Dover Man Accused Of Shooting At ATF Agents, Police Pleads Guilty

LAKELAND, FL — A 28-year-old Dover man who was arrested after fleeing law enforcement on Interstate 4 in January 2022 during which he was accused of firing a gun at ATF agents and Lakeland police has entered a guilty plea on several felony counts.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced Wednesday that Francisco Cabrera pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, armed carjacking and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Cabrera faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 28 years up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, between Jan. 13 and 17, 2022, Cabrera engaged in a crime spree during which he robbed two stores and a gas station in Plant City and Brandon. During these robberies, Cabrera held victims at gunpoint. At times, Cabrera removed the magazine from his pistol and showed bullets to the victims and stated, “This is for real” or “Give me the money or I will shoot you.”

On Jan. 19, 2022, Cabrera returned to the gas station he had robbed, approached a person sitting inside a truck and carjacked him at gunpoint, according to the plea agreement. As Cabrera was escaping in the truck, he pulled a gun on several other people who tried to stop and help the victim.

Hours later, detectives from the Lakeland Police Department and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agents found Cabrera in Plant City.

Law enforcement activated their lights and sirens and began pursuing him in their vehicles. According to the affidavit, Cabrera fled through Plant City, eventually entering the eastbound on-ramp of Interstate 4 heading toward Lakeland. At that point, law enforcement said he stuck the gun out of the driver's side window and fired multiple times at police and ATF agents.

Once on Interstate 4, Cabrera traveled at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, weaving in and out of busy midday traffic.

At one point, Cabrera lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a concrete median, nearly causing a collision with oncoming traffic. As he continued to flee, Cabrera continued to fire shots at law enforcement officers, striking their vehicles.

Fearing that Cabrera was going to kill someone and after determining that no other law enforcement officers or civilians were in danger, an ATF special agent fired at Cabrera, striking him twice in his lower back.

Lakeland police and ATF agents then surrounded Cabrera, providing him with first aid before taking him to the hospital.