TAMPA, FL – Phillip Michael Valeriani, 42, of Plant City, Florida, is staring down the barrel of a potential 75-year federal prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of possessing cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute, possessing a machinegun, a silencer, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the conviction today, with sentencing scheduled for December 10, 2025.
The case, a multi-agency takedown, revealed a sophisticated operation. Valeriani attempted to skirt the law by ordering 63 Glock Switch components from China, cleverly concealed within a toy car box. The shipment was intercepted at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, but not before Valeriani had already built a stockpile at his Plant City residence. A subsequent raid uncovered not only a fully assembled machinegun and silencer, but also a rifle, dozens of additional firearm components, and significant quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana – enough to indicate a robust distribution network.
Evidence presented at trial painted a picture of Valeriani as a prolific drug trafficker. Investigators uncovered a February 2024 robbery at his Plant City home, where thieves made off with distribution amounts of marijuana, $4,000 in cash, and firearms. Barely two months later, on May 12, 2024, Valeriani attempted to fly into Tampa International Airport from Medford, Oregon, with a staggering 64 pounds of marijuana packed into three suitcases. He wasn’t successful in evading detection. Authorities had already seized 112 grams of cocaine during a prior traffic stop, for which Valeriani took responsibility.
Adding a layer of brazenness to the case, investigators also found FBI and DEA raid jackets inside Valeriani’s home – a mocking display of disrespect for the very agencies attempting to bring him down. The sheer volume of weapons and drugs seized suggests a well-funded and organized criminal enterprise operating right under the radar in Plant City. The operation wasn’t a solo act; the collaborative investigation points to a wider network yet to be fully unraveled.
The investigation was a coordinated effort between 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. Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Adam W. McCall are prosecuting the case, determined to secure the maximum penalty for Valeriani’s crimes.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, focusing on fostering community trust, supporting local violence prevention organizations, prioritizing enforcement efforts, and meticulously measuring results. Valeriani’s conviction serves as a stark reminder that federal agencies are actively working to dismantle these dangerous operations and restore safety to our communities.”
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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