State Attorney, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit

🎙️ We're excited to introduce 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺’𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦! In our very first episode, we're sitting down with State Attorney R.J. Larizza to talk about his career, the work happening behind the scenes at the office and what it takes to serve Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit. Get to know the boss and join us as we kick off a new way to share the stories, people and work that make justice a reality. Listen on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts! 🎙️: rss.com/podcasts/making-just… You can also watch the full episode on YouTube. 🎥: youtube.com/@MakingJusticeaR…

𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐍𝐀𝐌 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐃𝐑𝐔𝐆 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐏 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 During a hearing on Wednesday, defendant Timothy Wiggins Jr. was sentenced to 22 years in prison. He entered no contest pleas last month to seven felony counts in three different drug cases. • Trafficking in Methamphetamine (two counts) • Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine • Possession of Cocaine • Unlawful Use of a Two-way Communication Device • Keep Public Nuisance Structure, Vehicle for Drug Activity (two counts) These charges stemmed from a multi-month wiretap investigation that involved monitoring of multiple telephone lines used by drug traffickers in Putnam County. Detectives learned that Wiggins Jr. was a leader of the drug trafficking organization that distributed trafficking amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and other drugs throughout the community on a weekly basis. He was responsible for purchasing and distributing large amounts of product. At the conclusion of the wiretap investigation, multiple search warrants were executed on the same day, which resulted in several arrests. It ultimately led to the seizure of approximately $62,403 worth of drugs, including 2,687.5 grams of methamphetamine, 709 grams of cocaine, 2,004 grams of substituted cathinones, 1,438 grams of marijuana, 34.5 grams of fentanyl and other substances. Detectives and special agents also seized $101,156 in cash, along with several firearms and vehicles belonging to the organization and its associates. “𝘼𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙯𝙞𝙥 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩.” @PutnamCountySO, the @fdlepio Tri-County Narcotics Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and @FlaglerSheriff participated in this joint wiretap investigation into the drug trafficking organization. Managing Assistant State Attorney Mark Lewis successfully prosecuted the case for the State of Florida. The Honorable Alicia Washington heard the case and imposed sentence.

A day on the course for a cause that means so much to our St. Johns County community ⛳🩵 State Attorney R.J. Larizza and members of his executive team took part in this year's Tristyn Bailey Foundation Golf Tournament. We're proud to support the foundation and the important work it continues to do in Tristyn's honor!

Congratulations to Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark on receiving a Unit Citation award from the @FlaglerSheriff's Office! Clark, who serves in our Criminal Career Unit in our Bunnell office, was recognized alongside law enforcement and public safety partners for her role in Operation Offenders: Endgame. The unprecedented multi-agency initiative resulted in 42 arrests and 168 felony charges related to sex offender registration violations. We are proud of Clark and grateful for the partnerships that help make our communities safer.

𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 of service deserves a special celebration 🎊 Congratulations to Clerical Specialist Holly Inglett on her retirement! Our staff celebrated Inglett on Thursday with a beautiful luncheon. State Attorney R.J. Larizza presented her with a plaque in recognition of her 40 years of hard work in our Daytona Beach office. We wish her all the best in retirement!

From Boo on the Avenue in Palatka to spooky treats in St. Augustine, the Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza wishes you and your family a happy Halloween 🎃🍭 Have a fun night trick-or-treating and stay safe out there!

𝐒𝐓. 𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐄 During a hearing on Wednesday, defendant Raphael Hampton entered no contest pleas to Sexual Battery minor 12 to 16 years by a person in familial or custodial authority, Aggravated Child Abuse, Promoting Sexual Performance of a Child, Soliciting a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct using Computer Services or Devices and Transmission of Material Harmful to Minors by Electronic Device. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by 10 years of sex offender probation. He was also designated a Sexual Predator. @TeamSJSO investigated the case. Assistant State Attorney Monica V. Smith successfully prosecuted the case for the State of Florida. The Honorable Christopher Ferebee heard the case and imposed sentence.

𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 After a three-day trial, a Volusia County jury found defendant Anthony Kaznakoff guilty as charged of two counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm. On June 20, 2025, Kaznakoff was drinking at a sports bar in Daytona Beach when he became belligerent and was escorted out. The defendant later returned to the bar’s entrance looking for a person he claimed had insulted him. After being asked to leave again, Kaznakoff walked away, then turned and fired 17 rounds from a handgun toward the entrance. Three people were shot and taken to the hospital for treatment. Kaznakoff drove away from the scene but was quickly identified by police. With help from his family, he ultimately turned himself in. “𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩’𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙜𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙣𝙤-𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧.” @DaytonaBchPD investigated the case. Assistant State Attorney Kevin Betancourt successfully tried the case for the State of Florida. The Honorable Elizabeth Blackburn heard the case and will impose sentence at a later date. The defendant faces up to life in prison for the convictions.

Another fun National Night Out in Volusia County 💙 Thanks, Ormond Beach, for having us!

𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐈𝐅𝐄 The Volusia County Grand Jury heard the case against Epifanio Gaminde this week. The defendant is accused of murdering his wife in late December 2023 and attempting to cover up her disappearance by making it appear she had moved overseas and was still alive. The indictment was handed down on Monday. The defendant was charged with First-Degree Murder. Detectives were executing a search warrant at Gaminde’s home Tuesday afternoon as Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood announced his arrest at a press conference. “𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said during the press conference. “𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙚’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙩.” The case was investigated by the @VolusiaSheriff with assistance from State Attorney Investigators, @FBIJacksonville and several international partners in Japan and the Philippines. Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak is the prosecutor assigned to the case.

𝐉𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐅𝐄 Defendant Jermaine Williams Sr. was sentenced to death during a hearing on Monday. In July, a Flagler County jury voted 11-1 in favor of the death penalty for Williams for the First-Degree Murder of his wife. On Aug. 2, 2024, Williams stabbed his wife in the street outside of their Bunnell home. The victim’s 14-year-old son witnessed the stabbing and tried to intervene. The defendant’s father, who lives nearby, happened upon the scene and held Williams at gunpoint until he stepped away from the victim. The victim was stabbed 19-20 times. She was taken to the hospital, where she died from her injuries. Surveillance video captured the defendant going inside the home and returning with an eight-inch chef’s knife before attacking the victim. After his arrest, Williams admitted he retrieved the knife from the kitchen and stabbed his wife multiple times. He told detectives a comment she made “pushed him over the edge.” “𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚 20 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 14-𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧-𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩’𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 - 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙜𝙪𝙣 - 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚.” Chief of Homicide Jason Lewis and Assistant State Attorney Helen Schwartz successfully argued for the death penalty for the state. The Honorable Dawn Nichols heard the case and imposed sentence.

𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐍𝐀𝐌 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐘 After a three-day trial and only 30 minutes of deliberation, a Putnam County jury found defendant Gilberto Del Castillo-Espana guilty as charged of Sexual Battery on person less than 12 years of age. Immediately following the verdict, he was sentenced to mandatory life in prison for the conviction. “𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙚 - 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙚,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said. “𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨.” @PutnamCountySO investigated the case. Assistant State Attorneys Deborah Rothenberg and Andy Rippeon successfully tried the case for the State of Florida. The Honorable Alicia Washington heard the case and imposed sentence.

Assistant State Attorney Amy Moore and Investigator Lily Efird attended Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia's Day of Unity Breakfast on Thursday. The Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza is proud to stand alongside community partners to raise awareness about domestic violence, support survivors and work together to make our communities safer throughout the 7th Circuit. #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth

After a two-day trial, St Johns County defendant John Snowden was found guilty as charged of Driving Under the Influence (Second Offense) and Prior Refusal to Submit to Testing. He was then sentenced to two years of probation, with the first 30 days to be served in jail. Snowden's prior convictions include DUI, Reckless Driving, Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Alcohol under the age of 21. @TeamSJSO investigated the case. Assistant State Attorneys Grecia Diaz and Jessica Flye successfully tried the case for the State of Florida. The Honorable Alexander Christine heard the case and imposed sentence.

The 7th Circuit is seeing pink! 💗 Our offices wore pink today to help raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A home run of a night! ⚾️ We loved connecting with our Daytona Beach community at National Night Out.