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From Florida to Venezuela: How a Double Homicide Secured a Foreign Fighter’s Deadly Ambition

Lang, motivated by foreign fighting, was convicted of murdering a couple during a robbery; faces life in prison.

byEditorial Staff

September 16, 2025, 6:51 PM

A close-up of a person's hands in handcuffs, wearing an orange jumpsuit

The cuffed hands of an individual wearing a bright orange uniform, representing arrest or conviction. By MDL.

Executive Summary

A federal jury in Fort Myers, Florida, convicted Craig Austin Lang of murder during an armed robbery that resulted in the deaths of a Florida couple in April 2018.

Lang committed the robbery to steal $3,000 to fund his travel to Venezuela, where he intended to fight the government.

Lang faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 27, 2026, while his co-defendant, Alex Zwiefelhofer, has already received consecutive life sentences for the same crimes.

Laws and Precedent

Craig Austin Lang’s conviction on multiple federal charges, including murder during an armed robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence which resulted in death, underscores the severe penalties for violent offenses under U.S. law. His additional conviction for a violation of the Neutrality Act highlights a specific federal statute prohibiting U.S. citizens from waging war against any country with which the U.S. is at peace, directly addressing his motive to fight in Venezuela. These federal statutes carry a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, reflecting the gravity of the crimes.

A federal jury in Fort Myers, Florida, has convicted Craig Austin Lang, 35, of Kyiv, Ukraine, on multiple charges including murder during an armed robbery that led to the deaths of a Florida couple in April 2018. Lang committed the robbery to fund his travel to Venezuela, where he intended to fight the government. He now faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

Trial Verdict and Charges

United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced that the jury found Lang guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and robbery interfering with commerce. Additional convictions include discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country, and a violation of the Neutrality Act. Lang was indicted on December 4, 2019, and his sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 27, 2026.

Details of the Double Homicide

According to testimony presented during the trial, on April 10, 2018, S.L., Jr. and D.L. were discovered deceased in Estero, Florida. Both victims had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Investigators determined the couple had traveled from Brooksville to Estero to purchase firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on the website Armslist.

Lang was identified as one of two individuals believed to have murdered the couple during an armed robbery. The motive for the robbery was to steal $3,000 the couple intended to use for the firearm purchase.

Motive for the Crime

Evidence presented at trial revealed Lang’s intent to use the stolen funds to finance his travel to Venezuela. Lang, who had previously engaged in fighting in Ukraine, planned to join efforts to fight against the Venezuelan government. This aspiration drove his decision to commit the armed robbery and murders.

Co-defendant and Investigation

Lang’s co-defendant, Alex Zwiefelhofer, was previously convicted of the same offenses in this case. Zwiefelhofer has since been sentenced to consecutive life sentences for his role in the crimes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office jointly conducted the investigation into the double homicide and robbery.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Benjamin S. Winter are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

Looking Ahead

Lang’s sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2026, where he will learn his fate for the violent robbery and murders driven by his intent to become a foreign fighter. The verdict underscores the severe legal consequences for individuals who commit violent crimes to fund international conflicts.