A former spokesman for the state Department of Children & Families was sentenced this morning to 24 years and four months in prison for making child pornography. Al Zimmerman, 41, pleaded guilty in January to a child pornography charge. ...more

May 8, 2009

A 27-year-old Valrico man was convicted today of federal child pornography charges for taking 34 graphic photographs of a 16-year-old relative. ...more

March 12, 2009

An investigation that began in part when police learned marijuana was stored in a Pinellas Park warehouse has led to a plea of guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. ...more

November 21, 2008

On Nov. 1, with little fanfare, Congress accepted a long-needed correction to prison sentencing guidelines for people caught selling crack cocaine. ...more

November 19, 2007

Samuel Matthews' record of crimes against children sent 'chills' down the spine of the federal judge who sentenced him Friday to life in prison. ...more

October 20, 2007

TAMPA - A 54-year-old convicted sex offender who authorities say tried to persuade another sex offender to help him find a young girl to pose for sexually explicit photographs is set to be sentenced this morning in federal court. ...more

October 19, 2007

One of the first cases the Supreme Court heard when it began its current term involves the sentencing disparity between offenders caught trafficking in crack cocaine versus the powdered form. ...more

October 14, 2007