Latest news with #SaraSweeney
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Tampa man arrested in ‘Operation Take Back America' initiative
Related video: 2024 Crime Statistics TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Sweeney announced that a Tampa man has been arrested following the armed robbery of a local gas station. Rafael Jimenez, 30, has been charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, which usually caries harsher penalties compared to an armed robbery charge. The press release said the case is part of 'Operation Take Back America,' an initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this month. The goal of the operation is 'stopping illegal immigration, eliminating Cartels and TCOs, and ending illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings,' according to the memorandum that established it. There was no information provided about Jimenez's immigration status. Florida man set to be executed in April requests delay: court docs The criminal complaint filed accuses Jimenez of entering the gas station on March 8, brandishing a firearm while demanding money from the register and then firing in the direction of the clerk, striking the ground behind him. Jimenez is accused of stealing more than $600 and cigarettes from the gas station. The Hobbs Act robbery charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. The press release from Sweeney's office said Jimenez was apprehended after a comparison to surveillance footage from earlier in the week identified a distinctive tattoo and other physical similarities between the robber and Jimenez. Investigators also found a ski mask, gloves, and the same cigarettes the robber used in Jimenez's trash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Lake County man pleads guilty in federal gun trafficking investigation
Acting United States Attorney Sara Sweeney says there has been a guilty plea in a federal firearms trafficking case. Jose G. Medina, 49, of Leesburg, pleaded guilty to three counts of knowingly making a materially false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm and three counts of causing a federal firearm licensee to maintain false information in its official records. The Justice Department says Medina faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each false statement offense and up to five years for each record-keeping offense. His sentencing date has not yet been set. The announcement states that Medina 'straw-purchased' multiple firearms for other people in 2023. Some of these firearms were intercepted by the United States Custom and Border Patrol when others tried to get them across the border into Mexico. According to court documents, one individual was stopped trying to get into Mexico at Texas' Eagle Point with 10 handguns, nine rifles, seven shotguns, 20 ammunition magazines and large amounts of assorted ammunition on May 27, 2023. That person told reportedly authorities he was traveling from Orlando to San Diego de la Union, Guanajuato, Mexico. Medina had purchased one of these recovered firearms nine days earlier. Border patrol officers say they stopped another individual at the Eagle Pass port of entry on Nov. 17, 2023. This person also was trying to bring five firearms into Mexico. Medina had purchased two of these firearms less than two weeks earlier, prosecutors say. A record check by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives showed that Medina had purchased 82 firearms for a total of $42,085.61 in 2023. This amount amount exceeded his reported annual income. The investigation also revealed that another firearm purchased by an associate of Medina had recently been recovered and electronically traced by Mexican law enforcement using ATF's e-Trace system. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Orlando 19-year-old federally indicted in ‘sextortion' case
The Department of Justice has announced the indictment of a 19-year-old from Montgomery on sex crime charges. Acting United States Attorney Sara Sweeney says Montrey Roseberry is charged with three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, three counts of production of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. According to the Justice Department, Roseberry ran a scheme to force children to participate in child pornography from at least July 2023 through at least April 2024. Calling it a 'sextortion' scheme, investigators allege that Roseberry would impersonate a woman and coerce children he found on social media into producing images and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He then allegedly threatening to release those materials to force the victims into making more 'perverse content.' Investigators say he even threatened some of his victims with death and sent them images of their homes, schools or family members. Roseberry will be detained, pending the resolution of the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Justice Department to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
