U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
Recent News About U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
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Seven people have been sentenced for their roles in a Central Florida gun trafficking ring involving hundreds of illegal firearms. The operation included assembling untraceable weapons sold to prohibited buyers across several cities.
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A federal grand jury has indicted Jose Adilio Anaya-Alas for illegally reentering the U.S. after two prior deportations. Authorities say he could face up to two years in prison if convicted.
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A Palmetto man has been indicted for allegedly possessing ammunition while on supervised release after previous felony convictions. The case is part of Operation Take Back America targeting violent crime and illegal activity.
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A former pre-kindergarten teacher from Jacksonville has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for attempting to entice an underage girl online for sex acts. Authorities say Tony Leroy Bartley Jr.'s arrest followed an undercover operation involving explicit communications with someone he believed was thirteen years old.
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Nico Jonte Lennear has been sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison for distributing large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Brevard County. Law enforcement agencies coordinated controlled purchases leading up to his arrest with significant quantities found at that time.
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A Kentucky woman has been sentenced to over three years in federal prison for identity theft and bank fraud committed in Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale. Abigail Payton used stolen personal data to open fraudulent accounts and secure loans totaling over $70,000 in losses.
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Jose Ruben Curet Villa has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearm charges after authorities uncovered large quantities of marijuana and multiple weapons during searches tied to pop-up shop operations in Jacksonville. The case forms part of Operation Take Back America targeting organized crime.
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Joseph Elegele Jr., an Orlando resident, has been sentenced for his involvement in an international money laundering scheme targeting businesses in the U.S. and Bahamas. Authorities say he opened bank accounts used by overseas conspirators for fraudulent transfers.
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A Tampa man has been indicted on two counts related to threatening federal officials through online videos. He faces up to five years in prison per count if convicted. Authorities say he remains detained pending trial.
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A Jacksonville man has been indicted for allegedly possessing over one and a half pounds of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Authorities say Issac Darnell Henderson could face life imprisonment if convicted. The case involves asset forfeiture linked to suspected drug proceeds.
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A former Jacksonville church pastor has been indicted on charges related to fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications totaling about $50,000 in losses. Authorities say he faces up to 20 years per count if convicted.
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A Dominican national living in Orlando has been convicted on charges including passport fraud and aggravated identity theft after using another woman's identity for decades. Authorities say Lesbia Cristina Grullon Nolasco illegally obtained government benefits totaling over $10,000 during this period.
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Aaron Starbird has been indicted on multiple federal charges involving coercion and child sexual abuse material offenses following an investigation led by local authorities. The case highlights ongoing efforts under Project Safe Childhood targeting child exploitation crimes.
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An Orlando man received over six years in prison after being convicted of bank fraud tied to COVID-19 unemployment benefits. Authorities say Dexter Ray King used stolen identities and fake information in multiple states to obtain more than half a million dollars.
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Omar Idonis Graciani Rodriguez has been sentenced to life in federal prison for running a drug trafficking organization from inside a Florida state prison using contraband phones. Authorities say he coordinated large-scale distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine through outside accomplices.
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A Kissimmee man has been sentenced to more than seventeen years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood.
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Eric William Garvin and Anthony Lee Khan from Palm Bay have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. The sentences follow an investigation that uncovered large quantities of illegal drugs at their residences.
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A Morriston veterinarian has been arrested on charges related to transporting minors for illegal purposes and sending threats. Authorities say Gregory Ford faces several federal counts after an indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
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A North Carolina man has been indicted on charges related to producing child sex abuse material and transporting a minor across state lines. Authorities say evidence includes videos found during their investigation after locating the missing teen with him in Florida. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood's ongoing work against child exploitation.
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Wilner Cenecharles pleaded guilty to preparing false tax documents that defrauded the IRS out of more than $65,000. He faces up to three years in prison per count after an investigation by federal authorities.