A Polk County jury has convicted Hernando Thompson Jr., the man prosecutors say ran the Florida arm of the Bloods-affiliated “Sex Money Murder” gang, on five felony counts. After roughly an hour of deliberations following a trial in early January, jurors returned guilty verdicts for racketeering, conspiracy and three counts of directing criminal gang activity. Thompson now faces up to five consecutive life terms and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20.
According to a release from MyFloridaLegal, the verdict capped a Polk County trial held Jan. 5–8 and followed a multi‑year investigation that began in 2022. Prosecutors said evidence showed Thompson, 36, exercised leadership over the gang’s Florida operations while trying to keep his own hands off the day-to-day crimes. He remains in custody at the Polk County Jail and faces a maximum possible sentence of five consecutive life terms, with sentencing set for Feb. 20, 2026.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, speaking at a news conference after the conviction, framed the outcome as a major win for public safety and a warning shot to other gang members eyeing Florida. As Fox News reported, Judd said the case targeted the gang’s hierarchy and urged the court to hand down the toughest punishment available.
What investigators say they found
Investigators say the probe leaned heavily on a court-authorized wiretap that captured thousands of communications and helped support search warrants and arrests across Florida. Reporting from WESH notes that the operation intercepted about 4,787 communications, led to 12 arrests and six search warrants, and produced seizures that included roughly $1.5 million in drugs, 18 firearms and ballistic armor. Officials also described home invasions in which guns were allegedly pointed at children.
Earlier arrests and local coverage
The conviction is the latest turn in a long-running crackdown. Earlier sweeps and arrests tied to the Sex Money Murder network were reported in 2025. According to Hoodline, in May 2025, alleged leaders nabbed drew headlines, and local outlets later tracked follow-up arrests and warrants. West Orlando News also covered the Jan. 12 news conference where officials publicly announced Thompson’s conviction.
Sentencing and legal stakes
Thompson is expected back in a Polk County courtroom on Feb. 20, 2026, for formal sentencing, where prosecutors plan to ask for consecutive life terms on each conviction, according to MyFloridaLegal. The statewide prosecution office said the case was handled by the Office of Statewide Prosecution with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Corrections and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Authorities said the investigation peeled back a broader statewide network and could lead to related cases outside Florida. Officials told reporters they identified leaders and associates in North and South Carolina. As Fox News noted, the outcome rested on coordination between agencies and court‑authorized surveillance that prosecutors say helped them build the racketeering case.
