Brooksville Woman Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements To Federal Agents

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Janet Williams (44, Brooksville) today pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements to federal agents. Williams faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on February 8, 2023, Williams’s son, Sheldon Robinson, was arrested in connection with the murder of I.S., a 17-year-old Hernando County High School student. Immediately after his arrest, Williams found approximately $6,000 Robinson had hidden in two different places in her residence, money Robinson had been paid to murder I.S.

On August 9, 2023, Williams was interviewed by special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and detectives from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office detectives. Williams repeatedly denied finding any money that belonged to Robinson in her home. On August 17, 2023, Robinson spoke to Williams. During this call, Williams told Robinson about ATF’s visit, telling him; “Feds came to the house. They took over the case.” At one point, she says, “They were asking me…did you come into a whole bunch of money? I said No. But, you did come into a whole bunch of money.” 

On September 20, 2023, during the execution of a federal search warrant at Williams’s residence, Williams again told federal agents she had not found any money in the residence that belonged to Robinson. Williams also denied ever seeing Robinson with a firearm or knowing he possessed one. Agents executed a federal search warrant on Williams’s phone at the same time they searched her residence. Her cellphone contained numerous photos of Robinson routinely possessing firearms, including possessing them in Williams’s home.

Sheldon Robinson is pending trial for his alleged role in this case.

This case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office (Fifth Judicial Circuit). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.