Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Orlando Man Indicted for False Statements During Purchase of FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of a four-count indictment charging Wilmer Eduardo Mejia-Palacios (36, Orlando) with fraudulently making a false statement to a licensed firearm dealer. If convicted, Mejia-Palacios faces up to 5 years in federal prison for each count.
According to court documents, Mejia-Palacios attempted to purchase firearms on four separate occasions in Orlando. In connection with those attempted purchases, Mejia-Palacios completed a firearms transaction record claiming that he was a United States citizen and that he was not illegally or unlawfully in the United States. Those claims were false.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry B. Livanos.
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 Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Convicted Felon Indicted for Attempting to Purchase A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Kelly Villalobos (49, Ponte Vedra) with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. If convicted, Villalobos faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, on January 26, 2010, Villalobos was convicted of two counts of stealing mail matter by a postal employee, a felony. She was sentenced to 3 years’ probation. On November 26, 2019, Villalobos entered Shooters of Jacksonville, a federally licensed firearms dealer, and attempted to purchase a firearm. Villalobos falsely stated on the ATF paperwork that she had never been convicted of a felony offense.
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 Frank Talbot.
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 Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Nine-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Lanorris Williams (31, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2019, an officer from the Fort Myers Police Department and an ATF task force agent observed Williams driving a red BMW. When Williams noticed the officers, he fled at a high rate of speed through intersections and residential neighborhoods. Eventually, an innocent motorist t-boned Williams at the intersection of Canal and Ford Streets, spinning Williams into a nearby ditch, where he was arrested. On the driver’s side floorboard of the BMW, officers found Williams’s loaded Glock pistol.
During the past 11 years, Williams has been convicted of 9 felonies, including multiple drug offenses, burglaries, and thefts and, is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was investigated by ATF and the Fort Myers Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. 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 Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Colombian Submarine Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Smuggling ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Alexander Giraldo Santa (48, Colombia) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine while aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, although the terms of his extradition prohibit the imposition of a life sentence.
According to the plea agreement, Giraldo Santa participated in the manufacture of numerous self-propelled semi-submersible vessels used to smuggle hundreds of kilograms of cocaine on the high seas. Two of the vessels were intercepted by the United States Coast Guard.
This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James C. Preston, Jr.
Sports Bettor Charged with Threatening Tampa Bay Rays Players and Other Professional AthletesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Benjamin Tucker Patz (23, New York, New York), a/k/a “Parlay Patz,” with transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce. If convicted, Patz faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the
complaint , in 2019, Patz made numerous threats to carry out violence against professional athletes and/or their family members via Instagram messages, using anonymous accounts. In many of the messages, Patz threatened to enter the athletes’ homes and behead them or their family members. Some of Patz’s threats also contained derogatory terms and racial slurs directed at those individuals.On July 20, 2019, the Tampa Bay Rays lost a home game to the Chicago White Sox. That same day, four baseball players for the Tampa Bay Rays, as well as a baseball player for the Chicago White Sox, received Instagram direct messages from Patz in which he threatened to carry out acts of violence against them. Patz made the following threats to the Tampa Bay Rays players:
- “I will enter your home while you sleep…And sever your neck open…I will kill your entire family…Everyone you love will soon cease…I will cut up your family…Dismember the[m] alive”;
- “Your family’s necks will be severed open with a dull knife!...Your family will die!”;
- “Unfortunately 0-5 against the Chicago White Sox isn’t going to cut it. Because of your sins, I will have to behead you and your family”; and
- “Your family will be beheaded.”
Patz, who resides in both New York and California and goes by the moniker “Parlay Patz,” had recently won more than $1 million by wagering on sports events.
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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is part of the Bureau’s Integrity in Sport and Gaming Initiative, which is designed to tackle illegal sports gambling and combat threats of influence from criminal enterprises. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.
Lecanto Medical Biller Sentenced in Large Healthcare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Teresa Johnson (53, Lecanto) to five years’ probation, with four months of home detention, for conspiring with a local doctor to commit health care fraud. As part of her sentence, the court also ordered Johnson to pay restitution to the defrauded federal health care programs and, entered a money judgment of more than $5,700, representing a portion of Johnson’s health care fraud proceeds.
Johnson had pleaded guilty on October 10, 2019.
According to court documents, Johnson owned and operated a medical billing company, Tri-County Billing, which submitted mostly false and fraudulent claims for three clinics owned and operated by Doctor 1 (recently deceased). The clinics were located in Crystal River, Spring Hill, and Celebration. Most of the false claims from Doctor 1’s clinics were submitted to government healthcare programs including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA. Johnson had previously worked for Doctor 1 in several different capacities before Doctor 1 financially assisted her in opening Tri-County Billing. Doctor 1 filed bankruptcy on behalf of his medical practice in April 2019.
As part of the scheme, Doctor 1 employed numerous health care providers, many who were not authorized to perform, and prohibited from, billing for medical services. Doctor 1 directed Johnson to bill claims performed by these prohibited health care providers as if they were rendered by Doctor 1, when they were not. One of these providers was a pain management doctor who had been denied enrollment in the Medicare and Medicaid program. Another doctor had been excluded from billing, directly or indirectly, any government healthcare programs. Doctor 1 also hired nurse practitioners to perform medical services, and directed Tri-County to submitted claims as if a doctor had performed those services. Both Johnson and Doctor 1 knew all of these claims were false and fraudulent.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen.
Joint Investigation Nets Multiple Arrests in Undercover Sex Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the arrests of Justin Latronica (30, Orange Park), James Allen Shook (48, Weeki Wachee), and Timothy Veres, III (Jacksonville, 24) for attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Veres was also charged with soliciting for images depicting the sexual abuse of a child. Each faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to court records, in January 2020, Latronica, Shook, and Veres each traveled to an undercover location for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with individuals they believed to be between 12 and 14 years old.
These arrests were part of a joint operation conducted between January 24 and January 27, 2020, in Orange Park Florida. The agencies involved include the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Florida ICAC task force. The proactive operation was conducted to identify and arrest those who perform predatory acts and exploit children online.
As part of the operation, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office also arrested two individuals, Abhishek Shah (30, Jacksonville) and Che’ Jenkins Jr. (22, Jacksonville), who have each been charged in state court with violating state law by traveling to meet a minor to engage in an unlawful sex act, soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer services or devices, and the unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Karase and Ashley Washington.
These cases are 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.
Jacksonville Tax Return Preparer Indicted on Federal Tax Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Kenyan Shondre Scott with 55 counts of aiding and assisting others with the filing of false tax returns and 4 counts of filing false tax returns on his own behalf. Each count carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment. The United States also seeks restitution for the tax losses arising out of the alleged criminal conduct.
According to the
indictment , Scott owned and operated a tax preparation business in Jacksonville and began preparing tax returns for others in 2009. Between February 2014 and April 2018, Scott defrauded the IRS by filing returns for clients in which he falsely claimed, among other things, that the clients were eligible for certain itemized deductions for which they were not eligible. In addition, he falsely claimed that some clients had incurred business losses when they did not in fact own a business. Scott also fraudulently claimed general business credits and education credits that reduce a taxpayer’s tax liability or increase a taxpayer’s tax refund on a dollar for dollar basis. The indictment specifically alleges the filing of 55 false returns on behalf of 13 taxpayers for the tax years 2013 through 2017.The indictment further alleges that Scott filed personal returns for the years 2013 through 2016 in which he fraudulently and substantially reduced the amount of his net business income and the amount of taxes owed on that income by claiming false business expenses and other false deductions and credits. The indictment also alleges that Scott fraudulently reported fake wages and a disproportionate amount of taxes being withheld from those purported wages in an attempt to lower the amount of taxes owed.
“This time of year all Americans are thinking about taxes, and the last thing they want to worry about is if their return preparer might be a crook,” stated Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Unfortunately, every year, we see shady return preparers take advantage of taxpayers trying to do the right thing. Don’t fall into that trap! Education is key, and we urge taxpayers to use extra caution, starting by visiting www.irs.gov to learn of criteria to consider when selecting a return preparer.”
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Former U.S. Marine and Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Coercing Minors to Produce Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Joshua Eugene Burton (34, Missouri) has pleaded guilty to coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit activity and committing a child sex offense while registered as a sex offender. Burton faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, Burton engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with a 14-year-old individual ("Victim 1") while portraying himself as a teenage girl from California named “Becky Smith.” In his conversations, Burton persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Victim 1 to create and send him sexually explicit images and videos of himself/herself. Burton also coerced Victim 1 into creating a video of Victim 1 performing oral sex on a 16-year-old individual ("Victim 2") by threatening to publicly post the photos and videos that he had previously received. In order to add more credibility to his threat, Burton specifically referenced the schools that both victims attended. As a result of his threats, Victim 1 sent Burton multiple sexually explicit images and videos.
Burton is a former U.S. Marine who was convicted of possession of child pornography in 2008 during the time he served in the United States Marine Corps. As part of his conviction, Burton was required to register as a sex offender and was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Candace Garcia Rich.
It 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.
Dunedin Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl, Causing DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Heidi Kalous (39, Dunedin) today pleaded guilty to conspiring and distributing a substance that contained a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, causing the death of an individual. She faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, beginning no later than June 5, 2019, and continuing through June 28, 2019, Kalous conspired with other individuals to possess and distribute heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl throughout Pinellas County.
On June 5, 2019, Kalous distributed two bags —which contained a substance composed of a mixture of heroin, and fentanyl—to an individual. The individual injected himself with the substance from the bags and died. A medical autopsy revealed that the cause of death was an accidental overdose caused by fentanyl toxicity.
Between June 5 and June 27, 2019, after the individual’s death, Kalous continued to distribute narcotics, including crack cocaine, fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and heroin, out of a motel in Dunedin.
This case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
Department of Justice Charges Unprecedented Number of Elder Fraud Defendants Nationwide and Launches HotlineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida joined Attorney General William P. Barr today in announcing the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history. This year, prosecutors charged more than 400 defendants, far surpassing the 260 defendants charged in cases as part of last year’s sweep. In each case, offenders allegedly engaged in financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors. In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of over a billion dollars.
In the Middle District of Florida, 10 individuals were charged with criminal offenses. In addition, 4 civil cases were resolved. All were prosecuted as part of the Department’s Elder Fraud sweep.
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This year, the Department of Justice prosecuted more than 400 defendants, whose schemes totaled more than a billion dollars. I want to thank the men and women of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which coordinated this effort, and all those in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division who worked tirelessly to bring these cases. The Department is committed to stopping the full range of criminal activities that exploit America’s seniors.”
“Florida is home to millions of our nation’s seniors, who are often targeted for fraud through unscrupulous means,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez, Middle District of Florida. “Along with our partners on the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, we will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to prosecute those who seek to prey upon our vulnerable population. We encourage all of our citizens to report fraud, wherever it is found or suspected.”
This interactive map [https://www.justice.gov/civil/elder-fraud-sweeps-2020] provides information on the elder fraud cases highlighted by today’s sweep announcement.
Elder Fraud Hotline
Attorney General Barr also announced the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline, which will provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force
The Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force prosecuted more than one quarter of the defendants charged as part of the announced sweep. Established in June 2019, the Strike Force is composed of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (Central District of California, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of Texas), along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law enforcement personnel. Prosecutors in Strike Force districts brought cases against more than 140 sweep defendants. FBI and the Postal Inspection Service served as lead agencies in the Strike Force and committed substantial investigative resources to pursuing elder fraud cases as part of Strike Force efforts. The Strike Force has held dozens of meetings with industry, victim groups, and law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels to identify the most harmful schemes victimizing American seniors and to bolster preventive measures against further losses.
For the second year, the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners also took comprehensive action against the money mule network that facilitates foreign-based elder fraud. Generally, perpetrators use a “money mule” to transfer fraud proceeds from a victim to ringleaders of fraud schemes who often reside in other countries. Some of these money mules act unwittingly, and intervention can effectively end their involvement in the fraud. The FBI and the Postal Inspection Service took action against over 600 alleged money mules nationwide by conducting interviews, issuing warning letters, and bringing civil and criminal cases. Agents and prosecutors in more than 85 federal district participated in this effort to halt the money flow from victim to fraudster. These actions against money mules were in addition to the criminal and civil cases announced as part of this year’s elder fraud sweep.
These outreach efforts have helped to prevent seniors from falling prey to scams and have frustrated offenders’ efforts to obtain even more money from vulnerable elders.
The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former UNF Student Sentenced to More Than 8 Years for Distributing Child Sex Abuse VideosRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Anthony Davis Stagnitta (23, St. Petersburg) to eight years and four months in federal prison for distributing child sex abuse videos over the internet. Stagnitta was also ordered to pay $132,415 in restitution to victims and to register as a sex offender.
Stagnitta had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2019.
According to court documents, in February 2018, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into the sexual exploitation of children that was occurring on a popular messaging application. The agents discovered that between November 24 and December 3, 2017, Stagnitta had engaged in online conversations with other users in a public group chat on the app and had discussed trading child pornography. On December 3, 2017, Stagnitta sent a video to the group that depicted the sadistic sexual abuse of an infant.
On April 30, 2018, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant at Stagnitta’s home in Jacksonville. During an interview, Stagnitta admitted that he had discussed child pornography using this app, had sent child sex abuse videos to others users via private messaging, and had posted videos in the group chats. Forensic analysis of Stagnitta’s cellphone revealed that it contained 2,904 images depicting children being sexually abused.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It 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.
Clermont Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Downloading Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced Sean Ferraresi (34, Clermont) to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison for receipt of child pornography. The court also ordered Ferraresi to forfeit the computers he had used to download and store child pornography.
Ferraresi had pleaded guilty on December 13, 2019.
According to court documents, Ferraresi had downloaded thousands of files depicting the sexual abuse of children. In addition, after Ferraresi was arrested, law enforcement officers discovered sexually explicit text messages between Ferraresi and children, including conversations in which Ferraresi solicited nude images from or sent nude images to children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Colin P. McDonell.
It 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.
Plant City Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced James Bailey (33, Plant City) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Bailey to forfeit the firearm and ammunition.
Bailey had pleaded guilty on October 24, 2019.
According to court documents, on March 12, 2019, law enforcement officers responded to a 911 call regarding an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Upon arrival, the officers encountered Bailey and located a loaded sawed-off shotgun, with an obliterated serial number, at the rear of his vehicle. Bailey then fled on foot, but was apprehended after a short foot chase. Following his arrest, Bailey admitted to possessing the firearm. Witnesses also confirmed that Bailey had pointed the shotgun out of his car’s window. Bailey, an 11-time convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Plant City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”). PSN is 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. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Andron McKinney (29, Tampa) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered McKinney to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
McKinney had pleaded guilty on November 29, 2019.
According to court documents, subsequent to a traffic stop, law enforcement officers searched the car that McKinney had been driving and found a loaded pistol underneath the driver’s seat. McKinney’s fingerprint was found on the magazine inside the pistol. At the time, McKinney had multiple prior convictions for narcotics-related felonies and domestic violence felonies and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.
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 Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Arrests in Four States of Racially Motivated Violent Extremists Targeting Journalists and ActivistsRead the Press Release
Four racially motivated violent extremists from across the U.S. were arrested and charged today in U.S District Court in Seattle with a conspiracy to threaten and intimidate journalists and activists, the Department of Justice announced. Today’s arrests and searches by the FBI and local law enforcement are being coordinated by the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Seattle, Tampa, Houston, and Phoenix.
“These defendants from across the country allegedly conspired on the internet to intimidate journalists and activists with whom they disagreed,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “This is not how America works. The Department of Justice will not tolerate this type of behavior.”
“These defendants sought to spread fear and terror with threats delivered to the doorstep of those who are critical of their activities,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran for the Western District of Washington. “As Attorney General William Barr has made clear, rooting out anti-Semitic hate and threats of violence and vigorously prosecuting those responsible are top priorities for the Department of Justice.”
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and FBI-Tampa have been focused on identifying and eradicating the threat posed by the Atomwaffen Division both locally and nationally,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida. “Today’s arrests send a powerful message that the Department of Justice will not tolerate criminal conduct based on hateful ideology. We will continue to work with our partners here in the Middle District of Florida, and elsewhere, to devote our resources to investigate and prosecute those who aim to threaten and terrorize our communities.”
The defendants charged in the conspiracy include:
Cameron Brandon Shea, 24, of Redmond, Washington;
Kaleb Cole, 24, of Montgomery, Texas;
Taylor Ashley Parker-Dipeppe, 20, of Spring Hill, Florida, and
Johnny Roman Garza, 20, of Queen Creek, Arizona.
According to the criminal complaint, the defendants conspired via an encrypted online chat group to identify journalists and others they wanted to intimidate. The group focused primarily on those who are Jewish or journalists of color. Defendants Cole and Shea created the posters, which included Nazi symbols, masked figures with guns and Molotov cocktails, and threatening language. The posters were delivered to Atomwaffen members electronically and the coconspirators printed and delivered or mailed the posters to journalists or activists the group was targeting. In the Seattle area, the posters were mailed to a TV journalist who had reported on Atomwaffen and to two individuals associated with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In Tampa, the group targeted a journalist,but delivered the poster to the wrong address. In Phoenix, the poster was delivered to a magazine journalist.
“Today’s announcement serves as a warning to anyone who intends to use violence as intimidation or coercion to further their ideology that the FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to protect Americans from domestic terrorism,” said Assistant Director for Counterterrorism Jill Sanborn. “These nationwide arrests are the result of the robust partnerships among the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Tampa, Seattle, Houston, and Phoenix and we appreciate their collective efforts.”
“The FBI recognizes all citizen's First Amendment-protected rights. However the subjects arrested today crossed the line from protected ideas and speech to action in order to intimidate and coerce individuals who they perceived as a threat to their ideology of hate,” said Raymond Duda, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Seattle.
“Today's takedown is proof the FBI in Tampa and our Joint Terrorism Task Force will work tirelessly to ensure communities are rid of hate inspired groups whose goal is to fuel intimidation and violence,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson.
Shea will make his initial appearance on the complaint at the federal courthouse in Seattle at 2 p.m. today. Those arrested in other districts will make their appearances in federal court in those districts and will appear in Seattle on a future date.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Seattle, Tampa, Houston and Phoenix.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Woods with assistance from U.S. Attorneys Offices in the Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Texas, District of Arizona, and Central District of California.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for ArsonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Emmett David Smart (29, Jacksonville) to five years in federal prison for arson of a residential apartment building. The court also ordered Smart to pay $148,920.09 in restitution.
Smart had pleaded guilty on October 31, 2019.
According to court documents, on April 25, 2018, Smart set fire to a four-unit apartment building located at 7304 Sandhurst Road in Jacksonville. At the time of the fire, there were several occupants inside the building. Smart set the fire two days after the owner of the apartment building had initiated eviction proceedings against the tenant of the apartment Smart was residing in at the time of the fire.
This case was investigated by the Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
Jacksonville Man Arrested and Charged with Attempting to Entice and Meet A 12-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Wayne Dale Epps, Jr. (35, Jacksonville) has been arrested and charged with using the internet to attempt to entice a 12-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Epps faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Epps is currently in federal custody and has been ordered detained pending trial.
According to court documents, on February 14, 2020, an undercover FBI agent who was posing online as the family member of a 12-year-old child, was contacted by the user “ksaber2040,” who was later identified as Epps. The same undercover agent had previously engaged in online conversation with Epps in October 2019. Over the next several days, Epps and the undercover agent engaged in online conversation in which Epps expressed his desire to meet the 12-year-old “child” to engage in sexual activity. Epps provided the undercover agent with details about the sexual acts that he wished to perform on the child. On the afternoon of February 18, 2020, Epps drove to a prearranged location in Jacksonville to meet the child for sex and was arrested by FBI agents.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It 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.
Sexual Predator Sentenced to More Than 16 Years for Possessing Depictions of Child Sex AbuseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Richard Allan Griffin (59, Middleburg) to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for possessing images depicting the sexual abuse of children. The court also ordered Griffin to forfeit a cellphone and pay a $10,000 fine.
Griffin had pleaded guilty on October 29, 2019.
According to court documents, Griffin’s employer contacted law enforcement after discovering child sexual abuse materials on Griffin’s computer. The employer also turned over Griffin’s company issued cellphone to law enforcement. A forensic review of the phone revealed at least 25 images depicting children being sexually exploited, including images of children in bathing suits, underwear, and various stages of undress. It also contained images showing small children posing in a sexually suggestive manner. At least 10 of the images were classified as child pornography.
Griffin is a registered sexual predator and has four prior sex offenses involving children. In 1996, in Lee County, he was convicted of two counts of attempted capital sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age (a first degree felony), and a lewd/lascivious act (a felony in the second degree). Griffin was also convicted of cruelty to a child in Chatham County, Georgia, for performing sexual acts upon a child under the age of 8. In 1990, Griffin was convicted of indecent exposure in Charleston County, South Carolina, after he exposed himself to a 15-year-old girl and offered to pay the child for sex. In 1992, in Chatham County, Georgia, Griffin was convicted of child molestation and loitering for sex after exposing himself to a child under the age of 14 and asking the child for sex.
“This convicted sexual predator did not learn his lesson the first time,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Now, as a result of the hard work of HSI special agents and our partners with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit, this predator will no longer be a threat to our community.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
It 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.
Palm Harbor Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Cody Robert Schoh (23, Palm Harbor) to 7 years and 11 months in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. The court also ordered Schoh to forfeit the electronic devices he had used in the commission of the offense.
Schoh had pleaded guilty on August 16, 2019.
According to court documents, the FBI began an investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone at Schoh's Palm Harbor residence had uploaded 94 files depicting child pornography to an online cloud storage system. The FBI executed a search warrant at Schoh's residence and seized his electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the devices revealed that Schoh was in possession of child sex abuse images and videos. Forensic analysts also found that Schoh had used a web-based messaging application to engage in sexual conversations with numerous individuals who appeared to be minors. He also received, transmitted, and possessed child pornography via the internet.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempting to Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Dameon Kerk Allen (43, St. Petersburg) to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Allen to forfeit the electronic devices he had used in the commission of the offense.
A federal jury had found Allen guilty on November 14, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, Allen communicated online and via text messages with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old child. In reality, he was talking to an undercover agent. In the conversations, Allen proposed and planned to meet up with the child to have sex, discussing in graphic detail the sex acts he would engage in when they met.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Colin McDonell.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for Firearm and Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jarquel Jenkins (28, Fort Myers) to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for distributing a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Jenkins had pleaded guilty on November 27, 2019.
According to court documents, on three separate occasions in January and February 2019, Jenkins sold controlled substances (heroin and cocaine) to confidential informants. In February 2019, following a controlled purchase of narcotics from Jenkins, law enforcement officers attempted to arrest Jenkins who fled from a parked vehicle. During the execution of a search warrant of the vehicle, officers seized various quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as a loaded firearm from the vehicle’s cup holder. As a previously convicted felon, Jenkins is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
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 Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Jacksonville Heroin Dealer Sentenced to Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Albert Vincent Hicks (48, Jacksonville) to five years in federal prison for distributing heroin.
Hicks had pleaded guilty on August 21, 2019.
According to court documents, on October 26, 2017, Hicks sold more than 25 grams of heroin to a confidential informant. On November 16, 2017, he sold an additional 13 grams of heroin. During the second sale, Hicks discussed the possibility of a future, larger deal with the informant. As a repeat offender, with a prior conviction for sale of cocaine, Hicks was subject to enhanced penalties under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fernandina Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
Former Chief Economist for the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Charles R. Resnick (69, Charlotte, NC, formerly from Florida) has pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false income tax return. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. Resnick also agreed to make restitution to the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (“CASIS”). A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the
plea agreement , on October 15, 2013, Resnick filed a 2012 Individual Income Tax Return (IRS Form 1040), which he signed under penalty of perjury. On the return, Resnick attested that his total income for tax year 2012 was $225,947, when he knew that his income was substantially greater. Resnick understated his total income by approximately $209,916 and failed to report approximately $158,000 in gross receipts that he had earned from consulting clients. In addition, he improperly deducted business expenses in the approximate amount of $51,500, despite the facts that (1) he had been reimbursed for the expenses and (2) some of the deducted expenses were not ordinary and necessary business expenses.For sentencing purposes, Resnick is responsible for the total tax loss for tax years 2010 through and including 2013. That amount will be determined at sentencing.
This case was investigated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.
Real Estate Developer Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Marek Harrison (56, Plant City) to 20 months in federal prison for his role in a bank fraud scheme. The court also ordered Harrison to pay $2,753,495.79 in restitution to the victim financial institutions.
Harrison had pleaded guilty on November 27, 2019.
According to court documents, between September 2007 and December 2008,
Harrison created and executed a mortgage fraud scheme involving Saratoga Resort Villas, a condominium conversion of a former hotel located in Kissimmee. Harrison’s scheme to defraud financial institutions involved kickbacks of mortgage proceeds to buyers and co-conspirators, as well as misrepresentations regarding the source of down payment funds for the transactions. None of the incentives and kickbacks were disclosed to the mortgage lenders. Harrison also recruited otherwise unqualified buyers, and he provided down payment money for the buyers.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Orlando Man Sentenced to Twenty Years for Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted in Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Jonathan Bohn (35, Orlando), a/k/a “Jonah,” to 20 years in federal prison for distributing a controlled substance that resulted in death.
A federal jury had found Bohn guilty on December 4, 2019.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on December 15, 2017, Bohn sold a 45-year-old Orlando resident a controlled substance that contained cocaine laced with fentanyl and heroin. After the victim ingested the narcotic, the victim’s daughter found her dead in their residence the next day. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s office subsequently determined that the victim’s cause of death was fentanyl and cocaine intoxication.
“As law enforcement we see firsthand the deadly devastation these drugs bring to our community. This case demonstrates how law enforcement, medical professionals, and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida are working together to find and prosecute those who knowingly distribute these lethal drugs,” said Sheriff John Mina. “It is our hope that this case sends a clear message to drug dealers throughout Orange County that we are investigating and we will do everything in our power to hold them accountable for their actions.”
“In Orange County and across the state, FDLE and our criminal justice partners continue to fight against proliferators of illegal drugs and the lives they ruin,” said FDLE Orlando Special Agent in Charge Lee Massie. “While no sentence can reclaim a victim’s family’s loss, this case should put drug dealers on notice that they cannot escape the destructive consequences of their crimes.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Substantial assistance was provided by the District Nine Office of the Medical Examiner located in Orlando, Florida. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.
Jacksonville Woman Indicted for Perjury, Passport Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Brandi Nicole Fletcher (24, Jacksonville) with perjury, fraudulently obtaining a passport, and aggravated identity theft in connection with passport fraud. If convicted, Fletcher faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the false statement in an application for a passport count, up to 5 years for the perjury count, and a consecutive mandatory term of two years for the aggravated identity theft count.
According to court documents, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Jacksonville began investigating Fletcher after she appeared in federal court in July 2019 as a potential third-party custodian for a federal defendant seeking to be released on bond. During that hearing, Fletcher claimed, under oath, to be another person with the initials K.N.P. Fletcher also claimed to have the date of birth of K.N.P. and claimed to have no prior criminal record. All of these claims were false. Further investigation by the USMS revealed that Fletcher had obtained a Florida identification card in the name of K.N.P. approximately one hour prior to appearing in federal court. A facial recognition search of the Florida driver license database also showed that Fletcher had been issued Florida driver licenses or identification cards in her own name, as well as in the names of four other individuals.
In August 2019, Fletcher was arrested in South Carolina on unrelated charges for possession of stolen property. At the time of her arrest, she was in possession of a United States passport in the name of a person with the initials A.I.N.D., as well as at least 12 identification documents for other individuals, including birth certificates, social security cards, Florida identification cards, and a Georgia driver license. Further investigation by the United States Diplomatic Security Service revealed that, in February 2019, Fletcher had submitted an application for the passport using identification documents belonging to another person. In submitting the passport application, Fletcher swore that she was A.I.N.D.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Diplomatic Security Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
St. Johns County Registered Sex Offender Charged with Receiving Child Sex Abuse Images, Possessing A Firearm, Illicit International Travel, and Hacking A JumbotronRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Samuel Arthur Thompson (49, St. Augustine) with receiving and possessing child sex abuse images, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), and transmitting damaging commands to a protected computer. If convicted on all counts, Thompson faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to 100 years, in federal prison. Thompson has been a convicted felon and required to register as a sex offender since 1998, when he was convicted in Alabama of second degree sodomy on a child.
According to court documents, from April 2017 through February 2018, Thompson was a contractor for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His contract was not renewed, and, as of February 23, 2018, he was no longer employed by the organization. During the 2018 - 2019 NFL season, the Jaguars experienced multiple incidents involving malfunctions of the video board (commonly referred to as a “Jumbotron”) located within the Jaguars’ stadium. Thompson was identified as the architect of the video board system. A subsequent investigation revealed that an account associated with Thompson had been used to remotely log into the computer system and send commands to a rogue server that had been placed in the Jaguars’ server room, resulting in the outages.
On July 17, 2019, the FBI executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence for evidence related to the computer intrusion. During the search, agents recovered a firearm from Thompson’s nightstand. As a previously convicted felon, Thompson is prohibited from possessing firearms. The FBI also seized multiple pieces of computer equipment and Thompson’s iPhone. A review of the electronic items revealed that Thompson had received child sex abuse images on his iPhone in 2018 and that Thompson had additional child sex abuse images on two of the computers.
Nine days after the execution of the search warrant, Thompson traveled from the United States to the Philippines without reporting his international travel prior to his departure, in violation of SORNA. Further investigation revealed that Thompson had also traveled to the Bahamas in July 2019 and failed to report that trip. On January 31, 2020, Thompson was arrested in Los Angeles following his deportation from the Philippines.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
It 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.
Riverview Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing More Than A Kilogram of CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Emmanuel de la Cruz (40, Riverview) today pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, a confidential informant (CI) negotiated with de la Cruz to obtain cocaine. The CI traveled to meet de la Cruz at a house where de la Cruz gave the CI just over a kilogram of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.
Middle District of Florida Highlights Efforts to Support Illegal Immigration EnforcementRead the Press Release
Tampa – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez and Acting Miami Field Office Director Jim Martin, of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) announced today their ongoing commitment to combat illegal immigration and reduce violent crime.
“Our Office is committed to using every tool available to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “The ongoing cooperation demonstrated by our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in the Middle District of Florida in supporting our nation’s immigration enforcement policies have assisted us in working toward our mission – public safety for all.”
“Citizens and guests of Florida are safer today because of strong law enforcement partnerships at the local, state, and federal level,” said acting Miami Field Office Director Jim Martin. “Partnerships like the 287g program, the Warrant Service Officer program, and the Basic Ordering Agreement partnerships work to keep criminals out of our local communities, while our United States Attorney Office works diligently to make sure those individuals are held accountable for their crimes.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO-MDFL), along with our federal, state, and local partners, is engaged in ongoing cooperation and coordination to prioritize and enforce the Department’s policies. In addition, since 2009, ICE has designated Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to assist the USAO-MDFL in reviewing and prosecuting cases related to threats against our homeland, including immigration offenses, illegal reentry, and violent crime. See below for MDFL significant case highlights.
SIGNIFICANT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CASE SUMMARIES
United States v. Missael Gonzalez Terrazas Case No. 5:19-cr-19 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-sentenced-seven-years-federal-prison-trafficking-methamphetamine
United States v. Faisal Buarki Case No. 8:19-cr-148 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/former-university-student-sentenced-unlawful-possession-firearms
United States v. Jorge Humberto Delgado-Macias Case No. 8:18-cr-558 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-sentenced-aggravated-identity-theft-and-firearms-possession
United States v. Juan Alberto Flores-Jimenez Case No. 6:18-cr-225 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/mexican-national-and-leader-georgia-based-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-17
United States v. Juan Carlos Ramirez-Arcos Case No. 8:17-cr-585 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-living-bradenton-pleads-guilty-federal-firearms-offense-shooting-death
United States v. Perez-Ramos et al Case No. 5:18-cr-51 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/two-illegal-aliens-sentenced-conspiracy-distribute-methamphetamine
United States v. Rodriguez-Flores et al Case No. 5:17-cr-31 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/ocala-illegal-alien-sentenced-17-years-prison-federal-drug-gun-and-immigration-crimes
United States v. Lopez-Lopez Case No. 3:19-cr-114 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-sentenced-two-years-federal-prison-illegally-re-entering-united-states-0
United States v. Moreno-Hernandez Case No. 6:19-cr-140 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-sentenced-41-months-federal-prison-unlawfully-re-entering-united-states
United States v. Rodriguez Case No. 6:19-cr-232 (M.D. Fla.)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/mexican-national-involved-fatal-hit-and-run-pleads-guilty-illegal-reentry
Former St. Petersburg Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Matthew Enhoffer (34, St. Petersburg) today pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison.
According to court documents, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual had distributed child pornography on a web-based social media application. The investigation led agents to Enhoffer’s residence.
On September 11, 2019, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Enhoffer’s home and seized several electronic devices. An examination of Enhoffer’s devices revealed that he possessed approximately 391 images and 7 videos depicting child pornography, and 293 images of child erotica. The images and videos depicted young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A forensic analysis of Enhoffer’s laptop also revealed that he had distributed child sex abuse material to another individual via the internet in June and July 2018.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
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.
Dual Colombian-U.S. Citizen Charged with Illegally Exporting Assault Rifles from Florida to ColombiaRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Jhon Alejandro Marin-Moreno (39, Medellin, Colombia) with conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, smuggling goods from the United States, and shipment of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. If convicted on all counts, Marin-Moreno faces a maximum penalty of 80 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Marin-Moreno is a dual citizen of the United States and Colombia who recruited individuals in Florida to acquire firearms for him, including numerous types of assault rifles. Marin-Moreno then arranged to illegally export the firearms to Colombia by concealing the weapons in packages containing household items. Marin-Moreno and his coconspirators attempted to obliterate the serial numbers on the firearms so that they could not be traced. Some of the firearms were acquired to satisfy debts owed for drug purchases. Neither Marin-Moreno nor his coconspirators applied for or obtained the necessary licenses for exporting defense articles as required by federal law.
On February 10, 2020, Marin-Moreno was detained while traveling through Panama and was immediately removed to the United States to face the charges in the indictment.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Colombia’s Policía Fiscal y Aduanera (POLFA), a unit of the National Police of Colombia. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.
Auburndale Man Sentenced to 8 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Edward W. Prickett (53, Auburndale) to eight years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Prickett had pleaded guilty on November 26, 2019.
According to court documents, on August 22, 2019, Prickett was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by an officer with the Lake Wales Police Department. As the officer approached the vehicle, he saw Prickett attempting to conceal a green bag under the dashboard. The officer called for a narcotics detection dog, which alerted positively to the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and recovered the green bag, which contained approximately 182 grams of methamphetamine that had been packaged for distribution.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lake Wales Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.
This investigation is also the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Palm Bay Woman Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Rose Beth Litzky (33, Palm Bay) to 30 years in federal prison for conspiring to sexually exploit children, sexually exploiting children, and possessing child pornography.
A federal jury had found Litzky guilty on July 29, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, between 2014 and 2016, Litzky conspired with her boyfriend, Roberto Oquendo, to sexually exploit two young children in her custody and care. Litzky, who lived in Florida, caused the children to engage in sexually explicit conduct while Oquendo watched using a video and messaging app from his residence in Virginia. Oquendo created hundreds of screenshots of the explicit visual depictions and transported them to Brevard County, where law enforcement found them on his cell phone.
During an interview with law enforcement officers, Litzky also admitted to producing hundreds of sexually explicit pictures of the children and texting them to Oquendo for his sexual gratification. Law enforcement searched Litzky’s phone and found a sexually explicit image of one of the children, who was two years old at the time the picture was taken.
On August 26, 2019, U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. sentenced Oquendo to 50 years in federal prison for his role in the offenses.
“Child pornography is a despicable crime so I commend the efforts of the agents and federal prosecutors who are relentless in their work to ensure children are protected from these sexual predators,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael McPherson.
“I am so very proud of these agents who are devoted to protecting children by making sure the evil men and women who hurt them are brought to justice,” stated Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. “These cases are an example of how cooperation between agencies keeps our children safe. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting these cases and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for all of their support in fighting the exploitation of children.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilianys River Miranda and Karen L. Gable.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for Distributing Child Sex Abuse Images over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Reece Christopher Depew (22, Jacksonville) with distributing images depicting the sexual abuse of young children. Depew faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report from a company that hosts and administers an online social messaging application. The company reported that a user named “Android 18” had uploaded and distributed child sex abuse images to an online chat platform. Further investigation revealed that the internet protocol address used to upload this material traced back to a residence where Depew lived. On January 17, 2020, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the home. Depew was subsequently arrested and has been detained pending trial.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It 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.
Jacksonville Man Guilty of Producing Images Depicting the Sexual Abuse of Children and Transporting Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Harlon David Prater (28, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to two counts of producing images depicting the sexual abuse of children, and one count of transporting images of sexual abuse of a child. Prater faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to 80 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 4, 2020.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received reports from a social networking and file-sharing provider that a particular user was sharing images of child sex abuse. NCMEC determined that the images had been created in Duval County. Detectives and officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) executed a search warrant at Prater’s residence. During an interview, Prater admitted to viewing and sharing images of child sex abuse. He also admitted to using his cellphone to produce images of babies being sexually abused.
During a search of Prater’s cellphone, a JSO forensic examiner recovered images of Prater sexual abusing babies and other children. There was also evidence that Prater had distributed images and videos of child sex abuse to others over social media, and that he had amassed a collection on his cellphone of more than 900 images and 50 videos of children being sexually abused.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being 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.
Jacksonville Man Charged with Producing Images Depicting the Sexual Abuse of A ChildRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced the return of an indictment charging Columbus Donavan Jeffrey (41, Jacksonville) with two counts of producing images depicting the sexual abuse of a child. If convicted on all counts, Jeffrey faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, and up to 60 years, in federal prison. Jeffrey was arrested on October 3, 2019, on related state charges, and is currently detained pending trial.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received two reports from a company that hosts and administers an online social messaging application. These reports revealed that on May 3, 2019, a user named “hideme1977” had uploaded and distributed child sex abuse images over using the application. Further investigation by NCMEC and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) revealed that the internet protocol address used to upload these images traced back to a residence where Jeffrey lived. On October 3, 2019, JSO detectives and officers executed a search warrant at the home. During an interview, Jeffrey admitted, among other things, that he had used the username “hideme1977” on the messaging application, and he identified himself and a child depicted in one of the photos that had been uploaded to the app. JSO detectives were able to identify and locate the child in the photos.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Kelly S. Karase.
It 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 Felon, Previously Convicted of Attempted Murder, Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – DeShawn Torrell Salley (49, Tampa) today pleaded guilty to distributing at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, between 1999 and 2004, Salley was convicted of six felony offenses, including attempted murder in the first degree. On June 5, 2019, he sold 54 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Tampa. On July 31, 2019, federal agents arrested Salley. During the execution of a search warrant at Salley’s apartment, federal agents recovered a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol, a bulletproof vest, heroin, and marijuana.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
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 Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Deadly Weight Loss Drug to ConsumersRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Barry Clint Wright (38, Monroe, NC) to the maximum statutory sentence of seven years in federal prison for introducing an unapproved drug into interstate commerce, introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce, and introducing an unapproved drug into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead. Wright had pleaded guilty on November 1, 2019.
According to court documents, 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) is a chemical substance that, when ingested, causes rapid loss of weight, but is also associated with a high rate of adverse effects including cataracts, hyperthermia, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, and death. In 1938, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared DNP to be extremely dangerous and not fit for human consumption. At that time, the FDA announced publicly that it would prosecute those who manufacture and distribute DNP for use as a drug.
According to court records, between December 2015 and May 2018, Wright sold DNP to consumers throughout the United States and in a number of foreign countries as a weight loss drug. Wright purchased bulk DNP and encapsulated it into ingestible pills. He also created several websites to market the pills. Wright did not label the pills as DNP, nor did he include any directions or warnings regarding the use of the drug when he mailed it to consumers. Three of these consumers died during or shortly after their DNP use. The official cause of death for two of these victims, 21-year-old V.G. (East London, United Kingdom) and 46-year-old J.P. (Marietta, GA), was DNP toxicity. The other victim, 26-year-old C.W. (Lake Mary, FL), died from cardiac arrhythmia, which can be caused by the use of DNP.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Jury Finds Orange Park Man Guilty of Federal Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found Darryl Gray Smith, Jr. (30, Orange Park) guilty of two counts of attempted online enticement of a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of online solicitation of child pornography. Smith faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison for each of the attempted online enticement counts. For the solicitation charge, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, and up to 30 years. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to testimony and evidence introduced during the trial, from February 6 through February 13, 2019, Smith engaged in a series of online text conversations with a person whom he believed to be a 14-year-old child. Unbeknownst to Smith, the “child” was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent. During the course of the online conversations, Smith discussed in detail his desire to have sex with and to perform sexual acts on the child. Smith made several requests for the child to send him images of the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. On February 13, 2019, Smith went to a local fast food restaurant in Orange Park to meet the child, and was subsequently arrested by HSI agents and deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Washington and Kelly 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.
Jacksonville Felon, Previously Convicted of Attempted Murder, Arrested on Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging D.K. Johnson (80, Jacksonville) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to the
complaint , in 1992, Johnson was federally convicted of attempted murder, assault with attempt to commit murder, assault causing serious bodily harm, and using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. According to court documents, Johnson committed these crimes against his coworkers at the time.During the past two years Johnson has been employed by a company in Jacksonville. He was terminated at the end of January 2020, at which time he began making threats toward his former employer. The former employer knew that Johnson was a convicted felon and had accompanied Johnson to a gun show, where Johnson had purchased a Sig Sauer pistol in a transaction not requiring a background check.
On February 5, 2020, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Johnson’s home. Agents recovered ammunition from inside the residence, and several firearms from a shed on the property, including a Sig Sauer .40 caliber pistol. Johnson was arrested at the scene.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
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 Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
International Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew has sentenced Jermaine Rhoomes (46, St. Petersburg) to four years and nine months in federal prison for trafficking firearms, ammunition, and gun parts to Jamaica, in violation of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The sentence imposed was the maximum recommended by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
Rhoomes had pleaded guilty on October 1, 2019.
According to court documents, in March 2016, Rhoomes used an alias and false address to smuggle to Jamaica a pistol, an AR15-style assault rifle, and multiple ammunition magazines, in shipments that he had declared as containing audio equipment. In July 2017, Rhoomes used a fake name and address to send a 50-gallon barrel to Jamaica that he declared as “food.” Jamaican law enforcement officers intercepted the barrel and discovered that it actually contained two AK47-style assault rifles, five AR15-style assault rifles, eight pistols, 3,315 rounds of assorted ammunition, 38 gun magazines, and a bulletproof vest. After tracing that shipment back to Rhoomes, law enforcement searched Rhoomes’s apartment in St. Petersburg and found seven partially completed assault-style rifles, two shotguns, 23 gun magazines, and 5,949 rounds of assorted ammunition, all of which Rhoomes intended to illegally export to Jamaica.
Representatives from the Jamaican government, including Queen’s Counsel Paula Llewellyn, Jamaica’s Director of Public Prosecutions, traveled to the United States to attend Rhoomes’s sentencing hearing.
“The unique international investigative authorities of HSI helped disrupt this transnational criminal organization,” said Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran. “Thanks to the hard work of our HSI special agents and our partners at Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspector, the HSI Attaché office in Jamaica and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, our communities are safer today.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel George and Trial Attorney Will Mackie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
Colorado Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Murder-For-Hire and Enticing 13-Year-Old for SexRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron today sentenced Danny James McLaughlin (59, Littleton, CO) to life in federal prison for using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered McLaughlin to pay a $300,000 fine.
McLaughlin had pleaded guilty on October 31, 2019.
According to court documents, between April 26 and May 17, 2019, McLaughlin communicated online with someone whom he believed was the father of a 13-year-old girl. Unbeknownst to McLaughlin, the “father” was an undercover federal agent. McLaughlin suggested that the undercover agent take a father-daughter trip to Colorado, where McLaughlin lived, so he could kidnap and rape the child. McLaughlin detailed his intentions to hold the teenager captive, subject her to physical and sexual torture, and then kill her.
McLaughlin indicated that he would be willing to kidnap and hold the daughter if the undercover agent would return the favor by killing McLaughlin’s wife. McLaughlin informed the agent of a weekly meeting that his wife attended, along with the time and location. He also suggested a place where the agent could dump his wife’s body, and where he could purchase chloroform to commit the murder.
On May 17, 2019, McLaughlin met with the undercover agent at a hotel in Colorado. He reaffirmed his intention to kidnap and sexually abuse the notional 13-year-old daughter and gave the agent $100 as a deposit toward the $2,600 sum he had agreed to pay for the murder-for-hire.
“The sentencing of McLaughlin is a clear message to criminals there is no safe haven from law enforcement,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “Without the hard work and strong partnerships between HSI Orlando, HSI Denver and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, this criminal would have murdered his wife and sexually exploited a child.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arapahoe County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily C. L. Chang and Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
Tampa Woman Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Immigration Fraud Scheme Stretching from Tampa to ChicagoRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Erika Paola Intriago (45, Tampa) to four years in federal prison for wire fraud in connection with a fraud scheme involving her posing as an immigration attorney to more than 50 victims in Chicago and Tampa. The court also ordered Intriago to forfeit $53,663, the proceeds of her offense.
Intriago had pleaded guilty on October 31, 2019.
According to court documents, Intriago portrayed herself as an immigration attorney and personal representative offering immigration-related services. She advertised her services on social media, targeting immigrants and immigrant families from Spanish-speaking countries. In fact, Intriago was not a licensed attorney in any state.
At least 55 victims retained and paid Intriago to represent them in immigration-related matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other agencies. To prove that she was acting on the victims’ behalf, Intriago sent fraudulent letters, emails, receipts, documents, and communications to her victims, fraudulently representing that these records were legitimate communications sent from agencies of the United States, including the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS. In actuality, Intriago had either never filed the necessary immigration paperwork, had abandoned the immigration process, or the applications had already been denied without Intriago informing the victims. Intriago also threatened and intimidated victims who complained about her conduct by telling them that she would report their immigration status to U.S. immigration authorities, which Intriago claimed would result in the victims being deported.
“Immigration fraud is a serious threat to our national security,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran. “Her illegal scheme tried to undermine the integrity of our nation’s legal immigration system, while preying on victims who were vulnerable and trying to navigate a path to citizenship.”
“Justice was served today with this sentencing,” said USCIS Tampa District Director Michael Borgen. “The defendant defrauded immigrants in an elaborate unlawful scheme, and USCIS’ Fraud Detection and National Security division is proud to have partnered with HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to continue protecting our immigration system.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
Multiple Life Sentences Handed Down in Bradenton Gang Racketeering and Murder CaseRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced Jordan Rodriguez (Bradenton, 26) to, among other things, three terms of life imprisonment. Rodriguez’s co-defendants, Alfonzo Churchwell (Bradenton, 32) and Andrew Thompson (Bradenton, 25) were also sentenced to multiple life terms of imprisonment last month. All three individuals were found guilty on November 5, 2019, following a three-and-a-half-week jury trial. See
summary chart for a complete list of charges and sentences.According to evidence presented during the trial, the defendants were engaged in a violent and deadly rivalry with others in Oneco, a community in Bradenton. The men worked together to traffic in controlled substances and to control and protect their drug business with violence and murder. Rodriguez, Churchwell, and Thompson were responsible for at least four murders. Their racketeering enterprise maintained a “trap house” that was used to distribute heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the murdered victims,” stated U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We are deeply committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations.” “The Department of Justice, working closely with our partners at all levels of law enforcement, will continue to use every available resource to protect vulnerable communities from the scourge of violent drug crime.
“The announcement of these sentences means that these individuals will no longer be able to hurt, harm or intimidate this community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “ATF has worked extensively with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to reduce violent crime and also with the victims’ families to bring closure to those who have suffered through these senseless acts of violence.”
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said, “Our goal has always been to find violent drug traffickers who are destroying lives in our community, and hold them accountable. We appreciate the hard work of the United States Attorney’s Office for bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office (Twelfth Judicial Circuit). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Natalie Hirt Adams and Christopher F. Murray.
Fourth Rural King Robber Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Christopher Louis Hooker (25, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Last week, three co-defendants, Carlos Eduardo Hampton, Jr. (22, Tampa), Quintin Eugene Augustus (18, Cocoa), and Jonathan Arthur Floyd (21, of Cocoa), entered guilty pleas in connection with the 2019 robberies of two central Florida Rural King stores.
According to the plea agreements, on July 26 and August 16, 2019, Hampton, Augustus, and Floyd used a sledgehammer to break into two Rural King locations in Ocala and Zephyrhills. The men then used the sledgehammer to smash open display cases and steal a total of 28 firearms. Hooker served as the group’s getaway driver for the Zephyrhills robbery. Immediately following that robbery, law enforcement officers stopped Hooker’s car, arrested the four men, and recovered numerous firearms stolen from the Zephyrhills Rural King store.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the City of Ocala Police Department, and the Zephyrhills Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
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 Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
St. Petersburg Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 9 Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Mario D. Heatly (39, St. Petersburg) to nine years and four months years in federal prison for possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute it.
Heatly had pleaded guilty on September 26, 2019.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a storage unit that Heatly had been using and recovered almost a kilogram of cocaine, more than $16,000, a scale, and plastic bags. Subsequently, Heatly was arrested at a different storage unit. This unit also contained almost a kilogram of cocaine, scales, and plastic bags.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.
This investigation is also the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Pain Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Tom Wynne has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit tax evasion, one count of tax evasion, and seven counts of money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for each of the tax-related counts and up to 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count.
According to the plea agreement, Wynne owned and operated Pain and Wellness Clinic (“PWC”), a pain management clinic in Pinellas County. He hired medical doctors to prescribe for patients large quantities of Schedule II controlled substances, like oxycodone and hydromorphone, outside the usual course of professional practice. Wynne used the illegal proceeds generated from PWC to purchase real property in the Tampa Bay area.
For each tax year, beginning in 2014 and continuing through tax year 2017, Wynne underreported PWC’s gross receipts on his tax filings. He also conspired and agreed with PWC physicians to defraud the IRS by creating and preparing, among other false and fraudulent tax-related documents, false and fraudulent IRS Forms 1099 to pay the clinic’s two doctors.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit was created by the Department of Justice to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The Unit focuses specifically on opioid-related health care fraud, using data to identify and prosecute individuals contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo and Kelley Howard-Allen.
Ocala Man Sentenced to Twenty Years for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, and FentanylRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. Senior District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Jeremy Jermaine Willis (37, Ocala) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. The court also sentenced co-defendants Gary Eugene Hayes (38, Ocala) and Darren Michael Beatty (30, Ocala) to 15 years in federal prison each, for their involvement in the same conspiracy. All three men had pleaded guilty in 2019.
According to court documents, between January 2012 and May 2019, Willis, Hayes, and Beatty were members of a conspiracy that distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin through a network of stash houses in Marion County. Large quantities of the heroin were also laced with fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ocala Police Department, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
Jacksonville Realtor Convicted of Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Tanya Firmani (47, Jacksonville) guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud and six counts of bankruptcy fraud. Firmani faces a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment on each count. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 21, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Firmani conspired with others in a foreclosure rescue/bankruptcy fraud scheme. Firmani solicited homeowners whose mortgages were in default and offered to rescue their homes from foreclosure. To prevent the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”), and multiple financial institutions from lawfully foreclosing on homeowners’ properties, Firmani filed or caused the filing of fraudulent bankruptcy petitions in the homeowners’ names just prior to the scheduled foreclosure sale dates. The fraudulent bankruptcies triggered the Bankruptcy Code’s automatic stay provision, preventing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and the financial institutions from conducting foreclosure sales and obtaining the titles to the properties. The fraudulent bankruptcy petitions enabled Firmani to collect fees and allowed her co-conspirators to obtain ill-gotten commissions for short-sales causing losses to creditors.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. The Office of United States Trustee for the Middle District of Florida provided substantial investigative assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.