Tampa Woman Pleads Guilty In Conspiracy To Rob Suspected Drug Dealers

TAMPA, FL — A 28-year-old Tampa woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to impersonating a police officer and conspiring to rob suspected drug dealers.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg said Jasmine Weber faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, between December 2020 and April 2021, Weber was part of a group of six people who committed a number of armed robberies of suspected drug dealers in Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, and Lee counties, three of which resulted in shootings.

While committing these armed robberies, the Department of Justice said the conspirators impersonated law enforcement officers, wearing black clothing, gloves and masks, often with law enforcement insignias or vests with a “sheriff” patch affixed. During some robberies, the conspirators drove a black Dodge Durango and a white Chevrolet Malibu equipped with blue lights.

According to court records, Weber purchased equipment, including sheriff’s vests, patches, lights, and other items, to commit the armed robberies.

Members of this conspiracy also provided Weber with identifying information on their potential victims, said court records. Weber worked as a claims adjuster for an insurance company and had access to a Lexis Nexis account. Using that database, intentions, Weber researched the intended victims and obtained their home addresses.

The other people accused of taking part in the conspiracy include Reginald Roberts, 22, of Lakeland; Nathaniel Keith Carr, 28, of Riverdale; Daniel Jackson, 29, of Winter Haven; Chrishawn De’Earl Butler, 22, of Brooksville; and Darius Hudson, 43, of Arcadia. All five were indicted on April 26 and are currently awaiting trial.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Bartow Police Department, the Lakeland Police Department, the Dade City Police Department, the Cape Coral Police Department, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the Arcadia Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol.