Operation Blackjack Florida

Operation blackjack florida beach

Until 2004, when the Seminoles opened their Hard Rock hotel and casino in Hollywood, near Fort Lauderdale, gamblers had to take a cruise ship vacation to play blackjack or feed slot machines. 4940 Blackjack Plant Rd. Jay Florida (Field Office) Blackjack Creek. Production Foreman (850) 675-4494. Mlee@altamesa.net; Hendry Energy Services, LLC. 13550 Fiddlesticks Blvd, Suite 202-203. Fort Myers, FL 33912.

Operation blackjack pasco county florida
U.S. Attorney’s Office

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the culmination of a long-term investigation, dubbed “Operation Blackjack,” into arms and narcotics trafficking activities, centered in Pasco County, Florida. As a result, 39 individuals have been charged with various federal firearms and drug violations. (Please see chart for details). The indictments also notify the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms used in these offenses and any proceeds traceable to the offenses.

Florida

“We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to prosecute those who persist in purveying violent crime and drug trafficking on our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “We are committed to working with our partners to render our communities safe for our citizens in the Middle District of Florida.”

“ATF’s primary focus is protecting the public by reducing violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “ATF continues to aggressively pursue violent offenders and will work with our law enforcement partners to protect and serve our communities.”

'The Pasco Sheriff's Office is proud of the partnership it has with the Department of Justice,” said Sheriff Chris Nocco. “Taking illegally possessed guns and criminals off the street will have a positive impact on the safety of our community.'

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

Operation Blackjack arose out of a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. The cases will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Violent Crimes and Narcotics Section.

County

These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Operation Blackjack Florida

This investigation is also the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

Defendant (Age)

ChargesMaximum Penalties

Michael Baun (29)

Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Jade Blair (25)

Spring Hill, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Nicholas Bollman (24)

Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Jonathan Budowski* (47)

Bushnell, FL

  1. Possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
  1. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon;
  1. Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
  1. Maximum term of 20 years' imprisonment;
  1. Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment;
  1. Minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 5 years, and up to life imprisonment, to run consecutively to any other sentence of imprisonment.

Bradley Cox (31)

Palmetto, FL

  1. Conspiring to possess with intent to distribute heroin;
  1. Possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl;
  1. Possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

Maximum term of 20 years' imprisonment, per count.

Crystal Davis (26)

Tampa, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Donald Dussell, a/k/a “Dino” (41)

Hudson, FL

  1. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (8 counts);
  1. Distributing heroin;
  1. Distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
  1. Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment, per count;
  1. Maximum term of 20 years' imprisonment;
  1. Minimum mandatory term of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment.

Kurt Gell* (39)

Bartow, FL

Pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment.

Melissa James (33)

New Port Richey, FL

Possessing with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Minimum mandatory term of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 years’ imprisonment.

Breanna Knights (21)

New Port Richey, FL

  1. Distributing heroin;
  2. Distributing crack cocaine.

Maximum term of 20 years' imprisonment, per count.

Jerry Koezeno* (30)

New Port Richey, FL

  1. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon;
  1. Distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (2 counts).

Pleaded guilty on October 3, 2018.

Sentencing set for January 3, 2019.

  1. Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.
  1. Minimum mandatory of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, per count.

Joshua Koezeno (25)

New Port Richey, FL

Possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment.

James Thomas Lang, III (32)

Tampa, FL

  1. Conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine;
  1. Distributing heroin and fentanyl (two counts);
  1. Distributing methamphetamine;
  1. Distributing heroin (two counts)
  1. Minimum Mandatory of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment.

As to remaining counts, maximum term of 30 years' imprisonment, per count.

James Laughery (44)
New Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (4 counts).

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment, per count.

Stephen Kenneth Lore* (48)

Hudson, FL

Pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Sentenced to 15 years and 8 months’ imprisonment.

Jamie Manz (40)

Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (2 counts).

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment, per count.

Andre Maytum (34)

Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Chastity McBride (35)

New Port Richey, FL

  1. Conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
  1. Distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
  1. Distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Mandatory minimum term of 20 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, per count.

Stephanie McDonald* (35)

New Port Richey, FL

Pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Sentencing scheduled for 12/18/2018.

Minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 5 years, and up to life imprisonment.

Skyler McMillion (33)

Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Jacob Montgomery (25)

New Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Richard Morman (31)

New Port Richey, FL

  1. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon;
  1. Possessing a pipe bomb;
  1. Possessing pipe bombs.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment, per count.

Arnold Gerard Nelson, Jr. (32)

Tampa, FL

  1. Conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine;
  1. Distributing heroin and fentanyl (three counts);
  1. Distributing methamphetamine;
  1. Distributing heroin (2 counts).
  1. Minimum mandatory term of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 years’ imprisonment;

All other counts:

Maximum term of 20 years' imprisonment, per count.

William Ohrmund (43), a/k/a “Billy the Kid”*

Port Richey, FL

Pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Bobby Osborne (33)

Hudson, FL

  1. Conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
  1. Distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
  1. Distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, per count.

Chad Michael Overend (37)

Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Ryan Perrin (32)

Palm Harbor, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (2 counts).

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment, per count.

Randi Potter (44)

New Port Richey, FL

1. Possessing with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine;

2. Possessing with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine;

3. Possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;

4. Possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

As to counts 1 and 2 : Minimum Mandatory term of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment;

  1. Minimum mandatory term of 20 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment;

4. Maximum term of 30 years’ imprisonment.

John Christopher Roberts* (35)

Orlando, FL

Pleaded guilty to:

  1. Conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
  1. Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Sentencing set for 1/6/2019.

  1. Maximum term of 20 years' imprisonment;
  1. Minimum mandatory term of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment.

Justin Ruth (28)

New Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (2 counts).

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment, per count.

Anthony Steve* (37)

Port Richey, FL

Pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment.

Keith Jason Stewart (29)

Hudson, FL

  1. Distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (2 counts);
  1. Possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.
  1. Minimum mandatory term of 20 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, per count;
  1. Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

George Susick* (29)

Spring Hill, FL

Pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment.

Joseph Ward* (46)

New Port Richey, FL

Found guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Sentenced to 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment.

David Weyde* (30)

Port Richey, FL

Pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and to possessing an unregistered sawed-off shotgun.

Sentenced to 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment.

Gary Webb, a/k/a “Superman” (40)

Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

Larry Dean Wilson, Jr. (41)

Land O’Lakes, FL

  1. Distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (2 counts);
  1. Distributing marijuana;
  1. Mandatory minimum term of 20 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, per count;
  1. Maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years;

Michael Wilson* (45)

Spring Hill, FL

Convicted at trial of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Andrew Windsor (34)

Port Richey, FL

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

* Charged prior to takedown operation.
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime

Operation Blackjack Florida Beach

Updated November 15, 2018