Florida Keys deputies have made arrests following an undercover gun buy as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal firearm sales in the area, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Three individuals, including a 17-year-old whose name has been withheld due to their age, 19-year-old Mikele Rocafort Carciani, and 22-year-old Andrew Jonathan Pena, were taken into custody after undercover detectives met them in a Marathon parking lot. The detectives had organized the purchase of two guns for $1,200, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
The suspects arrived in a white Dodge Charger, with Gonzalez seated in the front holding a 9 mm pistol and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Adam Linhardt stated that during a search, the police found a magazine filled with 9 mm bullets and a 6-inch knife on Gonzalez’s person.
Subsequently, the police conducted a search of Pena’s residence, where they discovered a semiautomatic rifle and ammunition.
The teenager remains in custody at the Juvenile Justice facility on charges of dealing in stolen property, selling a firearm with an altered or removed serial number, illegal open carry of weapons, and conspiracy.
Carciani and Pena are being held in the county jail on $35,000 bonds each for charges of conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Information about their legal representation is not currently available.
Another individual, 19-year-old Martin Luther Kilbourne, who was not present during the gun buy, was arrested later in the day after allegedly threatening deputies at the Marathon substation.
According to Linhardt, Kilbourne arrived at the rear of the building accompanied by two other men and inquired about the gun arrests. Deputies instructed the trio to leave, and while the other two complied, Kilbourne stayed and challenged a detective to a fight, demanding the removal of the detective’s badge and gun.
Deputies apprehended Kilbourne, but during the altercation, he broke one of their body-worn cameras. Linhardt mentioned that while in jail, Kilbourne exclaimed, “I’ll shoot them all,” according to the deputies.
As of Friday, Kilbourne was held on a $40,000 bond on charges of making threats to law enforcement, resisting arrest, and damaging law enforcement equipment.
The sheriff’s office stated that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests may follow.
“Thank you to the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Office who acted swiftly to remove these illegal weapons from our streets,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay in a statement. “I will not tolerate threats directed at my staff, and those who make such threats will be arrested.”
