Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

Tuesday, U. S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr., sentenced a Tampa woman to prison. Ms. Rashia Wilson was indicted last December on the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on April 3, 2013.

So far, Ms. Wilson has received the lengthiest sentence handed down during a tax fraud investigation.

According to court documents, Ms. Wilson was facing more than 400 years in prison. She was charged with 1 count of conspiracy, 9 counts of wire fraud, 19 counts of filing false income tax refunds, 14 counts of theft of government property, and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft.

However, as a result of a plea agreement, Ms. Wilson was sentenced to 18 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and 210 months (17.5 years) for wire fraud. She was also sentenced to 24 months for aggravated identity theft, which will run consecutively to the other sentences.

Beginning in 2009, Ms. Wilson and her boyfriend, Maurice “Thirst” Larry, began filing the fraudulent income tax returns. She is accused of obtaining more than $2.2 million in illegal federal income tax refunds.

Officials said she spent $30,000 on her daughter’s first birthday party using proceeds from the tax fraud scheme. She also purchased a 2013 Audi A8L valued at $90,000, along with expensive purses, a necklace with her name spelled out in diamonds, and other high end items.

Ms. Wilson forfeited $2,240,096.39 in traceable proceeds. The Internal Revenue Service estimates that actual loss is $3,147,477, of which she was court ordered to pay restitution, and the intended loss is in excess of $11 million.

Federal attorneys showed photographs Ms. Wilson posted on Facebook holding stacks of money. She was also quoted on the Facebook page saying, “I’m a millionaire for the record so if u think indicting me will be easy, it won’t, I promise u!”

She also posed with a handgun, although she was a convicted felon.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered thousands of names and social security numbers in ledgers and on various other records, including medical billing records. They also recovered a handgun from her home during the execution of a search warrant.

Officials Comment

Tampa earned the dubious title of being the headquarters of federal income tax fraud. Initially, local law enforcement was unable to successfully make cases because of federal barriers. However, laws were changed and federal investigators began working with local law enforcement.

In September 2011, Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor led a task force and initiated an investigation known as “Operation Rainmaker.” Several people were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from filing fraudulent income tax refunds to wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

James Robnett, Special Agent in Charge for the IRS Criminal Investigations said, “The sentencing was a result of criminal actions by Rashia Wilson and sends a strong message to others who file false tax returns with stolen identities, that they will face severe consequences.

“These crimes victimize the most venerable of our fellow citizens; the elderly, our youth and family members of the deceased.  IRS-CI and its Tampa Bay Alliance partners, along with the U. S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to vigorously investigate these crimes.”

John Joyce, Special Agent in Charge for the U. S. Secret Service – Tampa said, “Ms. Wilson’s sentence is an indication of how the courts look upon identity theft. To those who venture down the same road, know that you will be caught, and you will be severely punished. The judge’s message is crystal clear.”

Assistant Inspector in Charge Barney Morris said, “The Inspection Service is committed to preventing the use of the U. S. Mail in criminal schemes and collaborating with sister law enforcement agencies to successfully prosecute responsible parties.

“The culmination of the Rashia Wilson investigation reflects what can happen when local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work collaboratively to combat these types of crimes.”

Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor said, “There are some in the community who think they can commit tax fraud and get away with it. Those days are over! This case is just an example of the consequences violators will face when they try to steal from hard working taxpayers.”

Colonel Donna Lusczynski, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said,
“The success of this investigation was a result of the various agencies working together. This case represents one of the worst tax fraud cases in the Tampa Bay area and the outcome should send a clear message to others that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in our community.”

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

Wednesday afternoon, Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor stated detectives have identified the suspect in the murder of a Family Dollar manager. The manager was fatally wounded last Sunday morning.

Around 9 a.m., the gunman entered the Family Dollar, 4900 N. 40^th Street. He approached the clerk and demanded money. Horsley “J. R.” Shorter, Jr., the store manager, saw the robbery being committed and went to help the clerk.

The suspect shot Shorter, forced the clerk into the parking lot at gunpoint and attempted to place the clerk in the trunk of his own car. The clerk pleaded with the gunman and he took the clerk’s car and drove away.

Shorter, 49, was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Demetrius Lamar Parks

Police have issued a warrant for Demetrius Lamar Parks, 23, of Tampa. Police said Parks is considered armed and dangerous.

Investigators recovered the stolen car in the 2500 block of E. 38^th Avenue later that Sunday night. They have also recovered some of the suspect’s clothing.

Tips from the community helped investigators to identify Parks from the store surveillance video.

Chief Castor said Parks was released on March 31, 2012, after serving a 3-year prison sentence on weapons charges. Since his release, Parks has lived with family members and friends. He has been arrested by Tampa Police four (4) times since his release for burglary, grand theft, opposing an officer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A $16,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of Parks. 

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office website, Parks was last arrested on June 22^nd, and released the following day on a burglary of an unoccupied dwelling charge.

Anyone with any information concerning the whereabouts of Parks is asked to contact Tampa Police at (813) 309-0467 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

Manager Was Popular

Known as “J. R.,” Mr. Shorter was popular with store patrons and other members of the community. He had worked there for the past 4 years.

Aikens Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements for Mr. Shorter.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

On Saturday night, after several hours of deliberation, an all-white jury acquitted George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman shot the unarmed teenager on February 26, 2012, in the small town of Sanford, Florida.

Zimmerman was arrested three weeks after the shooting and charged with second-degree murder after international protests took place. Some citizens who followed the trial shared their comments about the verdict.

Ed Racker said, “Every time I allow myself to think that racism in America is on the decline, along comes something to bring me back to reality; this time it was the Zimmerman acquittal!”

Ms. Ann Jenkins said, “This is very ugly, I believe that the jury was hand-picked before they was chosen in court.  This sends a bad message to our African American youth, racism is still alive, they can kill and get away with it, and nothing will be done about it.  I hope that Martin’s family go to civil court right away and make Zimmerman pay, he has the money, because the KKK has been paying his bills all alone.  When the black man killed the white man under the same law they gave him much time; but when Zimmerman did it, the KKK and all other whites with their evil hearts stuck by him.

“I want you to know that God is not sleep, he’s still alive and well. This too, shall come to past. This event has pushed us all the way back to the slavery days.  I said that to say; they can still kill our people with no remorse and get away with it.  It’s not about being smart, it’s about having the money to do it with.”

Danny Green said, “First. Thing my prayers go out to the Martin family.
We all know that Justice was not served for the Martin family We are not surprised by the Florida justice system. In Florida we have a record of screwing things up. It seems the prosecution was on the defensive side, you would think so.

“Zimmerman got away with killing a young child. It was not about white and black it was about killing a child, I’m very upset with the verdict.”

Donald Dowridge, Jr. (pictured, right), said, “How can this be when all the evidence point towards George Zimmerman being a man of guilt? As much as it hurt to admit, the defense lawyers made their case even though it was a case of lies. My heart go to Treyvon Martin’s mother and father as well as his family and the our Black community.

“This is where we must police ourselves better and really begin to educate our young Black teen boys and young men even more of their responsibilities so they no longer become a targets. George Zimmerman’s life will never be joyful, he will always pay each and every day of his life!”

Dr. Sam Wright said, “I am befuddled! As a father of a young Black male, my heart hurts for the family and all other families who have had to endure such tragedies.  We yet have problems in America that we must address and many of them are in our Criminal Justice system.”

Billy Wheeler said, “The Zimmerman verdict yet again points out the truth that the current justice system relentlessly works against people of color. To maintain an undue advantage, they exploit the technicalities of the law quoting “not guilty does not mean innocent,” and “the burden of reasonable doubt wasn’t met.”  However, these nuances never come into play when a person of color is on trial. It’s maddening how commonly used evidence techniques, such as polygraph and voice recognition suddenly become useless when they would serve to further the cause of a person of color.

“To attempt to identify Zimmerman as Hispanic goes against the truth of his everyday existence; he fully embraced the mindset and enjoyed the privileges of having white skin.

As recently as 2010, 72-year-old Trevor Dooley (a black man) left his Valrico home to complain about a 14-year-old non-resident skateboarder who, in violation of posted signs barring skateboard use, was riding on the basketball court across from his house.

“The youth later said 41-year old David James, a white resident who was there playing with his daughter, gave him “permission.”  Witnesses testified that an argument between James and Dooley began, during which Dooley revealed a gun in his waistband.  They also said Dooley turned and headed home, but the younger, stronger, and larger James spun him around and tried to grab the gun.

“James was shot and killed when the men fell to the ground during the struggle in which he was the aggressor.  Even so, Dooley was sentenced to 8 years in jail for manslaughter.  Such verdicts are a manifestation of the blatant unfairness of a system that is a malignant cancer on the country’s soul, and it must be cut out to prevent its persistent growth.”

Maurice Kemp said, “It’s difficult to respond reasonably to such an emotionally charged case and verdict. It is a fact that George Zimmerman immorally took the life of unarmed Trayvon Martin.

It is highly possible that George Zimmerman is racist. The problem is, George Zimmerman was not on trial for his immorality nor racism; he was on trial for unjustifiably taking the life of Trayvon Martin. 

“His attorneys argued that his actions were justifiable under the “Stand Your Ground (SYG)” law and six jurors found him not guilty. Moving forward, we need to eliminate or restrict the SYG law that has allowed for quite a few “justifiable” homicides. We also need to send a clear message to our State legislators that we will not quietly stand for any more of this injustice; and it does not matter if the accused is White, Hispanic, Asian or Black.”

Steve Marshall said, “In my opinion, the verdict was horrible, and I am thoroughly disappointed.  It does not matter who was screaming on the tape and all the other loop halls as it relates to the trial.  The undeniable fact is an unarmed African American teenager was profiled, pursued, and killed.  There should be some penalty for a unarmed teen’s life taken for no justifiable cause. WE MUST PRAY!”

Ross Anderson said, “I anticipated that verdict based on the law. What the law and the verdict doesn’t address is that Trayon Martin was racial profiled and that is a FACT.  This not guilty verdict just sent the message to all young minority boys that you can be racial profiled by someone. They can follow you confront you and when the outcome is not to their liking you can be shot and it will be in self defense.

“What I’m most concern with is the 20+ senseless killing in our neighbors of our African boys  killing each other over money and girls since the Trayvon Martin shooting happen a year and half ago. We just had 3 in the last month and 2 are dead and 1 is still in the hospital. We have to do more to educated our young men on their rights and the law.”

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

On Monday (today) at 7 p. m., family members and members of the community will hold a candlelight vigil at the Family Dollar Store, 4900 N. 40^th Street. The vigil is being held to remember Mr. Horsley J. R. Shorter, Jr., one of the store managers who was shot and killed Sunday during an armed robbery.

According to a spokesperson for the Tampa Police Department, around 9 a.m., on Sunday, an armed suspect entered the Family Dollar Store, (corner of N. 40^th Street and E. Ellicott) and approached a clerk, and demanded money. Mr. Horsley “J. R.” Shorter, Jr., 49, a manager, was in the office and observed the robbery in progress.

Police said the gunman shot Shorter and forced the clerk into the parking lot at gunpoint. He attempted to place the clerk in the trunk of his own vehicle, but the clerk pleaded with him. The suspect eventually closed the trunk and drove off in the man’s 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage. The car was later located Sunday night in the 2500 block of E. 38^th Avenue.

The suspect is described as being in his 20s with a thin build and dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a black Beanie, long sleeved thermal shirt, long shorts, and dark blue boxers.

If anyone has any information pertaining to the suspect, he or she is asked to contact the Tampa Police Department at (813) 231-6130 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).

Manager Was Popular

Known as “J.R.,” Mr. Shorter was well known by patrons of the store. He had worked there for the past 4 years.

A native of Reynolds, Georgia, he was the 7^th of 8 children born to Mrs. Hattie Shorter, and the late Mr. Horsley Shorter, Sr.

His family moved to Tampa when he was 6 years old and he attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. He graduated from Tampa Bay Technical High School in 1981, and entered the U. S. Army.

His sister, Mrs. Trinetta Shorter-Williams, said after entering the Army, her brother later transferred to the U. S. Air Force. After dedicating 26 years of his life to the military, Shorter retired and returned home for a period.

Mrs. Shorter-Williams said he later relocated to Maryland. However, when their father died in 2009, Shorter returned to Tampa to care for his mother, who was ill at the time.

After returning to Tampa, he became employed with the Family Dollar Store.

“I’m the youngest and we were close in age, so we were very close. He was really a good person. My brother was a person who really would do anything he could for you. He was my hero, and I’m just speechless. I’m just saddened by this.”

She further stated that while he wasn’t married and didn’t have any children of his own, he treated his nieces like they were his kids. He loved hanging out with his friends, playing softball, football, and going to the gym.

Mrs. Shorter-Williams said her brother would often attend New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Funeral services for Mr. Shorter were incomplete at press time. Aikens Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.

BY LEON B. CREWS

Sentinel Staff Writer

On Tuesday, the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership group held their monthly meeting at the Ragan Park Center on Lake Avenue.

Attending the meeting were a group of senior citizens, led by Mrs. Betty Bell, President of the Highland Pines Neighborhood Association and Crime Watch. Representing the seniors, Ms. Queen Miller proposed Ragan Center be used as a senior center, available to East Tampa seniors three days a week for exercise and activities.

“Greg Bayor, the Director of Parks and Recreation, was at the meeting and said the center is underutilized, so Ms. Miller suggested we use it as a senior center, and I agreed,” said Mrs. Bell.

“I had already talked to the seniors about it, and that’s why about 20 of us decided to come to the meeting.”

Mrs. Bell said a representative from the city was at the meeting, and tried to stop any discussion about seniors taking over the park and building.

“We were told it wouldn’t be feasible, but we weren’t told why, or that our suggestion was baseless.

“We’ve either been turned away from other centers, or forced to leave to make way for the children. We want to be able to meet without giving way for the children.”

Mrs. Bell said she thanked the seniors for coming out, and she’s vowing to fight to get this done.

“I don’t understand why we can’t use the park for exercise, and the building to play games and cool down.

“Our exercise group has no place to meet, and we have a little over 30 seniors in our group.”

ETCRP Chair, Essie Sims, said he can’t comment on an issue that will be decided by the city’s parks and recreation department, but he feels the seniors in East Tampa do have places to go.

Sims said when they started the senior centers, they wanted one in every East Tampa park as a matter of convenience, and they exist at Oak Park, Williams Park, Cyrus Greene, and Woodland Terrace.

“We thought by establishing senior centers in all the parks, the seniors wouldn’t be bound by transportation problems when they want to go.”

Bayor said it is feasible, but maybe not practical.

“We have a lot of youth and adults using that facility, and I believe if the center isn’t in an area with senior living facilities, it wouldn’t be fully utilized. I think multi-generational centers work better.

“Once school starts, it would be practical, because the kids won’t be around.”

Bayor said they are working on increasing the number of senior programs available, and they are reorganizing.

“I’m putting all of the centers under one person. I consider that a return to a traditional model, and that will put responsibility on one person for what happens at the centers.”

Last Thursday, a federal jury found a Tampa bail bondsman guilty of several charges. His sentencing hearing is planned for October 8, 2013.

Freddie Wilson, 39, owner of Against All Odds Bail Bonds, (AAO), 5006 E. Broadway, Suite #7, was charged with engaging in the theft of government funds and willfully obstructing a criminal investigation.

On Thursday, he was found guilty of six counts of theft of government funds, five counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of money laundering, and one count of obstruction of justice. Wilson faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison on each count of theft of government funds, two years’ consecutive imprisonment on each count of aggravated identity theft, ten years’ imprisonment for money laundering, and five years’ imprisonment for obstruction of justice.

According to police, Wilson opened an account at the Wells Fargo Bank on May 8, 2012, and deposited 18 U. S. Treasury checks, worth $53,061, into the account. All of the checks were payable to third parties and were either payments of income tax refunds or Social Security.

“Records show the funds were quickly depleted after the U. S. Treasury checks were deposited,” police said in the affidavit. The bank closed the account on October 11, 2012.

Wilson opened a bank account at Hancock Bank on June 22, 2012. He allegedly deposited 376 U. S. Treasury checks, valued at $312,759 into the account. None of the checks were made payable to him, police said.

The checks were in the names of different people who told police they did not authorize anyone to use their personal information.

In January 2013, a federal search warrant was executed at AAO and agents seized a 2011 Camaro and approximately $8,600 in cash.

During the execution of the search warrant, agents seized six boxes of documents. A few weeks later, an attorney representing Wilson spoke with investigators and told them that Wilson needed some of the documents seized to continue operating his business.

The agents agreed to allow Wilson to copy three boxes of the documents at a local FedEx copying center. After about three weeks, on March 14^th, the agent returned to the center to retrieve the documents and learned that someone had taken the copies as well as the original documents.

The agent stated in the affidavit that he contacted one of the attorneys representing Wilson and was told that Wilson would return the documents on March 16^th, at 8:30 a.m. However, the agent said Wilson did not keep the agreement.

When the agent returned to the copy center on March 18^th, to retrieve the documents, half of them (one-and-one-half boxes) were missing and not returned by Wilson.

The agent stated in the affidavit that “Wilson was uncooperative with law enforcement with regard to both the search and seizure warrants and did not want to turn over the Camaro.”

Wilson subsequently obstructed the criminal investigation by taking records that were seized during the search warrant and failing to return them to the government.

Wilson reportedly spent all of the money that he received from the fraudulent tax returns on personal expenses, including the purchase of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, mortgage payments, expensive restaurants, hotels, and spent more than $30,000 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, investigators said.

He also cash checks payable to himself for $110,445, the agent wrote.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

The Florida State Conference of the NAACP is currently planning bus trips for citizens wishing to participate in the historic “March On Washington” anniversary. The buses will leave from five cities in Florida.

Ms. Pat Spencer, Area Director, Florida State Conference NAACP said, “This is an opportunity for those who went to Washington D. C., 50 years ago to relive those memories.

“It is also an opportunity for who didn’t attend to experience the event. We are encouraging parents to expose their children to this positive and historic event.”

Ms. Spencer said if enough people commit to making the trip, buses will be leaving from the cities of Tampa, Gainesville, Miami, Lake Placid, and Pensacola. The buses will leave on the afternoon of Friday, August 23^rd, and arrive in Washington, D. C. by 7 a.m., on Saturday, August 24^th.

The visitors will attend the rally and then spend the night at the Holiday Inn, in Laurel, Maryland. They will leave Washington on Sunday, August 25^th, and return to their respective cities.

Ms. Spencer further stated that each bus will transport 54 people to the rally. “We must get enough people to fill the buses before we sign the contract. We are working with a deadline of July 19^th.”

Anyone wishing to obtain more information about the proposed trip can contact Ms. Spencer immediately at pspencerfla@aol.com.

The Hillsborough County Public Schools Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) recently conducted the second in a series of outreach efforts to engage dozens of registered vendors with District buyers who have the ability to spend up to $5,000 without bid and up to $10,000 with three (3) quotes, along with buyers from prime (large) companies that do business with the District.

These outreach efforts, called the OSD Mini – Trade Show, brought together several businesses and vendors to display goods and to provide the opportunity to explain their service menu.

Acting as second-tier vendors – defined as suppliers of products or services directly or indirectly in support of District requirements – the strategy seeks to position OSD registered businesses to do direct business with prime (large) companies or District staff that have a history of discretionary purchasing of the specific product or services.

One such business that has reported an increase is Exclusively Yours Professional Services, a company that provides process services such as fingerprinting, private investigation and legal document delivery.

According to owner Sandra Nelson, the OSD support has been invaluable to her business. “From the beginning my relationship with the OSD has been very positive, professional and beneficial,” she says. “They have helped my business thrive and grow.”

Nelson joined the OSD in 2006 and got her first District contract in 2007.

The OSD currently has more than 600 registered vendors that offer services that include as examples air conditioning, IT software development, temporary staffing and upholstery.

Ben Moore (pictured above), HCPS Supplier Diversity Officer, says the second-tier connections are part of the outreach goals of the OSD. “We want all of our prime buyers and vendors to come together and exchange information so both parties may benefit,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation for the vendors to garner more business, as well as for the buyers to further utilize registered vendors thereby reinvesting in our local community.”

The benefits of the second-tier contracts are echoed by Glen Lathers, Manager, Safety and Risk Management Programs. “Ben and I realized that many of the services that are needed by the District are too large for OSD vendors, so we developed this method as a way to include District vendors at the table.”

For additional information regarding the OSD or how to register, contact the OSD at (813) 635-1240 or visit the website at http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/OSD/index.asp.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

On Monday, July 15, a Tampa attorney will be among several individuals chosen as recipients of an award from the NAACP in the field of Civil Rights. The awards are presented each year during the National Convention.

This year, Attorney Delano Stewart has been chosen as the representative from the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP to receive the Foot Soldier In The Sand Award. The award will be presented to Attorney Stewart at the National Convention luncheon in Orlando.

A Tampa native, Attorney Stewart holds a Heritage Lifetime Membership in the Hillsborough County NAACP.

When contacted by the Sentinel about being chosen as the recipient of the prestigious award, Attorney Stewart said, “My grandmother always told me that ‘if you keep your feet on the ground it will be difficult for you to fall.’ What a great reward!”

Attorney Stewart earned his B. A. degree from Morehouse College. He continued his education at Howard University, where he received his L. L. D., degree. He became a member of the Florida Bar in 1965.

He has also studied at the University of Philippines, Long Island University while in the Air Force, and has maintained a successful law practice for more than 40 years.

Attorney Stewart is a member of several professional and social organizations. He has a long history in the fight for Civil Rights and is the recipient of many awards and commendations.

He is married to Attorney Carolyn House Stewart, and is the father of 7 daughters.