Escambia County, Florida, has agreed to pay $3,500,000 to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act by falsely billing government healthcare programs for emergency medical services and transportation. The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. The settlement addresses claimsContinue Reading
Nicholus Tysharrow McNabb, 39, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has been sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and money laundering. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United StatesContinue Reading
Cosme Martin Hernandez, Jr., 34, was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography. The sentencing was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. In December 2023, law enforcement agents conductingContinue Reading
United States Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentencing of three defendants convicted in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. All three defendants will also serve terms of supervised release following their prison sentences. A multi-agency investigation led by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office revealed thatContinue Reading
Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, of Ocala, Florida, appeared in court yesterday for an initial hearing on a multi-count indictment. The indictment charges McCabe with one count of seaman’s manslaughter, one count of making false statements, and three counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, McCabe purchased a 48-foot vesselContinue Reading
A Florida man was sentenced to prison on August 28, 2024 following his conviction for felony and misdemeanor offenses related to the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Richard Cook, 38, of Boca Raton, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, andContinue Reading
On August 29, Dorian Velasquez, 43, a convicted child molester, pled guilty to naturalization fraud for unlawfully obtaining U.S. citizenship. Velasquez, born in Guatemala, submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on April 11, 2014. On his application, Velasquez falsely answered “No” to the questionContinue Reading
Florida State Attorney Melissa Nelson has announced that a Duval County jury has recommended the death penalty for Pinkney Carter on two counts of First-Degree Murder. This recommendation comes following a retrial of the penalty phase from August 12-22, 2024, prompted by changes in death penalty procedures. Carter, previously convictedContinue Reading
Florida State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced that a Duval County jury found Trevor Sigrist guilty of Felony Battery. Sigrist faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in Florida State Prison. Sentencing will be conducted by the Honorable Anthony Salem at a later date. On June 1, 2023, the victim wasContinue Reading
On Friday, August 16, 2024, Susan Louise Lorincz, 59, was found guilty of Manslaughter by Use of a Firearm in the case involving the death of her neighbor, 35-year-old Ajike “AJ” Owens. The verdict followed a weeklong trial where jurors reviewed evidence and heard testimonies from over 30 witnesses. AjikeContinue Reading