Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Arrests, Prosecutions, and Convictions of Sexual Predators

Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General

TAMPA, Fla.-Attorney General James Uthmeier announced new and ongoing actions to hold sexual and child predators accountable. This announcement comes after the conviction of Marquett James on four felony charges, the arrests of Lucas Jose Herraiz and Michael Younce for possession of child sexual abuse material, and another charge against Nathan Holmberg.

"Florida is not a sanctuary state for criminals, and if you come after our kids, we will leave no stone unturned to hold you accountable," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "Thanks to the relentless work of HSI Tampa, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and our Office of Statewide Prosecution, these criminals are off the streets and facing serious consequences for their depraved behavior."

"These crimes are unacceptable, and protecting Florida's youth remains one of our highest priorities," said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass. "We appreciate Attorney General Uthmeier and our partner agencies for prioritizing this work and ensuring these dangerous individuals are kept away from our communities. Together, we will continue working every day to stop predators, support victims, and keep Florida's children safe."

"Human trafficking is more than a crime, it's an atrocity against humanity," said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Calvo. "This conviction demonstrates HSI's commitment to work alongside our law enforcement partners across the spectrum to dismantle criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit and stop the perpetuation of human suffering. Our investigators prioritize the safety, dignity, and recovery of victims at every stage of the investigation."

"Public safety is not the responsibility of any one agency, it is a shared mission," said St. Petersburg Police Department Chief Anthony Holloway. "Public safety is not the responsibility of any one agency; it is a shared mission. When law enforcement and prosecutors share information and work together, we create a system that protects victims, strengthens cases, and keeps dangerous individuals off our streets."

Human Trafficking Conviction Secured, Heads to Sentencing
Following a jury trial in November 2025, Marquett James, 50, of Hillsborough County, was convicted of two counts of Human Trafficking, one count of Racketeering, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering.

James was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security after a cyber tip was submitted to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in May 2021.

The investigation revealed that between 2012 and 2020, James targeted young women by initiating romantic relationships and later coercing them into commercial sex acts. James forced both victims to engage in prostitution, seized all profits, and subjected them to ongoing physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.

In one case, James threatened to release pornographic material he produced of the victim to maintain control. Investigators estimate that James profited in the hundreds of thousands of dollars from each victim. One victim became homeless as a result of James' abuse.

His sentencing is scheduled for Friday, February 6, 2025, and he faces a maximum of 120 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Special Counsels Rita Peters and Stephanie Bergen secured the conviction.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Arrests
In Pinellas County, Lucas Jose Herraiz, 42, was arrested on January 28, 2025, by the St. Petersburg Police Department following a cyber tip by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip indicated that a Dropbox account was uploading child pornography.

Through subpoenas and search warrants, investigators traced the account's IP addresses to Herraiz's home and business. Law enforcement recovered 18 extremely graphic videos depicting young children engaged in sex acts. Herraiz is charged with 18 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.

Herraiz is a French national residing in the United States on an E-2 visa and will be deported upon conviction and any subsequent prison sentence.

In a separate case, Michael Younce, 33, of Citrus County, was arrested on January 27, 2025, by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) following a covert investigation targeting individuals who download and share child pornography.

Investigators traced illegal activity to Younce's personal device. During the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement discovered nine child pornography videos on Younce's mobile device. Younce is currently charged with nine counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Additional searches of two computers are ongoing, and further charges are expected.

Herriaz and Younce will be prosecuted in Pinellas and Citrus Counties, respectively, by Special Counsel to the Attorney General Rita Peters.

New Charge Filed in Ongoing Capital Sex Crimes Investigation
The Office of Statewide Prosecution filed an additional felony charge of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation on a Child Under the age of 12 against Nathan Holmberg.

In November 2025, State Attorney Bill Gladson secured a grand jury indictment in Hernando County against Holmberg on 25 felony counts, including 7 counts of capital sexual battery on a child under 12, making Holmberg eligible for the death penalty under Florida law.

In January 2026, the Office of Statewide Prosecution separately filed 47 additional felony charges, including 39 counts of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, 7 counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation on a Child Under 12, and 1 count of Video Voyeurism.

With the filing of the additional charge in Hillsborough County, Holmberg now faces 14 life sentences, 7 death sentences, and up to 2,355 years in prison. More charges are expected in the coming weeks.

Special Counsel to the Attorney General Rita Peters will prosecute the cases against Holmberg in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit Bill Gladson will prosecute the cases in Hernando County.

The Special Task Force under the Office of Statewide Prosecution is responsible for investigating allegations against Nathan Holmberg. The Task Force includes law enforcement and prosecutors from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, the Office of the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, the Office of Statewide Prosecution, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

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