Northern District of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida joins the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other law enforcement partners, including attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in announcing a crackdown on telemarketing operations responsible for billions of illegal calls to U.S. consumers.

The announcement caps approximately a year of enforcement actions taken by federal and state agencies to combat the scourge of illegal telemarketing, including robocalls and scam calls. In the last year, the Department has pursued approximately 90 cases against illegal telemarketing operations and those who facilitate those illegal calls. This initiative, “Operation Stop Scam Calls,” targets telemarketers, including those who use telephone calls to commit fraud, as well as those who facilitate illegal telephone calls. Enforcement actions targeted lead generators who deceptively collect consumers’ telephone numbers and then provide those telephone numbers to robocallers and others (falsely representing that these consumers have consented to receive calls), as well as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers who facilitate tens of billions of illegal robocalls every year. Significant actions also were taken against individuals and entities who unjustly profited by facilitating the movement of money from scam call victims to fraudsters.

"Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens," said U.S. Attorney Coody. "Florida experiences far too many instances of fraud against unsuspecting, vulnerable citizens. With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and vigorously prosecuting those who seek to steal the hard-earned savings of our citizens."

The Department of Justice and its partners urge consumers to be on the lookout for illegal calls, to take steps to minimize the number of illegal calls received, and to report any scam calls to law enforcement.

• Callers may pressure you to send money by trying to scare you. They may pretend to be someone you know who is in trouble, a government agency, or a major company. These are fraudsters. Hang up.
• Don’t trust your caller ID. It can be faked.
• If you answer the telephone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it’s potentially a robocall trying to sell you something. It is probably illegal and likely a scam.
• Only call a telephone number you know is real.
• Make sure your number is on the Do Not Call Registry and consider using your telephone’s call blocking options or getting a call blocking app or service.

For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. To review a list of common transnational elder fraud scams, many facilitated by telephone calls, visit https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/transnational-elder-fraud-strike-force. 

To learn more about the Department’s elder fraud efforts, visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

For more information on unwanted calls, including steps people can take to avoid robocall scams and to hear examples of illegal calls, visit https://www.ftc.gov/calls, which is also available in Spanish at https://www.ftc.gov/llamadas.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Johnson Saint-Louis, 38, of Deerfield Beach, Florida was sentenced to 147 months in federal prison following his conviction for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“This serial armed robber endangered the lives of multiple victims,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Through the coordinated efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, his multi-state crime spree has ended, and he has been held accountable for his criminal conduct. This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with such federal crimes of violence.”

Saint-Louis was convicted by a federal jury after a 3-day trial on November 9, 2022. Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that Saint-Louis was a former ATM technician who traveled around the southeast tampering with ATMs serviced by his former employer. Over a two-year period, Saint-Louis robbed four ATM technicians sent out to fix problems Saint-Louis had caused, including the ATM technician dispatched to the Bank of America at 5676 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee, Florida on September 29, 2021. The Government introduced evidence of similar robberies in Boca Raton, Florida in November 2019, Longwood, Florida in February 2021, and Raleigh, North Carolina in August 2021.

“This conviction is a testament to collaborative efforts between local, state and federal authorities to bring to justice those who perpetrate crimes in our community,” said police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Members of the Tallahassee Police Department work tirelessly to investigate cases and collect the evidence needed for an arrest and subsequent conviction. Additionally, this conviction highlights the efforts of the grants and programs established at TPD that are aimed at eradicating crime. We want the community to know we have made a commitment to more than just making the arrests but also doing our part to prevent the crime from happening.”

As part of the FBI’s investigation into the bank robberies, Saint-Louis was surveilled by Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies on November 4, 2021, who observed Saint-Louis traveling to various Bank of America locations. Deputies eventually stopped Saint-Louis, and, during that traffic stop, they observed a firearm and notes listing the locations of Bank of America branches in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bank of America branches were annotated with whether the ATM at that location was manufactured by Saint-Louis’ former employer or by another company, and included notes like “too open,” “not enough exit route,” two-man job,” and “posible” (sic).

“The FBI takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate those who target and endanger innocent people in their quest for personal gain,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks.  “We will continue to work with our partners to pursue those who commit violent crimes and take advantage of others.”

The FBI’s financial investigation revealed that Saint-Louis, who had been unemployed since mid-2019, was making large cash deposits into his bank accounts (e.g., $89,939 in 2021) and gambling large amounts of money (e.g., losing $189,814 in 2021). Saint-Louis lost $39,480 gambling in the week following the Tallahassee bank robbery.

Saint-Louis’ imprisonment will be followed by 3-years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $104,840.00 in restitution.

This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Christopher M. Elsey prosecuted the case.

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

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Curtis Tyron Vickers, 35, of Dothan, Alabama was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute approximately 1.8 pounds of methamphetamine. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

“Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe and serve a critical role in our efforts to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We will continue to support their efforts to investigate and vigorously prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.”

As part of a longer-term investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the North Star Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force (NSMDTF) learned that Vickers was transporting approximately 1.8 pounds of methamphetamine through Calhoun County for distribution. Working in conjunction with DEA, and the NSMDTF, the Florida Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Vickers. A Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Deputy deployed a canine who alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. In addition to the methamphetamine, officers also located small baggies containing heroin and fentanyl, and a small amount of crack cocaine.

Vickers qualified for enhanced sentencing as a Career Offender due to prior convictions for unlawful possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and sale or delivery of controlled substance. Vickers was on probation at the time of the offense.

“One of DEA’s top priorities is getting these highly addictive and incredibly dangerous drugs, like methamphetamine, off our streets and out of our communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The success of this investigation highlights the Miami Field Division’s continued commitment to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and healthy.”

Vickers’ prison sentenced will be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

This conviction was the result of the collaborative efforts of numerous local, state, and federal agencies, including the North Star Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Frank P. Knight, 59, of Pensacola, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury for receiving and possessing images and videos of child pornography. The guilty verdict returned yesterday afternoon, at the conclusion of a three-day trial, was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Protecting innocent children from sexual predators remains one of our highest priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “I commend our law enforcement partners and prosecutors who work diligently to identify these predators and bring them to justice so that they no longer have the opportunity to exploit any child again. Due to their efforts, our community is safer, and this repeat offender is exactly where he belongs – back behind bars.”

Between October 1, 2018, and October 12, 2022, Knight received, and attempted to receive, material containing child pornography.  Also, between September 1, 2021, and October 12, 2022, Knight possessed, and attempted to possess, material containing child pornography. Knight is a previously convicted federal sex offender for similar crimes spanning 2002 – 2009. He served over six years in federal prison for those crimes but was released in 2015.

“This convicted felon once again showed no respect for the law by possessing child sexual abuse materials while on probation,” said HSI Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “Thanks to the vigilance of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the U.S. Probations Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, this repeat offender will now be behind bars, making our communities safer for our children.”

On October 5, 2022, one of the United States Probation Officers who was supervising Knight conducted a random check at Knight’s place of business and discovered electronic devices that had not been reported by Knight to his supervising officer. On October 11, 2022, with the assistance of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the United States Probation Office seized additional electronic devices at Knight’s location that he also had not reported.  At that time, a Smart TV was located in Knight’s personal living area within the business. All the accounts on the Smart TV were logged in under Knight’s name and email address, and the browser history revealed child pornography websites had been recently accessed. The electronic devices that were seized were analyzed by forensics examiners with the Department of Homeland Security, and numerous images and videos of child pornography were located on multiple seized devices. The devices all contained Knight’s log-in information, email accounts, credit card accounts, photographs, and other identifying information belonging to Knight. The devices also contained browser history searches and link files for child pornography dating back to 2018.

Sentencing is currently set for September 25, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before the Honorable United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Based on his prior child pornography convictions, Knight faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in federal prison, with a maximum of 40 years.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jaquez Quashawn Price, 25, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison followed by three years’ supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The collaborative efforts of our partners in the Tallahassee Gun Violence Initiative continue to produce impactful results, and we will continue working tirelessly to make North Florida safer,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses.”

On the morning of March 8, 2022, officer of the Quincy Police Department responded to a concerned citizen’s call regarding possible prowlers walking through neighborhood backyards.  Officers responded and contacted Price and another male, who claimed to be in the neighborhood visiting friends and looking for property they had lost in the area. Officers were aware that several days earlier, a vehicle had been abandoned nearby while fleeing from police, after which a backpack containing several firearms and a laptop computer were recovered. Officers believed that Price and the other male were likely searching for the backpack and weapons that had been discarded in that incident. Investigators checked Price’s identification and discovered he had a pending felony warrant, and that he was a convicted felon. Price was detained and during an officer pat-down, a .40 caliber handgun was found on his person. He was placed under arrest, for the warrant as well as for the firearm in his possession. Officers also identified a vehicle parked nearby occupied by a female who informed officers that she had driven Price and the other male to the neighborhood. Inside the vehicle, a 9mm handgun was found on the backseat floorboard behind the driver, where Price and the male had been sitting.

“This is a true testament to the partnership we share with all law enforcement authorities, which transcends across all levels, said Chief T. Ashley, Quincy Police Department. “We are committed to detouring criminal activity by proactively patrolling our communities and promptly responding to our citizens safety needs. Our citizens deserve to live free of the constant fear of gun violence in our neighborhoods. I appreciate the work of the United States Attorney Office, Northern District of Florida for prosecuting this case.”

Following his arrest, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms adopted the case for federal prosecution and conducted a follow-up investigation. It was determined that Price had prior felony convictions including Burglary of a Dwelling and multiple counts of Grand Theft.

Price was also documented as a member of a criminal street gang and on release and awaiting trial on multiple unrelated violent state criminal charges when the instant arrest occurred.

The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Quincy Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.

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

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – In excess of 50 individuals have been arrested on warrants related to drug-trafficking as part of a long-term investigation conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration, local, and state law enforcement. The arrests were announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“I am proud of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to keep us safe and serve a critical role in our efforts to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We will continue to support the efforts our law enforcement partners as we work together to investigate and prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.”

The multi-agency operation netted seizures of over 35 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, multiple kilograms of cocaine, multiple ounces of fentanyl, over 60 firearms, and over $100,000 in United States currency.

Federal defendants arrested today were: • Joshua Leo Carr, 40, of Marianna, Florida
• Michael Christopher “City Boy” Garner, 38, of Chattahoochee, Florida
• Joncy Torrianne Hall, 31, of Marianna, Florida
• Robert Blake Howell, 45, of Marianna, Florida
• Helen Christine Jones, a/k/a Christine Howell, 41, of Marianna, Florida
• Amos E. “Pops” Rogers, 58, of Chipley, Florida
• Matthew Ottovio Aliffi, 45, of Marianna, Florida

Already in custody elsewhere and scheduled for federal arraignment are: • Ashley Marie Albert, 29, of Mariana, Florida
• Royce Allen “R.J.” Alday, 30, of Marianna, Florida
• Ryan Wade “Bobo” Massey, 32, of Chipley, Florida
• Holly Gay Newton a/k/a Holly Nichols, 43, of Altha, Florida
• Dewayne Deshun “Max” Thornton, 23, of Dothan, Alabama

Previous federal arrests from this same investigation include: • Brian Beauchamp, 37, of Grand Ridge, Florida
• Anthony Lamar “Kool Aid” Brown, 46, of Quincy, Florida
• Eric Shane Daniels, 27, of Blountstown, Florida
• Daniel B. Foster, 40, of Blountstown, Florida
• Cornelius Montez Garner, 33, of Chattahoochee, Florida
• Gary Lamar “G” Murphy III, 37, of Tallahassee, Florida
• Savannah Price, 23, of Marianna, Florida
• Jessica Nicole Pynes, 35, of Bristol, Florida
• Shelby Roney, 49, of Malone, Florida
• Curtis Vickers, 38, of Dothan, Alabama
• Latoya Latasha White, 34, of Lake Wales, Florida

The defendants charged federally face penalties of up to life imprisonment and fines of up to $20,000,000.

State defendants' arrested: • Tara Baxley
• Cheryl Bernhard
• Destiny Bryan
• Paul Childress
• Jeffrey Davis
• Arthur Goodwin
• Dawn Herndon
• Richard Outlaw
• Darryl Owens
• Abdullah Muhammad
• Nikolaus Rabon
• Forrest Reed, Jr.
• James Shelmon
• Ashley Smith
• Giselle Sukanec
• Keith Edward Summerlin
• Paul Wright

These arrests resulted from an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). This joint federal, state, and local cooperative targeted drug trafficking west of Tallahassee, particularly in Jackson County.

Investigative agencies included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Chattahoochee Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s office, the Holmes County Sheriff’s office, the Dothan, Alabama Police Department, the North Star Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The federal Northern District of Florida cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain, Jessica S. Etherton, Joseph A. Ravelo, and Eric K. Mountin.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. More information about OCDETF may be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients of the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 15 jurisdictions across the country.

The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn rank-and-file officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing. This year, the Department received nominations for almost 200 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. Nominations came from 49 states, representing state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.

Tallahassee Police Department Officer Henni Hamby received an award for Community Policing. Officer Hamby is devoted to public safety for people of all ages. She operates programs including a personal safety and empowerment program for elementary school children, as well as a car seat check program for parents. Officer Hamby is also an advocate of senior programs – she rec­ognizes that older adults are more vulnerable than most when it comes to theft, abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and other crimes. Officer Hamby is the department’s Citizen Police Academy Coordinator and has devel­oped an outstanding partnership with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization.  Officer Hamby works tirelessly to serve her community.

I couldn’t be prouder of Officer Henni Hamby and our partners at the Tallahassee Police Department,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern of Florida. “Community policing is more than just walking the beat – law enforcement and communities’ working together can cultivate creative solutions to all manner of challenges, thereby furthering public safety.”

A list of award winners can be found here. Complete information on the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found here.

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing is made possible through the Department’s work with national law enforcement stakeholder groups, who play a vital role in the review process. The various components throughout the Department also play a critical role, providing the review process with a depth of knowledge and experience that is inherent across the Department. The result is this annual awards program, which allows the Department to highlight a group of officers whose commitment to their communities is obvious through their exceptional efforts.   

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Acts of gun violence are far too frequent in communities throughout the Northern District of Florida. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms.

“The investigation and prosecution of violent crime is central to our mission to protect the public,” said Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “We will continue to utilize every resource available to us to make our streets safe. Our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe and serve a critical role in our efforts to combat violent crime.”

The most effective way to reduce gun violence is through partnerships – federal, state, and local agencies working together to effectively enforce the laws. This strategy has been successful in this area, including such cooperative initiatives as: ALLin LEON, and the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative, which are making a meaningful difference to reduce gun violence in the Northern District of Florida.

“ALLin LEON” is a comprehensive plan to unify people, agencies, and organizations to work collaboratively to reduce crime in Leon County. It is a partnership which allows all stakeholders to work towards a common goal. “ALLin LEON” is comprised of four components: prevention, re-entry, enforcement, and community involvement. Each component seeks to use reliable data to implement proven strategies. The joint federal, state, and local strike force is a concerted effort to crack down on violent crime under the Leon County Sheriff’s Office ALLin LEON umbrella. This initiative has engaged community volunteers to regularly take at-risk youth to places of worship, activated Neighborhood Crime Watch programs, and conducted other activities to target neighborhoods that are perennial hotspots for violence. The effort also aims to help connect individuals who are reentering the community from incarceration with education, job skills, and substance abuse treatment.

Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative (GVI) is a joint effort of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The Gainesville GVI was established in April 2019, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in an effort to stem the escalating gun violence in Gainesville and the surrounding area.  As GVI partners, the State Attorney’s Office for the Eight Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections share this commitment to protecting public safety.

Intelligence tools come in many forms. One source is the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which digitally analyzes and compares fired shell casings to help investigators link shootings that may have previously seemed unrelated. Administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the system is being used at more than 250 sites as a crime gun intelligence tool by law enforcement agencies around the country.

“Extending NIBIN technology to state and local agencies strengthens our collective ability to identify trigger-pullers before they shoot again,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk D. Howard. “ATF works hand-in-hand with our partners because no one agency can reduce the level of violence gun crime in North Florida alone.”

To learn more about ATF and its crime gun intelligence programs: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/tools-services-law-enforcement

Gun violence is an acute problem across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. firearm homicide rate in 2021 was the highest documented since 1993. While the numbers have slightly declined since 2021, they remain high.

In 2021, for the first time ever, firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of death for American children, ages 1-19, according to the New England Journal of Medicine (see also here).

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lenton Jerome Hatten, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, plead guilty to a one count indictment charging him with sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty plea.

Court documents reflect that between October 2021, and August 2022, Hatten engaged in repeated sexual acts with an inmate while employed as a sports specialist for the Bureau of Prisons at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee. Immediately after being reported, a forensic examination was conducted of the victim by a sexual assault nurse examiner. A mixed DNA profile was obtained, which confirmed the profile was 33 octillion (3.3 x 1028) times more likely to be from the victim and Hatten than the victim and an unknown, unrelated person.

At the time of the report, Hatten was on vacation leave and when made aware, he resigned his position. As such, Hatten had no further contact with inmates.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 10, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before the Honorable United States Senior District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.

Hatten faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, 5 years to Life on supervised release, and a maximum $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Stephen D. Regis, Jr., 31, of Navarre, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for the production, receipt, and possession of child pornography, as well as the transfer of obscene materials to minors. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”

Regis was indicted for victimizing seven minor females in the Gulf Breeze and Navarre, Florida areas. As alleged in the indictment, Regis engaged in the production, receipt, and possession of child pornography in 2021.  Regis chose a trial by jury, and a federal jury in Pensacola, Florida, found him guilty of all twenty-one counts of the indictment in late 2022. The trial evidence revealed that Regis used the social media platform Snapchat to communicate with his victims.  On Snapchat, Regis requested the victims produce or send child pornography and, in return, he would meet the minor females to provide them with electronic cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana.  During the course of this conduct, Regis also sent the minor females graphic sexual images and videos of himself and personally requested sexual acts from them.

“This arrest shows that our local agencies cooperating with the DOJ can make a substantial impact on those individuals who produce child pornography,” said Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson. “Hopefully, this will deter anyone else from even thinking about following Regis’ footsteps.”

Regis’ prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of federal supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to all sex offender conditions.

“We are witnessing an epidemic through social media and the internet when it comes to the sexual exploitation of our children. It’s imperative that our children are taught the dangers of online predators,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Thanks to the partnerships we have with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Highway Patrol, we are able to stop predators like this from victimizing our children.”

This case resulted from a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Charlie James Rhodes, 43, of Defuniak Springs, was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to charges theft of mail, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Frauds, such as this one, which target the elderly and compromise essential institutions, such as the mail and our banking system, are serious federal offenses and violators will be prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of fraud.”

Court documents reflect that between March 2019 and July 2019, Rhodes drove around neighborhoods in the Fort Walton Beach area looking for mailbox flags that were raised, indicating the presence of outgoing mail. Rhodes would then steal the mail, looking for personal checks from the homeowner to various payees. Once found, he would wash the checks, make himself or one of his aliases the payee, and increase the payment amount. Finally, he would take the checks to local banks and cash them. Using this scheme, he stole over 30 checks, for a loss amount more than $35,000. This crime primarily victimized elderly members of the community, but also many of the local banks. The residents bore the time and expense of sorting out the fraud and the impact of the misdirected funds and the local banks ultimately bore the financial loss.  From 2019 to 2022, Rhodes served time in Alabama for a similar scheme. When Rhodes was arrested in Enterprise, Alabama in 2019, he had several checks in his vehicle waiting to be cashed, some from residents of Okaloosa County.

“Identity theft and fraud are a continuing problem in our society,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. "I commend the hard work of our investigators to hold these individuals accountable and our department will continue to aggressively pursue all who engage in this type of criminal activity.”

Rhodes’s prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Rhodes to pay $6,727 in restitution.

“The United States Postal Inspection Service will aggressively investigate those who target our most vulnerable citizens and defraud them of their hard-earned money,” said Miami Division Postal Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas. “This sentence is a testament of the dedication and collaborative efforts with all law enforcement partners involved.”

This case was investigated by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Walter Narramore prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury has returned a one-count indictment charging Ryan Tyler Newman, 29, of Steinhatchee, Florida, with distribution of methamphetamine.  The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges on or about August 17, 2022, Newman distributed a quantity of methamphetamine.  Newman was identified through an ongoing, multi-agency investigation targeting illegal drug distribution in the Taylor County, Florida area. 

If convicted, Newman faces up to 20 years in prison.  

This case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Perry, Florida Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin is prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. More information about OCDETF may be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment charging Miranda Stafford, 55, of Perry, Florida, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of over 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges that between on or about March 1, 2023, and on or about April 11, 2023, Stafford conspired with other individuals to possess with intent to distribute and distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.  The indictment further alleges that on or about April 4, 2023, Stafford distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and on or about April 11, 2023, possessed with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. 

Based on prior felony drug trafficking convictions, if convicted, Stafford faces not less than 25 years up to life in prison for all three charges.

This case resulted from a large-scale, regional investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Perry Police Department, as well as members of the Northstar Drug Task Force, including the Wakulla, Bay, Gulf, and Leon County Sheriff’s Offices.  Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin is prosecuting the case. 

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. More information about OCDETF may be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Troy M. Hill, 43, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison following his conviction on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play a vital role in fighting crime and protecting the public,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence, of a habitual armed career criminal, is another example that working jointly with our partners continues to make our community safer.”

Hill was convicted by a federal jury in December 2022. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that on February 16, 2021, Hill was arrested by the Tallahassee Police Department and was found by the arresting officers to be in the possession of a firearm.

Hill was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his numerous felony convictions for crimes of violence and serious drug offenses. 

“Every day officers put their lives on the line to curb violent crime in our community,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “This sentencing and the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement and judicial partners sends a message to the community that those who perpetrate crimes in our community will be held accountable.  It also highlights the importance of joint programs like Project Safe Neighborhood which are vital in enhancing the safety of everyone in the community.”

Hill’s imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release.

“This is a great example of combining ATF’s expertise in federal firearm laws with the talent of the Tallahassee Police Department,” said Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard, ATF Tampa Field Division. “Partnerships like this are the backbone of how we help keep communities safe.”

The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Tallahassee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

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

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – In honor of National Police Week, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida recognizes the service and sacrifice of our local, state, and federal law enforcement officers. This year, national events are being held in Washington, D.C. between Wednesday, May 10 through Monday, May 15, 2023.

 “Every day our brave law enforcement officers face dangerous and difficult situations without reservation or expectation of thanks,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “These courageous individuals serve, not for fame or fortune, but act selflessly to protect their fellow citizens and keep our communities safe. This week we pay tribute to Tallahassee Police Officer Christopher Fariello and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Ray Hamilton, both of whom made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation.  We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. Moreover, we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 224 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2022.

Additionally, according to 2022 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 60 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2022 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 58 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts decreased 17.8% in 2022, when compared to the 73 officers who were killed as a result of criminal acts in 2021. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program. 

Each year, hundreds of names of officers killed in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. The NLEOMF’s 35th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall in Washington, DC, memorializes the 556 fallen officers who sacrificed all for their communities.  The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

 Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Carlos Kentral Kerney, 43, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to a total of 30 years in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

“This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. "Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, this armed felon has been called to account for his continued criminal conduct."

Kerney was convicted by a federal jury after a 3-day trial in January 2023. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop of Kerney for speeding on June 22, 2022. During the stop, the deputy observed the grip of a pistol sticking out from between the driver’s seat and center console. Deputies confirmed Kerney was a multi-time convicted felon and detained him in handcuffs. After being read his rights, Kerney denied ownership/knowledge of the firearm, claiming it must be his girlfriend’s gun because she has a Concealed Carry Permit. Further search of the vehicle led to discovery of 120 grams of marijuana, and varying amounts of cocaine, cocaine base, and a synthetic cathinone in the center console, two scales in the vehicle, and another small baggie of marijuana and $1000 cash on Kerney’s person. 

“The Men and Women of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, in concert with our state and federal partners, will continue to pursue career felons who unlawfully possess firearms and who continuously try to peddle the poison of illegal narcotics on the streets of Alachua County, Florida. The mission to protect the safety and security of our citizens and visitors will always remain a top priority for this agency.” – Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr.

Kerney had previously been convicted of twenty-five felonies and qualified as an Armed Career Criminal. Kerney’s imprisonment will be followed by six years of supervised release. 

This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Elsey prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Wilbert Jean Stanley, III, 43, and Felicia Jackson Stanley, 43, both of Tallahassee, Florida, were sentenced, after previously pleading guilty to one count each of wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and making false statements in connection to COVID-19 pandemic relief. Wilbert Stanley was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison, and Felicia Stanley was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentences.

“The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable but stealing over $4.8 million dollars from honest, hardworking Americans truly in need of pandemic relief is simply abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Today’s sentences both punish the defendants’ criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves. With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating and vigorously prosecuting those who engage in acts of covid-related fraud.”

Court documents reflect that between March 1, 2020, and September 1, 2021, the Stanleys made false and fraudulent representations in applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA), financial institutions, and other lenders, for three different federal COVID-19 relief programs: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), and Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOGs).  The false representations included inflated average monthly payroll expenses and the use of false tax forms as supporting documentation. The Stanleys submitted a total of 166 false and fraudulent EIDL applications, of which 50 were funded, in their names for businesses that they owned and in the names of other individuals (whom they recruited). The Stanleys also submitted 20 false and fraudulent PPP loan applications, and 3 false and fraudulent SVOG applications in their names for businesses that they owned and in the names of other individuals (whom they recruited). For most of the applications that the Stanleys submitted (which were not in their names), the Stanleys had an arrangement with the named applicants to receive a kickback from the named applicants, which was paid from the PPP, EIDL, and SVOG proceeds.

“Diverting federal funds intended to provide critical relief from the effects of a pandemic steals resources from those who need it most,” said Brian Payne IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge.  “These sentences reinforce our commitment to stopping criminals so every American taxpayer can maintain confidence in our system of taxation.”

“These sentences bring justice to the defendants who fraudulently obtained millions from Federal programs that were created to provide assistance to businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG).  “The FDIC-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold those accountable who steal from such programs and threaten to undermine the integrity of the banking system.”

In total, through their false applications for federal COVID-19 relief funds, the Stanleys attempted to obtain over $7 million for themselves and others, to which they were not entitled.  The Stanleys were successful in fraudulently obtaining over $4.8 million in such funds.

Additionally, the Stanleys engaged in multiple monetary transactions that involved at least $10,000 of fraudulently obtained PPP loan, EIDL, or SVOG proceeds that they obtained through their scheme. Many of these transactions included payments for the purchase of real estate and to invest in virtual currency.

“These sentences demonstrate that those that steal taxpayer dollars will face the consequences for their actions,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka Brathwaite-McCall. “I want to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”

The Stanleys’ imprisonment will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Additionally, the Stanleys were ordered to pay restitution to the SBA in the amount of $2,802,690.76, and the Court entered an order of forfeiture with respect to several parcels of real property and accounts at financial institutions.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and the U.S. Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted as part the Department of Justice’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the CARES Act relief programs. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the two programs that were developed through CARES Act is the PPP. It provides funding to businesses through PPP loans for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. PPP allows the interest and principal on loans to be forgiven if the business spends proceeds on certain expense items within a designated time and uses a certain percentage of the loan on payroll expenses. The SVOG program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program included over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA. The SVOG program’s mission is to support the ongoing operations of eligible live venues and operators, live venue promoters, theatrical producers, talent representatives, live performing arts organization operators, museums, and motion picture theaters during the uncertain economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the crisis.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that on April 25, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the 211-month sentence of Fred Somers, age 46. That sentence was imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle in January of 2013 after Somers plead guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm.

“The Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) mandates harsher sentences for armed felons who have at least three prior convictions for either ‘violent felonies’ or ‘serious drug offenses’,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “With a 20-year-history full of drug and violent felony offenses, Somers is the exact type of dangerous, career criminal the ACCA was designed to keep off the streets.”

Somers’ criminal history includes felony convictions for burglary of a structure, conspiracy to distribute heroin, false imprisonment and battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting an officer with violence. Based on those prior convictions, the government sought, and the district court imposed, an enhanced sentence under the ACCA.

In January of 2016, Somers filed a collateral motion challenging his ACCA sentence. The district court denied his motion, but Somers appealed, arguing that he was incorrectly sentenced under ACCA because his aggravated assault conviction did not meet ACCA’s definition of “violent felony.” After the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Borden v. United States, 141 S. Ct. 817 (2021), which held that ACCA’s violent felony definition excludes reckless crimes, the Eleventh Circuit sent the case to the Florida Supreme Court for clarification of whether Florida’s assault statue covers reckless threats.

After briefing and oral argument, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Somers’ argument that Florida assault can be committed recklessly. See Somers v. United States, 355 So.3d 887 (Fla. 2022). The Florida Supreme Court reasoned that the ordinary meaning of Florida’s assault definition “prohibits an intentional expression of an intent to use physical force to harm another’s person” and that such expression “cannot be accomplished via a reckless act.” With the benefit of the Florida Supreme Court’s clarification of Florida law, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of Somers’ motion in a published opinion, holding that Florida convictions for aggravated assault qualify as violent felonies under ACCA.

Assistant United States Attorney Jordane Learn represented the government before the Eleventh Circuit and the Florida Supreme Court.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Brian G. Kolfage, 41, of Miramar Beach, Florida, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to crimes charged in the Northern District of Florida relating to the filing of his 2019 federal income taxes, along with a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for defrauding donors to “We Build the Wall.” The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.  

“The United States relies on the honest payment of taxes to defend our country and maintain its operations,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who falsely misrepresent their income – whether by traditional evasion or the filing of fraudulent documents to further their criminal schemes. This sentence should serve as a significant deterrent to such illegal conduct.”

Court documents reflect Kolfage pled guilty to three federal charges related to filing false income tax returns for the tax year 2019. With this plea, Kolfage admitted, under oath, that between January 2019 and July 2020, he engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States in relation to his 2019 federal income tax returns. Kolfage admitted illicitly receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from multiple organizations during 2019, including We Build the Wall, Inc., which were deposited into his personal bank account. Kolfage failed to report this income to the Internal Revenue Service. Upon learning of an investigation into his federal income taxes, Kolfage then filed amended tax returns for 2019 that were also false. These amended tax returns continued to fraudulently fail to report income deriving directly and indirectly from We Build the Wall. Kolfage spent his unreported income on things such as personal boat payments, a luxury SUV, jewelry, and cosmetic surgery. 

“Mr. Kolfage deliberately and egregiously side-stepped his legal duty to pay taxes when he devised an elaborate scheme to hide income from his non-profit organization, We Build the Wall,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne. “Kolfage repeatedly falsely claimed he would not take a salary and preyed on the generosity of hundreds of thousands of donors through his vast online fundraising scam. Today’s sentencing should serve as evidence that this type of blatant disregard for the rules and obligations that govern non-profit fundraising will not be tolerated.”

Kolfage’s federal prison sentence will be followed by 3 years supervised release, and he will also be required to pay restitution, to the United States of America, in the amount of $143,003 for his tax crimes, along with millions of dollars’ worth of forfeiture and restitution for his scheme to defraud We Build the Wall donors.

"Mr. Kolfage deliberately and intentionally preyed on the hearts and pocketbooks of hardworking Americans as a way to fund his own lavish lifestyle," said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Jacksonville. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate this type of blatant fraud against unwitting donors, and this sentencing should serve as a warning to those who attempt to take advantage of others."

The Northern District of Florida case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg along with prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.   

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Deangelo Randolph, 38, of Crawfordville, Florida was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.  Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

“The collective efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, in particular the North Star Drug Task Force, are resulting in the removal of addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence is further evidence of our commitment to support their efforts through the vigorous investigation and prosecution of criminals distributing drugs in North Florida.”

Randolph was part of a drug trafficking organization in the Wakulla and Leon County, Florida area that was responsible for the distribution of over 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as fentanyl distributed as fake oxycodone. 

“I’m proud of the hard work the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the North Star Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, along with our local, state and federal partners are doing to keep our community safe,” said Wakulla County Sheriff Jared F. Miller.

“DEA’s top priority is stopping those responsible for bringing these highly addictive and destructive drugs into our communities and holding them accountable for their actions,” said Deanne L. Reuter, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Miami Field Division. “This investigation is a testament to the strength of our relationship with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners and underscores our commitment in keeping our Florida communities safe and healthy.”

Randolph’s imprisonment prison sentenced will be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

This conviction was the result of the collaborative efforts of numerous local, state, and federal agencies, including the North Star Drug Task Force, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Mountin.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Louis Paiva, Jr., 29, of Dearborn, Michigan (formerly of Orlando, Florida), was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison after having pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public money. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

“The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable, especially when the public trust is violated by a government employee,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Today’s sentence both punishes the defendant’s criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves. With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of covid-related fraud.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) COVID Fraud Unit conducted an investigation focused on identifying DHS employees who had received Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits while also being paid by DHS. The investigation revealed that between March 15, 2020, and March 8, 2021, a total of $16,435.00 in UI assistance (including COVID-19 pandemic relief benefits) was deposited into a bank account that was used by Paiva.  During this timeframe, Paiva worked as a Transportation Security Officer for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida. Records obtained from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FL-DEO), which administered the UI program in Florida, revealed that Paiva submitted approximately 24 applications and recertifications to FL-DEO in which he falsely stated that he was not a federal civilian employee, or that he did not work or earn money during the applicable timeframes.

“Federal employees are entrusted to protect the integrity of our programs,” said DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who betray that trust will be held accountable for their actions.”

Paiva’s prison sentence will be followed by 2 years’ supervised release. The Court also ordered Paiva to pay $16,435.00 in restitution to the FL-DEO.

This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case. 

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

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

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

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason C. Martinez, 46, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for leading a local conspiracy aimed at distributing and possessing with intent to distribute alprazolam after previously pleading guilty on January 10, 2023. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe and serve a critical role in our efforts to remove addictive, and all too frequently deadly, controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “These sentences demonstrate our commitment to support their efforts through the investigation and vigorous prosecution of criminals distributing drugs in North Florida.”

Between November 1, 2020, and March 11, 2022, Martinez, and his two co-conspirators, Chad E. Dennison, and Tina P. Rahn, conspired to distribute alprazolam throughout Pensacola.

On March 11, 2022, law enforcement executed multiple residential search warrants to conclude its nearly one-and-a-half year-long investigation into the alprazolam distribution conspiracy.  During the investigation, law enforcement intercepted over one hundred parcels traveling through the United States Postal stream. Upon execution of the search warrants, law enforcement discovered pharmaceutical grade pill presses, pill counting machines, a full body suit and respirator, drug ledgers, and packaging products, amongst other items. Martinez received his orders from unknown co-conspirators via the dark web, and he then mixed, pressed, and packaged the pills as well as labelled them for distribution. Martinez then relied on his co-conspirators to deliver the packages to various post offices throughout the Pensacola area for distribution all over the country.

Martinez’s co-conspirators previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute alprazolam.  The sentences imposed for all defendants were as follows:

• Jason C. Martinez, 46, of Pensacola, 8 years in federal prison, followed by 2 years’ supervised release;
• Chad E. Dennison, 44, of Pensacola, 48 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years’ supervised release; and
• Tina P. Rahn, 53, of Pensacola, 24 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years’ supervised release.

“The resolution to this investigation demonstrates the hard work and collaboration of our law enforcement partners. The leader of this extensive drug distribution network will now spend significant time behind bars,” said Juan Vargas, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Martinez and his co-conspirators plagued their communities with illicit drugs. This investigation is a great example of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s commitment to eliminating illicit drugs from the mail and protecting our communities.”

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of local law enforcement to include the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lenton Jerome Hatten, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Hatten made his initial appearance in federal court to face the charge this afternoon.

The indictment alleges that, between October 2021, and August 2022, Hatten engaged in sexual acts with an inmate while employed as a sports specialist for the Bureau of Prisons.

Trial for Hatten is set for June 5, 2023, at 8:15 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before the Honorable Senior United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. 

If convicted, Hatten faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, 5 years to Life on supervised release, and a maximum $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Emmanuel Martinez Vega, 27, of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, has been sentenced to serve more than thirteen years in federal prison followed by five years’ supervised release after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe by removing addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence demonstrates our commitment to support their efforts through the investigation and vigorous prosecution of criminals who would bring drugs into North Florida.”

In May 2021, local investigators received information regarding a drug trafficker receiving large quantities of cocaine through the mail from Puerto Rico.  The Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service worked in concert with the local investigators to further identify the conspirators and establish a historical record of the cocaine-laded parcels being shipped to Gainesville from Puerto Rico. As a result of the combined investigative efforts, Vega was held accountable for trafficking approximately 129 kilograms of cocaine between 2018 and June 2022. Authorities were able to seize a total of 12 kilograms of cocaine and tens of thousands of dollars over the course of the investigation.

“Ridding our communities of this poison and ensuring the safety and health of our citizens is one of DEA’s top priorities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The success of this investigation is a direct result of the tireless efforts of these dedicated investigators and highlights our continued commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to protect our Florida communities.” 

“We will continue to work with our partners to take deadly drugs off our streets,” said Miami Division U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Inspector in Charge Juan Vargas. “Preventing the use of the nation’s mail system for illegal activities or illicit gains is a primary focus of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.”

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Elsey prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Franklin Jefferson Mathes, Jr., 59, of Carrabelle, Florida, has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for receiving material constituting child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The safety and well-being of our children is paramount,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “Those who seek to view and maintain child pornography facilitate the abuse of children by those who produce and profit from this illegal content, robbing our children of their innocence and their very childhood. With our law enforcement partners, we will hold such offenders accountable.”

Between September 2018, and July 2022, Mathes received, and possessed material containing child pornography. The pornographic material found in Mathes’ possession involved minors under the age of 12.

“This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the FBI to investigate cases of child pornography and work with our U.S. Attorney’s Office partners to hold them accountable,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “We will stop at nothing to protect children from those who engage in this type of activity, and we have now ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”

Mathes’ prison sentence will be followed by 20 years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions.

This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentencings of Kenneth Ingram, 62, and Kadeem Ingram, 32, both of DeFuniak Springs. Kenneth Ingram was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Kadeem Ingram was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.

Ingrams’ sentences were the result of being convicted following a jury trial on August 17, 2022, for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Kadeem Ingram was also convicted of distribution of cocaine or cocaine base which occurred on two occasions in July 2019.

“This prosecution demonstrates the collaborative efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, who work tirelessly to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “We are grateful for their dedicated public service and remain committed in our efforts to investigate and vigorously prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.”

Evidence introduced at trial revealed that the Ingrams conspired with others to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. In 2019, the Ingrams took monthly trips to South Florida to procure large quantities of cocaine. The cocaine purchased, which was, in part, converted to cocaine base, was then distributed by Kadeem Ingram and a co-conspirator. A months-long investigation culminated in law enforcement seizing approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine from a vehicle the Ingrams possessed on July 13, 2019.

"Let these sentences be a warning to those who are participating in the attempted destruction of our communities by selling this poison," said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson. "Our agency continues our effort not only to make drug arrests but to ensure these dangerous dealers are prosecuted and stay behind bars."

“The success of this investigation is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the DEA in collaboration with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter. “DEA remains committed to these important partnerships to keep these dangerous drugs out of our North Florida communities and hold those who bring this poison into our neighborhoods accountable for their actions.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Lynn Haven Police Department, the Panama City Police Department, and the Panama City Beach Police Department. First Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Spaven prosecuted the case. 

The prosecution, part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) OCDETF, is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach tocombat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to take down criminal organizations and seize assets.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Tzaddi Lamed D’Marcus Allen, 32, of Palm Beach County, Florida, was sentenced to twelve years in federal prison followed by five years’ supervised release for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The collaborative efforts of our partners in the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative continue to produce impactful results, and we will continue working tirelessly to make North Florida safer,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses.”

“The Men and Women of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, in concert with our local, state and federal partners, will continue to pursue violent criminals who unlawfully possess firearms, to ensure that the citizens and visitors of this great county remain safe,” said Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr.

On the afternoon of January 31, 2022, a traffic stop was conducted by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputy, on a vehicle that Allen was operating. During the traffic stop, deputies confirmed that Allen did not have a valid driver’s license and that the vehicle’s window tint was darker than the legal limit of twenty eight percent. Deputies further detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle’s interior. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, deputies located marijuana throughout the vehicle and noticed that a piece of center console paneling appeared to have been removed and put back into place. A deputy removed the piece of panel and discovered a bag containing approximately 8 grams of a powdery substance (which was later identified as a combination of fentanyl and synthetic cathinone) sitting on top of a Canik 9-millimeter pistol. The pistol had a live round in the chamber, seventeen additional rounds of ammunition in the magazine, and had previously been reported stolen. Deputies on scene determined that Allen was a multi-time convicted felon and arrested him for state charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance. Upon arrival at the Alachua County Jail, Allen alerted deputies that he had another small baggie of the powdery substance concealed on his person.

Following his arrest, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms adopted the case for federal prosecution and conducted a follow-up investigation. That additional investigation included sending evidence to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s crime lab, which recovered DNA consistent with Allen from the firearm. Allen had prior felony convictions including Attempted Robbery, Aggravated Battery on Person 65 Years or Older, Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Sale of Cocaine, and Sale of Heroin within 1000 feet of a Convenience Business.  Allen had only been out of prison for approximately one month when the traffic-stop and arrest occurred.

This federal conviction resulted from the joint efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that form the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative (GVI). The Gainesville GVI was established in April 2019, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in an effort to stem the escalating gun violence in Gainesville and the surrounding area.  As GVI partners, the State Attorney’s Office for the Eight Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections share this commitment to protecting public safety.   

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – John Thomas, 52, of Pensacola was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering charges related to selling fraudulent insurance policies.  In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $8,340,153.34 in restitution. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

“This sentence should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would defraud our citizens, in this case depriving them of critical insurance coverage, simply to unlawfully enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Our law enforcement partners are to be commended for their tireless dedication during this investigation and prosecution. Through their collective efforts, the defendant has been held accountable and justice has been obtained for his victims.”

Between September 2013 and February 2021, Thomas operated an insurance business known as Thomas Insurance, LLC. and defrauded customers over $4.8 million in insurance premium payments through a type of insurance fraud known as premium diversion. Thomas executed this scheme by collecting insurance premiums from customers and keeping the funds for personal use instead of producing insurance policies. To conceal his acts, Thomas gave the customers fraudulent documents referencing insurance policies that did not exist. 

“Today’s sentencing should serve as a warning to anyone who uses illegal means and criminal behavior to take advantage of others,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The victims in this case suffered significant loss and pain as a result of this deception, never knowing they were without insurance coverage until disaster struck.  The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work on behalf of innocent victims and investigate and pursue those who selfishly commit fraud for personal gain at the expense of others.”

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronus said, “Insurance fraud is a serious crime that causes rates to go up for every hard-working family and business owner in Florida.” “Unfortunately, there are bad actors who think they can use fraud schemes like this to line their own pockets. I hope this case serves as a warning that if you commit fraud in Florida, you will be caught and held accountable. Thank you to the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and my dedicated insurance fraud detectives for helping put an end to this costly fraud scheme.”

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA –Joseph Harding, 35, of Williston, Florida, plead guilty today to wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty plea.

Court documents reflect Harding devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) and obtained coronavirus-related small business loans by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and while executing such scheme, caused wire communications to be transmitted in interstate commerce. Harding also made a false and fraudulent SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application, in the name of one of his dormant business entities, that he submitted to the SBA.  By this conduct, Harding fraudulently obtained $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funds from the SBA to which he was not entitled.  After obtaining the EIDL proceeds, Harding conducted three monetary transactions each involving more than $10,000 in fraudulently obtained funds: a transfer to his joint bank account, a payment to his credit card, and a transfer into a bank account of a third-party business entity. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 25, 2023, at 11:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida, before the Honorable United States District Judge Allen Winsor.

Harding faces the following maximum terms of imprisonment for the offenses:

• 20 years: Wire Fraud
• 10 years: Money Laundering
• 5 years:  Making False Statements

The investigation was jointly conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and David P. Byron.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – James Anthony Linton, 60, of Tallahassee, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with receiving, distributing, and possessing material constituting child pornography. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Linton made his initial appearance in federal court to face the charges this afternoon.

The indictment alleges that, between November 2021, and February 2022, Linton received, distributed, and possessed material containing child pornography. The pornographic material allegedly found in Linton’s possession involved minors under the age of 12.

Trial for Linton is set for May 24, 2023, at 8:15 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before the Honorable United States Chief District Judge Mark E. Walker.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

A federal grand jury in Gainesville, Florida, returned a six-count indictment charging David Emanuel, 61, with committing hate crimes for his racially motivated attack on a group of Black men who were surveying land along a public road in Cedar Key, Florida.  

The indictment returned by a federal grand jury alleges that on Sept. 6, 2022, Emanuel willfully intimidated the victim, F.D.D., and attempted to injure, intimidate and interfere with him, through the use of Emanuel’s vehicle, because of F.D.D.’s race and color. 

Emanuel is further alleged to have willfully intimidated and interfered with, and attempted to intimidate and interfere with, five additional victims, through the use of his vehicle, because of the victims’ race and color. According to the indictment, all six victims were Black males who were surveying land owned by one of the victims at the time of the alleged offenses.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division and Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks of the FBI Jacksonville Field Office made the announcement. 

The FBI Jacksonville Field Office and Gainesville Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Weiss for the Northern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Dr. George Barrio, a pain management physician who formerly practiced medicine at the NeuroMedical Institute in Panama City, agreed to pay $225,000 to resolve allegations that he unlawfully prescribed opioids and other controlled substances to patients. The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“We are holding physicians accountable for disregarding patient safety and violating federal law when they write prescriptions that lack a legitimate medical purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Coody.  “Their actions not only violate the Controlled Substance Act but contribute to the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities.  With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to combating this epidemic at all levels.  This settlement and the associated surrender of the physician’s DEA controlled substance registration are evidence of our resolve.”

The government alleged that Dr. Barrio wrote prescriptions that lacked a legitimate purpose and were issued outside the usual course of professional practice, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.  In addition to payment of the $225,000 monetary fine, Dr. Barrio also agreed to surrender his DEA registration for Schedule II and IIN controlled substances.  

“One of DEA’s most important missions is to ensure physicians comply with the federal laws and regulations set forth in the Controlled Substance Act.  Failing to comply with these laws increases the potential for the diversion of controlled substances, which puts the safety and health of our communities at risk,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter.  “The DEA remains committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure DEA registrants follow these laws and regulations.” 

This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Dr. Barrio, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch, Kathryn Drey, and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matter, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Diversion Control Program), Bay County Sherriff’s Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal judge sentenced the seventh defendant in a large-scale methamphetamine and oxycodone trafficking organization operating primarily in Bay County.  The convictions and sentences were announced by Jason R. Coody United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. 

“Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe by removing addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We remain committed to support their efforts through the investigation and prosecution of criminals who would bringing drugs into North Florida. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of harming our citizens through their illicit drug trafficking activities.”

The defendants and their sentences were:

• Darrell Britt, 33, of Panama City, Florida, 300 months in prison
• Marcel Michaud, 57, of Southport, Florida, 144 months in prison
• Kenneth Sizemore, 57, of Youngstown, Florida, 120 months in prison
• Johnny Wayne Carr, 58, of Panama City, Florida, 212 months in prison
• James Wilson, 60, of Panama City, Florida, 140 months in prison
• David Barron, 60, of Panama City, Florida, 108 months in prison
• Mary Ann Brown, 52, of Youngstown, Florida, 108 months in prison

All will be on supervised release once they are released from custody.

“We recognize the power in effective partnerships,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “Our work with DEA and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida is resulting in convictions and removing illegal narcotics from our streets. This is a win for the people of Bay County.”

In August 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Panama City Resident Office Task Force initiated an investigation targeting the distribution of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine and multi-thousands of prescription narcotics pills by Kenneth Sizemore, Marcel Michaud, Darrell Britt, Johnny Carr, James Wilson, David Barron, and Mary Brown and others in Bay County and surrounding areas of north Florida.  Over the course of the two-year investigation, DEA, working with state and local partners, compiled evidence to secure indictments on seven Federal defendants and approximately 16 state of Florida defendants.  The investigation led to the seizure of several kilograms of methamphetamine, firearms, U.S. currency, vehicles, construction machinery, and real estate purchased from the sale of narcotics. 

“At a time when our country is experiencing a crippling drug overdose and poisoning epidemic, we need to be doing everything we can to keep our communities safe and healthy. Those who choose to bring this poison into our communities will be held accountable for their actions,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA remains committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to keep these highly addictive and destructive drugs out of our North Florida communities.”

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Panama City Police Department, Panama City Beach Police Department, Lynn Haven Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Chipley Police Department, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bay County State’s Attorney Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Walter Narramore and Amanda Gordon prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Sean Lee Coy, 28, of Okaloosa County, Florida, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, Unites States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and protecting the public,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentencing is another example that working jointly with our partners is making our communities safer.”

On January 3, 2022, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped Coy for driving with an expired tag.  After observing a glass smoking pipe in the vehicle and smelling marijuana, the deputies searched Coy and the vehicle, finding several small baggies of methamphetamine, marijuana, and a Ruger LCP .380 caliber pistol loaded with 13 rounds in an extended magazine.  Coy attempted to flee the scene but was quickly apprehended.  In 2016, Coy was convicted by the state of Florida of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, stemming from a shooting in which he and two other individuals fired into a car with multiple passengers at close range, injuring four people.  Coy was sentenced to 5 years for that crime and released in September of 2020. 

“Successes like this, connected to the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, are a perfect example of how a dedicated strategy to combat violence will pay-off both short-term and long-term.”  “We are committed to being a steadfast partner in this mission, which benefits our area’s quality of life on multiple levels,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden.

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Walter Narramore prosecuted the case.

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

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today the sentences of New York and Connecticut residents for their involvement in a bank and identity fraud conspiracy. The charged defendants worked together and with others to use stolen identities of actual Regions Bank customers to steal over $125,000 from branches in northwest Florida, southern Alabama, Iowa, and Missouri in December 2019.

Nicole Maguire was sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges. Desmond Brannon, also known as Desmond Scott, was sentenced to 4 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud charges. Brannon was on supervised release for a prior federal bank fraud conspiracy conviction at the time he committed these offenses and is also awaiting violation proceedings in the Southern District of New York. Steven Mussington was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison following a two-day jury trial convicting him of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud charges. Another co-defendant, Chelsie Worthen, of Arkansas, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.

Alleged co-conspirators Darrell Wells and Georgia Ward, both New York residents, are being prosecuted in the Southern District of New York in a separate but related indictment. Ward pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to time served and an additional nine months of home confinement. Wells is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Regions Bank Corporate Security Fraud Investigators, the Lynn Haven Police Department, the Cedar Falls (Iowa) Police Department, the Monticello (Iowa) Police Department, and the Jefferson City (Missouri) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted the Northern District of Florida cases.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

A man was arrested today in the Northern District of Florida on criminal charges related to a murder on a U.S. Army base in Germany 21 years ago.

According to court documents, Shannon L. Wilkerson, 42, is allegedly responsible for the death of Amanda Gonzales on Nov. 3, 2001. The murder occurred at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, then a U.S. Army base in Hanau, Germany. Wilkerson was a member of the Armed Forces at the time of the alleged offense but was later discharged from the Army.

Wilkerson is charged under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which gives the U.S. federal courts jurisdiction over crimes committed outside the United States by, among others, former members of the Armed Forces who are no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Wilkerson is charged with one count of first-degree murder. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida, Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll of the FBI New York Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Lisa Yockel of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Europe Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case. The FBI Jacksonville Field Office, the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations, and Army’s Criminal Investigative Division, which originally investigated the case, provided valuable assistance with the arrest.

Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A man was arrested today in the Northern District of Florida on criminal charges related to a murder on a U.S. Army base in Germany 21 years ago.

According to court documents, Shannon L. Wilkerson, 42, is allegedly responsible for the death of Amanda Gonzales on Nov. 3, 2001. The murder occurred at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, then a U.S. Army base in Hanau, Germany. Wilkerson was a member of the Armed Forces at the time of the alleged offense but was later discharged from the Army.

Wilkerson is charged under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which gives the U.S. federal courts jurisdiction over crimes committed outside the United States by, among others, former members of the Armed Forces who are no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Wilkerson is charged with one count of first-degree murder. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida, Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll of the FBI New York Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Lisa Yockel of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Europe Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case. The FBI Jacksonville Field Office, the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations, and Army’s Criminal Investigative Division, which originally investigated the case, provided valuable assistance with the arrest.

Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Timothy Ramsden, of Panama City, Florida, practicing at The Anti-Aging Clinic of Northwest Florida, settled potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act by agreeing to pay a fine of $190,731 and surrendering his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration for Schedule II and IIN controlled substances for a period of five (5) years, along with compliance monitoring for a period of five (5) years.  The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“In reaching this settlement, we emphasize the necessity of adhering to and enforcing the Controlled Substances Act,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “It is our duty to ensure the mandates of the Controlled Substances Act are upheld and that its limits are not abused by physicians.  Our office will continue to ensure compliance with the Controlled Substances Act and all federal laws regulating physicians.”

Dr. Ramsden entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. As part of the resolution, Dr. Ramsden will surrender his DEA registration for Schedule II and IIN controlled substances, not reapply for a period of at least five years, and pay a civil fine of $190,731. The investigation uncovered numerous potential civil violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including:

1. Failing to keep complete and accurate records;
2. Failing to properly document the biennial inventory;
3. Failing to record the number of units or volume of each finished form in each commercial container on the biennial inventory;
4. Failing to indicate the date received on two (2) invoices;
5. Failing to properly indicate the dispositions within the patient file;
6. Failing to document patient file where prescription for Testosterone Enanthate (5ML) Injectable was issued;
7. Issuing prescription for Oxandrolone to patient which was returned to Dr. Ramsden for his personal use.

In addition to the monetary penalties and surrender of his DEA Schedule II and IIN registration, Dr. Ramsden agreed to compliance terms for the next five (5) years, including record-keeping monitoring and uninterrupted visits from the DEA. 

“An important part of DEA’s mission is to ensure all DEA registrants follow the federal laws set forth in the Controlled Substance Act, to include accurate inventorying, tracking, and recordkeeping to prevent the diversion of controlled substances. When medical professionals fail to comply with these laws, it puts our communities at risk,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA remains committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to hold registrants accountable and ensure our communities remain safe and healthy.”

This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Dr. Ramsden, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch, Kathryn Drey, and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matter, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Program. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason R. Moore, 42, of Milton, Florida, has pled guilty to two counts of “Illicit Sexual Conduct in Foreign Places.” Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea today after Moore admitted his criminal activity in federal court in Pensacola.

The federal indictment alleged that Moore engaged in “Illicit Sexual Conduct in Foreign Places” from March 2013 through February 2016.  Specifically, Moore engaged in these crimes in the Republic of Fiji.  Moore was arrested by Special Agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in Santa Rosa County in late 2022.

Moore remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Moore faces up to 60 years in federal prison, followed by a term of up to a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment. Moore will also have to register as a sexual offender.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the New York State Police. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal jury convicted Michael Joe Green, II, 49, of Pensacola, of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and the distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine. The guilty verdict, returned today at the conclusion of a four-day trial, was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

In July 2021, the United States Postal Inspection Service seized a package sent from Houston, Texas, to Pensacola, Florida containing over two kilograms of cocaine. An extended multi-agency investigation determined that Green had purchased certain unique packing materials used to ship the cocaine and directed his girlfriend to mail it to his mother’s address in Pensacola on his behalf. The investigation also revealed that during late 2021 and early 2022, Green made frequent trips to the Houston area to obtain large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine and directed the transport of the drugs back to the Pensacola area for distribution.

In February 2022, Green was driving from Houston in tandem rental vehicles with his wife and others when both cars were stopped by law enforcement in Louisiana. Officers found and seized approximately eight pounds of cocaine and over half a kilogram of methamphetamine pills in the rental vehicle occupied by Green’s wife. On the same day, search warrants were executed at two residences in Escambia County associated with Green. Loaded firearms, small amounts of drugs, and documents addressed to Green at both residences were found in the houses.

Sentencing in this case is set for May 22, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Due to the large quantity of drugs involved in his crimes and his multiple prior serious violent felony convictions—including armed burglary, armed robbery, aggravated assault, shooting in an occupied vehicle, resisting arrest with violence, and aggravated battery with great bodily harm, for which he served a sentence in state prison – Green faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison.

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and Lake Charles (Louisiana) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust

and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA –Jonathan High, 31, of Steinhatchee, Florida, was sentenced to twenty-two years in federal prison after having been found guilty at a bench trial on October 4, 2022, of two counts of use of a child to produce child pornography. Prior to the trial, High pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, Unites States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Child predators seek to prey upon our children in any setting imaginable – in this instance from inside a house of worship,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “As such, we must remain vigilant. This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”

In August 2021, law enforcement officers received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user of a cloud storage account uploaded files constituting child pornography. An investigation revealed the account was High’s. Law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for High’s cell phones and desktop computer, and after an examination of their contents, confirmed that High was in possession of multiple child pornography images and videos that depicted prepubescent boys engaged in sex acts or exposing their genitals in a lascivious manner.  Further investigation revealed that some of these images and videos were produced by High personally; High produced separate video recordings of two young boys using the restroom in a Perry, Florida church where High served as a deacon.

“This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering dedication and commitment of HSI special agents, who work tirelessly to protect our most vulnerable,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips.  “Our clear-cut message is, HSI will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to bring to justice those who prey upon our children.”

High’s imprisonment prison sentenced will be followed by lifetime supervised release and he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions. The Court ordered restitution to provide for counseling to victims in the case and forfeiture of electronic devices used in the commission of the offenses, including two cellular phones and one computer.

 Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez said, “Our law enforcement partnerships are critical in helping to identify and stop the abuse and exploitation of our most vulnerable population. These crimes will not be tolerated, and it’s my hope that the guilty verdict will help the victims begin the healing process.”  

This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and Kaitlin Weiss prosecuted the case. 

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury has returned a thirteen-count indictment charging Keshawn Jarmarlin Robinson, 21, of Tallahassee, Florida, with six counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, six counts of brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges on or about November 15, 2022, Robinson robbed a Subway restaurant, on or about November 19, 2022, Robinson robbed a business known as the Tobacco Outlet, on or about November 20, 2022, Robinson robbed a Dollar General store, and on or about November 22, 2022, Robinson robbed an Advanced Auto Parts store, a Firehouse Subs restaurant, and the Lemon Pepper restaurant. Each of the robbery locations are in the city of Tallahassee. During each of the robberies, Robinson brandished a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Robinson is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. 

If convicted, Robinson faces: 20 years in prison for each Hobbs Act robbery; a mandatory consecutive term of not less than 7 years in prison up to life for each count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; and up to 15 years imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

This case resulted from an investigation by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

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

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal jury in Pensacola convicted Michael Tyrone Lindsey, 38, of Pensacola, on possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The guilty verdict, returned at the conclusion of a two-day trial, was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The charges against Lindsey were based upon an execution of an outstanding arrest warrant for Lindsey at his hotel room in Pensacola. Evidence introduced during the trial revealed after seeing over $3000 in cash and drugs in plain view on one of the beds during the arrest, a state search warrant was obtained. Officers seized over 200 grams of pure methamphetamine in a large plastic bag and a loaded handgun between the mattresses of the bed where Lindsey was reaching when was arrested, along with small amounts of various other drugs. A discovery of a Facebook video Lindsey posted of himself 4 days prior to his arrest holding a bag of meth and a gun and “rapping” about them.

Lindsey’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

Due to prior convictions for both violent and drug-related felonies qualifying Lindsey as an Armed Career Criminal, he will be subject to mandatory enhanced sentences. Lindsey faces a mandatory 10 years to life imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $10,000,000, for possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; mandatory/minimum 5 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment, five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and up to 10 years imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

This conviction resulted from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pensacola Police Department, and the United States Marshals. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal jury in Tallahassee convicted Sean Secada Scott, 30, of Ocoee, Florida, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. The guilty verdict, returned yesterday at the conclusion of a three-day trial, was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) learned that the defendant would be delivering 20 pounds of marijuana on February 26, 2022, to Tallahassee. DEA and TPD conducted surveillance of the defendant and observed him loading a suitcase into the trunk of his SUV. A subsequent traffic stop by the Florida Highway Patrol revealed that the suitcase contained approximately 20 pounds of marijuana in 20 individually vacuum sealed bags, and that the defendant had a Glock 9 millimeter pistol in the center console of his vehicle.

Scott’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States Chief District Judge Mark E. Walker. Scott faces between five years and life imprisonment, followed by at least two years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000.

This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Patrick Parker Walsh, 42, Williston, Florida, was sentenced today, after previously pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection to COVID-19 pandemic relief. Walsh was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “However, the defendant’s deceptive acts of diverting millions of dollars in emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale. Today’s sentence both punishes the defendant’s criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would selfishly steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves. With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of covid-related fraud.”

Court documents reflect that between April 7, 2020, and January 21, 2021, Walsh submitted a total of 16 fraudulent applications to multiple federally insured financial institutions and other qualified lenders for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans in the names of multiple businesses, including his blimp companies which were headquartered in Levy County.  Walsh’s false PPP loan applications included several discrepancies: no record of some employees that were listed in Walsh’s applications, that the number of employees listed in multiple applications was more than previously listed in employer tax records, and that some of the companies claimed in the applications were not even established businesses as of February 15, 2020 (the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic relief programs). Additional investigation revealed that Walsh had used several of the same employees on PPP loan applications for different companies. 

“Today, the defendant in this case was brought to justice for exploiting Federal relief programs and using the obtained funds for his personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG).  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold those accountable who take advantage of such programs and undermine the integrity of our Nation’s banking system.”

Walsh’s fraudulent PPP loan applications sought a total of $11,950,439 in PPP loan funds, of which he received a total of $4,996,167. Further, between March 2020 and July 2020, Walsh submitted a total of 18 fraudulent applications to the SBA for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), in his own name and in the name of his wife. Walsh’s false EIDL applications were approved and a total of $2,822,000 was disbursed to him.

“Taxpayers thinking about stealing from government relief programs should stop in their tracks and simply look at the consequences of taking the next step,” said Ronald A. Loecker IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge. “Today's sentencing is the result of federal law enforcement banding together to enforce not only the nation's tax laws, but especially cases where someone, for their own personal benefit, steals resources from the American people.”

“This sentence demonstrates that those that steal taxpayer dollars will be held accountable,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka Brathwaite-McCall. “I want to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”

Additionally, Walsh engaged in multiple monetary transactions that involved at least $10,000 of fraudulently obtained PPP loan or EIDL proceeds that he obtained through his wire fraud scheme. Many of these transactions included payments for the purchase of real estate in Florida and Texas, oil leases, and to pay off his mortgage loans.

“Patrick Walsh abused a program that was designed to ease suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division.  “Instead of using millions of dollars in federal funds to help keep struggling businesses afloat and honest workers employed, he selfishly diverted it for his own personal gain.  The FBI will hold accountable anyone who takes advantage of those in need during a national emergency, and we remain committed to working with our partners to ensure fraudsters are brought.”

The PPP, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), was designed to provide low-interest, forgivable loans to applicants to help fund certain permissible expenses for qualifying businesses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which included payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.  The EIDL program, also administered by the SBA, was designed to provide low-interest loans to small businesses in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs, up to $2 million, to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walsh’s imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.  Additionally, Walsh was ordered to pay restitution to the SBA in the amount of $7,818,167, and the Court entered an order of forfeiture in the same amount.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), and the U.S. Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG).  Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and David P. Byron prosecuted the case with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Kerwin, of the United States Attorney’s Financial Litigation Program.

This case was prosecuted as part the Department of Justice’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the CARES Act relief programs. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the two programs that were developed through CARES Act is the PPP. It provides funding to businesses through PPP loans for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. PPP allows the interest and principal on loans to be forgiven if the business spends proceeds on certain expense items within a designated time and uses a certain percentage of the loan on payroll expenses. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the crisis.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Gretchen Buselli (a/k/a “Gretchen Yarbrough”), 48, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for use of an interstate commerce facility in the commission of murder-for-hire and making a false statement to a federal officer. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

"This sentence not only punishes the malevolence of the defendant but should serve as a significant deterrent to those inclined to initiate violence," stated U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody. "Despite calculation and concealment, the defendant's murderous plot was averted due to the exceptional work of a citizen and our law enforcement partners. They are to be commended."

Evidence introduced during the trial revealed between on or about June 17, 2021, and on or about September 16, 2021, Buselli used the U.S. mail as well as a facility of interstate commerce, a cellular phone, with the intent that a murder be committed in violation of the laws of the State of Florida. Testimony revealed that Buselli communicated with an acquaintance via the U.S. mail, telephone calls, text, and an encrypted mobile application to solicit the murder of her estranged husband. The acquaintance reported Buselli’s request to law enforcement, who then engaged an undercover agent to further the investigation. Buselli communicated her desire to have her estranged husband killed to the undercover agent, providing a description of the intended victim, his whereabouts, and his routines. In subsequent conversations with the undercover agent, Buselli negotiated the price for committing the murder and discussed the manner in which the act would take place, acknowledging that she would be interviewed by law enforcement thereafter. Buselli was later surveilled depositing the agreed upon $5,000 in U.S. currency at the amphitheater in Cascades Park. Following her delivery of the payment, agents observed Buselli dispose of the clothing she had worn during delivery of the payment. After being notified by the undercover agent that her estranged husband had been killed, she was approached and then questioned by law enforcement, Buselli made multiple false statements denying her awareness of nor involvement in the plot and her desire to have her estranged husband killed.

"This case demonstrates the FBI's commitment to investigate with a sense of urgency in order to prevent violent crime in our communities," said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks. “I am extremely proud of the collaborative effort by the FBI, Tallahassee Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service to ensure a life was protected and a defendant was brought to justice."

“The Tallahassee Police Department is proud to see the judicial system prevail in this case,” said police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Our Detectives worked tirelessly to investigate this case and collect the evidence needed for an arrest and subsequent conviction. This verdict and the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement and judicial partners sends a message to the community that those who commit or attempt to commit crimes will be held accountable and we will do everything we can to bring justice to the victims involved.”

Buselli’s prison sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The Court ordered forfeiture of the currency paid by the defendant to facilitate the murder. In addition, the court ordered the gold coins provided by the defendant to be placed in an independent trust for the benefit of the couple’s daughter.

This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Montana United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric K. Mountin and Kaitlin Weiss.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Trevis Avante Strawder, 28, of Fort White, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty on October 26, 2022, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The collaborative efforts of our partners in the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative continue to produce impactful results, and we will continue working tirelessly to make North Florida safer,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses.”

On August 17, 2021, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers responded to a 911 call reporting an armed disturbance at Woodland Park Apartments. The caller described that the male suspect with the firearm was leaving the scene in a vehicle and provided a description. Officers responding to the area located a vehicle matching the caller’s description and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on it. The suspect vehicle slowed in a residential neighborhood and Strawder exited the rear driver’s side door of the vehicle and fled on foot while carrying a black bag. Officers gave chase and were able to observe Strawder running into a wooded area while no longer wearing the black bag. A GPD K9 tracked from the scene of the attempted traffic stop to the location of a black bag, near where Strawder jumped the fence to get into the wooded area.  The bag was ultimately searched and discovered to contain two loaded pistols and several different controlled substances (cocaine, crack cocaine, MDMA, MDPV, etc.). 

Officers set up a perimeter in the area and were subsequently alerted that Strawder attempted to force entry into the residence of an elderly man. The homeowner was able to keep Strawder from gaining entry through the front door, and GPD officers were later able to locate and apprehend Strawder hiding in another part of the residence. Once he was apprehended, Strawder provided a false name to officers, but he was positively identified and taken into custody on charges stemming from this incident as well as other outstanding arrest warrants. 

Strawder had multiple prior felony convictions, to include burglary, grand theft, drug possession, possession of a firearm by a felon, and battery on a detainee. The case was brought to the attention of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who adopted the case for federal prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Elsey prosecuted the case.

This federal conviction is the result of the joint efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that form the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative (GVI).  The Gainesville GVI was established in April 2019, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in an effort to stem the escalating gun violence in Gainesville and the surrounding areas.  As GVI partners, the State Attorney’s Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections share this commitment to protecting public safety.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced today that the Northern District of Florida collected $4,367,699.63 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2022. Of this amount, $3,831,162.71 was collected in criminal actions and $536,536.92 was collected in civil actions. 

“These impressive numbers are the result of the hard work by our office’s civil and criminal divisions, and strong coordination with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Coody.  “This office will always seek to recover every dollar possible from those who engage in illegal activities so that those funds can be restored to the federal treasury, and help victims recover from crimes perpetrated against them.”

The Northern District of Florida Criminal Division collected $1,270,500.00 from John Thomas Burnette following his conviction at trial and sentencing for a multi-year scheme involving extortion, fraud, and bribery.

In July of 2022, the Northern District of Florida Civil Division obtained $130,000 as part of a settlement with Ahmad Ismail to resolve potential violations under the Controlled Substances Act, including allegations that Ismail failed to maintain complete and accurate records of controlled substance inventory, and dispensation.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Northern District of Florida, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $3,128,304 in assets which had been tainted by crime. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

For more information about the Crime Victims Fund, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/about/crime-victims-fund.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Stephen Jerome Brinson, 47, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to just under twenty years (239 months) in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, offenses committed while Brinson was under federal supervision after his release from federal prison for his 2005 federal narcotics conviction. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Those who repeatedly commit serious crimes, in this case while still under supervision from the prior offense, are deserving of significant prison sentences,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to identifying and aggressively prosecuting those recidivist offenders who callously distribute such addictive and deadly controlled substances. This sentence is further proof of our resolve.”

In early 2021, investigators with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration developed information that Brinson, who was then serving a period of court-ordered supervision following his prior 84-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, had resumed his drug trafficking activities. Investigators quickly conducted two controlled purchases of what was initially thought to be heroin, but subsequently tested positive as 14 grams of fentanyl. Upon his indictment, Brinson was immediately taken into custody where he has remained pending sentencing.  

“Last year, 68% of the American lives lost to drug overdoses and poisonings were due to an illicit synthetic opioid, like fentanyl, the same poison that Mr. Brinson was distributing in his community,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This sentence not only holds Mr. Brinson accountable for his crimes, but also reaffirms the DEA Miami Field Division’s commitment to working closely with our law enforcement partners to bring those who distribute this poison in our North Florida communities to justice.”

This prosecution resulted from a combined investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Florida Hi-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin prosecuted the case. 

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation named Operation White Gold. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. More information about OCDETF may be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Tavaris East, 42, of Pensacola, Florida, pled guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer when purchasing a firearm. The plea was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

On April 27, 2022, East purchased a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer and checked the box “yes” that he was “the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm” on the ATF Form 4473. However, East purchased the firearm for Kennon Farrow, a convicted felon.  The firearm was recovered by law enforcement on May 24, 2022, after it was used by Kennon Farrow to commit a homicide. 

Sentencing in this case is set for March 30, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before the Honorable United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. East faces 10 years in prison.  

The case resulted from an investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.

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

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.