Officials report that the gang leader skillfully managed operations while intentionally steering clear of direct criminal acts to dodge legal repercussions.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Florida prosecutors state that a notorious gang leader, who orchestrated activities for the Bloods-linked Sex Money Murder faction, faces life imprisonment after being convicted of racketeering in Polk County.
In an expedited decision, the jury found Hernando Thompson Jr., aged 36, guilty on all five charges following an hour-long deliberation after the trial concluded on January 8, 2026.
Thompson faced convictions for racketeering, conspiracy to engage in racketeering, and three instances of orchestrating criminal gang operations.
“This individual led a vicious, Bloods-affiliated group that approached crime as a business venture — involving robberies, drive-by shootings, and violence against minors,” Attorney General James Uthmeier stated at a Monday press conference in Winter Haven. “The jury has spoken, and he is now facing a life sentence.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd identified Thompson as the state’s figurehead for the Sex Money Murder gang, notorious under the alias “T Murda.”
“His nickname is T Murda — does that tell you anything?” Judd said. “This is the man at the top of the pyramid.”
Authorities say Thompson exercised leadership over all gang operations in Florida while deliberately avoiding direct involvement in crimes to evade prosecution. Investigators described the organization as being run like a business.
“A lot of these serious, heinous crimes — they try to insulate themselves,” Uthmeier said. “They’re managing it like a business crime syndicate.”
The case stemmed from a 2022 investigation involving the Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Corrections, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Using 4,787 wire-intercepted communications, investigators built a sweeping case that led to major seizures.
“That wire intercept allowed us to seize 4,787 communications that talked about criminal conduct,” Judd said. “We seized $1.5 million in drugs. We seized 18 firearms. We seized ballistic armor.”
Prosecutors say the gang’s crimes included illegal drug sales, robberies, home invasions, conspiracy to commit murder, contraband smuggling into prisons, and coordinated attacks — including incidents involving children.
“In one of our home invasions in Eagle Lake, they pointed a gun at an eight-year-old boy,” Judd said. “Then they pointed the gun to the head of an infant — three months old — and threatened him.”
Twelve other gang members were arrested and prosecuted as part of the case. Thompson, who had an outstanding warrant, turned himself in last year and was the final defendant to face trial.
“You have a notorious gang leader here who ran a large-scale operation,” Uthmeier said. “Twelve other individuals were arrested in this case, and he was directing everything — from robbery to drive-by shootings.”
Thompson is currently being held in the Polk County Jail and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2026. He faces a maximum sentence of five consecutive life terms, one for each conviction.
“He’s looking at five lifetime sentences,” Uthmeier said. “Our prosecutors will be pushing to ensure that he does not have an opportunity to ever be released again.”
Sheriff Judd said the takedown has already had a measurable impact on crime in Polk County, along with work from a regional gang task force.
“We have seen a significant reduction in gang activity,” Judd said. “A significant reduction in home invasions — and in fact, we just celebrated a 54-year low crime rate.”
Judd also criticized the judge’s decision to allow Thompson to remain free on bond prior to sentencing.
“I don’t know who the hare-brained judge was that let him out,” Judd said. “When he is not in jail, he’s out committing crime — to include violent crime.”
Law enforcement officials say the investigation remains ongoing.
“I don’t want to definitively say that we have them dead in the water,” Uthmeier said. “But where we see violent offenders, we’re going to hold them accountable.”
“This is a bad man,” Judd added. “And he needs to go to prison for a long time.”
