Hillsborough County deputies are asking the public to help track down 29-year-old Deiondre Torres, who is wanted on charges of robbery with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm. Detectives say the robbery involved property valued at less than $750, but the alleged presence of a gun means Torres faces some of the most serious felony exposure Florida law allows.
The request went out as part of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's weekly “Warrant Wednesday” social media push, according to a post from HCSO. The agency, led by Sheriff Chad Chronister, regularly uses the campaign to crowdsource tips from residents on wanted fugitives across Hillsborough County, a tactic it has repeated in a string of recent cases, including a July search for Christopher Kelsor. HCSO has not released additional details about the date, location or victim tied to the alleged robbery.
🚨Warrant Wednesday🚨
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) August 13, 2026
Detectives with #teamHCSO are asking for the public's help locating Deiondre Torres, 29.
He is wanted for the following charges:
▪️Robbery with a Firearm (Less than $750)
▪️Felon in Possession of Firearm
If you have any information on his current… pic.twitter.com/mWqyS9WSM9
Why a Sub-$750 Robbery Carries First-Degree Weight
Under normal circumstances, Florida law draws a hard line at $750 between misdemeanor petit theft and felony grand theft, as outlined by the Drew Fritsch Law Firm, P.A. But that threshold does not apply once a firearm enters the equation during a robbery. Florida Statute § 812.13(2)(a) makes robbery with a firearm a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison regardless of the value taken, and the state's 10-20-Life law adds a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence for anyone found to have actually possessed a firearm during the offense, according to the Brancato Law Firm.
The second charge against Torres, felon in possession of a firearm, carries its own steep penalties. Florida Statute § 790.23 classifies the offense as a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, with a mandatory minimum three-year prison term if actual physical possession is proven, per Meltzer & Bell, P.A. That charge points to a prior felony conviction in Torres's background. Booking records published by Florida Arrests show he has a prior arrest history in Hillsborough County, with bookings logged in November 2020, September 2024 and February 2025.
How to Report a Tip
Anyone with information on Torres's whereabouts is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's 24-hour non-emergency line at 813-247-8200. The sheriff's office has cautioned that its social media accounts are not monitored around the clock and has urged residents not to approach wanted individuals themselves. Those who prefer to stay anonymous can also go through Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, which offers cash rewards of up to $5,000 for tips submitted via its hotline or mobile app that lead to an arrest or location of a suspect with an active felony warrant in the county.
The charges against Torres are allegations, and he has not been convicted. The manhunt comes even as broader crime figures in the region have trended downward: WFLA News Channel 8 reported that Tampa saw a 20.8% drop in robberies and Hillsborough County saw a 44% decline in homicides in early 2026 compared to prior years. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has also highlighted the state's shift toward more detailed, incident-based crime reporting to the FBI as part of an effort to better track patterns in violent and firearm-related offenses statewide.
