Judge says the 2024 crash outside Emperor’s Gentlemen’s Club was “monstrous” as grieving relatives addressed the court.
TAMPA, Fla. — A Hillsborough County judge on Monday officially sentenced Dylan Fogle to life in prison for driving a semi-truck into a group of people outside a Tampa gentlemen’s club in August 2024, killing Giovanni Soto and injuring two others.
The case drew attention for its stark video evidence and swift verdict earlier this month. Prosecutors said Fogle, then 27, had been kicked out of Emperor’s Gentlemen’s Club on Adamo Drive before returning to the driver’s seat of his rig and accelerating toward a crowd shortly after 4 a.m. The jury convicted him of first-degree murder and related charges, triggering a mandatory life sentence under Florida law. Monday’s hearing finalized the punishment and gave relatives a chance to describe their loss as the judge criticized the brief but devastating chain of decisions that led to the crash.
Surveillance footage showed a scuffle spilling onto the sidewalk moments before the semi appeared and barreled forward. Investigators said Fogle had been drinking and sent messages about what he was “about to do” around the same time. The crash killed Soto, a 44-year-old father, and left two others with serious injuries. During sentencing, Fogle wept and apologized, telling the court, “I’m deeply, deeply sorry for what happened … if I could, I would trade places with the victim.” Circuit Judge Lyann Goudie called the crime “monstrous,” adding that even without a prior criminal record, his choices over “a period of just a few seconds” had irreversible consequences.
Trial testimony recapped the night’s timeline: staff removed Fogle from the club for inappropriate behavior toward a worker; a brief altercation followed on the curb; and at about 4 a.m., the semi-truck moved from the lot toward the group. Prosecutors argued intent, pointing to messages Fogle allegedly sent minutes earlier and to the truck’s straight path into pedestrians. Defense lawyers noted his lack of criminal history and said he panicked, but jurors found the evidence supported premeditation and DUI-related counts. The victim, identified in court as Giovanni Soto, died at the scene. Two others were hospitalized with injuries that officials said were serious but survivable. Exact toxicology numbers were not discussed at sentencing; the judge referenced impairment and the rapid escalation captured on video.
Records and earlier hearings indicated the incident occurred on Adamo Drive, an industrial corridor near the Port of Tampa where tractor-trailers are common before dawn. Police and code enforcement previously described heavy camera coverage of nearby businesses, which helped investigators reconstruct movements leading up to the strike. Statements by Tampa police leaders in 2024 called the crash avoidable and traumatic for bystanders who watched it unfold in seconds. Club representatives said staff had escorted people out as tensions rose, then scrambled to call 911 after the impact. The judge, summarizing the timeline, said nothing in Fogle’s background excused the clear danger of steering a commercial vehicle toward a crowd.
Monday’s hearing formally imposed life in prison for first-degree murder. Additional counts included DUI manslaughter, attempted first-degree murder and DUI with serious bodily injury. Under Florida law, the first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory life term. Prosecutors said appeals are possible but the sentence is final in circuit court. No further hearings were scheduled immediately, though standard post-trial motions could follow in early January. Officials said the Florida Department of Corrections will process Fogle into custody, and victims will be notified of any status changes as required by Marsy’s Law.
Outside the courtroom, family members and friends described Soto as a “backbone” figure at home. A teenage daughter spoke previously about birthdays and milestones her father will miss. Supporters at Monday’s hearing held a photo of Soto and quietly thanked prosecutors after the judge spoke. A relative said the apology mattered but did not restore what was taken. In a brief statement, a law enforcement official noted the case moved quickly from arrest to verdict because of video, witness accounts and records obtained within days of the crash.
As of Monday evening, Fogle remained in county custody pending transfer to state prison. The court clerk recorded the sentence and related costs. Officials said any written order reflecting victim restitution and fines will be docketed with the judgment. The next public milestone is the filing of routine notice of appeal, which typically arrives within 30 days of sentencing.
Author note: Last updated December 30, 2025.