Three Florida men have been indicted for a contract killing of a 17-year-old victim (I.S.) and shooting her mother (L.P.) after the women went to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office to report that I.S. had been sexually assaulted.
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg recently announced the return of an indictment charging Brooksville residents 36-year-old Lenard White, a/k/a “Len,” “Mike Williams,” and “Stick,” 21-year-old Sheldon Robinson, a/k/a “Poboy,” and 22-year-old Keshawn Woods with conspiracy to commit murder for hire, murder for hire, discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which caused the death of I.S., and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.
White and Robinson were also charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, tampering with a witness, and obstruction of justice. Janet Williams, of Brooksville, Robinson’s mother, has been charged with multiple counts of false statements to federal agents.
If convicted on all counts, White, Robinson, and Woods each face mandatory life imprisonment, or the federal death penalty. Williams faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for each of the three false statement counts.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, on February 6, 2023, a 17-year-old victim (I.S.) and her mother (L.P.) went to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office to report that I.S. had been sexually assaulted by White. White then contracted with Robinson and Woods to murder I.S. for $10,000 to prevent her from further pursuing criminal charges against him. The following day, Robinson and Woods arrived at I.S. and L.P.’s home and knocked on the door. When the door was opened, a barrage of gunshots were fired at I.S. and L.P. I.S. was shot four times and killed. L.P. was struck by gunfire but survived.
As the federal investigation of I.S.’s murder progressed, White, Robinson, and Williams attempted to hinder the investigation by disposing of evidence, tampering with witnesses, obstructing justice, and making false statements to law enforcement.
Janet Williams made her initial appearance in federal court on October 26, 2023, and was released on conditions including home detention. Keshawn Woods had his initial appearance in federal court on November 1, 2023, and was ordered detained. White and Robinson are currently in state custody and were scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court on November 9th.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This west Central Florida case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
