5 Sentenced For Tampa Nightclub Robbery That Left Manager Without Eye

TAMPA, FL — Five Cocoa Beach men have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms for their roles in a violent armed robbery at a Tampa-area nightclub that left a manager permanently disfigured after he was shot in the face.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced Thursday that the five defendants received sentences ranging from nearly 14 years to more than 18 years in federal prison for the Feb. 1, 2025, robbery near Ybor City.

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Federal prosecutors said four of the men traveled approximately 100 miles from Brevard County to Tampa to carry out the robbery, while a fifth helped plan the crime and later divided the stolen money with the others.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diego F. Novaes and Lindsey Schmidt prosecuted the case.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti imposed the following sentences:

• Courtenay Smith, 36 — 18 years and four months.
• Phillip Johnson, 22 — 15 years.
• Sema-J De-Andre Brothers, 23 — more than 14 years.
• Na'Quezz Mack, 23 — more than 14 years.
• Derrick Worthington, 43 — 13 years and 10 months.

Evidence presented during sentencing showed that Johnson, Brothers, Mack and Worthington traveled to Tampa in two vehicles and parked near a restaurant in Ybor City before targeting a nearby nightclub.

Prosecutors said the group concealed its license plates to avoid surveillance cameras and watched the business until the crowd began to thin.

Johnson, Brothers and Mack then entered the nightclub wearing dark clothing, masks, gloves and hooded sweatshirts. Johnson carried a rifle, while the other two were armed with handguns.

Worthington reportedly remained outside as a lookout.

Once inside, prosecutors said the men threatened employees and demanded cash, purses and cellphones before moving toward the back of the nightclub in search of additional money.

The group then encountered the manager, who was shot in the face by Johnson.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the bullet entered the left side of the manager's face, shattered his nose and exited near his right eye. He ultimately lost his eye as a result.

The robbers then fled with the nightclub's cash proceeds, some of which were covered in the victim's blood, and returned to Brevard County.

Federal investigators determined that Smith, although not present during the robbery, had helped organize the crime and supplied items used by the group.

Prosecutors said all five men planned the robbery at Smith's Brevard County residence, where they later reconvened to divide the stolen money.

Investigators also uncovered evidence that members of the group believed they had killed someone during the robbery.

Despite the severity of the shooting, prosecutors said the men believed they would escape identification because they lived approximately 100 miles from the crime scene.

Authorities also said the defendants subsequently attempted to destroy evidence by throwing cellphones from a bridge, burning clothing and using bleach to remove the victim's blood from their vehicles.

The investigation was conducted by the Tampa Police Department and FBI, with assistance from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Cocoa Police Department and State Attorney's Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit.