By Tiffany Williams –
Tampa, Fla. — An investigation into gang activity in one Tampa neighborhood has ended with the arrest of a repeat offender authorities say was tied to weapons, drugs and a violent domestic incident.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit says detectives arrested 29-year-old Lavardis Howard after identifying him as the primary suspect during an ongoing investigation into the Young Godz gang operating in the Grant Park area.
Howard, authorities say, is an eight-time convicted felon who had only recently returned to the community. Records show he was released from Florida State Prison in October 2025.
Detectives say the case against him intensified after a domestic incident on February 19, 2026. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant connected to that incident as the gang investigation continued to unfold.
Five days later, on February 24, Gang Unit detectives moved in to search Howard’s residence in Tampa.
What investigators say they found inside raised immediate alarms.
During the search, detectives located two pistols. One of the firearms had been reported stolen out of Tampa. Authorities also say detectives recovered approximately two pounds of marijuana, multiple boxes of ammunition, mushrooms and marijuana wax.
For investigators already examining alleged gang activity, the discovery of firearms, drugs and ammunition inside the home significantly expanded the scope of the case.
Detectives then obtained a second arrest warrant.
Howard was located on February 27 in Progress Village and taken into custody.
Authorities say he now faces a long list of criminal charges tied to the investigation.
Those charges include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, three counts of felon in possession of ammunition, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver, possession of cannabis more than 20 grams, possession of cannabis sativa resin, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver Schedule I, and possession of cocaine.
The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation into the Young Godz gang activity in the Grant Park area.
Authorities say the case underscores the continuing focus by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit on targeting repeat offenders and removing illegal weapons and narcotics from communities.
The investigation remains active as detectives continue examining evidence connected to the case.
Crime Beat Nation 