Orlando Man Convicted Of Carjacking And Firearm Charges

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Middle District of Florida
12 February 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Nester Leon (26, Orlando) guilty of carjacking, and using and carrying a firearm that was discharged in relation to that carjacking. Leon faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for the carjacking conviction, and a mandatory minimum of 10 years’, up to life imprisonment, for the firearm conviction. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 1, 2015.

According to evidence presented at trial, during the early morning of June 28, 2014, Leon’s friend “L.P.” drove to the McCoy Federal Credit Union located at 2075 Central Florida Parkway in Orlando. When L.P. exited his car to use the ATM, Leon slid over from the passenger’s seat, got behind the wheel, and started to leave the parking lot. When L.P. ran after his car, Leon pulled out his gun and fired a single shot at L.P. L.P. then ran to a nearby convenience store and called 911.

Because L.P.’s car was equipped with GPS, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was able to track the vehicle to an apartment complex in Orlando. When deputies found the car, Leon was sitting behind the wheel. After seeing the marked patrol car pull up behind him, Leon jumped out of the car and fled. Deputies then chased Leon through the parking lot and into the street.

Leon then tried to discard evidence of his crimes, including a necklace he had stolen from L.P., into a nearby pond. When deputies caught up with Leon, he resisted, but was ultimately detained. During a subsequent search of the car, a freshly-fired, small-caliber shell casing was recovered from the front seat.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph M. Schuster and Kara Wick.