TWELVE INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH FEDERAL CRIMES (DOJ)

United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced today that 12 individuals were indicted across three divisions of the Northern District of Florida.

The following indictments were filed in the Gainesville division:

• Patrick Johnson, of Gainesville, Florida, indicted for bank burglary and bank larceny.
• Stephen Jones, of Gainesville, Florida, indicted for a possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Tyrese Jones, of Gainesville, Florida, indicted for possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

The following indictments were filed in the Panama City division:

• Jose Alvarado-Lopez, a citizen of Honduras, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal.
• Maynor Esquivel-Amador, a citizen of Guatemala, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal.
• Eugenio Hernandez-Vargas, a citizen of Mexico, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal.

The following indictments were filed in the Tallahassee division:

• Jose Guadelupe Escobar, a citizen of Honduras, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal.
• Abraham Flores-Tercero, a citizen of Honduras, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal.
• Kelveont'a Lamar Dennis, of Tallahassee, Florida, indicted for one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• Rashaad Huggins, of Tallahassee, Florida, indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• Brandon Mahaffey, of Tallahassee, Florida, indicted for enticement of a minor.
• Perry Walker II, of Tallahassee, Florida, indicted for one count of sexual exploitation of children, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of transfer of obscene material to minors, and one count of possession of child pornography.

Law enforcement agencies conducting the investigations included the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; with assistance from Bay County Sheriff's Office; Leon County Sheriff's Office; Alachua County Sheriff's Office; and Tallahassee Police Department.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner, James A. McCain, Eric K. Mountin, Harley W. Ferguson, Justin M. Keen, Meredith L. Steer, and Christie S. Utt.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

Nine cases are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Two cases are brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.