Support Author Speaking out Against Constitutional Violation

My story is based on real, and very public events that unfolded in Polk County, Florida, around Christmas 2020. I was a weekend flea market vendor when, on December 19, 2020, I (and three older folks, two of them seniors) was raided by multiple detectives, arrested, and put on the local Florida news, social media, and received a press conference detailing how much of a criminal myself and the three older vendors were. Nonetheless, this was by our own County Sheriff's Department, with the backing of a Director from a billion-dollar cable giant. This ordeal exposed the lengths to which institutions can go to maintain a culture of fear over poor, middle-class, and disenfranchised people at the expense of our civil liberties.

So what were you charged with?

I was charged under Florida Statute 812.15(2)(a) and 812.15(3)(b), which essentially alleged that I and the three older folks somehow hacked into the communications of a cable conglomerate to give the public access to free TV channels through the reselling of Amazon Fire Sticks. They alleged that these Fire Sticks had been "jailbroken," allowing anyone access to Spectrum or other cable companies' offerings. They secured warrants after getting a very vague statement from a cable company employee and proceeded with the raids.

So, could those Amazon Fire Sticks do what was alleged, such as hacking into cable services, Hulu, Netflix, and the like?

No. And in my opinion they were aware of that, as the big bust and felony charge eventually went from a third-degree felony facing five years in state prison to being dismissed once I agreed to pay them for the time they spent investigating with hidden cameras and mics, paid off community service, and watched a video. A result I had no choice but to accept due not only to the several thousand dollars needed to prove yourself not guilty in trial but grossly because of what you are about to read.

Prejudicial Statements

Roughly 48 hours after my (and the three other older market vendors) raid and arrest, and before I (or they) would see a judge for the explanation of charges, very public statements were made by law enforcement during a 14-minute-long press conference that painted myself and the three older folks as guilty to tens of thousands of people across Central Florida. These statements, along with the conference, were then uploaded to YouTube and other platforms by this same office and shared widely across media channels. This move ended any chance I would have to receive any sort of fair trial and influenced public opinion and potential jurors across multiple counties, denying us of our Fourth Amendment protections. This would make it nearly impossible to receive a fair trial, especially for people who did not have funds to hire the necessary people to defend themselves in court.

With the case having been eventually dismissed and all of my supposed felony-level Amazon Fire Sticks returned to me, I sat in my car after picking up my things and felt completely shattered as to why this all took place. The next several years would confirm that this would continue haunting me as a permanent media display for any one of my friends, family members, employers, or potential employers to pull up on YouTube, regardless of it having been dismissed. In my opinion, it was meant as a public fear tactic, as is normal for folks in our county, and as a permanent smear on those who were the targets of this fiasco.

The Fight to Educate

I've dedicated the past two years to writing, editing, and self-publishing Jailbroken as a way to shed light on these sorts of tactics and the sort of mental and emotional harm they inflict on human beings. As a full-time worker, husband, and parent of two young boys, I reached my financial limit long ago. Your support is crucial to help me amplify my voice and continue this fight.

Your Contribution Will Help:

The Value I Bring

I've put in the work to turn an initial spark of an idea to a product of value that id love to share with supporters as a token of my appreciation for your support. For those interested ide gladly email you a digital copy of my e-book, audiobook, or both. Simply message me and ill send you a copy. It's a small gesture to express my gratitude for your belief in my work and your commitment to the cause.

Why This Matters

One of my most important goals is to inform individuals who are not aware of their protections (like I wasn't at the time), especially poorer folks in my state, the local Hispanic community, and underprivileged folks all over to understand that they do have protections under the law and should not be afraid to speak up in any way they can.