Five Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Robbery in Tampa

Five individuals from Cocoa Beach, Florida, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a violent armed robbery at a nightclub near Ybor City, Tampa. The U. S.

Attorney's Office announced that U. S. District Judge John L.

Badalamenti handed down the sentences.

Courtenay Smith, aged 36, received the longest sentence of 18 years and 4 months. Phillip Johnson, aged 22, was sentenced to 15 years, while Sema-J De-Andre Brothers and Na’Quezz Mack, both 23, were each sentenced to more than 14 years. Derrick Worthington, aged 43, received a sentence of 13 years and 10 months.

The Robbery

According to evidence presented at sentencing, Johnson, Brothers, Mack, and Worthington traveled from Brevard County to Tampa on February 1, 2025, to carry out the armed robbery. They parked in a restaurant lot in Ybor City and concealed their license plates from surveillance cameras before targeting the nightclub.

The four men conducted surveillance on the nightclub and waited for the crowd to thin. Johnson, Brothers, and Mack entered the club wearing dark clothing, hooded sweatshirts, masks, and gloves to conceal their identities. Johnson was armed with a rifle, while Brothers and Mack each carried a handgun. Worthington remained outside as a lookout.

Inside the nightclub, the men used violence and intimidation to take control, ordering bartenders to hand over cash, purses, and cellphones. They then moved to the rear of the business, where Johnson shot the nightclub’s manager in the face, causing the victim to lose an eye.

The robbers stole the nightclub’s cash proceeds, which were covered in the victim’s blood, and fled back to Brevard County.

Planning and Aftermath

Smith, who did not travel to Tampa, played an active role in planning and preparing for the robbery. The group had planned the heist at Smith’s home in Brevard County. After the robbery, they returned to Smith’s residence to divide the stolen proceeds.

Detectives from the Tampa Police Department and FBI agents quickly identified the suspects. The investigation revealed that the conspirators believed they had "killed someone" and attempted to destroy evidence. They discarded items used during the robbery, including throwing cellphones over a bridge, burning their clothing, and using bleach to clean the victim’s blood from their vehicles.

The case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Cocoa Police Department, and the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Tampa. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diego F. Novaes and Lindsey Schmidt.