ORLANDO, Fla. - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announced yesterday the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Benjamin William (41, Orlando) with impersonating a federal DEA agent and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted on all counts, Mejias faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.
According to court documents, Mejias has three previous state felony convictions, each for burglary of a dwelling, any one of which precludes him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. This investigation revealed that Mejias had been telling people, including Orlando police officers, that he had been a DEA agent for over twenty years and had allegedly collected a $2,000 donation from an Orlando businessman on behalf of an agents’ association. Agents also learned that Mejias had posted photos of himself with a variety of firearms on social media sites. When agents executed a search warrant at Mejias’ home on Oct. 11, 2013, they found a loaded.40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and he was arrested. Mejias has remained in custody since his arrest.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
