Fort Myers, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Jeremy Sibley (34, Nokomis), Harvey Bass (45, Sarasota), Francis Leibmann (36, Venice), Alejandro Grijalva (Tuscon, AZ), Gustavo Leon (26, Kissimmee), Christopher Miller (34, Englewood), and Jamie Alberto Rivera Alvarez (34, Kissimmee) with conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit assets which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, from 2006 to November 2011, Sibley, Bass, Leibmann, Grijalva, Leon, Miller, and Alvarez were allegedly involved in smuggling multi-kilo bales of marijuana from Mexico for distribution in Charlotte, Lee, and Sarasota counties.

This case was initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office in early 2010. It was investigated by DEA and the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, DEA Atlanta Field Division, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Douglas Molloy.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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