Jury Convicts Three Individuals of Four Murders, Racketeering, and Drug and Firearms Offenses
Tampa, Florida – Today, following a three week trial, a federal jury found Jordan Rodriguez (Bradenton, 26), Andrew Thompson, a/k/a “Nico,” (Bradenton, 25), and Alfonzo Churchwell (Bradenton, 32) guilty of multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy, murder conspiracy, drug and firearms offenses, and four murders. See the summary chart below for a list of charges and related penalties.
In July 2019, seven individuals were charged in a 20-count superseding indictment. Four defendants pleaded guilty to a variety of charges prior to trial. Each of the three defendants that proceeded to trial were accused of committing at least one murder. The evidence in the case showed that the defendants were engaged in a violent and deadly rivalry with others in Oneco, a community in Bradenton, and that the defendants worked together to traffic in controlled substances and to control and protect their drug business with violence and murder.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office (Twelfth Judicial Circuit). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Natalie Hirt Adams and Christopher F. Murray.
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Charge |
Name |
Maximum Penalties |
|
Count One |
RICO Conspiracy |
Jordan Rodriguez Andrew Thompson Alfonzo Churchwell |
Maximum term of life imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
|
Count Two |
Drug Trafficking Conspiracy |
Jordan Rodriguez Andrew Thompson Alfonzo Churchwell |
Maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine not to exceed $1 million, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
|
Count Three |
Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering (relating to the murder of Julio Tellez) |
Jordan Rodriguez |
A maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
|
Count Four |
Murder in Aid of Racketeering, or Aiding and Abetting the Same (relating to the murder of Julio Tellez) |
Jordan Rodriguez |
A mandatory term of life imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment.
|
|
Count Five |
Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, resulting in the murder of Julio Tellez, or Aiding and Abetting the Same |
Jordan Rodriguez |
A mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to life (said term to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment), a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
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Count Eight |
Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances Involving Heroin, Cocaine, And Crack Cocaine
|
Andrew Thompson |
Maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine not to exceed $1 million, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
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Count Ten |
Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to Drug Trafficking Crimes and a Crime of Violence, resulting in the murder of Earnestine Gardner |
Alfonzo Churchwell |
A mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to life (said term to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment), a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
|
Count Eleven |
Felon In Possession Of Ammunition |
Alfonzo Churchwell |
Maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
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Count Twelve |
Accessory After the Fact |
Jordan Rodriguez |
Maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
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Count Thirteen |
Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Methamphetamine |
Andrew Thompson
|
Maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine not to exceed $1 million, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
|
Count Fourteen |
Murder in Aid of Racketeering (relating to the murder of LaShawna Stevenson-Weeks) |
Andrew Thompson
|
A mandatory term of life imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment.
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|
Count Fifteen |
Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to Drug Trafficking Crimes and a Crime of Violence, resulting in the murder of Lashawna Stevenson-Weeks |
Andrew Thompson |
A mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to life (said term to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment), a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
|
Count Sixteen |
Murder in Aid of Racketeering (relating to the murder of Berry Joseph, a/k/a “B-1”) |
Andrew Thompson |
A mandatory term of life imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment.
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|
Count Seventeen |
Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to Drug Trafficking Crimes and a Crime of Violence resulting in the murder of Berry Joseph, a/k/a “B-1” |
Andrew Thompson |
A mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to life (said term to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment), a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
|
Count Eighteen |
Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition While Subject to a Domestic Violence Restraining Order |
Andrew Thompson |
Maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
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Count Nineteen |
Accessory After the Fact |
Jordan Rodriguez |
Maximum term of imprisonment of 15 year, a fine not to exceed $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
|
Count Twenty |
Using or Maintaining a Drug Premises |
Jordan Rodriguez Andrew Thompson Alfonzo Churchwell |
Maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine not to exceed $500,000, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. |
