Two Men Convicted of Stalking and Almost Killing Miami Resident

MIAMI – On August 24, 2023, a jury found Jaime Serrano, 46, of New York, guilty of interstate stalking, conspiracy to use a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.  Julian Jimenez, 27, also from New York, pled guilty prior to trial to the same charges.  The crimes related to their conduct culminating in the near fatal shooting of a Miami resident in August 2019.

The evidence at trial revealed that, on August 21, 2019, Jimenez and Serrano flew together from New York to Miami.  Once in South Florida, Serrano rented a sedan, and he and Jimenez surveilled the victim at his Kendall business and at his residence.  As a result, they learned the victim’s normal routine.  Then, on August 26, 2019, Serrano traded in the sedan and rented a SUV hatchback. 

On August 27, 2019, Jimenez and Serrano continued their surveillance of the victim. On that date, the victim drove into his gated development at his normal time, approximately 8:00 p.m.  At or about that time, Serrano parked closed by and Jimenez exited the vehicle and entered the gated community on foot.  Jimenez reached the victim as he was sitting in his car, waiting to enter his garage.  Jimenez, wearing a mask and gloves, pulled out a firearm and shot at the victim multiple times, striking him several times.  Jimenez then fled the gated community and entered Serrano’s vehicle, which Serrano then drove away from the scene of the crime.

U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman is scheduled to sentence Jimenez on November 1, 2023, and Serrano on November 14, 2023.  Both men face a maximum sentence of up to life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the convictions.

The Miami-Dade Police Department handled the investigation until the FBI began its investigation in 2021.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abbie Waxman, Michael Gilfarb, and Katherine Guthrie prosecuted this case. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-cr-20389.

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