Trio pleads guilty to roles in Florida armed robberies while impersonating police

FLORIDA – Three Florida residents have pleaded guilty to their roles in armed robberies and shootings in Hillsborough, Polk, Pasco, and Lee counties while dressed as law enforcement officers, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has announced.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Reginald Roberts, 22, of Lakeland, a/k/a/ “Rudy,” Nathaniel Keith Carr, 28, of Riverdale, a/k/a “Nate,” and Chrishawn De’Earl Butler, 22, of Brooksville, a/k/a “Baby,” have each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing and discharging firearms in the commission of crimes of violence.

Each faces a minimum mandatory sentence ranging from 14 to 21 years, up to life, in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set.

According to the plea agreements, between December 2020 and April 2021, Roberts, Carr, Butler, and others engaged in a conspiracy to rob individuals they suspected of distributing narcotics. During that time, the conspirators engaged in numerous armed robberies in Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, and Lee counties, some of which resulted in shootings.

While committing these offenses, 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 a white Chevrolet Malibu equipped with blue lights and sirens.

Co-conspirator Jasmine Weber, 28, Tampa, has also pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing. Indicted co-conspirators Daniel Jackson and Darius Hudson are pending trial.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. 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. Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes are prosecuting it.