TAMPA, FL – Phillip Michael Valeriani, 42, of Plant City, is staring down the barrel of a 75-year federal prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of possessing cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute. The verdict follows a prior adjudication of guilt for possessing a machinegun, a silencer, and firearms as a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the conviction, with sentencing scheduled for December 10, 2025.
The case unraveled a sophisticated operation where Valeriani attempted to skirt the law by importing 63 Glock Switch components from China. These components, capable of turning ordinary handguns into fully automatic weapons, were cunningly concealed within a toy car box and intercepted at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. A subsequent raid of Valeriani’s Plant City residence turned up a fully assembled machinegun, a silencer, a rifle, and a disturbing cache of firearms components. Authorities also discovered distribution quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana, alongside stolen FBI and DEA raid jackets – a blatant display of disrespect for law enforcement.
Testimony painted a picture of Valeriani as a prolific drug trafficker. In February 2024, he was the victim of a robbery at his residence, losing a substantial quantity of marijuana, $4,000 in cash, and several firearms. Undeterred, Valeriani doubled down on his criminal enterprise. Just months later, on May 12, 2024, he flew into Tampa International Airport from Medford, Oregon, with a staggering 64 pounds of marijuana crammed into three suitcases. A prior traffic stop also yielded 112 grams of cocaine, for which Valeriani took full responsibility.
Investigators from a multi-agency task force meticulously pieced together the evidence. Homeland Security Investigations, the Plant City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Tampa International Airport Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office all contributed to the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Adam W. McCall are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department’s violent crime reduction strategy, launched May 26, 2021, prioritizes building trust, supporting community organizations, strategic enforcement, and measurable results.
Valeriani’s brazen disregard for the law, importing illegal weapon components and flooding the streets with drugs, has earned him a likely future behind bars. The 75-year maximum sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and sends a clear message: those who endanger public safety will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing in December.
RELATED: Plant City Glock Switch Dealer Faces 75 Years
RELATED: Plant City Man Charged With Smuggling Machinegun Conversion Devices
Related Federal Cases
- Plant City Glock Switch Dealer Faces 75 Years · New York
- FDIC Appoints Five New Members to Advisory Committee on Community Banking · Mississippi
- 23andMe Faces Legal Fire for Genetic Data Sale · Washington
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- 23andMe Faces Lawsuit for Selling Genetic Data · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News