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Press Releases

Tactical Response Unit – After Action Report

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December 6, 2024

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Unit (TRU) executed a search warrant at 10851 NE 109 Street in the University Oaks Subdivision yesterday afternoon. The warrant was seeking to apprehend a potentially armed and dangerous individual wanted in another jurisdiction and recover evidence related to that crime.

TRU team members made multiple PA announcements ordering any occupant of the home to exit peacefully. No individual was found inside the home after these announcements were made. Multiple items of evidence were seized from the home that will aid the investigation. The subject sought in this investigation was not found at the home and is believed to have fled this area. There is no known threat to our community.

We appreciate our community giving us the space needed to conduct this investigation. Many snapped pictures as they drove past to post on Social Media.  Comments that there was a barricaded subject at this home were incorrect. This was a well-planned operation giving top priority to our citizen’s in this community’s safety as well as our deputies. This operation was completed within a few hours and this neighborhood can now return to their quiet, peaceful lifestyle.

Dangerous Felon Apprehended

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November 22, 2024

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office along with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was seeking to apprehend Julius Wright (9/20/97) of Bronson for multiple felony warrants. Wright was released from custody on 7/20/24 after an arrest for multiple thefts, home burglaries and weapons offenses and court ordered to remain at his residence in Bronson. The courts further ordered he wear an ankle monitoring device. Wright cut the monitoring device off several weeks ago and went on another crime spree.

Wright is a person of interest in multiple open burglary investigations the Levy County Sheriff’s Office is conducting in the Bronson and Williston area. In addition, the LCSO had secured six (6) warrants for his arrest for failure to appear in court from his arrest in July. The Alachua County Sheriff’s sought to apprehend Wright from a recent burglary investigation where he fled from ASO deputies and was able to avoid arrest.   

LCSO Detectives received a tip yesterday at 1:30 p.m. that Wright was seen entering a home in Bronson. Detectives arrived and secured the perimeter of the home, suspecting Wright was hiding inside. Wright is known to carry firearms and evidence was found that he was possibly in possession of a gun at the time the house was surrounded. This necessitated a response from the LCSO Tactical Response Unit when he would not surrender. LCSO sought assistance from the ASO SWAT team and a robot was used to safely search the home around 7:30 p.m. Wright was not found inside.

This did not end the search as Wright was found less than an hour later hiding in another home several blocks away. He was safely taken into custody and is being held in the Levy County Detention Center. Wright has additionally been charged with tampering with a court ordered monitoring device and resisting arrest. His bond has not yet been set.  

Drug Search Warrant Executed

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November 20, 2024

 

On November 4, 2024 members of the Levy County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 10730 NE 114th St Archer, Florida.  The warrant concluded a month’s long investigation related to the sale of illegal narcotics at this residence. Detectives detained multiple people who were located inside the home and several individuals found inside various vehicles parked on the property.

   

The following subjects were arrested as a result of the search warrant and subsequent investigation:

 

Helen Leo (2/4/67) of Archer, the home owner, was arrested for possession of fentanyl more than 4 grams, possession of controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana more than 20 grams, possession of methamphetamine over 14 grams, possession of weapon by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  She is being held on a $275,000.00 bond.

Joseph Shirey (10/8/98) of Williston was located in a vehicle parked outside of the home.  He was arrested for possession drug paraphernalia. He posted a $3,000.00 bond and has been released. 

Gregory Hopkins (12/28/67) of Williston was located inside the home and arrested for resisting arrest without violence. He posted a $2,500.00 bond and has been released.

 

The following narcotics were seized by Detectives and the Crime Scene Unit during the search of the property:   

  • Methamphetamine – 256.59 grams
  • Fentanyl:  63.37 grams
  • Marijuana:  134.04 grams
  • Prescription pills including; Oxycodone, Morphine, Buprenorphine, Tramadol, and Lisinopril. 

In addition to the seized narcotics, a handgun along with ammunition was recovered from the home. Multiple items of drug paraphernalia including various plastic bags, scales, pipes, pill containers and Narcan, which is used when a person overdoses, was located and collected during the search of the property.   

Murder Conviction and Sentence

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Christian Cardona-Cirilo
Omar Rodirguez-Ortiz

November 18, 2024

In August of 2019 the Levy County Sheriff’s Office responded to a citizen’s report of finding a deceased person along the side of the road in Morriston. Deputies and Detectives responded to the scene to begin collecting evidence and start their investigation. Detectives determined the subject had been murdered in a different location and his remains were dumped into the ditch in Levy County. Positive identification of the deceased male was not initially learned.

The investigation gained traction when a burned vehicle was discovered in Ocala. LCSO joined forces with Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Gainesville Field Office which led to a suspect list being developed. The cooperative efforts of these investigating agencies led to four arrests in connection with this murder some months after the investigation was launched. The victim, identified as Jafet Padin Rodriguez, a 33 year old resident of Ocala, was murdered by Omar Rodriquez-Ortiz 10/5/81, Christian Cardona-Cirilo 8/6/92, Kesia Mundo 3/28/83 and Jesse Torres 5/6/88 because of a mistaken identity. All four defendants were held in the Levy County Detention Center awaiting trial.

Assistant State Attorney’s Glenn Bryan and Daniel Owen of the 8th Judicial State Attorney’s Office worked for years preparing this case for trial. Defendants Kesia Mundo and Jesse Torres accepted State negotiated plea offers. Mundo received 15 years and was charged with conspiracy to commit 1st Degree Murder and Torres received 20 years and was charged with conspiracy to commit 1st Degree Murder.

Defendants Omar Rodriquez-Ortiz and Christian Cardona-Cirilo rejected all offers and chose to take their case to trial. The trial that began in October 2024 and lasted two weeks, saw evidence presented to the jury by ASA Bryan and ASA Owen that proved beyond a reasonable doubt both were guilty.

Sentencing for both defendants was held on 11/7/2024 in front of 8th Judicial Circuit Court Judge William Davis. Rodriquez-Ortiz was sentenced to LIFE for 1st Degree Murder followed by a consecutive 30 years for Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder. Cardona-Cirilo received a 30 year sentence for 2nd Degree Murder.

Sheriff McCallum commented that the work performed by these Detectives and the skillful presentation of the evidence by Assistant State Attorney’s Glenn Bryan and Daniel Owen led to these four predators being removed from our communities. Detectives began their investigation with the unidentified remains of a Hispanic male who was thrown into a ditch. They worked diligently to identify the suspect(s) and take them into custody. Our attorney’s worked tirelessly assembling the case to present to this jury who unanimously voted for the conviction. The efforts of my Detectives and our Assistant State Attorney’s hopefully will bring a sense of justice and peace to the family of the victim in this case.  

Couple Arrested for Child Abuse

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November 12, 2024

On November 5, 2024 a child was brought to a local medical facility for an examination due to complaints of arm pain. Medical staff observed bruising over much of the child’s body in various stages of healing. The child was also diagnosed with two fractures, one in each wrist. All of these injuries were indicative of child abuse. Medical staff contacted the Child Abuse Hotline as required to report their findings.

Levy County Detectives and Victim Advocates responded to the medical facility where the child was being treated to assist the Department of Children and Family Services. The investigation determined that child was targeted for abuse by Dakota W. Lee (11/24/2000) of Chiefland. Initial statements taken by Detectives from Lee produced only denials.  

Additional medical examinations were completed by the Child Protection Team at UF and more evidence of long term extreme physical abuse was collected. Lee was confronted with the new evidence and after making some admissions was taken into custody on November 7, 2024. Lee has been charged with aggravated child abuse and is being held on no bond.

As a part of this same investigation, Marilyn Wolff (5/22/98) of Chiefland was arrested on November 12, 2024. She was transported to the Levy County Detention Center and has been charged with aggravated child abuse. She is scheduled for her first appearance before the court tomorrow morning.      

Burglary Defendant Sentenced

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November 1, 2024                 

On October 23, 2024 Arthur Lee Jones Jr. (4/28/98) of Bronson accepted a negotiated plea offer for nine (9) years incarceration in the Florida Department of Corrections for multiple crimes. Jones Jr. was arrested multiple times in 2023 and 2024 for several residential burglaries in the Fanning Springs area, grand theft, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic battery cases.

Jones has been in custody since April of 2024 and was transferred from the Levy County Detention Center to the Department of Corrections yesterday to begin his sentence. This sentence hopefully gives closure to the citizens he has victimized and will allow them to rest at night knowing he cannot harm them further.    

Fuel Thief Apprehended

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October 30, 2024

On October 18th Officer Godkin with the Williston Police Department observed a suspicious van parked in a closed gas station parking lot. He witnessed the van hastily exit the parking lot as he drove past. Within moments the vehicle accelerated to speeds in excess of the posted speed limits which prompted Officer Godkin’s attempt to stop him. The vehicle fled and ultimately the driver abandoned the vehicle, fleeing on foot into a nearby subdivision.

LCSO deputies responded to the call to assist Officer Godkin. Deputy Morris, as he approached the scene, observed a vehicle brake abruptly and witnessed a subject exit the woods and enter the car. This car was stopped and the driver and passenger were detained.

Detective Barrera responded to assist and the following investigation revealed the passenger, identified as Livan Olano Darias (6/23/99) of Miami was the driver of the van who fled from Officer Godkin and was arrested. The investigation determined that Darias was attempting to steal diesel fuel from the in ground tank of the gas station. The van he abandoned was modified for this purpose. The van had a hole cut into the floor, approximately 400 gallons of onboard fuel storage and high flow pumps to extract the fuel from the ground tank. This arrest has not ended the investigation.

Detective Barrera has been in contact with Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Thus far, more than 14 cases of fuel theft from multiple counties south of Levy County are being associated to this group. Darias was charged with multiple felonies but has posted a $27,500 bond and released. Additional warrants for his arrest are expected to be issued as this investigation continues. The driver of the vehicle who picked up Darias was identified and warrants for his arrest have been issued.

We urge our citizens to be observant of suspicious vehicles and promptly report any they see to the appropriate law enforcement agency.  

Arrest Made of Juice Box Owner

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October 16, 2024

The Levy County Drug Task Force detectives executed a search warrant at the Juice Box.com Vape Shop, Inc. located at 6891 NW 138 Place north of Chiefland yesterday afternoon. The warrant and arrest of the owner, Kent William Zimmerman (9/14/72) of Chiefland, concluded a lengthy investigation.

Multiple citizen complaints of illegal drug sales, including selling to minors, occurring at this business launched the investigation. Drug Task Force detectives worked diligently for months to establish the required information necessary to apply for a search warrant. Detectives served the warrant and during their search of the business property seized hallucinogenic mushrooms, LSD, 6.5 pounds of marijuana, 8.78 pounds of THC wax (DABS), 15.73 pounds of THC vape oil, 2.05 pounds of THC gummies, diazepam, buprenorphine and oxycodone from the property. Zimmerman’s business was not a licensed THC dispensary nor did he have prescriptions for the pills seized.

Zimmerman was arrested and has been charged with trafficking in LSD, possession of hallucinogens, possession of a controlled drug without a prescription, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and maintaining a shop where dangerous drugs are sold. In total, Zimmerman has been charged with seven (7) felonies and one misdemeanor. His bond has been set at $640,000.00.

Federal Sentence of 10 Years

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October 2, 2024

Levy County Detective Ryan Sullivan arrested Chuckey Lee Rogers, Jr. (10/27/89) of Chiefland on October 17, 2023 for possession of child pornography after receiving a cyber-tip via the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. Detective Sullivan partnered with the North Florida Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC) and Department of Homeland Security Investigations as he investigated this case. A total of 561 graphic child pornographic photographs and videos were seized from various digital devices found in Rogers’s possession. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations assistance resulted in the indictment of Rogers in the United States Middle District Courts.

Rogers accepted a plea offer in Federal Court on September 23, 2024 which included his incarceration for a term of ten (10) years followed by life time sex offender supervision.

Detective Sullivan worked on this investigation for months building the case against Rogers. Having the cooperation with federal authorities, the Gainesville Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Florida ICAC Task Force led to a successful case conclusion that ensures the safety of our children from this individual.

Elaborate Rental Scam Unravels

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September 18, 2024

On September 17, 2024 Levy County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives concluded a fraud investigation and arrested Carrie Ann Hendricks (7/7/78) of Trenton in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Chiefland. This is the case that drew so much attention yesterday and was incorrectly identified as a possible active shooter incident on several social media platforms.

Deputy Landon Kennedy launched a fraud investigation on September 9, 2024. The victim explained she had been searching for a rental home and located a listing on Facebook marketplace. In May she contacted Hendricks through messenger and secured a rental agreement.

The victim began pre-paying rent in May and intended to move into the home in August. When she arrived at the home she found it occupied. She left a note telling the occupant she was moving in and changing the locks within the next two weeks. The occupant, who turned out to be the owner of the home, called the victim to tell her she apparently was being scammed.

Deputy Kennedy obtained the rental payment information from the victim and verified that Hendricks received approximately $3,000 in advance payments. He also verified Hendricks had no affiliation to the home and verified the homeowner never listed the house for rent.

Hendricks scheme unraveled yesterday when Deputy Kennedy and LCSO detectives arranged the “final” payment. Hendricks met with the victim and took another $750 from her. She was taken into custody as she walked toward the front entrance of Wal-Mart. Robert Tanner drove Hendricks to this meeting and was found to be operating a vehicle without a valid license. He too was taken into custody.

Hendricks is charged with use of a two-way communication device to commit fraud and scheme to defraud. She is being held on a $70,000 bond at the Levy County Detention Center.