Middle District of Florida

A federal court issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting a Tampa-area physician from prescribing opioids and other controlled substances, the Department of Justice announced today.

In a complaint filed on July 18, and unsealed yesterday, the United States alleges that Dr. Neelam Taneja Uppal unlawfully wrote opioid prescriptions in the names of individuals depicted in photographs of driver’s licenses she received via text messages from a third party in exchange for payment for the prescriptions. 

The complaint alleges that Dr. Uppal never met the individuals for whom she wrote prescriptions, and that she sold the prescriptions to a third party. The complaint further alleges that Dr. Uppal received thousands of dollars in cash on multiple occasions for a variety of opioid prescriptions. The complaint seeks to permanently bar Dr. Uppal from issuing controlled substances prescriptions, or owning or supervising a pain clinic, and it also seeks civil penalties.

“It is unlawful for a physician to write opioid prescriptions for individuals they have never met and then sell those prescriptions to a third party,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will use every enforcement tool available under the Controlled Substances Act to protect our communities from rogue medical professionals.”

“The illegal distribution and use of opioids have led to a nationwide epidemic,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Physicians who prescribe these dangerous drugs without legitimate medical cause violate not only the law, but also their oath to do no harm.”

“At a time when we need to be doing all that we can to prevent drug misuse and overdoses, DEA will not tolerate doctors who knowingly break the law, jeopardizing the safety and health of our communities by recklessly prescribing controlled substances,“ said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA will continue working with our law-enforcement partners to pursue cases against anyone contributing to the deadly overdose epidemic in this country.”

U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber granted the temporary restraining order in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

 DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the Tampa District Office is conducting the ongoing investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay S. Griffin and Trial Attorneys Thomas S. Rosso and Scott B. Dahlquist of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are handling the case.

The claims made in the complaint are merely allegations that the United States must prove if the case proceeds to trial.

Tampa, FL – A federal court issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting a Tampa-area physician from prescribing opioids and other controlled substances, the Department of Justice announced today.

In a complaint filed on July 18, and unsealed yesterday, the United States alleges that Dr. Neelam Taneja Uppal unlawfully wrote opioid prescriptions in the names of individuals depicted in photographs of driver’s licenses she received via text messages from a third party in exchange for payment for the prescriptions. 

The complaint alleges that Dr. Uppal never met the individuals for whom she wrote prescriptions, and that she sold the prescriptions to a third party. The complaint further alleges that Dr. Uppal received thousands of dollars in cash on multiple occasions for a variety of opioid prescriptions. The complaint seeks to permanently bar Dr. Uppal from issuing controlled substances prescriptions, or owning or supervising a pain clinic, and it also seeks civil penalties.

“It is unlawful for a physician to write opioid prescriptions for individuals they have never met and then sell those prescriptions to a third party,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will use every enforcement tool available under the Controlled Substances Act to protect our communities from rogue medical professionals.”

“The illegal distribution and use of opioids have led to a nationwide epidemic,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Physicians who prescribe these dangerous drugs without legitimate medical cause violate not only the law, but also their oath to do no harm.”

“At a time when we need to be doing all that we can to prevent drug misuse and overdoses, DEA will not tolerate doctors who knowingly break the law, jeopardizing the safety and health of our communities by recklessly prescribing controlled substances,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA will continue working with our law-enforcement partners to pursue cases against anyone contributing to the deadly overdose epidemic in this country.”

U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber granted the temporary restraining order in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the Tampa District Office is conducting the ongoing investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay S. Griffin and Trial Attorneys Thomas S. Rosso and Scott B. Dahlquist of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are handling the case.

The claims made in the complaint are merely allegations that the United States must prove if the case proceeds to trial.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Rhiannon Peacock (39, Eustis) to three years and five months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Peacock had pleaded guilty on November 16, 2021.

According to facts presented in court, Peacock conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eustis and St. Petersburg areas within the Middle District of Florida. 

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

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Raymond Samuel Reeves (22, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Reeves faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. As part of the plea agreement, Reeves has agreed to forfeit the firearm traceable to the offense.

According to the plea agreement, on February 16, 2022, Reeves was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s after driving recklessly through residential and commercial streets in the Pearl Street area north of downtown. At the time of his arrest, Reeves had a 9mm Taurus pistol in his possession. Reeves had previously been convicted of carjacking and therefore 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 Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus P. Zomorodian.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Dontae Deshawn Edwards (31, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Edwards faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement, on October 20, 2021, Edwards knowingly made a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer on the ATF Form 4473. Edwards stated that he was not a convicted felon when, in fact, he had previously been convicted of several felonies, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis and driving while license suspended or revoked – felony habitual offender (four counts). 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus P. Zomorodian.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Garrett Eric Weber (31, Green Cove Springs) has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice and use a 9-year-old child to produce videos of the child being sexually abused. Weber faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to 30 years, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Weber was arrested on a federal warrant by the Green Cove Springs Police Department during a traffic stop on July 5, 2021, and he has been detained since that time. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.    

According to court documents, in 2020, Weber, using the name “BUBBLESXD_90,” uploaded an image depicting the sexual abuse of a child to a chat group on a popular social media application (app). This upload was eventually detected by law enforcement officers in Wisconsin. Further investigation by the FBI ultimately resulted in the identification of Weber. In March 2021, an undercover FBI agent, posing as the parent of a young child, engaged in online conversation with Weber using the app. After some discussion and being told that the “child” was 9 years old, Weber offered to serve as the “child’s” trainer by engaging in sexual activity with the “child.” He requested that the “parent” take an explicit photo of the “child” for him and provided specific instructions on how to accomplish it. Weber advised that he wanted the “parent” to film him as he sexually abused the “child,” and that the resulting recording “would be the best [child pornography] vid ever.” Weber sent the “parent” several videos over the internet that depicted the sexual abuse of young children to demonstrate exactly how he planned to molest the “child.”

After his arrest, Weber admitted to FBI agents that he was in fact “BUBBLESXD_90,” that he had engaged in “extremely descriptive” and “horrible” online conversations with the “child’s” parent, and that he had distributed videos of very young children being sexually abused using the internet. Weber acknowledged that the “[e]vidence is staggeringly harsh against [him]” in this case. 

This case was investigated by the Green Cove Springs Police Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Winnebago County (Wisconsin) Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Milwaukee and Jacksonville, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a superseding indictment charging Clayton Everett Colborn (30, Wesley Chapel), also known as “Jason Rich,” “Jason,” “Clay,” and “Clayay,” with two counts of enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity, five counts of using minors to produce child sexual abuse images and videos, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Colborn faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. The superseding indictment also notifies Colborn that the United States intends to forfeit electronic devices and his Chevrolet Corvette, which were used in the commission of the offense.

According to the superseding indictment, from in or around February 2019 through approximately May 2020, Colborn knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced minor victims to engage in sexual activity. Colborn also produced several child sex abuse videos and images of minor victims.

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ocoee Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

Anyone with information regarding Clayton Everett Colborn, also known as “Jason Rich,” “Jason,” “Clay,” or “Clayay,” should contact the Tampa Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 813-253-1000.

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

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Dempsey Gilmore (32, Tampa) with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute narcotics, one count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted on the conspiracy count, Gilmore faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute narcotics and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Gilmore faces a consecutive 5 years in federal prison to the drug trafficking crimes.  The indictment also notifies Gilmore that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition recovered in this investigation, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, beginning on an unknown date, but not later than on or about February 9, 2022, Gilmore conspired with others to sell or deliver narcotics. During the conspiracy Gilmore possessed a firearm. Gilmore has been convicted of multiple felonies to include escape and felon in possession of firearm or ammunition and is therefore 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 Tampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety – one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and re-entry efforts.  In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Raul Reyes-Vazquez (50, Tampa) to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison for committing bank robberies while on federal supervised release in connection with a bank robbery he had committed in 2008. The court also ordered Reyes-Vazquez to forfeit $28,579, which are traceable proceeds of the February 2022 offenses. Reyes-Vazquez had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2022.

According to court documents, on July 28, 2008, Reyes-Vazquez committed a bank robbery through the threat of violence at a Chase Bank in Manhattan. He was convicted and sentenced for that offense in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He also committed a series of bank robberies in 2006 in Hialeah and Miami for which he was sentenced in 2019.

In February 2022, Reyes-Vazquez was still serving a sentence of supervised release for his federal conviction for the bank robbery he had committed in 2008. 

On February 16, 2022, Reyes-Vazquez entered a Trustco Bank branch in Orlando and announced that it was a robbery and that he would shoot employees if the teller did not give him the money. The teller complied and Reyes-Vazquez obtained $4,200. On February 22, 2022, Reyes-Vazquez entered a Wells Fargo bank branch in Orlando, announced it was a robbery, and threatened to shoot everyone in the bank if they did not provide him money. Bank employees provided a total of $43,695, nearly $20,000 of which was recovered when law enforcement arrested Reyes-Vazquez two days later. At sentencing, Reyes-Vazquez was determined to be a career offender under federal sentencing rules.  

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

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety – one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and re-entry efforts.  In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Orlando, Florida– United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Thomas Zayas (45, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to enticing a minor child to produce sexually explicit videos and to possessing child sexual abuse material. Zayas faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to 30 years, in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of child sexual abuse material. He faces a potential life term of supervised release on all counts. A sentencing date has been set for October 26, 2022.

According to the plea agreement, in approximately July 2022, Zayas, posing as a teenage boy, used a messaging application to contact a 12-year-old child. After the child grew tired of Zayas’s romantic advances, the child stopped communicating with Zayas. Zayas then contacted the child again, this time posing as the sister of the teenage boy. Zayas threatened to physically hurt the child for ending the “relationship” with the fictional brother, and as a result, the child agreed to continue a friendship with the original persona. In order to scare the child and prove that Zayas knew who the child was, where she lived, and where the child went to school, Zayas sent the child a photo of the child’s apartment complex and a yearbook photo of the child from the child’s middle school. Zayas then requested several nude images and videos of the child performing sexual acts, and he instructed the child on what to do in the images and videos. Initially the child refused, afraid that Zayas would post the photos on the internet to harm the child. After promising not to use the images to harm the child, the child eventually sent Zayas sexually explicit videos and photos. The demands from Zayas continued, and when the child did not comply with Zayas’s requests, Zayas became hostile and threatened to expose the child with the nude videos and images the child had previously sent.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) was made aware of Zayas when a school resource officer was contacted by a parent who had received via text message a collage depicting sexually explicit photos of the child. OSCO investigators were able to trace the aliases to Zayas through phone records, and with the help of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, also discovered evidence of an order for flowers, which Zayas had delivered to the child’s middle school, from his work-issued laptop.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.

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

Tampa, FL – A federal court ordered a Tampa-area pain management clinic to close and directed the clinic’s owners and its former physician to collectively pay $600,000 in civil penalties pursuant to agreed resolutions in a case alleging violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Justice Department announced today. 

In a complaint filed in February 2021, the United States alleged that Dr. Tobias Bacaner wrote prescriptions for opioids without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice while employed at Paragon Community Healthcare, a pain clinic in New Port Richey, Florida. The complaint alleged that Paragon’s owners, Theodore Ferguson II and Timothy Ferguson, managed the clinic’s operations and profited from the unlawful prescribing while ignoring obvious signs of drug abuse and diversion. The complaint further alleged that Dr. Bacaner and the Fergusons used their jointly owned pharmacy, Cobalt Pharmacy, to unlawfully fill prescriptions issued at Paragon without scrutiny.

The order against Dr. Bacaner requires him to pay $500,000 in civil penalties and prohibits him from prescribing, administering, dispensing or distributing controlled substances, among other restrictions. The order against the Fergusons and Paragon requires them to jointly pay $100,000 in civil penalties. The order also requires Paragon to permanently close, and places restrictions on the Fergusons’ ability to own or work at entities that administer, dispense or distribute controlled substances in the future. The defendants also agreed to permanently dissolve Cobalt Pharmacy, which closed shortly before the government filed suit.

“Physicians who prescribe opioids without a legitimate medical purpose and outside of the usual course of professional practice and others who facilitate that conduct will be held accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to aggressively use all available enforcement remedies to prevent the unlawful diversion of potentially dangerous prescription drugs.”

“Dr. Bacaner and his associates profited from unlawfully prescribing opioids without a legitimate medical purpose,” said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Roger B. Handberg. “We will continue to protect the community from those who place a higher value on profit than the safety of the public.”

“Our communities place trust in their medical professionals to help them. The actions of Dr. Bacaner and owners of this clinic violated this trust,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This settlement highlights DEA’s commitment to hold medical providers accountable for violating laws designed to protect the health and safety of our communities. The closure of these businesses and the prohibition to continue to exploit those in need, ensures the wellbeing of patients everywhere.”  

U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington entered the consent decree in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the Tampa District Office.

The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay S. Griffin and Trial Attorneys Scott Dahlquist and Tom Rosso of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch.

A federal court ordered a Tampa-area pain management clinic to close and directed the clinic’s owners and its former physician to collectively pay $600,000 in civil penalties pursuant to agreed resolutions in a case alleging violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Justice Department announced today. 

In a complaint filed in February 2021, the United States alleged that Dr. Tobias Bacaner wrote prescriptions for opioids without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice while employed at Paragon Community Healthcare, a pain clinic in New Port Richey, Florida. The complaint alleged that Paragon’s owners, Theodore Ferguson II and Timothy Ferguson, managed the clinic’s operations and profited from the unlawful prescribing while ignoring obvious signs of drug abuse and diversion. The complaint further alleged that Dr. Bacaner and the Fergusons used their jointly owned pharmacy, Cobalt Pharmacy, to unlawfully fill prescriptions issued at Paragon without scrutiny.

The order against Dr. Bacaner requires him to pay $500,000 in civil penalties and prohibits him from prescribing, administering, dispensing or distributing controlled substances, among other restrictions. The order against the Fergusons and Paragon requires them to jointly pay $100,000 in civil penalties. The order also requires Paragon to permanently close, and places restrictions on the Fergusons’ ability to own or work at entities that administer, dispense or distribute controlled substances in the future. The defendants also agreed to permanently dissolve Cobalt Pharmacy, which closed shortly before the government filed suit.

“Physicians who prescribe opioids without a legitimate medical purpose and outside of the usual course of professional practice and others who facilitate that conduct will be held accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to aggressively use all available enforcement remedies to prevent the unlawful diversion of potentially dangerous prescription drugs.”

“Dr. Bacaner and his associates profited from unlawfully prescribing opioids without a legitimate medical purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to protect the community from those who place a higher value on profit than the safety of the public.”

“Our communities place trust in their medical professionals to help them. The actions of Dr. Bacaner and owners of this clinic violated this trust,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This settlement highlights DEA’s commitment to hold medical providers accountable for violating laws designed to protect the health and safety of our communities. The closure of these businesses and the prohibition to continue to exploit those in need, ensures the wellbeing of patients everywhere.”  

U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington entered the consent decree in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the Tampa District Office.

The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay S. Griffin and Trial Attorneys Scott Dahlquist and Tom Rosso of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Javeon Jacobs (22, Tampa) to 21 years in federal prison for firearms offenses relating to his brandishing of a firearm during three armed carjacking incidents. Jacobs had pleaded guilty on April 14, 2022.           

According to court documents, on March 31, 2021, Jacobs used a firearm and physical force to carjack a vehicle in Safety Harbor. On April 18, 2021, Jacobs kidnapped two individuals at gunpoint in Tampa and took their vehicle. After releasing those victims, Jacobs abandoned their vehicle at another location in Tampa, where Jacobs carjacked another vehicle, again by brandishing a firearm.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tampa Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Largo Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jim Preston.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety – one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and re-entry efforts.  In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Christel Joseph to 30 months in federal prison for preparing false and fraudulent tax returns. Joseph had pleaded guilty on February 16, 2022.

According to court documents, Christel Joseph and her husband, Naeem Joseph, were involved in a conspiracy to prepare false tax returns by claiming fraudulent refunds and credits to which their taxpayer-clients were not entitled, including education tax credits, fuel tax credits, and dependent care credits. Between 2015 and 2016, the Josephs helped prepare and file fraudulent tax returns from Haines City, Florida and Roanoke, Virginia. As a result, the Internal Revenue Service issued more than $230,000 in fraudulent tax refunds.                            

On July 8, 2022, U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell sentenced Naeem Joseph to 21 months’ imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy. 

“Christel Joseph and her husband Naeem Joseph fraudulently charged their clients and loaded up their returns with tax credits, getting them bigger refunds than they deserved,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office. “Taxpayers who elect to pay a preparer should always do their due diligence beforehand to ensure they’re not victims of tax fraudsters like the Josephs. More information on selecting a reputable tax professional is available on IRS.gov.”

This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, Roanoke, Virginia. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Michael Achille (57, Rockledge) to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute tapentadol, a pharmaceutical opiate that is a Schedule II controlled substance. Achille had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2022. 

According to court documents, Achille worked with conspirators to obtain international shipments containing thousands of pills of tapentadol, among other pharmaceutical controlled substances. The pills were sent to Achille from locations in India. Achille directed the packages to a fake name at an address in Cape Canaveral where he could retrieve the shipments. Achille then redistributed the pills in smaller quantities and shipped hundreds of those pills to addresses in Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, and other locations. The investigation revealed multiple shipments received by Achille in December and January 2021 involving more than 11,000 pills.    

“Trafficking narcotics destroys the fabric of society and make victims out of communities,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “The outstanding law enforcement partnerships between HSI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Rockledge Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office ensured this criminal will now face the consequences of his actions.”  

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Adam Fleming (36, Zephyrhills) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Fleming had pleaded guilty on April 27, 2022.

According to court documents, on June 14, 2020, the Dade City Police Department seized 340 grams of methamphetamine from Fleming following a traffic stop.  On April 1, 2021, the Zephyrhills Police Department seized over 500 grams of methamphetamine from Fleming following another traffic stop. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Dade City Police Department, and the Zephyrhills Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a three-count indictment charging Johnny Deangelo White (45, Jacksonville) with possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, White faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the fentanyl offense, up to 5 years’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and up to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The indictment also notifies White that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense. White was arrested in Jacksonville and made his initial appearance on July 14, 2022, before United States Magistrate Judge Joel B. Toomey and following his detention hearing on July 21, 2022, he was ordered detained pending trial.

According to the indictment, on April 27, 2022, White was in possession of a firearm while trafficking in fentanyl. At the time of the incident, White had previous felony convictions for shooting or throwing a deadly missile, grand theft auto, two possession of cocaine offenses, and three prior sale of cocaine offenses. As a previously convicted felon, White is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.       

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging Darrius Jaques Garrett (33, Orlando) with two counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Garrett faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Garrett that the United States intends to forfeit all firearms and ammunition recovered as a result of the offense conduct.

According to court documents, on May 27, 2022, Garrett was charged with knowingly possessing a Glock pistol and .22 caliber rounds of ammunition in connection with a shooting. At approximately 4:00 p.m. that day, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Americana Boulevard in Orlando where they found a man who had sustained gunshot wounds to the torso. That individual was later treated and released from the hospital. Surveillance images from a nearby business captured the shooting.

Five days later, on June 1, 2022, Garrett was observed in the same area by deputies with the same Dodge Charger depicted on the video. Inside, deputies found a loaded Glock firearm that authorities allege was used in the shooting.

Garrett is a five-time convicted felon and is therefore 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety – one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and re-entry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle today sentenced Tracy Lee Jedlicki (56, Delray Beach) to 30 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  As part of her sentence, the Court also ordered Jedlicki to forfeit $750,000, a 4.01 carat diamond ring, a 11-carat diamond necklace, and a South Florida residence worth more than $2 million.  The Court also ordered Jedlicki to pay $3,244,592 in restitution to the victims.  Jedlicki had pleaded guilty on February 24, 2022. 

According to court documents, Jedlicki and her coconspirators operated international boiler rooms in Panama and elsewhere.  The boiler rooms used high-pressure sales techniques to defraud individuals who believed they were investing substantial amounts of money in regulated financial products or markets, such as options in commodities and stocks. The majority of the victims targeted by the boiler rooms operated by Jedlicki and her coconspirators were located in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

Jedlicki and her coconspirators then laundered fraud proceeds generated by the boiler rooms through several money laundering rings, to overseas accounts, with the launderers receiving a percentage of the funds they had moved. Jedlicki's duties included, among other tasks, arranging travel for boiler room workers to the boiler room locations, calling victims while posing as an employee of a fake investment firm to set up loading calls for coconspirators operating the boiler rooms, serving as a liaison between the boiler rooms and a money laundering organization, maintaining records of coconspirator wire transfer payments to foreign and domestic bank accounts, and reconciling payments between the boiler rooms and the money laundering organization.

Jedlicki herself received a 2% referral fee for referring victims’ funds to a money laundering ring and used the funds to perpetuate the conspiracy and for her own personal enrichment.  Jedlicki and her coconspirators wired or caused to be wired victims’ funds in the approximate amount of $3,244,592 to money laundering accounts in furtherance of the wire fraud conspiracy.

“We are committed to stopping transnational criminal organizations that target the elderly with fraudulent investment schemes that use high-pressure tactics,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Dumas. “This conviction should send a message that HSI and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), working with together with our international partners, are a formidable investigative force that is unwavering in our pursuit of fraudsters.” 

“These boiler rooms used high-pressure sales to peddle millions of dollars in bogus investments to unsuspecting victims across the globe,” said Brian Payne, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office. “Thanks to the investigative work of IRS-CI and HSI special agents, another transnational criminal organization has bit the dust.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee and Assistant United States Attorney Craig Gestring.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Raequin Smith (26, Tampa) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Smith faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the controlled substance offense, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and up to 5 years’ imprisonment for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment also notifies Smith that the United States intends to forfeit all firearms and ammunition recovered as a result of the offense conduct.

According to the indictment, on April 5, 2022, Smith knowingly possessed a Glock .45 caliber pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition, and a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine). Smith had previously been convicted of aggravated battery on or about September 18, 2014. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety – one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and re-entry efforts.  In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Eurich Griffin III to four years and nine months in federal prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by preparing false and fraudulent tax returns. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the court also ordered Griffin to pay more than $1.6 million in restitution to the United States. Griffin had pleaded guilty on March 14, 2022.

According to court documents, Griffin was involved in a conspiracy that recruited clients by convincing them that their mortgages and other debts entitled them to tax refunds and prepared false tax returns on the clients’ behalf. Between 2013 and 2018, as part of the conspiracy, Griffin helped prepare and file tax returns for clients that sought more than $5.2 million in fraudulent tax refunds. The tax returns falsely claimed that banks and other financial institutions had withheld large amounts of income tax from the clients, thereby entitling the clients to a refund. In reality, the financial institutions had not paid any income to, or withheld any taxes from, these individuals. To make the refund claims appear legitimate, however, Griffin and his co-conspirators filed fraudulent tax documents with the IRS that matched the withholding information listed on the tax returns, making them appear as if they had been issued by the banks. As part of the conspiracy, Griffin also submitted fraudulent promissory notes to the IRS totaling more than $1.35 million in which he falsely purported to pay the clients’ tax debts.

“Let’s call this scheme what it is – stealing. Griffin and his co-conspirators attempted to steal millions of dollars from the government by submitting fabricated tax returns,” said Brian Payne, Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Field Office. “Thanks to the investigative work of our IRS-CI agents, we were able to shut this scheme down and prevent tax refunds from going to undeserving fraudsters.”

This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L Peresie.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Lee Shumaker, Jr. (39, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute it, and one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Shumaker faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each controlled substance offense and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the firearm offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Shumaker, a convicted felon, sold quantities of fentanyl to undercover law enforcement officers on multiple occasions and in increasingly large amounts in March and April 2021. During one of the fentanyl transactions, Shumaker also sold a Ruger .357 Magnum revolver and also offered to sell a .22 caliber pistol. As a previously convicted felon, Shumaker is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Lazaro Adrian Quintana Martinez (27, Tampa) to four years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Quintana Martinez had pleaded guilty on January 13, 2022.

According to court documents, Quintana Martinez and others conspired to obtain breached and stolen credit card and debit card account information and then use the stolen information to manufacture counterfeit credit cards. The conspirators used the counterfeit credit cards at retailers throughout the United States. The total loss from the conspirators’ use of the counterfeit credit cards is at least $435,000.

Quintana Martinez is the last of six conspirators to be sentenced. His codefendant, Lazaro Jesus Izquierdo (29, Tampa), was sentenced to six years and nine months’ imprisonment. Four other conspirators were sentenced in related cases as follows:

• On July 10, 2020, Yosvani Concepcion Izquierdo (33, Tampa) was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
• On November 10, 2020, Greisy Alfonso Lujan (29, Tampa) was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment.
• On December 7, 2021, Jany Angelica Hernandez Guerra (28, Tampa) was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment.
• On January 26, 2022, Michael William Perez Castillo (32, Brandon) was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

“I would like to thank our agents, analysts, local, interstate, federal agencies and business partner for their hard work in solving this case. This complex, sophisticated fraud scheme case began in 2016 and spanned multiple counties in Florida and into other states. The collaboration between the public and private sectors made it possible to identify and dismantle this criminal organization,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Mark Brutnell, Special Agent in Charge, Tampa.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L Peresie.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Herman Fleming (29, Fort Myers) to 12 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and supervised release violations.  Fleming had pleaded guilty in March 2022.

According to court documents, on August 24, 2021, an undercover ATF agent watched Fleming, a convicted felon, purchase an AK-47 style rifle at a North Fort Myers flea market. The agent recognized Fleming because, in nearly identical circumstances four years earlier, the agent had personally witnessed Fleming illegally purchase a rifle at a North Fort Myers gun show. That investigation resulted in federal charges for Fleming and a three-year federal prison sentence.

Knowing Fleming and that he had recently been released from prison, the undercover ATF agent and deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office followed Fleming from the flea market and conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle. Inside the vehicle, the officers found the AK-47 Fleming had purchased, as well as 25 grams of pure methamphetamine and 10 grams of fentanyl, which Fleming admitted he had intended to distribute to others.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Leeman.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and indictment of Darius Lopez (27, Tampa) charging him with one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Lopez faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the fraud count and a consecutive 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count.

According to court records, on April 13, 2021, Lopez purchased more than $27,0000 worth of landscaping equipment from a tractor dealer in Citrus County. During the transactions, Lopez used the unauthorized account numbers of four Department of Agriculture General Services Administration (GSA) Smartpay charge cards. The account numbers were fraudulently embossed on PayPal and 7-Eleven prepaid debit cards. GSA SmartPay provides services to more than 560 Federal agencies, organizations, and Native American tribal governments. Its payments solutions enable authorized government employees to make purchases on behalf of the federal government in support of their agency or organization’s mission.

An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the General Services Administration - Office of Inspector General with assistance from the following agencies and financial institutions: U.S. General Services Administration - Office of Inspector General (Southeast and Caribbean Regional Investigations Office), U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General (Southeast Region), Amtrak - Office of Inspector General (Central Region), U.S. Secret Service Orlando Cyber Fraud Task Force, Citrus County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Bank, Synchrony Bank Special Investigations Team, and Morgan Stanley Corporate Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah Nowalk and Tyrie K. Boyer.

Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Monique Elizabeth Carter (36, Middleburg) to one year and one day in federal prison for tampering with a consumer product, specifically, injectable fentanyl. The court further ordered that after serving her prison sentence, Carter will serve one year of home detention as a condition of a two-year term of supervised release. During this time, Carter will also be prohibited from working in any position in which she would have access to prescribed medications. Carter had pleaded guilty on April 13, 2022.

According to court documents, Carter is a registered nurse who had previously been employed by a hospital in Jacksonville. She worked in a neural intensive care unit or ICU, which is a specialized unit that provides intensive and specialized care to critically ill patients with life-threatening neurological problems. Certain ICU patients were prescribed intravenous doses of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid used as a pain medication and as anesthesia. 

After Carter’s shift on September 28, 2021, a hospital pharmacist examined the ICU wing’s inventory of fentanyl and found a fentanyl syringe with a tamper-proof cap missing, but with some form of foreign adhesive remaining at the tip. A second fentanyl syringe had a cap that appeared to have been glued back on. After reviewing hospital records, a pharmacist supervisor noted a pattern of Carter checking out doses of fentanyl for patients, but then cancelling the transactions and checking syringes back into the hospital’s inventory. Records showed that Carter did so 24 times between August 29 and September 28, 2021. Carter was the only nurse on her ICU wing who persistently checked out fentanyl and returned it to the hospital’s inventory.

The next day, when Carter arrived for work, hospital representatives interviewed her. Confronted with the pharmacists’ findings, Carter eventually admitted that—to obtain drugs for personal use at home—she had been removing injectable fentanyl from syringes, replacing the drug with saline, and then gluing the plastic tampering caps back on the syringes with an adhesive that she obtained from the hospital. She admitted that she had been tampering with fentanyl syringes since the summer of 2021. Carter denied injecting fentanyl while on duty at the hospital, but in her bag, law enforcement investigators later located needles, saline syringes, and adhesive.

Carter is a trained healthcare professional and knew that her activities likely resulted in critically ill patients receiving diluted fentanyl, which was not safe and effective. Having been deprived of sterile, medically necessary medication, such patients were exposed to possible infection and endured unnecessary pain and suffering. In addition, Carter knew that the failure to anesthetize or control pain in ICU patients can result in increased risks of illness or death, stemming from, among other things, respiratory, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal complications.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office – Pharmaceutical Diversion and Designer Drug Unit attached to the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.

Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Dennis Dewayne Jackson (39, Lake City) to 11 years and 6 months in federal prison for receiving visual depictions of child sexual abuse. The Court also ordered Jackson to serve a 20-year term of supervised release, to register as a sex offender, and to forfeit the phone that he had used to receive the images and videos of children being sexually abused. Jackson had pleaded guilty on March 9, 2022, and has been detained since his arrest on July 22, 2021.

Jackson’s older brother, John Thomas Jackson, was sentenced on January 27, 2022, to 20 years in federal prison for distributing visual depictions of child sexual abuse. 

According to court documents, the FBI initiated an investigation of a private chat group that catered to people interested in sexual activity between daughters and daddies and in which files of child sexual abuse material were regularly shared. After identifying John Jackson, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI executed a search warrant at the Jacksons’ residence in Lake City on July 4, 2021. While reviewing seized electronic devices, the FBI discovered that John Jackson was distributing videos of the sexual assault of children to his brother, Dennis Jackson. Further, the two had exchanged messages about the “need” to rape a 15-year-old child with whom John Jackson was communicating and of whom Dennis Jackson requested nude photos.

During a recorded interview, Dennis Jackson admitted to distributing and receiving child sexual abuse material for the last two years, and that he had received approximately 1,500 files of such material and distributed files dozens of times.

“The exploitation of children requires swift and intense law enforcement action,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division.  “We at the FBI are prepared to immediately respond whenever a child is at risk. Predators should heed this warning: the FBI, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to stop these heinous crimes and protect innocent children.” 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

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

Tampa – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today the second quarter results of the Middle District of Florida’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy. Over the past three months, PSN prosecutors in the Middle District of Florida have charged 64 defendants with federal firearms and violent crime offenses. Those prosecutions have removed more than 200 firearms from our streets. During 2022, in total, PSN prosecutors in the Middle District of Florida have charged 115 defendants with federal firearms and violent crime offenses, involving 287 firearms and 1,813 auto sears. (See chart for case details)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also committed to violent crime prevention. PSN community outreach efforts in the second quarter involved more than 900 people. 

“Our ultimate goal is to reduce violent crime in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to doing our part to help make that happen, and we look forward to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners and our community stakeholders in this effort.”

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. This evidence-based program has proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in communities and developing comprehensive solutions that reduce crime. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based reentry programs to reduce recidivism.

The cases identified in the linked chart have been investigated by the Apopka Police Department, the Bradenton Police Department, the Cocoa Beach Police Department, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Myers Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County Police Department, the Lake Mary Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Sanford Police Department, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota Police Department, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

An indictment or criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

These cases are being prosecuted by the Assistant United States Attorneys in all five divisions throughout the Middle District of Florida. For additional information on Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit our website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/project-safe-neighborhoods-0.  

Charged Cases

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Minimum/Maximum Terms of Imprisonment

Firearms Seized

Fort Myers Division

2nd Quarter

Cambrel Smart (28)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Terry Flournoy (28)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Ronald Perkins (44)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Najour Grimes (25)

Armed Career Criminal/felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

James Edward Bess, III (27)

Carjacking

Maximum Prison Term: 25 years

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Mandatory Minimum Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term:  Life

1

Manuel Copland (28)

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

3

These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Mark Morgan, Trent Reichling, and Mike Leeman

Jacksonville Division

2nd Quarter

Raymond Reeves (30)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Cornelius Moore (29)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Stephan Marshall (34)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Sterling Johnson (47)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

1

Brian Sarro (47)

 

Possession of a machinegun

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Brandon Skeith (39)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking

Mandatory Minimum Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term:  Life

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

1

Shawntae Clark (41)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term:  Life

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

2

Johnny White (44)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term:  Life

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

1

James Little (49)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms causing a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in their official records

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

0

Dontae Edwards (30)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms causing a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in their official records

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

0

Thomas Morrison (62)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms causing a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in their official records

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

0

Darrell Paschal (50)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

1

Hinduwah Sama (18)

Assault on a federal employee

Maximum Prison Term: 8 years

Possession of a stolen firearm

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Dustin Eward (44)

Conspiracy; Violation of the National Firearms Registration Act

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

Possession of firearms silencers

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

105

Gregory Eward (24)

Possession of firearms silencers

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Michael Langston (37)

Possession of a machinegun and silencer violation of the National Firearms Registration Act

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession of firearms by an adjudicated mental defective and unlawful user of controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

11

Dylan Jarvis (30)

Possession of a short barreled shotgun, violation of the National Firearms Registration Act

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

David Geathers (25)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term:5 years

Maximum Prison Term:  Life

4

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs Julie Hackenberry, Arnold Cormeier, John Cannizzaro, Frank Talbot, Cyrus Zomorodian, Rodney Brown, Michael Coolican, Kevin Frein, and Kirwinn Mike

Ocala Division

2nd Quarter

Ricky D. Franklin, Jr. (30)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Ronrico Lionel Farmer (33)

Possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

James Clay Bexley (34)

Possession of an unregistered firearm/destructive device

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession of a firearm in violation of a domestic violence injunction

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

18

Troy Nix (29)

Possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute heroin

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

These PSN cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSAs Tyrie K. Boyer, Hannah Nowalk, and Robert Bodnar, Jr.

Orlando Division

2nd Quarter

Kidanny Rivera-Rolon (27)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Mandel Lamont Stewart (24)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Ivan Hollingsworth (34)

Unlawful dealing in firearms –

 Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

NFT violation for transfer of auto sear

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

3 plus 238 auto sears

James King (53)

Possession of auto sear

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Sale of firearm to felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2 plus 12 auto sears

Brian A. Blake (30)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition (two counts)

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years per count

2

Daniel Ira Johnson (34)

Transfer of firearm to non-resident

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

3

Javier Lopez Rivera (36)

 

Pedro Tapia Matos (29)

Possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 Years

Maximum Prison Term: 40 years

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking

Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years

3

Curtis Tyrone Johnson (34)

Possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 Years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

1

Jason Aaron Beaty (43)

Possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a drug user

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

3

These PSN cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Chauncey Bratt, Ranganath Manthripragada, Terry Livanos, Dana Hill, Ilianys Rivera Miranda, Betty Gonzalez, and Michael Felicetta

Tampa Division

2nd Quarter

Jerome Miller (38)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Dallas Robinson, Jr. (21)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Niko Wimbley (27)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Deandre Lopez (32)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Michael Hankerson (30)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Raequan Nelson (23)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Raequin Smith (26)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Jackie Chapman, III (20)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

0

Ataire Carl Ray (27)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Marquvius T. Dixon (26)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Marquis Player (28)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

William Shumaker (38)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Cleate Wilson (40)

Forcibly resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal officers

Maximum Prison Term: 1 year

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Roy Nobles (41)

 

Malachi Deloch (23)

 

Armed Career Criminal/felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

4

Reginal Roberts (22)

 

 Nathaniel Carr (28)

 

 Daniel Jackson (29)

 

Chrishawn Butler (22)

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Hobbs Act

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 24 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

O’Marie Hudson (25)

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Hobbs Act

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term:7 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

0

 

Elijah Bell (19)

Hobbs Act

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

 

0

Thomas Bellere (29)

 

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term:10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term:5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

1

Magdiel Carmona (27)

 

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term:10 years

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

6

Derrek Wallace (45)

 

Troy Dollman (45)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: 40 years

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term:5 years

Maximum Prison Term: 40 years

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term:15 years

Maximum Prison Term:  Life

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

2

Rafael Gonzalez Alomar (38)

 

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

2

These PSN cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Diego Novaes, Mike Sinacore, Samantha Beckman, Charlie Connally, Maria Guzman, David Sullivan, David Chee, Michael Kenneth, and Christopher Murray

 

Adjudicated Cases

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Minimum/Maximum Terms of Imprisonment

Firearms Seized

Fort Myers Division

2nd Quarter

Re’Shod Larry (27)

 

Felon in possession of firearm

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Romeo Lenell Battle (24)

 

Felon in possession of firearm

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSA Simon Eth

Jacksonville Division

2nd Quarter

Edrick Jackson (28)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Ramone Astin

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

0

Andrew Harp (30)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Jeromy Washington (25)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

1

Adam Taylor (32)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2

Charles Mobley (49)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

9

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs Michael Coolican, David Mesrobian, Arnold Corsmeier, Frank Talbot, David Mesrobian, and John Cannizzaro

Ocala Division

 

                   2nd Quarter

 

Marty Eugene Days, Jr. (33)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Nathanael Santiago (28)

Possession of a firearm/ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Tevaughn Johnson (28)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Forcibly assaulting federal officer with injury

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Marques Leroy Young (22)

Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

Causing a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in their official records

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

1

Samuel A. Glover (30)

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

2

Dean Dumont (23)

Possession of an Unregistered NFA Weapon

Maximum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years

1

Miguel Vargas-Narez (44)

Possession of a firearm by an illegal alien

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

These PSN cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSAs Robert Bodnar, Jr, Tyrie K. Boyer, Mike Felicetta, Will S. Hamilton, and Hannah Nowalk

Orlando Division

2nd Quarter

Jarvis Jackson (31)

 

 

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Interference with commerce by robbery

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

1

             

Kevin Deane Jones (50)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

2       

 

These PSN cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Chauncey Bratt and Jen Harrington

Tampa Division

2nd Quarter

Devin Kelly (27)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Devontae Hunter (24)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

1

Kermon Williams (44)

 

Jhaphre Higgs (42)

 

James Higgs (37)

 

Conspiracy to commit murder for hire

Mandatory Minimum Prison Term: Life

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Murder for hire

Mandatory Minimum Prison Term: Life

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Attempt to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Use of a firearm causing death in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Mandatory Minimum Prison Term: Life

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Use of a firearm causing death in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Mandatory Minimum Prison Term: Life

Maximum Prison Term: Life

Unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

0

These PSN cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Mike Sinacore, David Chee, Craig Gestring, and Charlie Connelly

 

Sentenced Cases

Defendant(s)

(Age)

Charges

Sentence Imposed

Firearms Seized

Fort Myers Division

2nd Quarter

John Olvera Salinas (19)

 

 

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence—18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)

Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

15

Joshua Wade McGinnis (27)

*Salinas codefendant

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine

Distribution of cocaine (3 Counts)

Use of a firearm during and in relation to/possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

Sentence Imposed: 10 years in federal prison

This PSN case from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSA Mike Leeman

Jacksonville Division

2nd Quarter

Steven McWhorter (49)

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine over 500 Grams

Sentence Imposed: 136 months in federal prison

2

                         

Charles DeYoung (45)

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Sentence Imposed: 10 years in federal prison

1

                         

Brittany Cooper (32)

Interference with commerce by robbery

Sentence Imposed: 42 months in federal prison

0

These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division were handled by AUSAs Ashley Washington, Betty Gonzalez, David Mesrobian, and Laura Taylor

*Ocala Division

2nd Quarter

Marrin Maurice Baker (48)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon

Sentence Imposed: 28 months in federal prison

1

Ashley Nicole Kirkland (24)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon

Sentence Imposed: 34 months in federal prison

1

Lonnie Lorenzo Hollingsworth, Jr. (37)

Possession of ammunition affecting interstate commerce by a previously convicted felon

Sentence Imposed: 36 months in federal prison.

0

Christopher Graves (28)

Possession of a firearm or ammunition affecting interstate or foreign commerce by a felon

Sentence Imposed: 53 months in federal prison.

1

Deveon Demon Jenkins (27)

Possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon

Sentence Imposed: 15 years in federal prison.

1

Darrell Pierre Hopkins (54)

Making a materially false statement during the purchase of firearms

Causing an FFL to maintain false information in its official records

Sentence Imposed: 4 years in federal prison

0

 

 

Jeffrey Walt Boston (44)

Felon in possession of firearm

Unlawful possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

Sentence Imposed: 8 years, 8 months in federal prison

1

Christopher L. Leslie (25)

Felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition affecting commerce

Possession of an unregistered NFA weapon

Sentence Imposed: 4 years, 4 months in federal prison

3

Kenyari D. Brewton (26)

Making a materially false statement during the purchase of firearms

Causing an FFL to maintain false information in its official records

Sentence Imposed: Time Served

0

Mark Charles Weatherly (21)

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (actual meth – 5 grams or more)

Possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting interstate or foreign commerce by a felon

Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison  

1

These PSN cases from the Ocala Division were handled by AUSAs Michael P. Felicetta, Robert Bodnar, Jr., and Tyrie K. Boyer.

Orlando Division

2nd Quarter

Larry Burrows (26)

Use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

Carjacking

Sentence Imposed: 27 years in federal prison

0

       

This PSN case from the Orlando Division was handled by Chauncey Bratt.

Tampa Division

2nd Quarter

Dnerius McCullough (28)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 77 months in federal prison

1

Samuel Storey (43)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 17 years in federal prison

1

Antonio Phillips (33)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 8 years in federal prison

1

                      

Victor Grant (40)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 21 years, 10 months in federal prison

0

Michael Cottone (35)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 5 years and 3 months in federal prison

2

Christian Agosto (22)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 4 years, 3 months in federal prison

1

                   

Deuntay Robertson (30)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 6 years in federal prison

1

Robert Russel Hinote (75)

 

Dealing firearms without a license

Sentence Imposed: Probation

75

Travis Riley (39)

 

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Sentence Imposed: 9 years, 7 months in federal prison

3

Ralph Malpeso (44)

Possession of an unregistered firearm

Sentence Imposed:3 years, 1 month in federal prison

6

Clay Morris (29)

Sentence Imposed: Probation

Francis Zuilkoski  (64)

Sentence Imposed: Probation

Calfus W. Drummond (35)

 

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking

Sentence Imposed: 11 years, 6 months in federal prison

6

Ronald White (27)

 

Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition

Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1 month

1

                       

These PSN cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Diego Novaes, Charlie Connally, and Mike Sinacore

 

Outreach Activities

2nd Quarter

Date

Event

Number of Attendees

Division

April 4, 2022

Cleveland Elementary

28

Tampa

April 7, 2022

AMI Youth Program (Guns, Gangs & Goals)

29

Tampa

April 12, 2022

Girls With Pearls

17

Orlando

April 19, 2022

Girls With Pearls at PACE Center

20

Orlando

April 21, 2022

Central Florida Reentry Network Program

56

Orlando

April 22, 2022

FBI Protecting Places of Worship Program

55

Tampa

April 22, 2022

Baker Correctional Reentry Program

75

Jacksonville

April 26, 2022

Girls With Pearls at PACE Center

14

Orlando

April 28, 2022

Tampa Bay Reentry Month Program

163

Tampa

May 2, 2022

Rising Stars Program at Westbrooke Elementary (Gun Pledge)

18

Orlando

May 9, 2022

Cleveland Elementary

27

Tampa

May 12-13, 2022

Problem-Solving for Public Safety Partners

21

Jacksonville

May 17, 2022

Pace Center for Girls

15

Orlando

May 20, 2022

Lockhart Elementary Lunch Buddies Mentor Appreciation

50

Tampa

May 21, 2022

NOBLE Law In Your Community Program

35

Fort Myers

May 23, 2022

Cleveland Elementary

28

Tampa

May 26, 2022

Lee County Public Schools Assembly (Assistant Principals)

93

Fort Myers

June 2-3, 2022

Problem-Solving for Public Safety Partners

15

Ocala

June 14, 2022

Boys & Girls Club at Marshall Middle School (Guns, Gangs & Goals)

42

Tampa

June 15, 2022

Boys & Girls Club at Shields Middle School (Guns, Gangs & Goals)

77

Tampa

 

May 2, 2022

May 31, 2022

June 14, 2022

June 28, 2022

PSN Violent Crime Initiative – Orlando PD

25

10

25

40

Orlando

 

Total Number of Events for 2nd Quarter: 24

Total Number of Attendees for 2nd Quarter: 97

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Serdarryel Dave English, Jr. (39, Fort Myers) to six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered English to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. English had pleaded guilty on March 17, 2022.

According to court documents, on April 14, 2018, an officer with the Fort Myers Police Department was conducting uniformed marked patrol when she observed a dark Toyota sedan roll through a stop sign at the intersection of Lora Street and Polk Street in Fort Myers. The officer turned to follow the vehicle and make a traffic stop, but before she could she observed the car quickly turn onto Belmont Street where she briefly lost sight of it. Once on Belmont Street, the officer observed the vehicle turn into a driveway, and at that point she activated the vehicle police lights and conducted a traffic stop. 

During the traffic stop, the officer identified the front-seat passenger as English. During a search of the vehicle, the officer found a loaded handgun magazine between the passenger seat and door jam, adjacent to where English had been sitting. The magazine had a Smith and Wesson logo and was loaded with four rounds of .380 caliber ammunition. A further search of the vehicle revealed a .380 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol without an attached magazine.  The firearm was chambered with one round of .380 caliber ammunition, matching the ammunition in the magazine found in the car. At the time, English had prior felony convictions and was 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 Simon R. Eth.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Christopher Froehlich (40, Wauchula) on a criminal complaint charging him with production, distribution, and possession of child pornography. If convicted, Froehlich faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to 30 years, in federal prison for production of child pornography, a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison for distribution of child pornography, and a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography, and a potential life term of supervised release on all counts. Froehlich made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda A. Sansone on Friday and was ordered detained pending trial. 

According to the complaint, in December 2017, Froehlich posed as a 15-year-old boy and connected with the 15-year-old victim via Live.Me, a live-streaming video service. Froehlich convinced the child victim that they were in a relationship and coerced the child to produce sexually explicit videos and photos for Froehlich. When the child tried to stop producing sexually explicit videos and photos for Froehlich, Froehlich threatened to post the videos and photos to social media for the child’s family and friends to see.

In June 2020, the child attempted to stop communication with Froehlich, at which point Froehlich posted the child’s nude photos to social media. Froehlich continued to contact the child until June 2022 by using various phone numbers and different usernames on social media platforms.

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

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance from the Wauchula Police Department, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Bradenton Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Rolanda Wingfield (39, Tampa) to three years in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of her sentence, the court also ordered Wingfield to pay $135,576 in restitution to the various state workforce agencies she defrauded. Wingfield had pleaded guilty on April 26, 2022.

According to court documents, from approximately May through September 2020, Wingfield obtained the personal identifying information of others and used that information to submit, or cause the submission of, false and fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to various state workforce agencies in order to obtain UI benefits to which she was not entitled. These UI benefits were then transferred to bank accounts or loaded onto debit cards issued in the names of others. Wingfield then used, or attempted to use, the fraudulently obtained debit cards to withdraw money using ATMs. The U.S. Department of Labor determined that Wingfield obtained $135,576.

In March 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who were not ordinarily eligible for benefits.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Pizzo and John Cannizzaro.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Randy Xavier Jones (34, Sarasota) to five years and one month in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The court also ordered Jones to forfeit proceeds traceable to the offense, including 12 fraudulently obtained prepaid debit cards containing unemployment insurance benefits to which Jones was not entitled.  Jones had pleaded guilty on March 24, 2022.

According to court documents, from July 2020 through at least September 2020, Jones knowingly engaged in a scheme to defraud several federal and state programs by obtaining COVID-19 related benefits—both loan proceeds from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program and unemployment insurance (“UI”) benefits from state workforce agencies—to which he was not entitled. Specifically, Jones obtained an EIDL loan in the amount of $50,000 in the name of a non-existent entity. In addition, in response to numerous fraudulent applications filed in multiple states, Jones obtained UI benefits, loaded on to prepaid debit cards, from state workforce agencies in Arizona, California, and Nevada, among others. In order to retrieve the proceeds of the scheme, Jones, a resident of Sarasota, flew to California and, over a period of several weeks, withdrew cash from the prepaid debit cards that were funded as a result of the fraudulent applications. Through both schemes, Jones and others obtained nearly a half million dollars.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relied to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel K. Jones.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Manuel Angel Velez-Acosta (33, Ecuador), Guillermo Cabrera Perez (48, Mexico), Andres Nixon Gonzales-Catagua (48, Ecuador), and Hernan David Gonzales-Quiroz (42, Ecuador) guilty of possessing and conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The defendants each face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. The sentencing hearings have been scheduled for October 13, 2022. They were indicted on February 4, 2021.

According to testimony presented at trial, on January 26, 2021, a U.S. Navy airplane detected a 25-30 foot open-hull motorboat in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, about 400 nautical miles south of Mexico, operating in a location where maritime drug smuggling by similar vessels is common. As the Navy aircrew watched and video-recorded, the defendants, who were the four crewmembers on board that boat, began jettisoning packages of cocaine overboard into the water. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BERTHOLF was patrolling nearby and launched its helicopter and small boats to investigate. After arriving on scene, the Coast Guard determined the vessel was without nationality, and therefore subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Although the Coast Guard was unable to recover the jettisoned packages, it was able to collect chemical trace detection evidence, which showed the presence of cocaine in the same compartments of the boat where the defendants had done the jettisoning. Cocaine was also found on one of the defendant’s hands.

This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force comprised of agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Ruddy.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Paul Bryan McCorkle (54, Interlachen) with possession of an explosive by a convicted felon. If convicted, McCorkle faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies McCorkle that the United States intends to forfeit an improvised explosive device, which is alleged to have been unlawfully possessed.

According to the indictment, on February 22, 2022, McCorkle possessed an explosive (Pyrodex powder), which is a black powder substitute. McCorkle had been twice convicted of failure to register as a sex offender, which is a felony, and was therefore prohibited under federal law from possessing an explosive.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Bureau of Fire Arson and Explosives Investigation, and the Putnam County Fire Rescue Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor. The asset forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Damien Deshaun Dennis (42, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Dennis faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for the bank fraud and a 2-year minimum mandatory term of imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft. He must also pay restitution to the victims he defrauded.

According to court documents, on August 9, 2021, Dennis entered a Community First Credit Union (CFCU) branch in Jacksonville and, using the identity of G.M., explained that he wanted to open a bank account. He then presented a counterfeit South Carolina driver license bearing a photo of Dennis, but in the name of and containing the date of birth of G.M. Dennis also provided a fraudulent document showing a home address in Jacksonville and a fraudulent pay stub outlining his purported employment at a company in Jacksonville. After completing a “New Membership Application” using G.M.’s identity, including his Social Security number, CFCU approved the application. Dennis then applied for a personal loan, stating he needed to pay for an upcoming wedding. In reliance on his false statements, the counterfeit driver license, and the accompanying fraudulent documents, CFCU approved the personal loan in the name of G.M. for $20,000. Dennis subsequently made a cash withdrawal of $20,000 and left the branch.

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

Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Stephan Leon Marshall (34, Jacksonville) with possessing two firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Marshall that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms and ammunition traceable to the offense. Marshall was arrested on July 11, 2022, in Jacksonville. He made his initial appearance on July 14, 2022, before United States Magistrate Judge Patricia D. Barksdale and was ordered detained pending trial.

According to the indictment, on April 10, 2022, Marshall was in possession of two firearms and ammunition. At the time of the incident, Marshall had previous felony convictions for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, aggravated fleeing, and two burglaries. As a previously convicted felon, Marshall is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Danny Wayne Holmes (62, Kathleen) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On June 14, 2022, Judge Berger sentenced codefendant Robert Wayne Watson (59, Seville) to 9 years in federal prison. Holmes had pleaded guilty on February 23, 2022, and Watson had pleaded guilty on March 29, 2022. 

According to court documents, Holmes and Watson were part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from a distribution hub in Crescent City, through Watson’s home in Seville, to points throughout central Florida, including Holmes’s location in Kathleen. Watson served as the primary conduit for methamphetamine from Crescent City to street-level dealers. Further, Holmes obstructed justice by absconding while on pretrial release in this case.   

Eleven others previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in this case. See below for details.

Defendant

(age, city of residence)

Plea Date

Sentence Hearing Date

Incarceration

Alejandro Alvarado

(30, Crescent City)

11/2/21

3/31/22

25 years

Miguel Angel Perez

(29, Deland)

12/14/21

3/31/22

12 years, 3 months

Jose Martinez

(43, Crescent City)

11/16/21

3/31/22

12 years, 3 months

Miguel Angel Ortiz

(39, Crescent City)

11/30/21

2/15/22

5 years, 10 months

Jonathan Arroyo Ontiveros

(25, Crescent City)

11/30/21

2/16/22

5 years, 11 months

Noel Bueno Jr.

(27, Crescent City)

8/24/21

11/16/21

3 years

Robert Wayne Watson

(59, Seville)

3/29/21

6/14/22

9 years

Danny Wayne Holmes

(61, Kathleen)

2/23/22

7/14/22

15 years, 8 months

George Edward Sykes

(46, Bunnell)

11/16/21

4/7/22

6 years, 10 months

David John Doerr

(56, Astor)

11/16/21

2/16/22

4 years, 9 months

Dina Dynnette Kempher

(38, Satsuma)

11/30/21

2/15/22

2 years

 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

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

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Edward Alan Hardin (35, Clay County) to 40 years in federal prison for attempted production of child sex abuse material and possession of child sex abuse material. After serving his prison term, Hardin will be required to register as a sex offender and serve a lifetime of supervised release. Hardin had pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022. As part of his plea agreement, Hardin also admitted to sex trafficking two children under 14 years old and to the online enticement of a third child to engage in illegal sexual activity.

According to court documents, at various times in 2018, 2019, and 2020, Hardin had access to three female children who were in his custody. One of those children – referred to as Minor Victim 1 – had known Hardin since she was a toddler and considered Hardin to be a father figure. Beginning when Minor Victim 1 was about 12 or 13 years old, Hardin provided money and gifts to Minor Victim 1 in exchange for the sexual abuse of Minor Victim 1.

On May 8, 2020, a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office observed Hardin’s truck parked at a shopping center in Orange Park. As the deputy approached Hardin’s truck on foot, he observed Hardin in the driver’s seat of the truck, and then observed Minor Victim 1 sit up in the passenger seat of the truck. The deputy smelled the aroma of marijuana emanating from the truck. As the deputy approached the passenger door of the truck, he could see that Hardin’s pants were unzipped and that Hardin and Minor Victim 1 appeared nervous. Minor Victim 1 agreed to speak with a detective and disclosed text messages between she and Hardin that showed that Hardin, on multiple occasions, had made arrangements to pay Minor Victim 1 for sex. Minor Victim 1 stated that Hardin had been sexually abusing her in the truck prior to the deputy approaching. Hardin was arrested and admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with Minor Victim 1 earlier that day, but he claimed it was the first time and that it had been consensual.

Minor Victim 1 also identified two other child victims who had been sexually abused by Hardin.

Minor Victim 2 was interviewed and disclosed that Hardin had transported her to Valdosta, Georgia, to visit a particular theme park in July 2018, when she was 15 years old. Minor Victim 2 informed detectives that Hardin had sexually abused her during the trip and continued to maintain a sexual relationship with her until around March 2020, during all of which time Minor Victim 2 was underage.

Minor Victim 3 was interviewed and disclosed that when she was 13 years old she had attended a sleepover with Minor Victim 1. During the sleepover, Hardin provided Minor Victim 3 and Minor Victim 1 with marijuana, and Minor Victim 3 was encouraged to allow Hardin to sexually assault her, and he did so. Hardin then gave Minor Victim 3 and Minor Victim 1 $20 as payment for the sex act.

Hardin’s phone was searched and contained photos of Minor Victim 2 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, Hardin’s phone contained text messages to Minor Victim 1 in which Hardin repeatedly requested that Minor Victim 1 produce pornographic images of herself and provide them to Hardin.

“This predator took advantage of the innocence of minor girls and sexually abused them through manipulation,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “This successful sentencing is a testament to the strength of our law enforcement partnerships and our commitment to serve and protect the community.”           

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

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.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Amber Rewis Bruey (35, Lehigh Acres) to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and illegal monetary transactions. Her husband and co-conspirator, Anthony James Bruey, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison for the same offenses. Mr. and Ms. Bruey had pleaded guilty on February 4, 2022, and March 16, 2022, respectively.

According to court documents, between April and June 2020, the Brueys conspired to submit a total of 26 fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications to Small Business Administration (SBA) approved lenders, loan processing companies, and the SBA. The applications contained numerous false and fraudulent representations, including the applicant’s dates of operation, payroll, gross revenues, total number of employees, and the criminal histories of the applicants or business owners. The Brueys also submitted false and fraudulent tax documents to qualify for the loans.

The Brueys’ false and fraudulent representations caused PPP lenders and the SBA to approve 12 of the loans and issue a total of $881,058.35 in PPP and EIDL funds. The Brueys then unlawfully used the funds to purchase a $211,457 residence in North Carolina, a 2019 GMC Yukon SUV, a 2020 Honda Talon, and to make a $23,566 restitution payment as a condition of probation in a criminal court case for Amber Bruey. The Brueys were ordered to forfeit all of these items and property, as well as to pay restitution in the amount of $881,659.35. 

“The Brueys used CARES Act funds as their personal ATM. They bought cars and a residence, and used the funds to make a restitution payment in another criminal case,” said Brian Payne, special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Tampa Field Office. “IRS-CI special agents are committed to stamping out fraud and ensuring that CARES Act funds are used for their intended purpose.”

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if the business spends the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and uses at least a certain percentage of the loan toward payroll expenses.

The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relied to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds. 

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trent Reichling. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Eric Maurice Brown, Jr. (32, Fort Myers) to 13 years and 8 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl and for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Brown had pleaded guilty on January 27, 2022.

According to court records, on April 27, 2021, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department and emergency medical services personnel responded to a 911 call regarding a single-vehicle accident. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle involved in the accident, Brown, was observed unresponsive in the driver’s seat suffering from an apparent drug overdose. Two loaded firearms were found on or near Brown by medical personnel treating him, including a Smith and Wesson .45-caliber handgun recovered from under Brown’s thigh and a Glock .380-caliber handgun located in his front left pants pocket.

Inside the vehicle officers located and seized multiple baggies containing suspected controlled substances, a box containing several rounds of ammunition, a loaded .45-caliber Smith and Wesson magazine, a digital scale, and a box of clear plastic baggies. Laboratory analysis later confirmed that the substances found in the vehicle included more than 50 grams of fentanyl, more than 32 grams of cocaine, and approximately 13 grams of cocaine base. 

Brown was previously convicted in Florida state courts of multiple felony offenses, including robbery with a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and robbery, and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. As a result of his prior convictions, he was sentenced as a career offender.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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 Simon R. Eth. 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that David Gainer, Jr. (50, Lutz) has pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. Gainer faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Gainer is the former President and Treasurer of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”), an organization comprised of area merchants who paid membership dues and other funds to the Chamber to promote their businesses within the community. As President and Treasurer, Gainer had access to bank account information utilized by the Chamber to maintain its operations as well as to its funds and deposits.

Gainer devised a scheme to defraud the Chamber of funds. He used his positions as President and Treasurer to access the Chamber’s bank accounts, make unauthorized withdrawals from said accounts, deposit the misappropriated funds into accounts he controlled, and use the proceeds of such unauthorized withdrawals to pay personal bills and debts and otherwise for his own personal enrichment. Gainer fraudulently misappropriated at least $104,689 of the Chamber’s funds. He has agreed to forfeit this amount as part of his plea agreement with the government.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle today sentenced Cecil Hickox (46, Hillard) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Hickox had pleaded guilty on April 13, 2022.

According to court documents, on September 11, 2019, Hickox sold 27 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine to a law enforcement confidential informant. The next day, Hickox facilitated the sale of a firearm to an undercover law enforcement officer. Less than two weeks later, on September 25, 2019, Hickox sold an undercover law enforcement officer 110 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. Agencies involved in this OCDETF operation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally. 

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Dyonnie Alvarez (22, Tampa), her brother, Christopher Alvarez (18, Gibsonton), and Enrique Marquez (26, Tampa) with four Hobbs Act robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence during the commission of those robberies. Dyonnie Alvarez and Marquez have also each been charged with an additional Hobbs Act robbery. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years for each robbery count, and up to 20 years for the conspiracy count. The firearm charges each carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 7 years, and up to life, in prison consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit any firearm and ammunition traceable to the offenses as well as the proceeds the defendants obtained as result of their offenses.

According to the indictment, on May 5, 2022, Dyonnie Alvarez, Christopher Alvarez, and Marquez robbed two convenience stores in the Tampa area. During the robberies, they brandished a firearm. The next morning, the trio robbed two more Tampa area convenience stores in the same manner. In addition, on May 1, 2022, Dyonnie Alvarez and Marquez attempted to rob a citizen in an attempt to obtain narcotics.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Hugo Espinosa Chavez (59, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to using a minor child to produce images depicting sexual abuse, traveling to Colombia to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a child, and possessing images of this child being sexually abused. Espinosa Chavez faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, on the production charge, up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the sex tourism charge, and up to 10 years in federal prison for the possession charge. Espinosa Chavez was arrested on October 5, 2021, and will remain in custody through sentencing. He is a dual citizen of both Colombia and the United States.

According to court documents, from May through December 2020, Espinosa Chavez coerced, persuaded, and used a 15-year-old indigent child who lived in Colombia to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing photos of this conduct. In return, Espinosa Chavez gave the child money and other gifts. Espinosa Chavez located the 15-year-old child victim on Facebook and began communicating with the child via Facebook Messenger. Espinosa Chavez demanded nude photos of the child, offering money in exchange for photos of the child’s buttocks and genitals.

On December 12, 2020, Espinosa Chavez traveled from the United States to the Republic of Colombia for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the child. Espinosa Chavez ultimately sexually abused the child victim, again offering money and gifts in exchange for sex. On other occasions, Espinosa Chavez took sexually explicit pictures of the child on his personal cellphone. In return, the child victim was given 60,000 Colombian pesos (about $17 in U.S. currency) for the initial pictures the victim had sent. When the pictures were taken in person, Espinosa Chavez paid the child a small amount of cash in exchange for taking pictures and enduring the sexual abuse perpetrated by Espinosa Chavez. Espinosa Chavez continued to demand more sexual acts from the child and would only pay the child if the specific requests were met. When the child victim resisted and did not fully cooperate, Espinosa Chavez said, “I feel cheated.”

On October 2, 2021, Espinosa Chavez was arrested on these federal child sex charges. During an interview with law enforcement, he admitted that he had paid the child money in exchange for sexually explicit photos, he knew the child was a minor, and he had sexually abused the child while in Colombia.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Tampa, with substantial assistance from HSI Bogota, the Colombian National Police, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being 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.

Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kirk Douglas Dudley (47, Maryland) has pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by striking, beating, or wounding. Dudley faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison for each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on January 26, 2021, while living on MacDill Air Force Base with this wife, Dudley repeatedly slapped his spouse with an open hand, knocking her to the ground. He then sat on top of her and stuffed a rag into her mouth, holding his hand over her mouth and nose to prevent her breathing. On January 31, 2021, Dudley again assaulted his wife by slapping her with open palms and slamming her head on various surfaces in their bathroom. This assault was witnessed by a juvenile.

This case was investigated by the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) at MacDill Air Force Base. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa Spergel and Karyna Valdes.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Guillermo Inamagua (57, Davenport) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, the court entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $1,553,334 as well as an order for the forfeiture of two real properties in Polk County, proceeds of the wire fraud and tax conspiracies. Inamagua had pleaded guilty on March 9, 2022.

According to court documents, Inamagua 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, Inamagua’s company was required to secure and maintain adequate worker’s compensation insurance coverage. Inamagua’s company had agreements with contractors and subcontractors to use workers purported to be Inamagua’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. Inamagua or others would then regularly receive “payroll checks” from contractors that were cashed at various financial institutions to pay Inamagua’s purported “employees” and other related expenses.

During the time period charged, Inamagua 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. Inamagua also falsely and fraudulently sent wire communications to numerous contractors representing that his company’s employees had full worker’s compensation coverage.

In fact, Inamagua’s company received and cashed more than $19 million in checks from various construction contractors for these purported “employees.” This payroll figure far exceeded the very limited payroll figures that Inamagua 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 appear to cover. The loss to those insurers was over $1,460,000 in insurance premiums that were not paid.

As a result of these misrepresentations, Inamagua’s company also disclaimed responsibility for ensuring that jobsite workers were legally authorized to work in the United States and evaded laws that required the payment of state and federal payroll taxes on behalf of these workers. Inamagua’s company did not collect or remit any such payroll taxes to the United States. Further, the contractors who actually paid these workers’ wages and used their services were able to avoid responsibility for those taxes as well. The amount of those un-paid payroll taxes totaled more than $4,670,000.

“Business owners who deliberately evade their tax and legal workforce requirements must be held accountable,” said IRS CI Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne. “Employers who intentionally deflect these obligations undermine what is owed to the U.S. government in payroll taxes and other fees, in addition to creating an unfair economic advantage over the law-abiding businesses who are operating above board.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the State of 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.

Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Shawn Andrew Wilson (47, Fernandina Beach) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and for violating the conditions of his supervised release. Wilson had pleaded guilty on December 16, 2021. 

According to court documents, at approximately 2:00 a.m. on September 2, 2021, Wilson was riding a motorcycle in Jacksonville with the license plate folded up and not visible – a traffic violation. When a police officer signaled him to stop, Wilson made a U-turn and appeared to pull over but then accelerated and fled.  After racing through a red traffic light at an intersection, Wilson crashed the motorcycle. Officers arrested Wilson and, during a subsequent search, found in his backpack a jacket, the linings of which concealed four plastic bags containing approximately 114 grams of methamphetamine.

Wilson committed this offense while serving a term of supervised release imposed following his conviction for a previous federal offense. Specifically, in July 2019, a federal court convicted Wilson of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and sentenced him to 40 months’ imprisonment, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Wilson was released from prison and began serving his term of supervised release on April 28, 2021, approximately four months before his arrest in this case.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Davion Rivers (27, Bradenton) guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Rivers faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not been set yet.  Rivers had been indicted on August 27, 2020.

According to testimony presented at trial, on August 10, 2020, law enforcement officers encountered Rivers when they responded to a call for service. Rivers yelled at the officers and pushed one of them. An officer saw that Rivers had a firearm in his pocket after the push. The officer tased Rivers and recovered the firearm from his pocket. The firearm was a Taurus Judge, a revolver that can fire shotgun shells, and which had five spent shell casings in the cylinder. Officers later secured a search warrant for Rivers’s phone and found that it contained a text message thread where Rivers had negotiated and agreed to buy the firearm.

As a previously convicted felon, Rivers is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under the law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bradenton Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charlie D. Connally and David W.A. Chee.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Marques Howard (31, Tampa) with Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit that robbery, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Howard faces up a maximum penalty of 20 years for the robbery offense, up to 20 years for the conspiracy offense, and up to 10 years for the possession of the firearm offense. The discharging of the firearm charge carries a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The indictment also notifies the Howard that the United States intends to forfeit any firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense.

According to the indictment, on April 20, 2022, Howard robbed an individual at his residence in the Tampa area. During the robbery, Howard, a convicted felon, discharged his firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Howard 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards, recognizing Department of Justice employees and partners for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. This year, 298 Justice Department employees received awards, while 54 non-department individuals are also being honored for their work. 

“This year’s awardees have served selflessly to further the Department’s important work upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am proud to recognize these individuals for their professionalism, skill, and leadership, and I am grateful for their service to our Department and our nation.”

“I am proud to join Attorney General Garland in recognizing a former member of my office for this prestigious award,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “AUSA Murray’s contribution to this case is a clear example of the great coordination and cooperation that we have with our partners here in the Middle District of Florida.”

In the Middle District of Florida, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis D. Murray was recognized for his successful prosecution of Elvis Harold Reyes (United States vs. Reyes). Reyes, who had never been a licensed attorney, posed as an immigration attorney targeting undocumented immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries, who were seeking Florida driver licenses and work authorization. As part of the scheme, Reyes gave false, inaccurate, and incomplete legal and immigration advice to victims in order to induce them to retain his services. Because of his false representations, victims retained and paid Reyes to represent them in immigration-related matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other agencies, during which Reyes filed hundreds of fraudulent asylum applications. As a result of the tireless efforts of AUSA Murray, his investigative and support team, Reyes was sentenced to 20 years and 9 months in federal prison.

For details on all of today’s award recipients, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-honors-department-justice-employees-and-others-69th-annual.  For additional details on the Reyes case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/phony-immigration-attorney-who-filed-hundreds-fraudulent-asylum-applications-sentenced.