Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the conviction of a Bloods gang leader linked to several violent crimes across the state during a news conference in Winter Haven this week. Hernando Thompson, Jr., figurehead of the Blood-affiliated “Sex Money Murder” gang, was found guilty of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and directing criminal gang activities in a Polk County court on Jan. 8th for his leadership role in the gang's criminal operations.
“This criminal led a violent, Bloods-affiliated gang that treated crime like a business—a business of robberies, drive-by shootings, and violence against children,” Uthmeier said in a release. “A jury delivered justice, and he is looking at spending the rest of his life behind bars. Special thanks to Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Gary Malak, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, and the Department of Corrections for upholding law and order.”
According to the release, Thompson was the mastermind behind the gang's illegal drug sales, robberies, conspiracy to commit murder, introduction of contraband into prisons, and coordinated attacks.
However, Thompson did not implicate himself directly or publicly in the gang's criminal enterprises in an effort to avoid possible jail time. That strategy evidently did not work out in his favor in the end.
The case, led by a joint effort by The Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Corrections, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, materialized after a 2022 investigation into Thompson and twelve other members of the Sex Money Murder gang.
All twelve associates were also later arrested and prosecuted for crimes.
This case was difficult due to the defendant’s leadership position in the criminal enterprise, but our prosecutors were able to pull back the insulation he tried to wrap around himself,” Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay said. “This outcome would not be possible without the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and assistance from the Department of Corrections.
Thompson is currently in custody at the Polk County Jail ahead of his sentencing date, which is scheduled for Feb. 20th. He faces a maximum possible sentence of five consecutive life terms for each of the charges on his conviction.
“The conviction of gang leader Hernando Thompson is perfect example of Florida’s tough-on-crime criminal justice system at work,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “We hope to see him sentenced to life in prison for his orchestration of violent criminal gang activities.”
