Winter Haven Man Charged With Assaulting Federal Officers

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Altius Willix (47, Winter Haven) has been charged in a criminal complaint with assaulting, resisting, and impeding federal law enforcement officers while using deadly and dangerous weapons.  If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.  Willix was arrested on April 12, 2016. The following day, he made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson and was detained.

According to the complaint, on April 12, 2016, three federal agents approached Willix during the course of a narcotics investigation.  Willix fled and ultimately collided with one of the agents.  As the agents attempted to detain him, Willix tried to remove holstered firearms from two of those federal agents.  When told to let go, Willix responded, “You’re gonna have to kill me.”  Willix was ultimately handcuffed and taken into custody.  

A criminal complaint is merely an informal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.