Tampa, FL – Two Jacksonville residents have been indicted for their involvement in a string of armed robberies and attempted robberies across the Middle District of Florida. Nathaniel Cox, 34, and Ahli Fields, 33, face serious charges that could lead to life sentences in federal prison if convicted on all counts.
The indictment alleges that on June 9, 2020, Cox and Fields conspired to rob a grocery store in Ormond Beach, during which they wielded a firearm. Cox is accused of committing two additional armed robberies and three attempted robberies in the following months, each time brandishing a firearm. Furthermore, Cox, a convicted felon, is charged with possessing ammunition in September 2020, violating federal law that prohibits felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Cox, with a prior conviction for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in 2015, faces a mandatory minimum of 75 years in prison. Fields faces a minimum of 7 years.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime. The operation leverages resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood to enhance community safety.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and various local police departments. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
It is important to note that an indictment is a formal accusation and does not imply guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
