Amber Hwang
“A Mother and Veteran Targeted by Highlands County Law Enforcement”
Who I Am
My name is Amber Hwang — a U.S. Army veteran, a mother of two, and a disabled woman who has served her country with pride. I hold two bachelor’s degrees, run my own business, and have spent years working to give my children a better life.
But instead of being honored for my service or supported as a citizen, I’ve been harassed, threatened, and intimidated by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) — all because I stood by my husband and demanded that the law be followed fairly, not politically.
🔹 Targeting Me as a Disabled Female Veteran
What makes this more outrageous is that I’m not just a citizen — I’m a disabled veteran who has sacrificed for this country. Yet Highlands County treated me like a criminal simply for supporting my husband’s right to due process.
They forced me out of my own home, making it clear that if I stayed in the county and continued to defend my husband, I would be in their crosshairs.
The main perpetrator, Detective Ramos, made it explicitly known that they were “watching me”, and told me that if they could find — or fabricate — any evidence, they would prosecute me too.
Detective Ramos even threatened me with five years in prison for allegedly helping my husband use a phone.
The threat was clear: "Leave the county, stop supporting your husband, or we’ll find a way to put you behind bars too."
This was nothing short of political exile by force and fear — in direct violation of my constitutional rights.
🔹 What Happened to My Family
1. Illegal Search & Intimidation
On May 29, 2025, HCSO deputies entered my home under false pretenses. They conducted a search warrant on hearsay only. They have the judges on their side and twist the situation to justify an arrest.
2. Weaponizing Technicalities
Jose was arrested over a vehicle that wasn’t his, wasn’t operated by him, and wasn’t even at our residence for more than five days. The law clearly requires a vehicle to be at a registered residence for over five days — but Highlands County intentionally misread the statute to target him.
3. Threats Against Me
I was told directly by HCSO Detective Ramos that if I didn’t stop helping my husband — legally, morally, or financially — I’d end up in jail too. This was a calculated move to strip away his support system, isolate him, and force a plea or conviction. I’s sure they never encountered people like us. Soldiers in arms together. That I would never give up on a not only my husband, but my Battle Buddy. They declared war on the wrong army of two.
🔹 Even My Lawyer Withheld the Truth
Our attorney, William David McNeil, told us the case would be hard to fight. But when I spoke to another lawyer, they instantly recognized that the statute had been misinterpreted by law enforcement.
When I brought this up to McNeil, he casually admitted he already knew that the law referred to the vehicle being present — not the person. He chose not to tell us upfront. This concealment of crucial legal information left us in the dark and delayed our ability to fight back effectively.
🔹 A Local Economy Built on Incarceration
Highlands County appears to run a legal-industrial machine that feeds off incarceration:
Public defenders are overwhelmed, and families are pressured into hiring expensive attorneys.
Bail bondsmen are everywhere, thriving on a jail population that far exceeds capacity.
Minor violations are turned into jail time, while the local legal players — lawyers, deputies, judges, and jailers — operate like a closed economy, each profiting from the next arrest.
It’s a system built not to rehabilitate or protect — but to sustain itself by ruining lives.
🔹 What I’m Doing About It
I’ve retained legal counsel and am actively collecting evidence, documentation, and testimonies.
I’m launching Project: WhitePill, an initiative to expose the corruption and economic exploitation of probationers, veterans, and families like mine.
I’m speaking out — not just for myself, but for every person in Highlands County who has been targeted and silenced.
🔹 Why This Story Matters
This isn’t just about one arrest or one family. It’s about a broken system that targets the vulnerable, punishes the innocent, and sustains itself on fear, silence, and profit. It’s about a county where truth is twisted, and justice only exists for those who can afford to fight for it.
And I am fighting.
I named my daughter Astraea, after the goddess of justice — not realizing then that my life would become a battleground for that very ideal. But now, I see the weight of that name. I feel its purpose. I carry it forward.
I am her mother. I am a veteran. I am a protector. And I am now a fighter for justice — in her name, and in mine. I must set the example of the very name I gave to a piece of my heart.
This is more than my story. It’s a call to action.
