Miccosukee Tribal Member Charged with Assault with Intent to Kill

A 42-year-old Miccosukee tribal member has been charged in federal court with assault with intent to commit murder after allegedly shooting a victim in the abdomen.

According to the allegations in the complaint affidavit, Sutanga Rex Cypress, 42, was arguing with the victim when Cypress brandished a firearm and shot the victim on April 26. The victim was airlifted to the hospital due to the severity of the injuries sustained by the gunshot.

Cypress made his initial appearance in Fort Lauderdale on April 29. If convicted, Cypress faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other mitigating, aggravating and statutory factors.

The FBI Safe Trails, Miami and the Miccosukee Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Latoya Brown is prosecuting the case.

A complaint contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Chief Roland Pandolfi of the Miccosukee Police Department made the announcement.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-mj-6204.