.
OCSO got a warrant to search Gordon’s room where they recovered additional ammunition, narcotics, and a pill press.
OCSO also obtained a warrant to search Gordon’s Instagram account where they located photographs of him with a firearm and conversations regarding the sale of cocaine, pills, and marijuana.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
Mexican National Charged with Illegally Transporting Undocumented AliensRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Olidier Roblero-Perez (34, Mexico) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with transporting undocumented aliens for the purpose of furthering their illegal presence in the United States. If convicted, Roblero-Perez faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) encountered Roblero-Perez at a motel in St. Augustine while investigating an incident in which Virjilio Aguilar-Mendez, an undocumented alien from Guatemala, violently struggled with officers who were attempting to arrest him, and which resulted in the death of an SJSO deputy from a medical issue. Aguilar-Mendez was later charged with aggravated manslaughter of an officer and resisting an officer with violence.
Investigators determined that Roblero-Perez had transported Aguilar-Mendez and two other undocumented aliens, both from Mexico, from southwest Florida to St. Johns County to work at a farm in the area. He also transported them between the motel and the farm each day. He also paid for their motel room with cash.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) later learned that Roblero-Perez and the two undocumented aliens from Mexico were staying at a motel in Moultrie, Georgia, and that Roblero-Perez had transported them there. Roblero-Perez transported the aliens between the motel and a farm each day for work, collected and distributed their pay in cash, and paid for their motel room with cash.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and United States Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Fort Myers Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Loaded Firearm as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Steven Dewayne Barnes, Jr. (26, Fort Myers) to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The court also ordered Barnes to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offense. Barnes had been found guilty following a bench trial on July 12, 2023.
According to court records, during the afternoon of November 14, 2022, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department encountered Barnes walking along Washington Avenue in Fort Myers and engaged him in conversation. During their conversation, the officers made serval observations which led them to believe that Barnes was concealing a weapon on his person. As a result, the officers conducted a pat down of Barnes and found a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun concealed under his clothing and tucked into his waistband. An inspection of the firearm revealed that its serial number had been scratched out. As a convicted felon who had previously served prison time, Barnes is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Forensic ballistics analysis later linked the firearm retrieved from Barnes to two recent drive-by shootings in Fort Myers.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.
Dual Brazilian/U.S. Citizen Indicted for Producing, Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Octavio Nogueira Pessoa (31, Largo) with three counts of production, one count of distribution, one count of receipt, and one count of possession of child sex abuse material. If convicted, Pessoa faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each possession count, and up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts. Pessoa has been ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in open court, in December 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Pessoa’s residence after receiving a tip related to child sexual abuse material. During the search, law enforcement discovered that Pessoa was in a romantic relationship with his adult cousin who lived in Brazil. As part of that relationship, the couple openly discussed sexually abusing children in their family and recording those acts. On occasion, Pessoa directed his cousin to sexually abuse children and record the explicit conduct, including conduct involving an 8-year-old victim. In addition to these conversations, during the search warrant, law enforcement discovered thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on Pessoa’s devices.
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 Tampa, with substantial assistance from the Largo Police Department and the Brazilian Department of Federal Police. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
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.
Tallahassee Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute ItRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Brian Keith Coleman (34, Tallahassee) to 12 years in federal prison for possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Coleman had pleaded guilty on August 3, 2023.
According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) found Coleman’s vehicle broken down on the shoulder of Interstate 75 with Coleman standing nearby. After developing probable cause to search the vehicle, a trooper found methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana, and ammunition inside. Where Coleman had been standing, the trooper also located over a pound of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. All these items belonged to Coleman.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Belkis H. Crockett and Tyrie K. Boyer.