February 8, 2001
Contact:
Special Agent Carlos Baixauli
Public Information Officer
ATF Tampa Field Division
(813) 228-2021
Fax: (813) 228-2111
Suspects Arrested for Attempted Home Invasion Robbery
Ralph
C. Ostrowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa Field Division of the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), U.S. Treasury Department
and Donna Bucella, U.S. Attorney for the Middle Judicial District of Florida,
today announced that a joint investigation by ATF, the Pinellas Park Police,
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office,
the Tampa Police, St. Petersburg Police Dept. and the Gainesville Police
Dept. has led to the arrest of six individuals who were attempting to
commit a "Home Invasion" style armed robbery. Three of the individuals
were arrested at a mini warehouse after showing undercover ATF agents
that they were ready to rob the occupants of an alleged drug house.
As a result of this joint effort, six individuals were arrested and charged
with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), Use of a
firearm during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking
crime and Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); 846. Trafficking
in a controlled substance / Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.
Arrested were:
(1) Robert Howe, W/M, DOB 12-22-72 of 13171 S.W. 8 St. Davie, Fl.;
(2) John Thomas Holzer, W/M, DOB 10-26-81, of 11318 Church Hill Trail, Seminal, Fl.;
(3) Anthony Scott Williams W/M, DOB 2-5-68, of 13669 S. Belcher Rd, Lot 291, Largo, Fl.;
(4) Joshua Keith Boyer, W/M, Dob 11-19-76, of 8071 Landmark Circle, Tampa, Fl.;
(5) Ronnie Mota, B/M, 7-17-72, of 4113 West Sitka St. Tampa, Fl. and
(6) Jerome H. Lummus, W/M, DOB, 7-30-78, of 22518 NW CR 236, High Springs, Fl.
The month-long undercover investigation led agents to seize an Intratec, semi-automatic, 9mm. pistol, Norinco, AK-47 assault rifle, a sawed-off Winchester 30/30 caliber rifle, a sawed-off Browning 12 gauge shotgun, and a Berretta .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol and assorted ammunition. Two of the members were wearing tactical police attire and badges and had in their possession, a scanner, walkie-talkies and a list of police frequencies.
ATF Special Agent In-Charge Ralph Ostrowski stated that, "ATF with our law enforcement partners, today averted a potentially dangerous situation that included heavily armed individuals posing as police officers, who were preparing to commit home invasion-style armed robbery. Impersonating law enforcement officers for unlawful and potentially deadly purposes undermines our criminal justice system and the safety of our communities. We are thankful to have been in a position to thwart this plan."
Each individual charged is facing a potential 25 years imprisonment. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of federal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
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