OCALA, FLORIDA – The State Attorney’s Office has filed charges against a man in connection with shooting deaths at the beginning of 2023, in addition to prosecuting close to 2,000 people in 2023 in child exploitation cases, according to federal officials.
The charges stem from the shooting deaths of Abdul Hakeem Croskey, 24, and 30-year-old DaMonta J. Harris, who were gunned down on Jan. 1, 2023, at a block party where four others were also treated for gunshot wounds. Ocala police officials believe the casings recovered from the street came from at least three guns. Lebron Mondale Jones, 19, of Anthony, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, and one count of attempt second-degree murder, principal.
Prosecutors have officially signaled their intention to move forward with the case, with the next hearing set for early 2024. Jones is currently held without bail at the county jail, where he has other pending criminal charges against him. Detectives continue to investigate, confident that there was more than one shooter involved.
Federal officials have prosecuted more than 1,500 people as part of Project Safe Neighborhood, an initiative aimed at protecting children from abuse and sex exploitation. Among those arrested was Eddie Joe Oglesby, who has been sentenced to 80 years in federal prison on charges of producing and receiving child sex abuse materials. He pretended to be a federal agent when coercing girls to produce and send him sexual images over the internet, threatening them with arrest, jail, or death when they refused.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the case was prosecuted by lawyers for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, which includes Marion County. U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg thanked law enforcement officials and attorneys for their work and efforts in standing by the victims and successfully putting a stop to this unwarranted behavior toward children.
In conclusion, Lebron Mondale Jones is facing serious criminal charges in connection with the shooting deaths of Abdul Hakeem Croskey and DaMonta J. Harris, while Eddie Joe Oglesby has been sentenced to 80 years in federal prison for producing and receiving child sex abuse materials. The cases highlight the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors to address child exploitation and gun violence in the Marion County area.