State Attorney, Palm Beach County

A defendant in a Lake Worth Beach homicide pleaded guilty on March 17 to second-degree murder with a firearm, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. On November 30, 2023, Fredrick L. Williams shot a 25-year-old acquaintance during a confrontation inside a parked vehicle. The court imposed a 45-year sentence. The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Alexa Ruggiero.

A Palm Beach County jury on Wednesday found two men guilty in a deadly shooting that occurred two years ago in Lake Park, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announced. Le’Darius Flowers and Kedon Davis were each convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm following a nine-day trial. Both were subsequently sentenced to life in prison. The 23-year-old victim was shot multiple times on February 1, 2024, while walking in his neighborhood. The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Marci Rex and Natalia Savchyk.

A jury on Thursday found Traquanne Mosley guilty in the fatal shooting of a man during a robbery, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announced. After a five-day trial, jurors convicted Traquanne Mosley of first-degree murder, robbery, and aggravated assault — each committed with a firearm. The court immediately sentenced him to life in prison. On May 29, 2020, Mosley and an accomplice approached two men in the 700 block of South H Street in Lake Worth Beach. Evidence at trial showed one victim, 34, was robbed at gunpoint of his wallet, while the other victim, 35, was shot and killed. The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Bethany Johnson and Lauren Gutierrez.

A Palm Beach County jury on Thursday found Brandon Frazier guilty in a deadly shooting inside a liquor store, announces State Attorney Alexcia Cox. After a four-day trial, jurors convicted Frazier of first-degree murder with a firearm and shooting into a building. The court imposed a life sentence. The 65-year-old victim was killed March 21, 2023, inside a liquor store in suburban Lake Worth. Frazier was an employee at the store; the victim was a customer. The case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Alexa Ruggiero and Francine Edwards.

A jury on Friday found a man guilty in a 2023 homicide case, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. Joshua McElhenney was convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm after the jury deliberated for about an hour. Following the verdict, the court sentenced McElhenney to life in prison. According to evidence presented at trial, the 23-year-old victim was shot to death on August 6, 2023, inside a sober home in the Town of Lake Park. McElhenney, who also lived at the residence, was arrested the following day at a hotel in Miami-Dade County. This case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Mathri Thannikkotu and Bethany Johnson.

A jury has found a man guilty of committing financial crimes against his 83-year-old neighbor at Century Village in suburban West Palm Beach, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. On January 29, Carlos C. Correa III was convicted of three counts of fraudulent use of personal identification, money laundering, and exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult. The evidence showed Correa used the victim’s checking account and credit cards without permission on various occasions in 2023. The victim, who was in poor health at the time, passed away before the trial commenced. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 20. This case was investigated by the @PBCountySheriff and prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Stacey Ibarra and Assistant State Attorney Cynthia Cohen.

A jury today found Semmie Lee Williams Jr. guilty of second-degree murder in the senseless killing of 14-year-old Ryan Rogers, the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office announces. “Today’s guilty verdict holds the defendant accountable for Ryan’s murder,” said State Attorney Alexcia Cox. “While no verdict can ever ease the pain of losing a child, I hope this outcome brings some measure of justice to Ryan’s family and to a community that has carried this tragedy for too long.” The evidence at trial showed that Ryan was randomly attacked while riding his bicycle near his home in Palm Beach Gardens on November 15, 2021, when Williams — an individual with no connection to the victim or the community — stabbed him repeatedly. “Ryan Rogers was a mile and a half from his home, on an evening bike ride,” Assistant State Attorney Jo Wilensky told the jury. “Unfortunately he was on a violent collision course with this defendant. That violent collision course ended his life, because this defendant violently and viciously attacked him.” The prosecution presented extensive witness testimony, DNA evidence, and surveillance video in support of the conviction. The @PBGPD (Palm Beach Gardens Police Department) and @MiamiDade_SO detectives assigned to this investigation had a critical role in identifying and apprehending the defendant and in assembling the evidence that led to the verdict. The State Attorney’s Office extends its appreciation to the detectives for their professionalism and dedication. “I am grateful for the tireless work and unwavering commitment of Assistant State Attorneys Jo Wilensky and Richard Clausi, as well as our dedicated support staff and law enforcement partners who worked relentlessly to see justice done in this case,” State Attorney Cox said. Sentencing is pending; the maximum possible sentence is life in prison. The State Attorney’s Office remains committed to seeking justice on behalf of victims and their families throughout Palm Beach County and will continue working closely with law enforcement to hold violent offenders accountable.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1963 Today, the Office of State Attorney Alexcia Cox honors and celebrates Dr. King’s life and lasting legacy. Our offices will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday and will reopen on Tuesday, January 20.

A man was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of a drug trafficking charge, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. After less than an hour of deliberations, a jury found Claudin Alcius guilty of trafficking in fentanyl. The court immediately imposed the sentence, which is the mandatory minimum. The evidence showed that Alcius had arranged to sell prescription pain pills to an undercover agent in May 2024. A search of the defendant’s SUV yielded more than 100 pills that tested positive for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin. Assistant State Attorneys Samuel Farot and Kyley Brown of our Gangs, Guns and Drug Trafficking Unit prosecuted the case. We thank the @PBCountySheriff Narcotics Unit agents for their investigation.

A man received a life sentence on Thursday for a deadly shooting in Belle Glade, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. Louis M. Garcia was previously convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm, attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, and three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer. The murder victim was shot on June 6, 2021, during a fight between several individuals in the parking lot of a pop-up rodeo. Assistant State Attorneys Daniel Reiter and Daniel Gross prosecuted the case. We thank the @PBCountySheriff detectives for their investigation.

Special announcement! The Office of State Attorney Alexcia Cox will host a Sealing and Expungement Workshop in @BelleGladeFL on January 29, 2026. During this free workshop, eligible applicants will receive: · Assistance with preparation of the application to have one Palm Beach County arrest record sealed or expunged (hidden or removed). · All supporting documentation that must be submitted with the completed application. · Assistance from @CareerSourcePBC in resume development, job search support, skills development and more. Attendees will be assisted by prosecutors and staff from our office, as well as representatives from @ClerkPBC, the Public Defender’s Office, and @PBCountySheriff. Please see the flyer with this post for additional event details. For more information and a link to the preliminary application, visit sa15.org.

Merry Christmas from the Office of State Attorney Alexcia Cox! Wishing everyone a safe, peaceful, and joyful holiday. 🎄 Our offices will be closed Thursday and Friday and will reopen on Monday, December 29.

A man was sentenced Thursday to 38 years in prison for child sex crimes, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. Edward P. Patterson was previously convicted of five counts of lewd or lascivious battery and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation. The crimes occurred between 2016 and 2017. The victim testified that the abuse began when she was 13 years old and in the seventh grade and continued for approximately 18 months. Following the jury’s verdict on August 27, the court designated Patterson a sexual offender. Assistant State Attorneys Amanda McCabe and Alexa Ruggiero of the Special Victims Unit prosecuted the case.

A woman who carried out an identity-fraud scheme affecting more than a dozen victims was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. Kadesa Sayles was convicted of 18 felony counts, including fraudulent use and possession of personal information, and grand theft of more than $100,000. The crimes, which occurred in April and May of this year, were investigated by Palm Beach Police detectives. Evidence showed that Sayles ported the victims’ mobile phones without authorization, allowing her to access their financial accounts. Assistant State Attorneys Ryan McGlynn and Michael Rachel, chief of our White Collar Crime Unit, prosecuted the case.

The State Attorney’s Office today joined the @PBCountySheriff and @fdlepio to announce the results of "Operation Unplugged" — a major takedown of drug trafficking groups with more than 100 arrests so far. The operation focused on the area of 9th Avenue and South G Street in the City of Lake Worth Beach, dismantling criminal enterprises that distributed narcotics and engaged in violent crime. Through undercover purchases and seizures, agents recovered fentanyl in quantities large enough to potentially cause more than 850,000 overdoses or overdose deaths. Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox said: “Let there be no doubt — there is zero tolerance for this criminal activity in our community. We will act decisively. We will hold offenders accountable and continue doing everything necessary to protect our residents and our neighborhoods.” Assistant State Attorney Diva Casas, chief of our Gangs, Guns & Drug Trafficking Unit, joined State Attorney Cox at a press conference held at PBSO headquarters. Watch the press conference here: youtube.com/watch?v=NLGx3v…

“These eight individuals are facing decades in prison. We hope this serves as a message to the community — and to anyone who seeks to operate a drug enterprise in Palm Beach County — that we’ll find you, we will investigate you, and we will prosecute you.” — Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox Today, our office joined the @WestPalmPD and other agencies to announce the dismantling of a major drug trafficking ring that pumped illegal drugs including methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin into the community. This successful takedown is the result of a long-term, coordinated investigation. We thank West Palm Beach Police Chief Antonio Araujo and commend the detectives whose undercover work revealed the full scope of this operation. A special thanks to Assistant State Attorney Diva Casas, Chief of our Gangs, Guns & Drug Trafficking Unit, who worked closely with investigators to build a high-integrity case resulting in racketeering, drug trafficking, and conspiracy charges. Watch Full Press Conference: wptv.com/news/region-c-…

A Palm Beach County jury on December 5 found Sean Vanburen guilty of a home invasion robbery and kidnapping two women, State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. The defendant was also convicted of carjacking and robbery, both committed while wearing a mask, and fraudulent use of personal identification information. Sentencing is pending. Vanburen faces life in prison after the jury found he is a Prison Release Reoffender. The crimes occurred on December 16, 2019, when Vanburen and two other men broke into a Lantana home. Both victims, then 65, bravely testified about their ordeal. Assistant State Attorneys Jenica Lopez and Cheo Reid prosecuted the case. We thank the detectives from Lantana Police, @PBCountySheriff, @WestPalmPD, and @PBGPD for their work on the investigation.

A man was sentenced on December 2 to 15 years in prison, two months after a jury found him guilty of child pornography charges, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. On Oct 1, Arthur Marcinkiewicz was convicted of 10 counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of transmitting child pornography. The crimes occurred between June 2020 and April 2022. The court declared Marcinkiewicz a sexual offender, and also imposed a sentence of 10 years of probation to follow the prison term. Assistant State Attorneys Alexa Ruggiero and Gabriel Montiel of our Special Victims Unit prosecuted the case.

On November 24, a jury returned a guilty verdict for a man who tried to kill his former psychiatrist, Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announces. After a six-day trial, Pedro Delaflor was convicted of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. The jury rejected his insanity defense. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 5. The shooting happened on June 14, 2023, at the parking lot of an office building in downtown Delray Beach. After the victim avoided injury, the defendant fled the scene in his car, but was apprehended on an Interstate 95 onramp. Assistant State Attorneys Natalia Savchyk and Jenica Lopez prosecuted the case. We thank the @DelrayBeachPD detectives for their investigation.