Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer, Double Homicide and Armed Robbery, Florida 2024

Fort Myers, Florida – In a shocking turn of events, a Wisconsin man has been sentenced to consecutive life sentences in federal prison for his role in a heinous double homicide and armed robbery that left two individuals dead in Estero, Florida in 2018.

Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer, 27, was found guilty by a jury on March 8, 2024 for conspiracy to commit robbery, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering with commerce, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country, and a violation of the Neutrality Act.

According to testimony presented at trial, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville, Florida to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist.

Zwiefelhofer, who had previously fought in Ukraine in 2017 after going AWOL from the U.S. Army, pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund his travel to Venezuela.

Zwiefelhofer’s co-defendant, Craig Lang, is pending trial.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the sentence, stating that Zwiefelhofer has also been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,886 to the family members of the victims of the offenses.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Michael V. Leeman.

“There’s no question that Zwiefelhofer belongs behind bars, and his life sentence guarantees that will happen. When it comes to tackling the violent crime threat, our model is to work together with our state and local law enforcement partners to maximize impact and this case highlights those efforts with the Lee County Sheriff's Office,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor, FBI Tampa Division.

Zwiefelhofer will serve his consecutive life sentences in federal prison, bringing closure to the family members of the victims and ensuring that he will not pose a threat to the community again.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/wisconsin-man-sentenced-consecutive-life-sentences-2018-double-homicide-and-armed