Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
Three federal inmates have pleaded guilty to charges of retaliating against a government witness following a violent assault that occurred inside the Seminole County Jail in December 2024. Jose Carbajal, Edward Camacho, and Jose Lugo each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for their roles in the attack, with sentencing dates yet to be determined.
Guilty Pleas and Charges
Jose Carbajal, 35, of Palm Springs, California; Edward Camacho, 21, of Winter Garden, Florida; and Jose Lugo, 41, of Kissimmee, Florida, admitted guilt to one count of retaliation against a government witness and one count of conspiracy to retaliate against a government witness. The charges stem from an incident where the inmates targeted a cooperating source, identified as Witness 1, who had provided information in a prior drug trafficking investigation.
Details of the Attack
According to court records, the assault took place on December 26, 2024, at the Seminole County Jail. Carbajal, who had recently been sentenced to 40 years for drug and money laundering conspiracies, found himself in the same housing unit as Witness 1 due to an accidental placement. Within minutes, Carbajal recruited Camacho and Lugo to assist him in retaliating against the witness.
The three inmates ambushed Witness 1 while he was seated with his back turned. They knocked him to the ground, then repeatedly punched, kicked, and stomped him. Carbajal also used a jail telephone as a weapon and shattered a broomstick over Witness 1’s head and back before detention deputies intervened to stop the attack, which lasted more than 90 seconds.
Background and Motive
Carbajal’s previous conviction in November 2024 involved shipping significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to a drug trafficking organization in the Middle District of Florida. Witness 1 was among several cooperating sources who provided crucial information during that investigation. Following the jail assault, all three defendants made incriminating phone calls from jail, which reportedly confirmed their motive and coordinated involvement in the attack.
At the time of the incident, Camacho was serving a federal prison sentence of four years and three months, and Lugo was serving a sentence of seven years and eight months for separate federal offenses.
This case underscores the serious consequences faced by individuals who attempt to obstruct justice or retaliate against those who cooperate with law enforcement, highlighting the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting witnesses.
