Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Vincent Steele

     A Riverview man was arrested after authorities say he shot a pregnant woman multiple times in a road rage incident after a crash in Palmetto.

     The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office stated that Vincent Steele, 50, was charged with five counts of attempted murder after a road rage shooting on Sunday stemming from a crash.

     On Sunday at around 5:30 p.m., a pickup truck was traveling north on Business U.S. 41 north in Palmetto when a BMW sedan, driven by Steele, attempted to pass it in the merge lane.

    The truck’s front bumper collided with Steele’s rear bumper, causing Steele to lose control and spin off into the grassy shoulder in the 6900 block of U.S. 41.

     According to MCSO, the victim stopped to check on the driver, at which point Steele got out of his BMW, ran up to the victim’s passenger door, and fired seven rounds into the truck.

ERNESHA ATMORE

     A judge recently sentenced a woman to 30 years in prison in connection with the theft of sunglasses from International Plaza. The sunglasses were valued at $20,000.

     Police said she used a soft-sided cooler to remove them from the store.

     Ms. Ernesha Atmore reportedly was arrested days after the theft. She had allegedly been offered a plea that would require her to spend 3 years in prison.

JOHNATHAN SHEPPARD

THERESA CRUZ

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a former Henderson Hammock Charter School teacher for inappropriate conduct against a student.

On May 6, 2024, detectives arrested Johnathan Sheppard, 38, for inappropriately touching a student and for sending inappropriate text messages during the 2023-2024 school year.

Sheppard was suspended on April 11, 2024, as a result of the investigation, and on April 19, the school terminated his employment. He was charged with two counts of authority figure soliciting or engaging in a romantic relationship with a student; and lewd or lascivious molestation (defendant over 18; victim 12 – 15) (authority figure over student).

During the investigation, detectives discovered that the Hillsborough County Public School’s Security Officer assigned to the charter school, Theresa Cruz, 48, had interfered with the school’s initial investigation into the allegations by providing Sheppard with details.

Theresa Cruz was arrested and charged with two counts of tampering with a witness (1st degree felony); and obstruction (resist without violence).

Detectives are asking if anyone believes they may have been a victim of Johnathan Sheppard; please call HCSO at 813-247-8200.

This is still an active investigation.

LEVITACUS RIGGINS

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an inmate.

On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, detention staff at the Falkenburg Road Jail conducted a well-being check on Levitacus Cymande Riggins, 50, at which time he was found unresponsive. Deputies and medical staff attempted life saving measures that were unfortunately unsuccessful.

Riggins had a known medical history, and the preliminary cause of death is believed to be medically related.

HCSO is conducting a death investigation and will follow up with the Medical Examiner’s Office for an official cause of death. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to the safety and well-being of all inmates in our custody.

AMIR WILLIAMS

An investigation into a fatal shooting is currently continuing. The shooting claimed the life of an 11-year-old St. Petersburg boy.

     According to police, at 12:15 p.m., police responded to a house at 1421 43rd St. S., for a gunshot wound to an 11-year-old boy. Amir Williams, was born on July 13, 2012, and died at the
scene, on April 26, 2024.

     There was no school on that day and Amir was home with his 14-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister.

The 14-year-old brother admitted he was playing with the gun and accidentally shot his 11-year-old brother.

The gun was reported stolen on April 24th in St. Petersburg.  Detectives are still trying to determine how the 14-year-old had possession of it.

This is an ongoing investigation and no one has been charged at this time.

Fentanyl Arrests

A Mexican drug trafficking organization operating in several states, including Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia was disrupted by a multi-agency investigation led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

The results of the investigation were the arrests of four people, and the seizure of fourteen kilograms of fentanyl. A fifth person is wanted.

Beginning in August of 2023, members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force began an investigation of a drug trafficking organization out of Mexico that was specializing in fentanyl.

The HIDTA Task Force received assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, The United States Border Patrol, and the State Attorney’s Office 10th Judicial Circuit.

During the early stages of the investigation, two kilograms of fentanyl were delivered from the trafficker based in Mexico to detectives.

A second delivery was coordinated for an in-person transaction at a motel in Lakeland on April 5, 2024 for one kilogram of fentanyl.

The success of the transaction in Lakeland led to another delivery; the trafficking organization agreed to ship eleven more kilograms of fentanyl to Polk County.

On April 22, 2024, 29-year-old Maria Machuca-Alderete, 48-year-old Maria Guadalupe-Garcia, 52-year-old Sergio Garcia, and 31-year-old Pedro Rodriguez-Correa arrived at a pre-determined location in Polk County to deliver the fentanyl, and all four were arrested at that time.

Rodriguez-Correa, the driver for the group, brought a six-year-old boy along for the delivery. Florida Department of Children & Families responded to the scene and took custody of the child.

In addition to the evidence, detectives also seized two vehicles used by the drug traffickers, and $5,461.00 in cash.

Those arrested are facing the following charges:

Maria Machuca-Alderete was charged with: trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams; maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs; 4 counts of resisting an officer with violence; 4 counts of battery on law enforcement officer; unlawful use of a 2-way communication device; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Machuca-Alderete is in the United States illegally, and a hold has been placed on her for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Maria Guadalupe-Garcia was charged with:  trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams; maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sergio Garcia was charged with: trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams; maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pedro Rodriguez-Correa was charged with:  trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams; unlawful use of a 2-way communication device; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rodriguez-Correa is in the United States illegally, and a hold has been placed on him for immigration and customs enforcement.

A fifth suspect is wanted for trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams; maintaining a vehicle to traffic drugs; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

ANGEL GABRIEL CUZ-CHOC

          The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Tampa man in connection with a double homicide in Dover.

      On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 5:25 p.m., the Communications Center received a call from a neighbor regarding a deceased female in the 3700 block of Sumner Road in Dover.

     Once on scene, deputies discovered a deceased female outside a mobile home with severe blunt-force trauma. When deputies entered the house, they found a young child who was also deceased with severe blunt-force trauma.

      Investigators, K9 units, and Aviation immediately began searching for a suspect, Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, 31, who they believed fled the area on foot.

     On Thursday, April 25, 2024, less than 24 hours after the discovery of a deceased woman and child, HCSO detectives found Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc hidden in a wooded area less than two miles from the scene of the crime.

     Detectives and several members of HCSO specialty teams worked all through the night to locate Cuz-Choc. Throughout the extensive search, K9 deputies tracked him to a wooded area between I-4 and Glen Harwell Road, where he was concealed in a bush.

     The two victims identified are: Amalia Coc Choc de Pec, 36, and Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc, 4.

      In interviews with detectives after he was arrested, Cuz-Choc confessed to both murders.

     While additional charges may be forthcoming, at this time, Cuz-Choc is facing the following charges:

• Murder in the First Degree with a Weapon x2.

TOMIA GAY

DERRICK HUNTER, JR.

KELVIN TERRY

SANTRICE WEST

Shortly after 2:30 a.m., on Sunday, April 28^th, officers on specialty patrol in the SOHO area were responding to a fight when they heard shots fired nearby and
immediately responded to the gunfire.

During the investigation, officers learned the incident started with a fight
among several adults in a parking lot on the corner of South Howard Avenue and
DeLeon Street.

Kelvin Terry, 29, told police he had been punched,
and his friend had been hit by several people. During the altercation, Terry admitted to firing shots.

No one reported any injuries from the shots fired,
but a nearby building was struck several times.

As a result of the incident, several people were arrested and face charges.

Tomia Gay, 23, was charged with battery;
Santrice West, 23, was charged with battery and introduction of contraband into a detention facility.

Derrick Hunter, Jr., 23, was charged with  battery; Kelvin Terry was charged with  shooting at, within or into a building,
and discharging firearm into public or residential property.