Dover Man Who Went On Criminal Rampage Before Opening Fire On Lakeland Police Officers And ATF Agents During Highspeed Chase Sentenced To Federal Prison

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Francisco Cabrera (29, Dover) to 38 years in federal prison for robbery, carjacking, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Cabrera entered a guilty plea on December 1, 2023.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, between January 13 and 17, 2022, Cabrera engaged in a crime spree where he robbed two stores and a gas station in Plant City and Brandon. During these robberies, Cabrera held victims at gunpoint. At times, he removed the magazine from his pistol, showed bullets to the victims and stated, "this is for real" or "give me the money or I will shoot you."

On January 19, 2022, Cabrera returned to the gas station he had robbed. Cabrera approached an individual sitting inside a truck and carjacked him at gunpoint. As Cabrera was escaping in the vehicle, he brandished his firearm at others who had attempted to stop him and help the victim.

Hours later, detectives from the Lakeland Police Department and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) located Cabrera in Plant City. The officers turned on their lights and sirens and began pursuit. Cabrera fled, tore through Plant City, eventually getting on I-4 headed east towards Lakeland. During the 11-mile chase, Cabrera traveled at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, nearly crashed into a truck, drove through red lights and into oncoming traffic causing other vehicles to take evasive actions, and nearly missed hitting other vehicles. While fleeing, Cabrera fired gunshots at numerous local and federal agents, firing approximately 8 to 15 gunshots at 7 different police officers. On one occasion, he fired at two officers who were in front of him outside their vehicles attempting to deploy stop sticks, striking the front hood of one of their vehicles.

In fear that Cabrera was going to kill someone, and after determining that no other law enforcement officers or civilians would be in danger, an ATF special agent fired at Cabrera striking him twice in his lower back. Lakeland Police officers and ATF agents then surrounded Cabrera. The same law enforcement officers that Cabrera had fired upon then quickly provided him with first aid medical assistance, saving his life.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lakeland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.