Florida Career Criminal Sprung Early From Prison, Goes on a Crime Spree

After being released early from jail, a "pure evil" Florida career criminal went on a crime spree that included the murder of an elderly man, according to authorities.

Police Chief Mario Augello revealed that 31-year-old Justin Giambanco had returned to a Palm Bay burglary and brutally murdered a 69-year-old man on Thursday.

Giambanco had spent only 18 months of a 53-month sentence, the NY Post noted.

The murder suspect was already in jail for unrelated charges when Palm Bay police chief Mario Augello made the connection. Augello described the Florida career criminal as "pure evil" and should never have been released early, given his history of violence.

Augello added that too many violent repeat offenders are being freed from prison too soon, either because their sentences were reduced or because their bottoms were not sufficiently reached.

Florida Career Criminal Charged Following the Murder of a 69-year-old Palm Bay Man

Palm Bay police responded to a report of a dead man in the 2700 block of Palm Drive Northeast and launched a homicide investigation around 7 p.m. on Thursday, said Augello.

Palm Drive is a short private street from US 1 between R.J. Conlan Boulevard and Castaway Point Park.

The man's identity was not made public by police, and an arrest affidavit was not available as of Sunday morning. The police have been contacted requesting information, per Florida Today.

Police in Melbourne and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office worked together, according to Augello, who stated that the murder was investigated.

Melbourne police had already arrested Giambanco, the Florida career criminal, on Thursday morning on unrelated felony charges following a brief foot chase at a Wawa in downtown Melbourne before Palm Bay police received the 911 call reporting a body on Palm Drive, according to an arrest document.

Giambanco lives in Brevard County, said Augello, and Giambanco told police in Melbourne that he has a home in Orlando.

Florida Career Criminal Justin Giambanco

Palm Bay police say that Giambanco has been arrested on multiple felonies and minor counts in the past, told Yahoo! News.

A total of 22 felonies and 24 misdemeanors have been filed against him.

"Somehow, he was out wandering free inside our neighborhood, scaring our citizens," Augello stated.

The police also reported that the Florida career criminal was detained and charged with aggravated violence and occupied burglary in 2017.

Justin Giambanco was also imprisoned for around two years, and in April 2021, he was given a 53-month sentence for persistently breaking the terms of his parole.

According to Augello, out of Giambanco's 53-month sentence, he barely served 18 months. Less than six months after his release in October 2022, he was arrested for assaulting a police officer and trespassing.

He was released on April 16; then, a 69-year-old Palm Bay resident was brutally murdered just days ago. He is a prime suspect in several burglaries that happened across the county after his recent parole.

Meanwhile, there is evidence to prosecute Justin Giambanco with second-degree murder with a firearm, grand theft with a gun, false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, said the Palm Bay Police.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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