Attorney General James Uthmeier Secures Five Consecutive Life Sentences for Violent Gang Leader

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution secured five consecutive life sentences in the Florida Department of Corrections for Hernando Thompson, Jr., 36, of Orlando, for his leadership role in the Blood-affiliated “Sex Money Murder” gang.
 
“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,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This dangerous criminal deserved every minute of his sentence, and our prosecutors delivered. Thanks to our law enforcement partners and Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Gary Malak for ensuring this violent criminal orchestrator will spend the rest of his life and any other life he may come across behind bars.”

Thompson was convicted after a Polk County trial in January 2026. Following only an hour of deliberation, the jury found Thompson guilty on all five charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, and three counts of Directing Criminal Gang Activities.

The 2022 investigation was a joint effort between the Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Corrections, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Investigators found evidence of illegal drug sales, robberies, conspiracy to commit murder, introduction of contraband into prisons, and coordinated attacks.

Evidence presented at trial showed Thompson exercised leadership over all gang operations in Florida but was careful not to directly or publicly involve himself in criminal activity, in an unsuccessful effort to avoid jail time. He is the last outstanding gang member in this case. 

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