Florida Con Man Gets 39 Years for Impersonating Cops in Armed Robberies

Tampa, Florida – In a brazen scheme that left victims battered and traumatized, a group of Floridians, led by Darius Hudson, impersonated police officers to commit a string of armed robberies. Hudson, 44, of Arcadia, was sentenced to 39 years and 2 months in federal prison for his role in the crimes, which took place between December 2020 and April 2021.

According to evidence presented during the trial, Hudson and his co-conspirators, who included Reginald Roberts, Jr., Nathaniel Keith Carr, Daniel Jackson, Chrishawn Butler, Jeremy Bernard Hazelton, O’Marie Danyell Hudson, Jasmine Weber, and Elyana Bazail, targeted homes in Pasco, Polk, Lee, and Hillsborough counties, as well as in Georgia and Arizona. The group, dressed in black clothing and masks with law enforcement insignia, would knock on doors in the middle of the night, claiming to be police officers.

Once inside, they would pistol whip and threaten their victims, often leaving them with severe injuries. In several instances, the group would shoot their victims, leaving families shattered and traumatized. Hudson’s role in the crimes was particularly egregious, as he was identified as the individual who brought a white backpack to his robberies, which he used to store zip ties that he would later use on his victims.

The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies, uncovered a complex web of deceit and violence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes, who worked tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The sentencing marks the culmination of a long and arduous process. Hudson’s co-conspirators received the following sentences: Reginald Roberts, Jr., 41 years; Nathaniel Keith Carr, 26 years, 6 months; Daniel Jackson, 22 years, 11 months; Chrishawn Butler, 20 years, 6 months; Jeremy Bernard Hazelton, 15 years, 8 months; O’Marie Danyell Hudson, 11 years, 3 months; Jasmine Weber, 5 years; and Elyana Bazail, 5 years.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The program seeks to foster trust and legitimacy in communities, support community-based organizations that prevent violence, set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measure the results.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Justice commended the efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in bringing the perpetrators to justice. “This case is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violent crime and the importance of our efforts to reduce it,” the department said.