Markenzy Lapointe, who has served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida for the past two years, has announced his resignation, effective January 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. In his resignation letter, Lapointe expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in this important role, reflecting onContinue Reading
Florida State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced that a Duval County jury found Jerry Burns guilty of First-Degree Murder for the 2018 murder-for-hire of his wife, Velvet Burns. The State is seeking the death penalty, and the jury is set to return on December 16 to begin the penalty phase. BurnsContinue Reading
U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced 67-year-old Paul Douglas Creighton of Ontario, Canada, to life in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material and enticement of a minor. Creighton entered a guilty plea on August 19, 2024. According to the plea agreement and evidence presented at sentencing, betweenContinue Reading
A Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with his actions during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, where he allegedly assaulted law enforcement officers with deadly weapons, contributing to the violent disruption of a joint session of Congress. Joel Linn O’Donnell, 44, of Clearwater,Continue Reading
On December 19, 2024, Gabriella Oropesa, of Cooper City, Florida, was convicted for her role in a conspiracy aimed at intimidating and threatening employees of pro-life pregnancy help centers. Oropesa, along with her co-conspirators Caleb Freestone, Amber Stewart-Smith, and Annarella Rivera, targeted reproductive health facilities that offered counseling and servicesContinue Reading
On December 20, 2024, U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger sentenced Jameise Vaughn Christian, 22, of Washington, D.C., to 12 years and 10 months in federal prison. Christian was convicted of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm during two armed jewelry store robberies in Paterson, NewContinue Reading
On December 18, 2024, Michael John Pellicione, 76, the owner of a Port St. Lucie gun shop operating from his residence, pleaded guilty to a five-count indictment for violating federal firearm record-keeping laws. Pellicione, a federal firearms licensee (FFL), admitted to failing to record the sale of five firearms inContinue Reading
On December 17, 2024, James Edward Daniels, 59, and Frederick Eugene Rudolph, 69, both of Miami, Florida, were convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, multiple counts of kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping. The trial took place before U.S. District Court Judge Roy K. Altman. The convictionsContinue Reading
On December 18, 2024, Vernell Syrethia Lawson, 33, a former Miami-Dade Correctional Officer, and Gabrielle Nicole Bess-Mills, 35, appeared in court following an unsealed indictment accusing them of involvement in a criminal enterprise led by Terrance Carter, 31. The indictment alleges that Carter operated a drug trafficking organization that reliedContinue Reading
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that a federal jury has convicted Javier Mares (44, Bradenton) of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a convicted felon in possession ofContinue Reading