Multiple Life Sentences Handed Down in Bradenton Gang Racketeering and Murder Case
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced Jordan Rodriguez (Bradenton, 26) to, among other things, three terms of life imprisonment. Rodriguez’s co-defendants, Alfonzo Churchwell (Bradenton, 32) and Andrew Thompson (Bradenton, 25) were also sentenced to multiple life terms of imprisonment last month. All three individuals were found guilty on November 5, 2019, following a three-and-a-half-week jury trial. See the attached summary chart for a complete list of charges and sentences.
According to evidence presented during the trial, the defendants were engaged in a violent and deadly rivalry with others in Oneco, a community in Bradenton. The men worked together to traffic in controlled substances and to control and protect their drug business with violence and murder. Rodriguez, Churchwell, and Thompson were responsible for at least four murders. Their racketeering enterprise maintained a “trap house” that was used to distribute heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the murdered victims,” stated U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We are deeply committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations.” “The Department of Justice, working closely with our partners at all levels of law enforcement, will continue to use every available resource to protect vulnerable communities from the scourge of violent drug crime.
“The announcement of these sentences means that these individuals will no longer be able to hurt, harm or intimidate this community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “ATF has worked extensively with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to reduce violent crime and also with the victims’ families to bring closure to those who have suffered through these senseless acts of violence.”
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said, “Our goal has always been to find violent drug traffickers who are destroying lives in our community, and hold them accountable. We appreciate the hard work of the United States Attorney’s Office for bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”
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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Natalie Hirt Adams and Christopher F. Murray.
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