NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – A Fort White man who had been indicted on charges of force labor with aggravated sexual abuse and social security theft was found dead in his cell at the Nassau County Jail, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The autopsy is pending, but foul play is not suspected in the death of Guarino Edwards Broccoli Jr., 54, U.S. marshals confirmed to News4Jax on Monday.
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The U.S. Attorney's Office said Broccoli, who was also known as Gary Broccoli and Gary Edwards, had been facing one count of forced labor with aggravated sexual abuse and three counts of theft of social security benefits -- two of which were for the theft of child auxiliary benefits of two minor children, and the other for theft of disability benefits.
In May, Broccoli was accused of sexually abusing a woman and forcing her to work for him. Broccoli allegedly threatened to harm the woman if she did not provide services, acting U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow said.
Meghan Gregory was one of several who contacted News4Jax via Facebook after an article about the original charge of forced labor was posted last month. Gregory said she believed she was married to Broccoli until she found out Broccoli was married to another woman.
Gregory, who now lives in Oklahoma, said she escaped foul conditions in Columbia County several years ago after being hospitalized.
“Gary was keeping me in a camper trailer with no electricity, no water, no food,” Gregory said.
Broccoli served a six-month prison sentence on a conviction for multiple charges of grand theft, criminal mischief and fraud. While Broccoli didn't have any bigamy charges, he was arrested twice in 2007. He was arrested again in Columbia County for passing worthless checks.