Florida Sentinel Bulletin

CHRISTIAN FREEBOURN

     The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection to a homicide investigation in Lithia.

     On May 10, 2024, deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 5500 block of Kinglethill Drive in Lithia, where they found Herbert Harris, 58, deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.

     After a thorough investigation, detectives took Christian Freebourn, 28, into custody on June 21, 2024, without incident.

     He was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail and is facing a charge of second-degree murder.

HECTOR BAEZ
TORRES

PILAR RIVERA

JEIMYLEE BAEZ RIVERA

MIGUEL CASTRO RIVERA

LUIS RAMOS DELGADO

     “Operation Rooske, A Family Affair:” Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and
the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, Ashley Moody,
Attorney General, coordinate dismantling of Lakeland-based fentanyl trafficking organization.

     A multi-agency fentanyl trafficking investigation, which lasted just over three
years, resulted in the arrest of 64 people, and crippled the Lakeland-based organization.

     The effort began in January of 2021 and included the coordination between the
Polk County Sheriff’s Office, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, Ashley Moody, Attorney General.

     The investigations were conducted with the assistance of the State Financial
Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E), Florida Program managed by the
FDLE.

     In 2023, the Florida Legislature established state funding for the
S.A.F.E program to conduct investigations designed to combat illegal fentanyl trafficking.  The grant provides financial support and assistance for approved
fentanyl-related investigative costs, such as overtime, travel, investigative supplies and equipment, and training.
Organized Crime Unit detectives from the PCSO and special agents from FDLE conducted multiple undercover purchases of fentanyl from the Rooske drug trafficking organization which used the Rooske Bait and Tackle Shop, 6908 U. S. 982 N., Lakeland, and Rooske Motorcycle Parts & Accessories, 6916 U. S. 98 N,
Lakeland, for drug trafficking and money laundering.

     Two suppliers of illegal drugs to the Rooske organization were identified: 26-year old Wilfredo Feliciano Velez and 59-year old Casimiro Bidot Del Valle
of Kissimmee. Feliciano Velez was arrested by PCSO detectives as he was delivering three kilograms of cocaine to Hector Baez Torres. Bidot Del Valle
was arrested at his residence by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office during the execution of a search warrant.

     On June 20, 2024, detectives from the PCSO’s Bureau of Special Investigations,
along with FDLE Special Agents, executed five search warrants in Polk County (Rooske Motorcycle Parts & Accessories, Rooske Bait & Tackle Shop, the
residence of Hector and Pilar, the residence of Jeimylee and Miguel, and the residence of Luis and Wilma and one in Osceola County (the residence of
Casimiro.
During the investigation, the following illegal drugs were seized: Fentanyl (742.14 grams), cocaine 3,585.42 grams, methamphetamine (13.08 grams), oxycodone (57 grams), and marijuana (228.69 grams). The total street value of the seized illegal drugs is estimated to be worth $475,348.60.

     Among the assets seized were: $12,270 in US currency, five vehicles ($154,000), two personal watercrafts $15,000), dirt bikes and off-road vehicles ($40,000), enclosed trailer ($4,000), Rooske Bait Store merchandise ($35,000), Rooske Motorcycle Shop merchandise ($55,000), jewelry/electronics/firearms/designer apparel ($67,500), bank accounts ($40,000), and liens on the residence of Hector and Pilar ($200,000). The total value of these seized assets is $604,770.00.

     Those assets, combined with the organization’s seized illegal drugs produced a
total impact of $1,080,118.60 on the Rooske Drug Trafficking Organization.

     While most of the arrests were buyers of illegal drugs from the Rooske organization, detectives used those arrests to lead back to and build a case
against the organization.

     The following were the main actors arrested during this operation:        Hector Baez Torres, 43, Lakeland
Charged: racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, unlawful
use of 2-way communication device.
     Pilar Rivera, 41, Lakeland (Hector’s wife) Charged: conspiracy to commit racketeering, unlawful use of 2-way communication device

     Jeimylee Baez Rivera, 23, Auburndale, daughter of Hector and Pilar
Charged: conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in cocaine 28g or
more, trafficking in fentanyl 28g or more, possession of oxycodone, possessing a structure for drugs with minor present, negligent child abuse w/o bodily harm, unlawful use of 2-way communication device,
possession of marijuana resin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of prescription drug without prescription.
     Miguel Castro Rivera, 24, Auburndale (boyfriend of Jeimylee) Charged: armed trafficking in cocaine,  racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in fentanyl 14g or more, armed
trafficking in fentanyl 28g or more, possessing a structure for drugs with minor present (f1), use of firearm during commission of felony offense, unlawful use of 2-way communication device (f3), negligent child abuse
w/o bodily harm, possession of marijuana resin, possession of
oxycodone, possession of marijuana, possession of altered firearm, resisting without violence possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of prescription drug without prescription.
Luis Ramos Delgado, 48, Lakeland (boyfriend of Wilma)
Charged: racketeering), conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in fentanyl 4g<14g, trafficking in fentanyl 14g<28g,
trafficking in fentanyl 28g or more (f1), and unlawful use of 2-way communication device.
     Wilma Fuentes Laureano, 56, Lakeland (girlfriend of Luis) Charged: conspiracy to commit racketeering, and trafficking in fentanyl 4g or more.

     Casimiro Bidot Del Valle, 59, Kissimmee (drug supplier to the organization)
Charged: trafficking in fentanyl 28g or more, trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, possession of firearm by convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

DANIEL BURON

A teenager is under arrest after arming himself and attempting to abduct an innocent shopper.

On Friday, June 28, 2024, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an attempted armed kidnapping at the Home Depot, 10150 Bloomingdale Avenue.

Detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff Office conducted the preliminary investigations. The investigation revealed that 16-year-old Daniel Buron entered the store and attempted to purchase a Visa gift card using a stolen credit/debit card.

After several unsuccessful attempts to complete the purchase, a Home Depot employee offered assistance, but Buron eventually abandoned his efforts and walked further into the store.

At that time, an individual was shopping alone and noticed Buron following her down several aisles. Buron approached her, stating he was having a bad day, and revealed a saw blade. He then instructed her to follow him to the bathroom, telling her to “act like you know me” and “don’t ask for help” while holding the blade and giving her directions.

He strategically guided her down an empty aisle to avoid other patrons and store staff.

Upon reaching the aisle where the bathrooms are located, the victim noticed store employees behind her and customers near the bathroom. Seizing the opportunity provided by the larger group of people in the vicinity, she sprinted to safety and informed several store employees and customers about what had happened. Multiple witnesses then observed Buron flee north out of the Home Depot parking lot.

A short time later, a witness spotted Buron just across the street at another retail store. HCSO deputies located Buron and arrested him.

The investigation remains ongoing.

TAYLEN MOSLEY

PACHUN JEFFERY

THOMAS MOSLEY

 …Accused of their deaths

     Thomas Mosley is accused of stabbing Pashun Jeffery more than 100 times in March 2023 in St. Pete. She was found in her apartment and her son, two-year-old, Taylen was found a day later in a lake close to Mosley’s mother’s home. Police said evidence puts Mosley at both scenes.

     Thomas was in court last Friday (June 14) for an update on his second competency hearing. He was sent away to a State hospital in late 2023 to be evaluated. Jeffery and Taylen’s family was in the courtroom Friday wearing shirts with pictures of the mother and son.

      Dr. Theresa L. Ascheman Jones who evaluated Mosley at the facility, testified that she found Mosley competent to proceed in January.

       There will be more testimony from doctors at the second half of the competency hearing next Friday (June 21^st). That’s when the judge is expected to decide if Mosley is competent to stand trial.

     Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Mosley has pleaded not guilty.

1400 Block Of Cactus Wren Place

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances that resulted in a suspect fatally shooting his parents and injuring one deputy.

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 11:09 p. m., deputies responded to the 14000 block of Cactus Wren Place in Tampa to the report of a shooting.

The caller stated her husband had just been shot. While on the phone with the HCSO dispatch center, several more shots were fired.

Upon arrival, deputies encountered the caller and suspect outside of the residence. The suspect, Christos Alexander Themelis, Jr., 19, then shot his mother, the caller, turned and fired towards deputies.

Five deputies returned fire, deploying their service weapons, causing Themelis, Jr., to retreat into his home.

HCSO’s SWAT Team, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, and Crisis Negotiation were called to the scene.

When specialty units entered the home, they discovered Christos had succumbed to his injuries.

The five deputies involved in this incident are:

     Deputy Shane McGough, 26, two years of service; Deputy Brandon Schade, 26, one year of service; Deputy Richard Ziegler, 33, nine years of service; Deputy Bjar Atkins, 38, 13 years of service; and Deputy Ciara Moncada, 34, two years of service

None of the deputies involved have any prior uses of deadly force.

McGough is currently in stable condition.

In accordance with HCSO policy, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

This investigation is ongoing.

PATRICIA WHITEHEAD

On June 13, 2024, at approximately 9:28 a. m., Tampa Police responded to a
residence on the 1000 block of E. 26th Ave., in reference to a shooting that had just occurred.

Upon their arrival, officers located an adult man with upper body trauma. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Through their investigation, detectives were able to determine that the suspect, 71-year-old Patricia Whitehead, and the victim shared a residential space. Whitehead had become angry with the victim, claiming he did not clean up after himself.

On the day of the incident, the victim was leaving the residence, when
Whitehead heard the victim slam the door. Whitehead retrieved her firearm from her bedroom, exited the residence, and shot the victim several times.

Whitehead was taken into custody and transported to Orient Road Jail. She was charged with first-degree murder.

JAKHARI FILMORE

DARRYL HILL

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting last month. The shooting took place in the 500 block of S. Howard Avenue.

     According to the Tampa Police Department,
26-year-old Jakhari Filmore and 24-year-old Darryl Hill are charged with being felons in possession of firearms after they were identified through investigative means as being in the area at the time of the shooting.

     Investigators are currently working to determine if they were involved in the
shooting incident. Additional charges could be forthcoming.
On May 12, 2024, shortly before 3:00 a. m., Tampa Police officers on patrol in
SoHo heard shots fired at a nearby parking lot and immediately responded.

     Kenneth Washington  and Kevon Christmas died from their injuries as
a result of the shooting.

     Based on the investigation, detectives determined that the altercation stemmed
from an ongoing dispute between two rival neighborhood groups and was not a
random act.

     Detectives are still working to identify the role of the third shooting
victim, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and determine if there
were any other shooters involved.

     The investigation is active and continuing.

JHUSTIN VILORIA JIMENEZ

Tampa Police have arrested one person following an altercation inside the Walmart, 1505 N. Dale Mabry Highway.

The preliminary investigation found there was an argument between a vendor and other individuals. The argument escalated when one person pulled out a knife
and cut another.

One adult male was transported to the hospital with serious, but
non-life-threatening injuries.

Jhustin Viloria Jimenez is charged with culpable negligence actual injury (battery).

Detectives are working to determine what led up to the altercation.

Zy’kiria Bell

    Florida Department of Juvenile Justice has shut down Lake Academy, a residential treatment program meant to help troubled teens, just days after local media reported on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a teenage girl who was staying at the Academy.

     Earlier this month, Zy’kiria Bell died while in state custody at Lake Academy, where she was sent for behavioral issues.

       The residential arm of the Department of Juvenile Justice is currently onsite and the DJJ Office of Inspector General is currently conducting a full and comprehensive investigation.

     The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has also launched an investigation into the tragic death of the teen.