Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Christopher Switlyk (46, Orlando) guilty of two counts of removal of property to prevent seizure. Switlyk faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 6, 2025.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $10,700,592 was entered against Switlyk in 2013. The judgment arose from a prior criminal case in which he was convicted of several felony offenses. At that time, the government seized over $6 million and Switlyk owed more than $4 million. Years later, in 2022, the U.S. Marshals Service learned that Switlyk had acquired several bank and financial accounts, two vehicles, and three real properties in Daytona Beach and Tampa, for which he was the titled owner.
On November 13, 2022, the United States obtained from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, a Preliminary Order of Forfeiture for Substitute Assets, which allowed the government to seize Switlyk’s assets to partially satisfy the money judgment. The next day, the U.S. Marshals served the Order on Switlyk’s financial institutions, which froze his accounts. When Switlyk learned that some of his accounts had been frozen, he immediately transferred assets to his father on November 16 and 17, 2022. Among the assets he transferred were a Tesla vehicle and a real property in Tampa. Trial evidence showed that when Switlyk transferred those two properties to his father, he did so with the purpose of preventing or impairing the government’s lawful authority to take the properties into its custody or control.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.