On a reservation in South Florida, a severe altercation escalated to violence when Sutanga Rex Cypress, a member of the Miccosukee tribe, fired his weapon, resulting in almost 17 years of imprisonment. This sentence was handed down by a federal judge earlier this week, a consequence of the serious injury inflicted upon another man during the dispute.
According to the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, the incident took place after Cypress, 43, brandished a Sig Sauer firearm amidst an argument and shot the victim in the abdomen. The victim, who was unarmed and is also a member of the Miccosukee tribe, was promptly flown to a hospital via helicopter where he received life-saving treatment, however, he sustained permanent injury. In September, Cypress pleaded guilty to multiple charges including assault with intent to do bodily harm, and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence.
United States District Judge Jacqueline Becerra sentenced Cypress to 198 months in prison, a $50,000 fine, and added a requirement of five years of supervised release post-incarceration. A hearing scheduled for May 6 will further address the matter of restitution Cypress owes to the victim. The prosecution of the case was carried out by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Latoya Brown and Vanessa Bonhomme.
The FBI Miami's Safe Trails Task Force, in cooperation with the Miccosukee Police Department, led the investigation into the shooting. U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, alongside Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin E. Fleck of FBI Miami and Chief Roland Pandolfi of the Miccosukee Police Department, announced the sentence. In a press release on the U.S. Attorney's Office website, these details along with official documentation were provided for public record.
Those interested in the case specifics can find relevant documents and information on the Southern District of Florida's District Court website or the PACER service, under case number 24-cr-20195. The full press release can still be accessed via the link above.
