Bradenton Man Sentenced To 3 Life Terms In Prison

TAMPA, FL — A 26-year-old Bradenton man was sentenced to three life terms in prison Wednesday after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking and other offenses.

Jordan Rodriguez’s co-defendants — 32-year-old Alfonzo Churchwell and 25-year-old Andrew Thompson, also of Bradenton — were also sentenced last month by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to life in prison.

All three men were found guilty by a federal jury on Nov. 5 following a three-and-a-half-week jury trial.

"According to evidence presented during the trial, the defendants were engaged in a violent and deadly rivalry with others in Oneco, a community in Bradenton," federal prosecutors said. "The men worked together to traffic in controlled substances and to control and protect their drug business with violence and murder."

Prosecutors said Rodriguez, Churchwell and Thompson were responsible for at least four murders.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the murdered victims,” U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez said. “We are deeply committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations.”

The racketeering enterprise maintained a s0-called “trap house” that was used to distribute heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and other drugs, according to prosecutors.

“The announcement of these sentences means that these individuals will no longer be able to hurt, harm or intimidate this community,” Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives added.

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells praised the U.S. attorney's office for bringing the case.

"We appreciate the hard work of the United States Attorney’s Office for bringing this case to a successful conclusion," he said.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office.

It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natalie Hirt Adams and Christopher F. Murray.