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.
A subsequent search of the car uncovered multiple kilograms of cocaine. Follow-up searches at a storage unit and residence tied to Jatsko and Assidio revealed additional large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and multiple firearms. Both Jatsko and Assidio had prior felony drug convictions, making their possession of firearms a violation of federal law.
“This stuff is filtering into our neighborhoods, taking the lives of our loved ones—and it needs to stop,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey, emphasizing the broader consequences of unsecured borders and drug trafficking. “When we talk about securing our borders, it relates to so many things, including keeping this deadly poison out of our communities.”
Operation Take Back America combines the efforts of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The initiative focuses on fighting illegal immigration, eradicating cartel activity, and protecting American communities from violent criminal elements.
“This case is yet another example of the exceptional work being done by our Special Investigations Unit in collaboration with the DEA and Florida Highway Patrol,” said Ivey. “Thank you to all of our Agents, the DEA, and FHP for a job well done in getting these drugs off of our streets.”
The case will be prosecuted in federal court. No trial date has yet been set.
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