BROOKSVILLE, FL — A coordinated multi-agency sweep in Hernando County has resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals following a targeted compliance operation into registered sex offenders and predators under active state supervision.
The two-day enforcement operation was conducted by investigators and analysts from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Missing Persons and Offender Enforcement Division, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), and the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC).
Teams zeroed in on 52 registrants living in Hernando County to verify adherence to both their strict probation mandates and Florida’s statutory registry laws.
Compliance Checks and Forensic Searches
During the sweep, law enforcement teams successfully made direct contact with 47 registered sexual offenders and sexual predators.
Personnel from FDLE’s Enforcement and Investigative Support Bureau (EIS), the FDLE Brooksville Field Office, and HCSO detectives conducted detailed verification interviews. Simultaneously, Florida Department of Corrections officers performed physical residential checks and forensic searches of the registrants’ electronic devices.
The compliance checks culminated in the arrest of 11 registered individuals—comprising eight sexual offenders and three sexual predators—for failing registration requirements, violating their probation conditions, or both.
Search Seizures and Additional Charges
Beyond administrative registration failures, the physical and digital searches uncovered contraband and statutory violations. The 11 primary suspects face various counts involving failures to report required modifications to personal vehicle listings, email addresses, and online internet identifiers.
Furthermore, officers discovered physical contraband during the residential checks, leading to additional charges for the possession of methamphetamine, the possession of erectile dysfunction prescription medication by a registered sexual offender, and formal violations of felony probation.
The 11 registered individuals arrested during the operation are identified as:
- Russell Hetzel, 38, sexual predator
- Mike Marrero, 56, sexual predator
- Gary Payne, 67, sexual predator
- Anthony Boffil, 39, sexual offender
- Nathaniel Campbell, 32, sexual offender
- Angel Casanova Ramos, 55, sexual offender
- Colin Fee, 26, sexual offender
- Scott Fishburne, 54, sexual offender
- Bernard Gold, 67, sexual offender
- Timothy Stanke, 38, sexual offender
- Ernest Taylor, 51, sexual offender
Collateral Arrests and Police Pursuit
Two additional men were booked into the county facility during the sweep.
Jesus Velazquez, 65, who was already on active sexual offender probation, was intercepted and taken into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant for an existing probation violation.
Additionally, Nicola Karbassi, 57, of Spring Hill, was arrested after allegedly attempting to evade authorities. FDLE and HCSO personnel attempted to execute a traffic stop on Karbassi after witnessing him driving at high speeds through a residential neighborhood and blowing through two stop signs. Karbassi eventually brought his vehicle to a halt and was arrested for fleeing and eluding law enforcement.
All 13 suspects were transported to the Hernando County Jail for processing. The cases will be formally prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.