The ruling caps a case built on surveillance video, witness accounts and messages sent before the crash.
TAMPA, Fla. — A judge on Monday sentenced 27-year-old truck driver Dylan Fogle to life in prison for steering a semi into pedestrians outside Emperor’s Gentlemen’s Club in August 2024, killing 44-year-old Giovanni Soto and injuring two others.
The punishment follows a December jury verdict finding Fogle guilty of first-degree murder along with DUI manslaughter, attempted first-degree murder and DUI with serious bodily injury. Under Florida law, the murder conviction required a life term. The hearing also gave relatives a final chance to speak directly to the court, closing a case that moved quickly through trial after jurors saw video of the moments before impact and heard about messages Fogle sent around 4 a.m. that signaled what was coming.
In court, Fogle turned to the gallery and apologized through tears. “I’m deeply, deeply sorry for what happened,” he said, adding that he would “trade places with the victim” if he could. Judge Lyann Goudie said Fogle’s lack of prior criminal history did not lessen what she called a “monstrous” decision made within minutes. Prosecutors said he had been removed from the club for inappropriate conduct toward a staff member and soon afterward climbed into his rig on Adamo Drive. Video captured a brief fight near the entrance, then the truck rolling straight toward a cluster of people. Soto, a father, died at the scene; two others were seriously hurt.
Detectives traced the rig’s movements with nearby cameras and interviewed staff and patrons who had seen Fogle escorted out. Investigators said he had been drinking; precise measurements were not discussed Monday, but officials referenced impairment throughout the case. The state argued intent using text messages it said Fogle sent minutes before the crash. Defense attorneys stressed his clean record and said he panicked in the chaos outside the club. Jurors deliberated for only a few hours before returning guilty on all counts earlier this month, setting up a straightforward sentencing under the statute.
The corridor along Adamo Drive mixes late-night warehouses and auto yards with clubs that close in the early hours, and officers said semis are a familiar sight on the route before dawn. Police leaders in 2024 described the strike as avoidable, noting the unusual danger posed by a commercial truck aimed at pedestrians on a narrow apron of pavement. Club employees told investigators they were still ushering people away from the entrance when the cab appeared. Business owners nearby later shared clips from exterior cameras, which helped police map the final approach to the sidewalk and the angle of the truck as it crossed the driveway.
Monday’s orders included the life term for first-degree murder and prison time on the remaining counts to run concurrently under the court’s judgment. The clerk will docket a written judgment and any restitution. Standard post-trial motions may be filed; a notice of appeal typically follows within 30 days. The Department of Corrections will assign Fogle to a state facility after transport from the county jail. Prosecutors said they consider the case closed at the trial level and will respond to any appellate filings as they arise.
Inside the courtroom, Soto’s relatives held a portrait and listened as the judge spoke. A teenage daughter previously described her father as the family’s “backbone.” Friends embraced after the ruling and declined extended comments, saying the sentence brings accountability but not relief. A law enforcement official thanked witnesses who came forward early, saying their statements, combined with the footage, made the timeline clear. Outside, traffic hummed along Adamo Drive as court officers ushered people from the gallery and the clerk stamped the final paperwork.
As of late Monday, Fogle remained in county custody awaiting transfer to state prison. Court calendars listed no further hearings. The next expected development is a routine notice of appeal; any filing will appear on the public docket in the coming weeks.
Author note: Last updated December 30, 2025.