State Attorney, Palm Beach County

The official X account for the State Attorney's Office, Florida's 15th Judicial Circuit, serving Palm Beach County. Led by Alexcia Cox.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A felon who violently attacked a West Palm Beach police officer has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

On June 3, Brandon McCray pleaded guilty to six charges, including robbery with a weapon, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, and resisting an officer with violence.

The crimes occurred on March 8, 2024, outside a gas station convenience store. A West Palm Beach police officer approached McCray about the theft of cigarettes and liquor bottles. As the officer attempted to take him into custody, McCray became violent, repeatedly striking the officer and wrestling away the officer’s firearm before fleeing.

The court sentenced the defendant as a Prison Release Reoffender because he committed the violent felonies within three years of his release from a state prison sentence.

This case was investigated by the @WestPalmPD and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Jocelyn Watkins of our 10-20-Life Robbery Unit.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A jury has returned a guilty verdict for a man who shot at five Taco Bell employees, wounding two of them, while the restaurant was serving customers, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

On May 28, Chevarus Stewart was convicted of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm (premeditated), four counts of attempted second-degree murder, and armed burglary. Stewart also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Sentencing is set for June 22.

The evidence showed the defendant entered the restaurant shortly before 6 p.m. on February 21, 2022, went behind the counter and opened fire at an employee who was in a relationship with the defendant’s then-girlfriend. Four other employees were in harm’s way, including two who were struck by bullets from behind.

Assistant State Attorneys David Gorlicki and Samir Margetic prosecuted the case. Our office thanks the @WestPalmPD for its thorough investigation.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A Palm Beach County jury found Christopher Soto guilty of one count of Second-Degree Murder and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence.

Following a 5-day trial, Soto was convicted on all charges. Evidence presented during the trial showed that on June 23, 2023, Soto fatally stabbed the victim and then attempted to conceal the crime by discarding the victim’s body and other evidence.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2026.

Assistant State Attorneys Alexa Ruggiero and Jo Wilensky prosecuted the case.

The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office thanks the detectives with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for their thorough investigation and dedication to this case.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

This Memorial Day, the Office of State Attorney Alexcia Cox remembers and honors the courageous men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation.

Their bravery and selflessness will never be forgotten, and we remain grateful for the freedoms their service helped protect. Today, we pause to reflect on their legacy and honor those who gave everything for our country.

Our offices are closed in observance of the holiday and will reopen Tuesday morning.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A man who repeatedly sexually battered a 14-year-old relative was sentenced today to life in prison, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

On April 23, a jury convicted Endri Caraballo Salas on two counts of sexual battery with a child and three counts of lewd or lascivious molestation. Evidence showed the crimes took place from December 2023 through October 2024.

The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Christopher Morgan and Nicole Corring of our Special Victims Unit.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A jury on April 30 found a man guilty in a hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a pedestrian, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

After a four-day trial, Germain Cadet was convicted of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony.

Evidence showed Cadet was behind the wheel of a van that struck a 23-year-old pedestrian at about 4:45 a.m. on July 8, 2023, in the 2900 block of 45th Street. He continued driving, but investigators located both Cadet and the van hours later.

The case was investigated by the @WestPalmPD and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Francine Edwards and Brooke Soloway of our Traffic Homicide Unit.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 6.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces an arrest in the tragic crash that claimed the lives of three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies on November 21, 2024.

Corrinne Blue is charged with three counts of vehicular homicide in the deaths of Corporal Luis Paez Jr., Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, and Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller.

According to an investigation by Florida Highway Patrol, Blue was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee in an unsafe manner and well above the posted 55 mph speed limit before striking the deputies, who were stopped along State Road 80 with their motorcycles, a half-mile west of Lion Country Safari Road.

State Attorney Cox said, “These charges follow a thorough review of the evidence and mark an important step in the pursuit of justice for the families of Corporal Paez, Deputy Diaz, and Deputy Waller. These deputies were serving this community when their lives were tragically taken by a reckless driver.”

Dave Kerner, Executive Director of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said, “We are thankful for the decision of State Attorney Alexcia Cox and her office in seeking and obtaining this felony warrant for arrest. We now turn our attention to the judicial process, where a jury of the Defendant’s peers will decide the ultimate outcome.”

“Regardless of the ultimate outcome, we remember Corporal Luis Paez, Deputy Sheriff Ralph “Butch” Waller, and Deputy Sheriff Ignacio “Dan” Diaz as heroes of our community. We recognize the pain and loss their families, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the community at large have experienced,” Kerner said.

This case will be prosecuted by the Traffic Homicide Unit of the State Attorney’s Office.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A jury on April 23 found Irijah Nembhard guilty in the fatal shooting of a man during a robbery, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announced.

After a five-day trial, jurors convicted Nembhard of first-degree murder with a firearm, robbery with a firearm, and felon in possession of a firearm. The court immediately sentenced him to life in prison.

On March 15, 2022, Nembhard and his accomplices conspired to rob the 20-year-old victim by luring him into the defendant’s vehicle, parked outside the victim’s Greenacres apartment. While sitting inside the car, the victim was shot and killed.

The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Crystal Ganpath-Freed and Courtney Behar of our Homicide Unit.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A Palm Beach County jury on April 23 returned a guilty verdict for Endri Caraballo Salas on two counts of sexual battery with a child and three counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

After a four-day trial, Caraballo Salas was convicted of all charges. Evidence showed the defendant repeatedly sexually battered a 14-year-old relative over a period spanning December 2023 through October 2024.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 14.

The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Christopher Morgan and Nicole Corring of our Special Victims Unit.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A jury on Thursday convicted a former Riviera Beach Police officer who was driving at extreme speeds when he crashed his patrol car and killed two people in the city, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

After a four-day trial, Carl Johnson was found guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide in a crash that occurred at about 1 a.m. on June 18, 2023.

Evidence showed the defendant’s marked Dodge Charger was traveling 94 mph — nearly three times the posted speed limit of 35 mph, and without its lights and siren activated — before colliding with the victims’ car at the intersection of Australian Avenue and West 13th Street. The 43-year-old driver and 29-year-old front-seat passenger died from injuries sustained in the crash.

The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Francine Edwards and Brooke Soloway of our Traffic Homicide Unit.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 7.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A judge today sentenced Semmie Lee Williams Jr. to 35 years in prison for the horrific murder of 14-year-old Ryan Rogers, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

On January 23, a jury found Williams guilty of second-degree murder with a weapon. The evidence at trial showed that Williams randomly attacked the teen as he rode his bike on November 15, 2021.

Williams, who had no connection to the community and had traveled from another county, stabbed Ryan repeatedly. The child victim was less than two miles from his Palm Beach Gardens home.

In her recommendation for a life sentence, Assistant State Attorney Jo Wilensky described the devastating impact of the murder.

“Ryan Rogers was not even halfway through his freshman year of high school when his life was stolen by this Defendant,” Wilensky wrote. “He will never graduate from high school, go to college or get married. His family must live every single day not only with his death but knowing of the violence, pain and suffering he endured in his final moments.”

State Attorney Cox said, “While the sentence delivers a measure of justice, no number of years can restore what was taken from Ryan’s family and our community — the life of a child full of promise.”

The State Attorney’s Office thanks the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s detectives who investigated this case.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A felon who slipped into hotel rooms while guests were sleeping was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

On March 25, a jury found Damian Heaven guilty of two counts of burglary of a dwelling, petit theft and trespass. The evidence showed that the defendant used a master key card to access rooms at a Palm Beach Gardens hotel in the early morning hours of September 15, 2024.

The court sentenced the defendant as a Prison Release Reoffender, based on a finding that the burglary was committed within three years of his release from a state prison sentence.

This case was investigated by the @PBGPD (Palm Beach Gardens Police Department) and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Melanie Ouma and Samir Margetic.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A Palm Beach County jury has convicted a woman of human trafficking in a disturbing case involving the sexual exploitation of a victim, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

The defendant, Geisy Rodriguez Brito, was found guilty after evidence showed she manipulated, intimidated, and restricted the 27-year-old victim’s freedom for the defendant’s own financial benefit.

“This verdict sends a clear message that human trafficking will not be tolerated in our community,” State Attorney Cox said. “Our office will continue to stand with survivors and seek to hold offenders fully accountable.”

Evidence presented at trial last week established that Rodriguez Brito assisted in transporting the victim from Cuba to the United States in October 2022. Once in Palm Beach County, the defendant directed the victim to work in strip clubs.

Rodriguez Brito also confiscated the victim’s Cuban passport along with other important documents, effectively limiting her ability to leave. The victim testified that she was pressured into continuing to engage in commercial sexual activity.

Further evidence revealed the extent of the defendant’s efforts to maintain control, including attempting to track the victim’s movements by sewing a tracking device into her clothing.

The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Victoria Thacker and Amanda McCabe.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 14.

Human trafficking — a form of modern-day slavery — affects an estimated 25 million people worldwide, including victims in our own community. The State Attorney’s Office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting offenders, supporting survivors, and fighting to protect individuals from exploitation of any kind.

Anyone with information about suspected human trafficking is urged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A jury found Patrick Sanders guilty of armed fentanyl trafficking on February 25. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

The evidence showed that the defendant was arrested on February 29, 2024, in suburban West Palm Beach. He had been carrying a bag of more than 120 white powder-filled capsules that tested positive for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin. He was also unlawfully in possession of a fully loaded firearm.

This case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff's Narcotics Division and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kyley Brown and Diva Casas of our Gangs, Guns and Drug Trafficking Unit.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces that a grand jury has indicted Tramonte Terrell Gibson on two counts of First-Degree Murder with a Firearm, three counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder with a Firearm, and one count of Carjacking with a Firearm in connection with a shooting spree that occurred on March 16th in the City of Riviera Beach.

“Acts of violence that take innocent lives and terrorize members of our community will be met with swift and decisive action by our office. Today’s indictment is a critical step forward as we work to ensure accountability and seek justice for the victims and their families,” State Attorney Cox said.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A jury on Wednesday found a man guilty of fatally shooting his ex-wife and her new husband, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

After a four-day trial, Sony Josaphat was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm.

The shootings occurred on December 9, 2023, outside the victims’ home in suburban West Palm Beach.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 10.

This case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Mathri Thannikkotu and Alissa Loewenstein.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A defendant in a Lake Worth Beach homicide pleaded guilty on March 17 to second-degree murder with a firearm, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces.

On November 30, 2023, Fredrick L. Williams shot a 25-year-old acquaintance during a confrontation inside a parked vehicle.

The court imposed a 45-year sentence.

The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Alexa Ruggiero.

[State Attorney, Palm Beach County @StateAttorney15]

A Palm Beach County jury on Wednesday found two men guilty in a deadly shooting that occurred two years ago in Lake Park, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announced.

Le’Darius Flowers and Kedon Davis were each convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm following a nine-day trial. Both were subsequently sentenced to life in prison.

The 23-year-old victim was shot multiple times on February 1, 2024, while walking in his neighborhood.

The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Marci Rex and Natalia Savchyk.