A federal jury in Tampa has found Armoni Tyree Moody, 24, of Davenport, guilty on charges of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the verdict on November 14, 2025. Moody faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and could receive up to life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2026.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Moody arranged through social media to meet someone to purchase marijuana. During the meeting, he entered the victim’s car, displayed a loaded handgun, and pressed it against the victim’s head. He demanded the victim’s two cellphones and ordered him out of the vehicle under threat of violence before driving away with the car.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Moody's residence the next day. They recovered the victim’s belongings and a loaded firearm from his bedroom; the stolen car was located parked nearby. Investigators also found text messages on Moody's phone discussing plans to commit robbery hours before the incident and videos showing him with the same firearm on social media.
Moody had previously been convicted of robbery with a weapon and was serving probation at the time of this offense. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The investigation involved cooperation between the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at countering illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime by coordinating resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
According to officials, publication of this matter was delayed due to a government shutdown but has now been released following resumption of normal operations.
