Prosecutors indict violent crime defendants as a part of Project Safe Neighborhood

TAMPA, Fla. — The Middle District of Florida has indicted 46 firearms and violent crime defendants as part of the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025 Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) strategy.

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PSN is the focal point of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. It focuses on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based re-entry programs to reduce recidivism.

The first quarter which ended on December 31, 2025, indicted suspects that faced federal firearms, narcotics, and violent crime charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement also seized more than 85 firearms associated with these cases.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also engaged in more than 30 community outreach events focused on PSN and crime prevention, such as speaking with local students and released individuals at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office DISMAS program at the Jacksonville Bridge Community Release Center and over 50 inmates scheduled for release from the Baker Re-Entry Center.

“My office is committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement officers to combat violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “Over the past three fiscal years, my office has increased the number of violent crime and firearms cases brought in federal court by over 75%. In total, federal prosecutors have charged more than 750 defendants with firearms violations during that timeframe, with more than 300 of those defendants being charged in the most recent fiscal year. We will continue to federally prosecute and hold accountable those perpetrators of violent crimes in our communities.”

Case highlights from the first quarter include United States v. Jameise Christian et at, United States v. Joshua Grant Cobb, United States v. Franciso Cabrera, United States v. Joshua Fries, and United States v. JD Irons, Jr.

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