Jari McMiller, a member of the Lake Boyz criminal street gang, has been convicted of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (R.I.C.O.) Conspiracy. The jury returned the
guilty verdict just after 8 p.m. Thursday evening, following a two-week trial in Lee County.
The defendant was adjudicated guilty by the Honorable Judge Bruce Kyle following the verdict. Sentencing is currently scheduled for July 17, 2023.
Specially Appointed Assistant State Attorney Bob Lee, Assistant State Attorney Leena Marcos, and Assistant State Attorney J.D. Miller, State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) Chief, prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of a joint task force created by State Attorney Amira Fox that involves a law enforcement partnership comprised of members of the State Attorney’s Office, FBI, Fort Myers Police Department, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The Lake Boyz gang activities were primarily investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department.
The evidence in this case established that McMiller is one in a group of individuals known as the Lake Boyz, a gang based primarily in Fort Myers. The charge of Racketeering (R.I.C.O) Conspiracy, acknowledges the intention to commit crimes through the group association. Multiple crimes were committed by gang members in different roles, including the sale and distribution of drugs, burglary, auto theft, and homicide.
During the course of this trial, McMiller was implicated as being part of the 2012 Pin Street bowling alley robbery with other gang members, involving a car chase and shoot out with civilian victims. His fingerprint was found in the area of the car that the shots were fired from. The defendant was also identified during trial, by a previously convicted defendant with the robbery, as being involved.
McMiller is the final gang member to be prosecuted following the arrest of 23 gang members in 2017.
“The criminal actions propagated by these dangerous gang members had to be stopped. I am extremely proud of the determination and focus on these RICO Conspiracy cases, to bring these individuals to justice. I want to especially thank the many members of the Fort Myers Police Department who worked to gather the evidence needed to help reach successful prosecutions, as well as the FBI and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office,” said State Attorney Fox.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office