Man Pleads Guilty to Strangling Military Spouse Multiple Times, Lying to FBI

A man pleaded guilty Wednesday to strangling his active-duty military spouse on multiple occasions while they were both overseas, and then lying to federal authorities about his actions.

Antonio Jabar Floyd Jr., 38, of Florida, strangled his wife once in 2025 and again in 2026 while he was living with her overseas in Misawa, Japan, according to a Justice Department press release issued Wednesday. The wife’s service information was not provided.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence (strangulation) and one count of making false statements to a federal agency.

He will be sentenced on Oct. 15 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count, in addition to mandatory domestic violence counseling. FBI Los Angeles investigated this case with support from Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

Details Surrounding Strangling Incidents

The first incident in January 2025 occurred while Floyd, his wife and their children were at the home of a mutual friend.

Floyd reportedly became enraged at his wife and began strangling her so hard that his hand shook. According to authorities, he told her, “See how easy I can control you.”

The friend attempted to intervene but was unable to pull his hand from his wife’s neck.

The second incident in April 2026 occurred in the family’s own home, and in the presence of their minor children. Floyd strangled her after he read her personal emails, telling her she was “lucky I didn’t kill you.”

He also told her that he would not leave her, even if she served him divorce papers.

Lying to FBI, Past Charges

The strangling incidents ultimately led to questioning from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The DOJ said that Floyd Jr. made several false statements during consensual meetings with investigating FBI agents, including denying that he strangled his wife. He also claimed he never engaged in physical violence against her, or that he had never been arrested for battery or assault.

Agents discovered that all claims were untrue, including those regarding his purportedly spotless criminal record. Court records indicate that Floyd was arrested in Pensacola, Fla., on Oct. 22, 2020, for first-degree battery on his wife for reportedly grabbing her by the throat and slamming her into a hallway wall.

Senior trial attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting this case.

A judge will ultimately determine Floyd’s sentence after taking into account U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.