Facebook Death Threats Against Pasco Deputies Answered With Warrant Sweep

HOLIDAY, FL — A Facebook post threatening death to Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and his deputies sparked a Wednesday warrant sweep in the Holiday area that resulted in the arrest of four people. One of those arrested is the 15-year-old boy accused of making the threats.

According to the sheriff’s office, its deputies conducted the Jan. 11 sweep after the threat surfaced on Facebook. The teen accused of making the threats, Stephen Sanchez, “has been adjudicated as an adult and is a documented gang member,” an arrest report stated.

Sanchez was arrested at his Holiday home on Wednesday on an outstanding warrant for armed burglary. He was also charged with written threats to kill or do bodily harm due to him “making specific threats of death to Sheriff Nocco and his deputies.”

The sheriff’s office has not released the specific wording of the threat that prompted the sweep.

Sanchez is a member of the Hot Boyz Squad, according to the sheriff’s office. The agency also targeted other alleged members of the gang and associates of gang members during its Wednesday warrant sweep. The Tarpon Springs Police Department provided support during the operation, the sheriff’s office noted in a Thursday morning email to media.

Deputies also say they arrested Johnny Mendez Jr., 20, during the sweep on possession of marijuana charges. One other teenager, Jeffrey Barrett, 16, was also charged as an adult on an outstanding armed residential burglary warrant. The other person arrested is a 17-year-old boy who was charged with possession of a legacy drug. He was not charged as an adult. As a result, Patch is not releasing his name.

Barrett, Mendez and the 17-year-old are all associates of Hot Boyz Squad members, the sheriff's office clarified Thursday afternoon. Stephen Sanchez and Jeffrey Barrett are also both students at the Schwettman Education Center, according to their arrest reports.

Hot Boyz Squad members are organized, the sheriff's office said, and have been connected to such crimes as residential burglary sprees involving stolen weapons and car hopping auto burglaries, sheriff's office spokeswoman Amy Marinec said.

The investigation continues with no further information being released at this time.

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