Welcome to Arrest Stories. A forty-year-old man who allegedly led a notorious gang's Florida operations has been convicted on serious racketeering charges after a multi-year investigation that uncovered millions in drugs and thousands of criminal communications. Here's what may have happened.
In Polk County, Florida, Hernando Cortez Thompson Junior was convicted on January eighth, twenty twenty-six of directing criminal gang activity, racketeering, and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity. Thompson allegedly served as the Florida leader of the Sex Money Murder gang.
The investigation began in March twenty twenty-one when detectives received information from other investigations that led them to what they described as an extensive criminal network associated with the gang. Law enforcement conducted a comprehensive wiretap operation, reviewing more than four thousand seven hundred eighty-seven communications that discussed criminal conduct.
During the investigation, officers served six search warrants and confiscated approximately one point five million dollars worth of drugs. Thompson had more than a decade of interactions with Florida law enforcement prior to his arrest.
In April twenty twenty-two, authorities announced that forty-one members of the Sex Money Murder gang had been arrested. However, Thompson remained at large until June twenty twenty-four, when Polk County deputies located and arrested him on the outstanding warrant.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the conviction on January twelfth, twenty twenty-six, stating, "If you want to engage in dangerous, violent gang-related activity, don't do it in Florida. We are going to take you down. Most importantly, do not do it in Polk County."
Officials emphasized the collaborative nature of the investigation. One law enforcement official stated, "Our goal was to take down the Sex Money Murder hierarchy and that's what we all did together with the state prosecutors, FDLE, the sheriff's office who worked together on this wiretap."
The case represents a significant victory against organized criminal activity in Florida, with Thompson's conviction marking the culmination of years of investigative work targeting the gang's leadership structure.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.