TAMPA, Fla. – A federal jury has found Armoni Tyree Moody, 24, of Davenport, guilty on all counts related to a violent carjacking, United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced Friday. Moody was convicted of carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.
The conviction stems from a harrowing incident where Moody used a social media arrangement for a marijuana purchase to ambush a victim. Evidence presented at trial showed that once Moody entered the victim’s car, he immediately brandished a loaded handgun and pressed it against the victim’s head.
Moody then forced the victim to surrender two cellphones and issued a dire threat: “Get out of the car or he would shoot the victim,” before driving off with the vehicle.
The day after the carjacking, investigators obtained a search warrant for Moody’s residence.
In his bedroom, detectives recovered the victim’s belongings and the loaded firearm used in the robbery. The stolen car was also found parked nearby. Further investigation of Moody’s cellphone yielded highly incriminating evidence, including text messages where he discussed his intent to commit the robbery just hours before the attack. Videos also showed Moody possessing the same firearm on his social media account.
Moody was already prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law due to a prior conviction for robbery with a weapon, for which he was still serving a term of probation at the time of the carjacking.
For these new federal offenses, Moody faces a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years in federal prison and could receive a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 21, 2026.
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