Melbourne, FL — Three Brevard County residents have been indicted on federal charges following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation as part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative aimed at dismantling drug cartels and reducing violent crime.
Michael Jatsko, Alivia Assidio, and Leonard Nile Jr., all of Melbourne, face serious federal charges, including Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Fentanyl. Jatsko and Assidio were also charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. If convicted, Jatsko and Assidio face up to life in federal prison, while Nile could receive up to 40 years behind bars.
The indictment follows a joint investigation that culminated on June 24, 2025, when members of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit observed Jatsko and Nile loading large bags and boxes—believed to contain narcotics—into a vehicle. When deputies attempted a traffic stop, the suspects fled at high speed. The chase ended when Florida Highway Patrol troopers successfully immobilized the vehicle.
