Orange County deputy charged in connection with brazen car theft near Winter Springs avoids prison sentence by confessing

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Florida. — Francisco Estrella, the Orange County deputy who was indicted in Seminole County on a long list of charges related to an April carjacking near Winter Springs, will avoid prison time as part of a plea agreement, court records show.

Estrella, 33, was arrested and charged with interception of wired, oral or electronic communications, transmission of wired, oral or electronic communications, transmission or use of confidential criminal justice information, unauthorized use of a two-way communication device, and unauthorized access to a computer or electronic device or exceeding authorization.

Court records from Aug. 28 show that Estrella, who was released from jail on bail days after his arrest, can avoid prison time by pleading guilty after three charges were dropped and must spend 12 months on probation on a misdemeanor charge.

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The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said that on April 11, 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas of Homestead was stopped at a traffic light in her Dodge Durango at the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road when a masked gunman with a 10mm automatic weapon got out of a green Acura, got into her SUV and apparently forced her to drive away at gunpoint.

Less than two hours later, a vehicle similar to the Durango was found ablaze in Osceola County after witnesses reported hearing gunshots at a construction site near Boggy Creek Road, the sheriff said, adding that the vehicle was so badly damaged that it could not be identified. A body believed to be Aguasvivas was found inside the vehicle, officials said.

Sheriff Dennis Lemma said the woman’s brother and her husband, Miguel Aguasvivas, contacted Estrella’s wife, a childhood friend. An arrest warrant affidavit states that Estrella called one of the Seminole County Sheriff’s detectives involved in the carjacking investigation, identifying himself as “Francisco Archuela” and claiming to be Aguasvivas’ cousin.

Estrella said he was concerned about the investigation and Aguasvivas’ safety, and he asked for details on the status of the investigation, the affidavit states. However, the investigator told Estrella that she could not provide those details because the investigation was ongoing.

Estrella was hired by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in September 2022. He has been relieved of all police duties without pay while the criminal case is pending. Once the criminal case is concluded, an administrative investigation will be conducted by the OCSO, the results of which will be made public.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office issued the following statement regarding Estrella’s employment with the agency:

“Estrella has been relieved of all police duties, without pay, while the criminal proceedings are pending. Once the criminal proceedings are concluded, an administrative investigation will be conducted by the OCSO and the results of that investigation will be made public.”

Orange County Sheriff’s Office

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