Source: United States Department of Justice News
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Reginald Roberts a/k/a/ “Rudy” (22, Lakeland), Nathaniel Keith Carr, a/k/a “Nate” (28, Riverdale), Daniel Jackson, a/k/a “D-Jack” (29, Winter Haven), and Chrishawn De’Earl Butler, a/k/a “Baby” (22, Brooksville) with conspiracy, Hobbs Act Robbery, and brandishing and discharging firearms in the commission of crimes of violence. If convicted on all counts, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Additionally, Roberts and Butler each face a minimum mandatory term of 31 years in federal prison, Jackson faces a minimum mandatory term of 24 years in federal prison, and Carr faces a minimum mandatory term of 14 years in federal prison.
Carr and Butler made their initial appearances on May 12, 2022, and were both detained pending trial. Roberts and Jackson will make their initial appearances on June 7, 2022.
According to the indictment, between December 2020 and April 2021, Roberts, Carr, Jackson, and Butler engaged in a conspiracy to rob individuals they suspected were distributing narcotics. During that time, the conspirators engaged in at least five armed robberies in Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, and Lee counties, three of which resulted in shootings. While committing these crimes, the conspirators impersonated law enforcement officers by wearing black clothing, gloves, and masks—often with law enforcement insignia, or vests with “Sheriff” affixed. In addition, during certain robberies, the conspirators drove a black Dodge Durango and white Chevrolet Malibu equipped with blue lights and sirens.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Bartow Police Department, the Lakeland Police Department, the Dade City Police Department, the Cape Coral Police Department, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the Arcadia Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.