‘Island Boys' rapper Franky Venegas arrested in Florida on gun, drug charges
NAPLES, Fla. (WFLA) — A member of the 'Island Boys' rap group was arrested in Naples Sunday after deputies said they caught him with a bag of unprescribed oxycodone pills and an altered firearm.
Franky Venegas, 23, was booked into a Collier County jail Sunday on one count of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and one count of possession of an altered firearm, according to public records.
Missing man found dismembered in backyard, Hillsborough deputies say
An arrest report obtained by NBC affiliate WESH stated that Venegas was the passenger in a corvette that deputies pulled over after observing the driver fail to come to a complete stop on Oil Well Road.
A K9 unit was called to the scene, and Venegas and the driver were asked to step out of the corvette while law enforcement searched the vehicle.
Deputies said they found a plastic bag lying on the passenger side floorboard. Inside was several white pills. There were seven total 10 mg oxycodone pills and five pills containing oxycodone and Acetaminophen, according to officials.
When questioned, Venegas told deputies the pills were not his and he did not know how they got there.
Deputies continued searching the corvette and came across a brown handbag on the passenger side floorboard. Authorities said there was a pistol inside the bag, along with a clear plastic cut straw that had a white powdery substance on it.
According to the arrest report, the pistol had been spray-painted blue and when investigators took the weapon apart, they discovered that both serial numbers were missing.
Venegas was arrested and taken to the Naples Jail Center, WESH reported.
He and his twin brother, Alex, rose to fame as the 'Island Boys' following their 2021 viral hit, 'I'm an Island Boy,' which has over 24 million views on YouTube.
Public records show that Venegas has a history of arrests in South Florida. He most recently got into trouble in May 2024 when he was accused of pretending to be his brother and was arrested in Fort Lauderdale for reckless driving.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Buzz Feed
2 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Blake Lively Gets Org Support Amid Justin Baldoni Trial
A spokesperson for Blake Lively issued a statement as the number of organizations submitting amicus briefs in support of her amid her legal battle with Justin Baldoni hit 19. In December, Blake sued her It Ends With Us co-star and director, as well as the studio Wayfarer and other parties, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Justin subsequently sued Blake, alleging defamation and extortion, among other things. Both parties have denied the allegations of the other. Before we get into the update, you might be wondering what an amicus brief is. It stems from the Latin phrase "friend of the court," which allows people who aren't parties in the case to submit documents of support, arguing that the impact of the case will also affect them. So, why are all these orgs issuing amicus briefs? Let's take one that's been signed by 14 women's and anti-violence organizations. In it, they argue, "The retaliatory defamation lawsuit instigated by the Wayfarer parties against Blake Livelyis another example of 'DARVO' tactics (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) in the post-#MeToo era where perpetrators of 'sexual violence,' in particular sexual harassment, attempt to silence their victims into submission." After a new brief was filed this week by Child USA, a nonprofit against child abuse, a spokesperson for Blake issued a statement to BuzzFeed that read, "19 leading survivors and organizations devoted to women's rights, children's rights and domestic violence have now signed onto four separate amicus briefs. All are united in opposing Justin Baldoni's attempt to dismantle a law designed to protect women who speak up—simply to protect himself." Justin's attorney has been reached for comment. "The latest briefs, filed by Child USA and Sanctuary for Families, add the voices of renowned nonprofits, victim advocates, and experts from around the world who are dedicated to safeguarding the rights and well-being of people who speak up," they continued. Justin has never been accused of child abuse. "Rather than defend his case on the facts, Baldoni is now contradicting years of his own public persona—abandoning the message of his #MeToo YouTube's, podcasts, TED Talks, and interviews, where he once upon a time urged men 'to listen to the women in your life…to hold their anguish and actually believe them, even if what they're saying is against you.' These women and organizations are sounding the alarm about his DARVO tactics, and the chilling effect they could have well beyond this case," the statement concluded. BuzzFeed has reached out to a representative for Justin for comment.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tow truck driver damages Pasco man's new septic system while looking for stuck Amazon truck
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Jerry Wolfe said he was shocked to discover a tow truck stuck in his Pasco County backyard, with one tire partially buried in his newly installed septic tank system. Wolfe told 8 On Your Side Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken that the driver told him he was following GPS coordinates to locate a stuck Amazon delivery truck, which he claimed led him 60 paces past Wolfe's shed and onto his private property. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'I said, 'Well, why didn't you get out and look, this is my backyard, this is private property and you're buried in my leach field and you just crushed my septic tank and he said he was just trying to do his job, trying to find the Amazon truck,'' Wolfe said. The tow truck belonged to Pinellas Towing & Transport. After another tow truck arrived to pull the stuck vehicle free, Wolfe discovered significant damage to his septic system. Wolfe said the driver told him the manager would be available Monday to discuss the issue. However, Wolfe said he left multiple messages with no response, so he called Better Call Behnken for help. WATCH: Osceola Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrested on racketeering charges He said he spent $3,700 to repair the septic system. 'Please, just own up to the mistake,' Wolfe said. 'Contact me, and let's get this worked out.' Behnken left a message, and hours later, the manager called back, saying this fell through the cracks, but he would make this right. Thursday evening, Wolfe sids a check for the full amount was hand-delivered to his home. Behnken will follow up after Wolfe is able to cash the check. The tow truck manager told Behnken this was an honest mistake, and he would take care of covering the costs of the damages. The Amazon truck was located about a quarter mile down the road, Wolfe said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tampa driver in custody after explosives threat shuts down Dale Mabry Highway: TPD
The Brief An explosives threat shut down the southbound lanes of Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa Thursday evening, according to officers. TPD said they responded to Dale Mabry Highway after receiving reports of an unconscious driver behind the wheel who was blocking traffic. The driver told police there was an explosive device in the vehicle. TAMPA, Fla. - An explosives threat shut down the southbound lanes of Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa Thursday evening, according to officers. What we know The Tampa Police Department said they responded to Dale Mabry Highway at Columbus Drive just after 6:30 a.m. after receiving reports of an unconscious driver behind the wheel who was blocking traffic. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Officers tried to speak with the driver once they arrived at the scene. But, police said the driver didn't cooperate with any commands they gave. While officers continued to try and speak with the driver, that's when the driver told them there was an explosive device in the vehicle. READ: Photo of bomb threat found on Allegiant flight at PIE released, FBI continues search for suspect Dig deeper Officers shut down the southbound lanes of Dale Mabry Highway between Columbus Drive and Tampa Bay Boulevard. Traffic is back open, according to TPD. No officers were injured, and the suspect was taken into custody, police said. The Source The information in this story was released by the Tampa Police Department. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter