TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General Ashley Moody, Orange County Sheriff John Mina, and State Attorney Andrew Bain came together to announce criminal charges against Deandre Eugene Florence, a man suspected of killing a 15-year-old student in Orange County. The victim, Alejandro Vargas Martinez, was shot while walking to school in 2018. Former State Attorneys Monique Worrell and Aramis Ayala had previously refused to file charges in this case, leading the victim's family and local law enforcement to urge Attorney General Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution to intervene.
Attorney General Ashley Moody emphasized the importance of prosecuting criminals to protect the public. She stated, "Lax criminal justice policies have no place in our state, and that is why we are standing up for this victim and filing criminal charges. It is long overdue. We will continue working with our great law enforcement partners and State Attorney Bain to ensure justice for Alex Vargas."
Investigations revealed that Deandre Eugene Florence was part of a dangerous criminal enterprise involved in various illegal activities, including grand theft, commercial burglaries, murders, and armed robberies. The enterprise used stolen automobiles to target individuals and businesses in order to obtain valuable electronics, such as cell phones and computers, which they then sold for profit.
On the day of the incident, just before Christmas in 2018, Alejandro Vargas Martinez was targeted while walking to school and talking to his mother on the phone. The suspects attempted to steal Vargas' cellphone, and during the robbery, he was shot. Florence admitted to being present during the homicide and revealed that the motive for the murder was to rob Vargas of his cellphone.
Despite strong evidence and pleas from the victim's family for justice, former State Attorneys Monique Worrell and Aramis Ayala did not file charges in this case. In August, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended Worrell for neglecting her duty to prosecute crime in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. It was revealed that she dismissed or did not prosecute criminal cases against over 16,000 adult defendants in just one year, the highest rate among all prosecutors in Florida.
Deandre Eugene Florence now faces several criminal charges, including racketeering, first-degree murder, robbery, dealing in stolen property, and multiple counts of grand theft. Since the suspension of Monique Worrell, State Attorney Andrew Bain has been working on the case, collaborating with the Office of Statewide Prosecution. The case will be handled by Attorney General Moody's Statewide Prosecutor Richard Mantei.
This announcement marks a significant step towards justice for Alejandro Vargas Martinez and his grieving family. The filing of murder charges against Deandre Eugene Florence demonstrates a firm commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that criminals are held accountable for their actions.
For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/ag-moody-stands-victims-family-and-files-murder-charges-case-where-former-rogue