Florida Sentinel Bulletin

On Friday, Judge Steven Merryday sentenced 28-year-old Zavien Brand to 31 years in federal prison for distribution of crack cocaine, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and being a felon in possession of firearms. He entered a plea of guilty on April 10, 2012.

Court documents stated that a “Pines Operation” was initiated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in an effort to combat ongoing drug and gang activity in apartment complexes located in Tampa.

Authorities arrested 52 people on state or federal charges as a result of the operation. During the course of the operation, Brand allegedly sold five guns to undercover officers on five different occasions. On seven occasions, Brand reportedly sold crack cocaine to undercover authorities while he was carrying a firearm.

At the time of the offenses, Brand had at least five prior state felony convictions.

In a letter from State Attorney Mark Ober’s office, Tampa Police officers Shannon Murphy and Gregory Pryor have been cleared in the July 22, 2012 shooting death of 16-year-old Javon Neal.

Neal was gunned down by the officers as they pursued him inside the Central Court Apartments on Central Avenue and Columbus Drive. Officers said Neal was armed with a shotgun, and had turned toward them in a threatening manner when they opened fire on him.

In the letter from Ober’s office, he said his office has completed the investigation into the shooting, and based upon his review of the facts, reports, interviews, and the applicable law, the use of deadly force by the officers was justified.

Javon Neal’s mother, Kethessa Fordoms, said she was outraged when she got the news, and as far as she’s concerned, they murdered her son.

“There is no way this is justifiable. It was a case of mistaken identity. The photo they released doesn’t show Javon doing anything wrong. You really can’t tell who is really on that photo, and we haven’t seen the entire video to know what really happened.”

Ms. Fordoms said nothing makes sense to her, and it’s not over yet. She has retained Attorney Tripp Sebring to file a wrongful death suit against the police department and the officers.

A call to Sebring’s office was answered by his receptionist who said Sebring’s first concern at this point is to see the entire surveillance footage of what happened that day.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Two elected officials in conjunction with other organizations have joined forces to host Civil Rights Restoration Workshop for ex-felons. The event will take place on Saturday, August 18th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Entitled the Rights Restoration Resource Fair, the event will be held at the Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center, 3402 N. 22nd Street.

State Senator Arthenia Joyner and State Representative Betty Reed will be joined by members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC). The workshop is designed to assist ex-felons with the complicated process of restoring their rights.

Senator Joyner said, “We must do everything we can to guide people through this bureaucratic process. The restoration process is difficult. However, with the expertise we plan to have available at the workshop, we believe we can make a significant difference in the lives of many people.”

Rep. Reed said, “I think it’s very important that we continue to educate our citizens on how to restore their basic rights. Opening the door to participating in society starts with opening the door to participating in Democracy. The Rights Restoration Resource Fair will give many ex-offenders the key they need to begin that re-entry process and to become productive citizens within the community.”

Those who attend the workshop will receive hands-on assistance, required forms, and critical information they need to apply. Ex-offenders should bring any letters or other documents that they have received from the Parole Commission, Senator Joyner said.

Representatives from the Florida Parole Commission, the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office, the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, the Hillsborough County Clerk’s Office, and the Florida Rights Restoration Council will attend the meeting.

The Rights Restoration Resource Fair is free and open to the public.

At the conclusion of its District Meeting last week (July 31-August 3, 2012), Bishop Matthew Williams appointed Elder Charles Davis to Superintendent over the Tampa District. The District includes 5 churches.

Elder Davis’ appointment follows the death of Superintendent A. P. Conage last month in St. Petersburg. Supt. Conage, Pastor of Queen Street Church of God in Christ, was over the Tampa District.

Supt. Davis has served as pastor of College Hill Church of God in Christ since the death of his father, Bishop W. D. Davis in 1997.

“I appreciate the honor,” Supt. Davis said when contacted. “I’m willing to serve whenever I can, wherever I’m needed,” he continued.

The 5 churches in the Tampa District that he will oversee include: College Hill COGIC, Palm River COGIC, Elder Willie Fowler, Pastor; House Of Praise COGIC, Elder Donnell Williams, Pastor; Queen Street COGIC, Pastor to be appointed; and Full Gospel COGIC, Elder Robert Douglas, pastor.

Recently, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles cannot be given life sentences unless a murder occurred. The ruling prompted courts throughout the nation to revisit cases of juvenile inmates facing life sentenced.

One of those individuals was Jere Walker, who at the age of 41, has spent the last 24 years in prison. Walker was 17 when he was sentenced to five life sentences.

Walker was the youngest member of a group who roamed the streets of Tampa on June 29, 1988, the group robbed former Hillsborough County Judge and State Attorney E. J. Salcines and his wife, at gunpoint as they and a friend was returning from dinner.

Salcines was injured as he attempted to fight off the attack. Walker allegedly stuck a gun in the face of oral surgeon Antonio Castro. The gun jammed when he tried to fire it.

Later that day, the group are said to have confronted a Texas couple, forced them into their motel room, and Walker allegedly sexually battered the woman. Her husband was held at gunpoint and her children were being held in the bathroom.

During an earlier hearing, Walker apologized for the pain he had caused. However, Judge Debra Behnke was not impressed with his apology and sentenced him to 100 years in prison. He was given two 30-year sentences for the robberies that must run consecutively. She also sentenced him to 40 years for two counts of sexual battery.

BY CLARENCE BARR, II

Years ago, I caught my daughter, who was three at the time, walking around the house with a towel strategically placed on the top of her head. When I asked her its purpose, she proudly replied, “It’s my hair daddy.”

At that moment, I knew I’d failed. I didn’t do a good job of protecting my child’s mind from the same brainwashing that destroyed the thinking of so many little Black girls who came before her.

She was barely potty-trained and already imagining herself with the kind of long, flowing hair that would be impossible for her to grow considering both of her parents come from a long line of that nappy, kinky stuff. It was obvious that at some point when I wasn’t looking, somebody tricked my daughter into believing that straight hair was a key component of beauty while her own tightly curled locks were to be ashamed of and hidden.

Sadly, those same tricksters, who were so influential back then, were out in full force last week after 16-year-old Olympian Gabby Douglas became the first Black woman in history to win a gold medal in an all-around gymnastic event.

Instead of focusing on her victory and allowing the young gymnast to bask in the moment like other gold medal-winning athletes, some people took to their twitter accounts with the sole purpose of criticizing Ms. Douglas about, of all things, her hair. And, the worst part was that a bulk of the insults came from the most unlikely of sources, her own people.

Apparently, the fact that Gabby sweat out her perm while achieving one of the rarest of accomplishments was too much for some Black people, mainly women, to bear. To them, there was no excuse for allowing her nappy kitchen to be exposed.

A lace front wig, glued or sewn, a scarf, a helmet, anything would have been better than letting her beadie-bees show. Not because they wanted her to look her best, but because of the fact that as Gabby’s hair reverted back to its natural state, it reminded self-conscious, mis-educated Black folk of what truly lies beneath their own facades.

What these delusional beauty experts didn’t understand (and probably never will) was that the most embarrassing part for them wasn’t Gabby’s hair. It was the way they allowed Black self-hate to manifest itself on the international stage.

When I caught wind of what was transpiring, all I could do was shake my head in disappointment. To me it spoke volumes about where we stand as a people that Gabby’s mane, and not Serena Williams’ “Crip-Walking” dance after her own gold medal winning performance, received the most criticism.

Once again, Blacks in America put on a grand display of ignorance for the world to see. And the craziest thing about it all is that, when we’re not taken seriously, we have the nerve to wonder why?

Anyone wanting to contact Clarence Barr can reach him at: Clarence Barr, II, 43110-018; P. O. Box 7007; Marianna, FL 32447-7007. Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bulletin Publishing Company.

A local organization is requesting a meeting with the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. The organization said it has received numerous complaints during the first week of Early Voting.

Mrs. Carolyn Collins, President of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP, Ms. Yvette Lewis, the organization’s Political Action Chairman, and members of the Executive Committee sent a letter requesting the meeting with Dr. Earl Lennard, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.

“It should be noted that there is the perception of questionable actions by the office. The relationship with the office has been a good one with Dr. Lennard and his staff; however, it should be noted that the Chief of Staff responsible for day-to-day operations is also running for office.

“This may create management difficulties to a degree because of the failure to admit to problems. It should be noted that the problem is greater than the SOE and the SOE staff. These concerns interfere with the successful implementation of our VOTE,” the letter said.

Some of the concerns outlined in the letter include Citizens registering as a Democrat and in the system as a Republican; and Citizens receiving an absentee ballot that they did not request and the SOE Office reveal a ballot without a signature.

Other complaints includes Candidate’s name  left off a ballot; Names purged in error from the voting roll; Registered voters receiving letter of ineligibility and then receiving their cards and even absentee ballots.

Mrs. Collins said, “As important as the problems and the ethical concerns, the NAACP is asking the SOE Office to print the 13,000 former felony names in the paper to allow these individual to VOTE in the Primary (if registered, even in error since so many errors are occurring) and the General Election.

“Additionally, the office should use the air waves, radio and television to encourage those citizens to know their rights have been restored and they are eligible to register and VOTE! The education of the citizens has been minimal at best, improvement is needed TODAY.

“The NAACP understands many decision are statewide, but the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Election must assure the citizens of this county that he is in charge and is running an efficient office. We are not interested in repeating past problems again,” she said.

Mrs. Collins further stated that anyone who has encountered a problem should contact the NAACP at (813) 234-8683, fax, (813) 236-2248, or via www.hillsboroughnaacp.org.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Earlier this year, Mrs. Yolanda Whitehead Driskell was among five finalists for the Hillsborough County “Teacher of the Year” Award. She beat out her competition and was the presented the coveted award by the Hillsborough Education Foundation.

Mrs. Whitehead Driskell was nominated in the “Best School Teacher” category for the 2012 Steve Harvey Hoodie Awards Competition in May.

This past weekend, she walked away with the title of “Best School Teacher.” The awards show was held in Las Vegas. This was the 10th Anniversary of the competition that solicits nominations in various categories throughout the country.

Mrs. Whitehead Driskell said Mrs. Micheline Barber, owner of Salon 1, nominated her for the honor. Mrs. Barber’s team had won in the beauty shop category two consecutive years.

Mrs. Whitehead Driskell, 42, and several family members left Tampa Friday to attend the show. “It was exhilarating. I was surprised because I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to win. I think I received so many votes because I had been chosen as the “Teacher of the Year” for the district. I think when people heard my name on the radio it just took off.”

Mrs. Whitehead Driskell was sponsored by the Nielsen Research Company. She attended a luncheon with other nominees and representatives from Nielson on Saturday. The competition was held Saturday night.

A Tampa native, Mrs. Whitehead Driskell graduated from Brandon High School and continued her education at the University of New Orleans. After graduating with a degree in Business Management, she enrolled at Nova Southeastern University, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education.

Mrs. Whitehead Driskell became a member of the Hillsborough County School District twelve years ago. She has taught mathematics at Hillsborough High School for the past 12 years. She also coaches volleyball at the school.

She is married to Duane Driskell and has 3 stepsons. She is a member of Bible Based Fellowship of Temple Terrace and enjoys shopping.

There was one other winner from Florida at the show. The Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of St. Petersburg won the “Best Choir” Award. Mrs. Whitehead Driskell said her name was called first and then the church was chosen. “There were a lot of people from Tampa at the show,” she said.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Last week, a report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration named the top five cities in which potentially fraudulent income tax returns were filed. The City of Tampa was first on the list.

According to the report, the impact of identity theft on income tax refunds is significantly greater than the amount the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) detects and prevents.

The report stated that the IRS had detected 938,664 tax refunds that totaled $6.5 billion in fraud during the 2011 tax year. The report further stated that the IRS failed to detect more than $5.2 billion in potentially fraudulent tax refunds last year.

The report stated the top five cities with the potential to file fraudulent tax refunds were:
Tampa, 88,724 tax returns with $468,382,079; Miami, 74,496 tax returns with $280,509,449; Atlanta, 29,787 tax returns with $77,113,392;
Detroit, 23,870 tax returns with $74,313,933; and Houston, 22,754 tax returns with $72,089,847.

The report also named the top five cities where a single address was used. One address in Lansing, Michigan had 2,137 returns mailed to that address. A residence in Chicago, Illinois, came in second with 76,338 returns mailed to one address. The Florida cities of Belle Glade, Orlando, and Tampa made up the final three addresses most used.

The report also stated that the names and personal information of deceased individuals was used most often, followed by the elderly, citizens of U. S. Possessions (such as Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands). The suspects also used the identity of students between the ages of 16 and 22 to file false tax refunds and information pertaining to children under the age of 14.

U. S. Senator Bill Nelson (pictured) requested the audit to determine the extent of the fraud.  Senator Nelson has introduced legislation to target tax refund fraud.

This report was one of two requested to gauge the growing problem of tax fraud. The Federal Trade Commission has reported identity theft as the number one consumer complaint for 12 consecutive years.