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Press Release

Jury Convicts Three Individuals Of Four Murders, Racketeering, And Drug And Firearms Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida

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.

 

 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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. 

 

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.

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.

 

Updated November 5, 2019

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime