Evergreen Reporter

U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Janet Williams, a 44-year-old resident of Brooksville, to one year in federal prison for providing false statements to federal agents. Williams pleaded guilty in June 2024.

Court documents reveal that on February 8, 2023, Williams' son, Sheldon Robinson, was arrested in connection with the murder of I.S., a 17-year-old student from Hernando County High School. Following his arrest, Williams discovered approximately $6,000 hidden by Robinson at her home, money he had received for committing the murder.

On August 9, 2023, during an interview with ATF special agents and detectives from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, Williams repeatedly denied finding any money linked to Robinson at her residence. The following week, she informed Robinson about the visit from ATF agents. "Feds came to the house. They took over the case," she said during a call with him. She also stated: "They were asking me…did you come into a whole bunch of money? I said No. But you did come into a whole bunch of money."

On September 20, 2023, while executing a federal search warrant at Williams' home, she again denied finding any money belonging to Robinson or having seen him with firearms. However, agents discovered numerous photos on her phone showing Robinson frequently possessing firearms in her home. During the search at her residence, authorities found a firearm partially buried in her backyard; forensic examination confirmed it was used in I.S.'s murder.

The investigation was conducted by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with significant support from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes prosecuted the case.