The former US Attorney for the Middle District of Florida has been removed from his position by the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
Earlier today, the DOJ released an official statement announcing that Roger B. Handberg has been replaced by U.S. Attorney First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney, who will serve as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
In December 2021, Handberg was appointed by order of former Attorney General, Merrick Garland, and he was reappointed by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court in April 2022. President Joe Biden nominated U.S. Attorney Handberg for the position in September 2022, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate in December 2022.
According to the DOJ, Handberg’s office increased its number of criminal cases by more than 60% over the past three fiscal years. That includes increases in each of the five offices:
- Ocala 124% increase
- Orlando 90% increase
- Jacksonville 87% increase
- Fort Myers 51% increase
- Tampa 35% increase
These increases have been in every type of prosecution:
- Violent crime 77% increase
- Child exploitation 70% increase
- Immigration 69% increase
- White collar 53% increase
- Drug trafficking 33% increase
“During my more than three years as Untied States Attorney, I made it a priority to engage with the community, to hear directly from the people that my office served to learn about their priorities and what is important to them, and to let them know about the great work that is being done by law enforcement,”Handberg said. “As part of those efforts, I made more than 100 speeches and presentations to local organizations, bar associations, and chambers of commerce, and at other gatherings and press conferences. From my many conversations with members of the community and law enforcement leaders, I tried to focus the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the matters of most pressing concern.”
Over the past three fiscal years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged more than 750 defendants with firearms violations, with more than 300 of those defendants being charged in the 2024 fiscal year. That is the largest number of firearms violations ever charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a single year. The following are some of the significant violent crime and firearms cases that were prosecuted during U.S. Attorney Handberg’s tenure:
- Seven defendants charged with offenses stemming from 4 years of dealing in drugs and an armed robbery spree that culminated in a double homicide
- More than 50 defendants prosecuted as part of the Polk County Violent Crime Task Force established by Sheriff Grady Judd after a shooting in Lakeland
- Three defendants indicted for the contract killing of a 17-year-old Hernando County high school student to prevent her testimony in court
- Two defendants charged with committing a drive-by shooting on I-95, brought in connection with a largescale drug trafficking and firearms trafficking investigation
- Firearms trafficker sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for trying to send firearms to Mexican drug cartel members
- Defendant sentenced to consecutive life sentences for double homicide and armed robbery of a Florida couple
- 160 firearms and violent crime cases prosecuted with the Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in 2022
“As someone who was born and raised in this District, I can think of no higher honor than getting the chance, first, to serve as a federal prosecutor in this office and, then, as the United States Attorney,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “During my more than two decades with the office, I have worked with incredible public servants at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Through our work with the excellent local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who serve this District and our country, we have prosecuted and litigated cases that have served to protect the public, to reduce crime, to do justice for victims and the community, and to hold accountable those who have violated the law. I am grateful for my colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and for our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment and for everything that they do, day in and day out, to keep everyone in the Middle District of Florida and the United States safe. It has been a privilege to have served as a federal prosecutor in my hometown and to have worked side-by-side with my law enforcement partners for the past 22 years.”
