Florida Sex Money Murder Gang Dismantled

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today announced the arrests of 13 gang leaders who are part of the Bloods-affiliated Sex Money Murder gang. All but two of the defendants belong to the Florida section of the SMM gang. One of those arrested holds a state-level leadership position in the North Carolina section of SMM. The defendants face a wide array of charges stemming from gang activity that included a complex scheme to deal drugs in state prisons. Charges include racketeering, directing the activities of a criminal gang, witness tampering and conspiracy to commit murder.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This massive law enforcement operation eliminated the main state leadership of a notorious, nationwide gang operating across Florida. Our law enforcement heroes put in countless hours and risked their own safety to take down gangsters who demonstrated a complete lack of respect for human life. Because of these officers and my Statewide Prosecutors, we are all safer, and their actions will have far-reaching, positive implications on communities across the state.”

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, “All you need to know about this gang is in its title: Sex Money Murder. We are not going to put up with these gangs brazenly coordinating and committing crimes in our communities. They are an organized criminal enterprise, ruthlessly focused on violence, theft, fraud and profiting from the human misery and violence of the illegal drug trade. Our message to other gang members in Polk County and throughout Florida: don’t throw your life away on gangs. If you do, and we catch you, you will go to prison for a long, long time.”

Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon said, “FDC is proud to work in concert with our law enforcement partners as part of our public safety mission. This partnership represents an ongoing effort and our commitment to identifying and preventing criminal activity from occurring within our walls. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring a safe environment for those entrusted to our care and furthering public safety for all Floridians.”

According to a multiagency investigation, leadership of SMM devised and executed a scheme to smuggle synthetic cannabinoids into at least three state prisons. Evidence secured during the investigation revealed that members of SMM sprayed the drugs onto pages of the Bible, Koran and greetings cards and then mailed them to gang members in the prisons.

During the execution of search warrants at the residences of gang leaders in three counties, police found firearms as well as large quantities of crack, cocaine and cannabis. Several members face charges associated with home invasions. During the investigation, SMM leadership also ordered murder-hits on two former gang members and face charges associated with those crimes.

The following SMM gang members led this criminal gang activity in Florida and face charges connected to those crimes:

1. Hernando Thompson – Commissioner

• Racketeering, RICO/Conspiracy and three counts of Directing an Activity of a Criminal Gang

2. James Roundtree – Number Two Leader (Hi-20)

• Racketeering, RICO/Conspiracy and three counts of Directing an Activity of a Criminal Gang

3. Donahue Stephenson – Number Two Prison Boss (Hi-20)

• Racketeering, RICO/Conspiracy and one count of Directing an Activity of a Criminal Gang

4. Andree Romeus – Gang Advisor

• Racketeering, RICO/Conspiracy and three counts of Directing an Activity of a Criminal Gang

5. Jonathan Fleming – North Carolina Leader

• RICO/Conspiracy

6. Tonisha Fisher – Number One Female Leader (First Lady)

• Racketeering and RICO/Conspiracy

7. Cerenia Mixon – Gang Secretary

• Racketeering, RICO/Conspiracy and two counts of Directing an Activity of a Criminal Gang

8. Tyreese Cruz – County-level Leader

• Racketeering, RICO/Conspiracy and two counts of Directing an Activity of a Criminal Gang

9. Deshon Morris – Gang Enforcer

• RICO/Conspiracy

10. Horatio Walker – General Member

• Racketeering, RICO/Conspiracy and Tampering with a Witness

11. Antonio Taylor – General Member

• RICO/Conspiracy and four counts of Recruiting Members to Join a Criminal Gang

12. Xavier Ulysse – General Member

• Conspiracy to Commit Murder

13. Rodney Street – Member of the Nine-Trey Gangster Bloods

• RICO/Conspiracy

Law enforcement arrested the 13 SMM leaders during a broader operation that netted more than 40 gang members total. Detectives served six search warrants throughout the investigation in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Mount Dora, Orlando and Lake City.

Illegal drugs, firearms, and currency seized:

• 21.45 pounds of methamphetamine
• 2,595 grams of cocaine
• 3,051 grams of cannabis
• 249 grams of MDMA
• 719 grams of synthetic cannabis
• 7.86 grams of fentanyl
• 28 grams of mushrooms
• 8 grams of alprazolam
• 52 grams of oxycodone
• 1846 grams of promethazine
• 18 firearms
• $17,514 in US currency

The total street value of the drugs confiscated is more than $1.5 million.

Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution worked closely with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and FDLE detectives on the massive gang-roundup case. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Michael Filteau will prosecute the defendants.