Florida Sentinel Bulletin

A federal judge sentenced a former police officer to federal prison time. He must also pay nearly a million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Dana Brown, 37, of Ocala, to 6 years and 5 months in federal prison for conspiracy to make false claims, aggravated identity theft, and exceeding authorized access to a protected computer with intent to defraud.

The court also ordered Brown to pay $874,319.35 in restitution. Brown pled guilty on December 20, 2011.

According to court documents, in 2010 and 2011, Brown was a patrol officer for the Ocala Police Department.  As part of his employment as a law enforcement officer, Brown had access to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Driver and Vehicle Information Database (“DAVID”).  DAVID allows law enforcement officers to retrieve driver and vehicle information for official law enforcement purposes.

Brown was acquainted with Riad Sulaiman, owner of Empire Street Wear, a clothing store located in Tampa.  Brown was aware that Sulaiman was in possession of fraudulently obtained U. S. Treasury tax refund checks in the names of various individuals.

Sulaiman elicited the help of Brown, because of his access to the data base, to gain access to personal identifying information.

Brown knowingly and willingly entered into an agreement with Sulaiman and supplied personal identifying information of Florida Driver License holders for the purpose of negotiating the fraudulently obtained Treasury checks.

Brown was to be paid 5% of the face value of each Treasury check. Brown was arrested in October 2011.

The case was part of Operation Rainmaker investigation.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

For a few terrifying moments, a four-year-old was caught in the jaws of a pit bull dog. After the attack, the dog, who had also bitten another person six months ago, was euthanized.

Little Destiny McKenzie, 4, was outside her apartment playing on Monday afternoon when she was attacked by a pit bull mix. The dog bit the child in the face and on the hand.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, emergency personnel were dispatched to 8010 Tommy Court in Palm River, in reference to a dog bite shortly before 5 p.m., Monday.

Upon arrival deputies discovered that a pit bull mix named Bear had bitten Destiny McKenzie. The dog’s owner, Ms. Tanya Okeke, told investigators that she had tied the dog up to the handrail near her apartment and was preparing to give him a bath.

The child was outside playing near the dog with other small children when she apparently fell within the dog’s reach. For unknown reasons, the dog broke free of the owner’s control and bit the child on the face.

The dog would not release his grip on the child until Ms. Okeke struck him in the head with her fist.

Destiny was admitted to Tampa General Hospital, where she was listed in serious condition. She was released from the hospital on Tuesday. The Hillsborough County Animal Control took possession of the dog euthanized him on Tuesday. Their investigation is ongoing.

Investigator Pam Perry, of the Hillsborough County Animal Services said that her office will seek prosecution against Ms. Okeke. “Irregardless of the circumstances that occurred, the dog had a prior history.

Investigator Perry said she will seek prosecution because there were prior instances with the dog. In December, Bear attacked another dog and when the owner attempted to free the dog, Bear bit her on the leg.

Investigator Perry said at that time, Ms. Okeke signed paperwork acknowledging that Bear had “dangerous propensities” that served as a warning. “The paper she signed put her on notice that if a further incident occurs, she could be charged,” she said.

Investigator Perry feels that Ms. Okeke should be charged with culpable negligence and with a second-degree misdemeanor because the owner knew of the dog’s past behavior.

Investigator Perry also said that her office is attempting to sort out statements given to them. In addition to the previous account of the attack, she stated that they had heard another account. “There were a lot of excited utterances,” she said.

Mother Heard Different Account
Ms. Akeshia Williams, Destiny’s mother, said her two older daughters were outside when the attack happened.

“They told me that the dog ran upstairs to where Destiny was and dragged her down the stairs and he wouldn’t let go until the lady hit him in the head and he dropped her on the ground.

“I was told the dog was freaking out because he didn’t want to take a bath.”

Ms. Williams said her daughter was bitten in the face and on the hand. She further said that her daughter will be monitored for the next year for scarring, and to make sure the wounds are healing properly. Ms. Williams said she doesn’t really know the owner of the dog, but that kids in the neighborhood would buy frozen cups from her. “She is the frozen cup lady. I’m just really glad that it wasn’t any worse,” Ms. Williams stated. Ms. Williams further stated that her daughter was not afraid of dogs prior to the attack.

State Attorney To Review Case
Mark Cox, spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said that when his office receives the case, they will review it and make a determination on rather they will seek prosecution.

Three East Tampa schools were on modified lockdown Wednesday morning as police searched the neighborhoods for armed suspects. Police were searching for men who reportedly approached students at two bus stops.

According to the Tampa Police Department, a black, Ford F-250 truck, containing at least three young men pulled up to a bus stop at N. 43rd Street and Grove, around 6:50 a.m. As Armwood High School students were waiting for the bus, one of the suspects and displayed a gun. The suspects then fled the scene.

One of the students called 9-1-1 and reported the incident to police. One of the victims was able to provide a name of a possible suspect to police.

The second incident of displaying the gun allegedly took place at N. 42nd Street and E. Palifox a short time later. Officers in the area were given a description of the truck and began searching surrounding neighborhoods.

As the search was underway, James Elementary School, Williams Middle School, and Gary Adult School were placed on modified lockdown.

Officer Bryan Perry was on patrol when he observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle near New First Union Missionary Baptist Church on E. Chelsea. The driver of the truck observed Officer Perry and sped off at a high rate of speed.

A short time later, Officer Perry, who was not chasing the suspects, discovered the truck flipped on its side at N. 38th Street and E. Louisiana Avenue a short time later. All of the suspects abandoned the vehicle and ran.

Two of the suspects were caught immediately and a third was caught a short time later. Around 7:50 a.m., police received a 9-1-1 call of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, they discovered that the suspect matched the description of a person involved in the earlier offense and took him into custody.

Akanfi Pratt, 18, and Mark Rivera, 20, were arrested and charged with resisting arrest without violence. Rivera, who was also charged with violation of probation, is being held without a bond. Pratt paid a $500 bond and was released.

Devin Sampson, 17, and Chris Thomas, Jr., 19, were both charged with 13 counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, resisting arrest without violence. Thomas was also charged with resisting arrest without violence, fleeing to elude, and resisting arrest without violence. He was injured and was treated at a local hospital for a head injury.

Thomas has no bond and is being held the Hillsborough County Jail. Sampson, who is a juvenile, was processed at the Juvenile Assessment Center.

Police said there were at least 13 victims, and possibly more at the bus stops. Some of the students went to school when their bus arrived. The investigation is continuing.

A three-year-old child was severely bitten by a dog on Monday afternoon. The child was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where she was undergoing treatment.

According to police, emergency assistance was dispatched to the 8010 Tommy Court in Palm River. Deputies said the owner of the pit bull mix, Ms. Tanya Okeke, had reportedly tied the dog up to the hand rail near her apartment and was preparing to give the dog a bath.

The victim, has been identified as Destiny McKenzie, 3, daughter of Ms. Akesha Williams. The child was outside playing near the dog with other small children when she apparently fell within the dog’s reach.

For unknown reasons, the dog broke free of the owner’s control and bit the child on the face and would not let go until the owner struck the dog in the head with her fist.

The victim received a severe laceration to her face. She was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where she is listed in serious condition.

The Hillsborough County Animal Control took possession of the dog and that agency will continue to investigate.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Last July, the life of Ms. Vanetta Scott changed forever. Ms. Iesha Washington, her 18-year-old daughter, was fatally wounded while attending a party.

At the time of the tragedy, Iesha was a rising senior at Spoto and would have graduated this month. On Thursday evening, her mother will accept her diploma instead.

Ms. Scott said, “I am so grateful to the school board, the principal, and the assistant principal for this. I’m just grateful and honored to know that she will get her diploma. The school is giving me and my family a table, at the graduation ceremony.

“I’m grateful that I’m still standing and it has almost been a year. I just need people to know that God is good, and I put my trust in him daily and consistently. I have been ill, I have been in the hospital, but I’m still here. I thank God because He has given me some peace to know that He is too wise to make a mistake,” Ms. Scott said.

Ms. Scott said Iesha planned to seek a career as an ESE teacher.

Iesha and Craig Thompson were both fatally wounded while attending a party. The shooting took place at the International Chemical Workers Union Council, Local 439, July 29, 2011.

During the investigation, law enforcement determined that more than one person fired the fatal shots at the party.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tyrell Sidney Bragg and charged him with the murder of Iesha Washington. He is currently awaiting trial.

No arrest has been made in the shooting of Thompson. However, the investigation is continuing.

The graduation ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, June 7th, at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Pictured: Ms. Vannetta Scott, center, is shown with two of her daughters, Ishia Washington, left, and Iesha Washington, on the right.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

This past weekend, the Florida Democratic Party held its Annual Convention in downtown Tampa. The event took place at the Tampa Waterside Marriott.

During the convention, representatives are chosen as Delegates to attend the upcoming National Democratic Convention. This year, seven African American delegates from Tampa were chosen.

The delegates who will be representing this Congressional District of Florida are: Senator Arthenia Joyner, State Rep. Betty Reed, County Commissioner Les Miller, Jr., Sean Shaw, Ms. Dianne Hart, President of the Hillsborough County Black Caucus, and Ms. Ella Coffee. Ms. Coffee is the only African American from Tampa to serve on the Credentials Committee.

The national event will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, in September.

On Saturday evening, Rod Smith, Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, presented Outstanding Leadership Awards to three individuals. During the presentation, a video was shown about each recipient and the award was presented.

Mrs. Gwendolyn Miller presented a fitting tribute to her husband, County Commissioner Leslie Miller, Jr., on his recognition of being an Outstanding Leader. During remarks, Commissioner Miller closed out his comments with the lyrics of a popular song, “Let’s Do It Again” like we did in 2008 and re-elect President Obama,” Miller said.

Congresswoman Kathy Castor and Kathy Betencourt introduced Mrs. Betty Castor as the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award.

Mrs. Castor stressed the need for continued progress in the areas of women’s rights, human rights, and civil rights. However, she cautioned that there is still much further to go.

Mrs. Castor encouraged those in attendance to not only support President Barack Obama for re-election, but to support all Democrats on the ballot seeking an elected office.

Former Governor Bob Graham also received the Outstanding Leadership Award. Graham stressed the importance of civility and deliberately as members of the Legislative bodies. He further said that those in attendance should work tirelessly to keep President Obama in the White House. He also advised that they stand united and work diligently to make sure that the President and all Democrats are elected or re-elected.

Senator Arthenia Joyner has served as a Delegate more than once. She said that the hotels are chosen through a drawing and the drawing was held this weekend.

“We drew a favorable location this year because we are in downtown where the convention will take place,” she said.

Senator Joyner said in the past, transportation has been the responsibility of the delegate.

A 38-year-old Tampa woman was listed in critical condition at a local hospital. She was injured in a house fire this past weekend.

According to Tampa Fire Rescue, units responded to 2920 Cord Street, Friday evening in response to a structure fire. Upon arrived at the scene, firefighters discovered that Ms. Guislante Joseph had been burned over 80 percent of her body. She was transported to the Burn Unit of Tampa General Hospital, where she was admitted.

A spokesperson for the hospital said she was listed in critical condition. No additional information was available. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Tampa Police report that a witness reported seeing 15 to 20 Black males, possibly juveniles, engaged in an argument at the River Oaks Apartments, across from Robles Elementary School, in the 6800 block of Woodville Street Sunday night.

According to the witness, several gunshots were fired in the area where the argument occurred. As the witness took cover he reported hearing several more shots. He then saw a group of Black males running away from the scene, police said.

Police said several of the fleeing suspects tried to get into a vehicle that was parked on the side of the complex. They could not get inside the vehicle, so they jumped over a wall at the complex into the Waterside Island Apartments.

When police units arrived on the scene, they found a 17-year-old on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the calf. Three parked vehicles were hit by bullets during the shooting.

The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police said there were several bystanders at the scene, and attempts to interview them were not successful.

Police said the victim was also uncooperative and provided only a vague description of what happened.

The vehicle the suspects tried to enter is described as a blue 2001 Nissan Maxima, 4-door, Florida Tag #162-2HE.

Police said because the victim and bystanders were not cooperative, they have not established a motive for the shooting. They also reported that police had been called to the complex twice this year, once for an auto burglary and on a report of criminal mischief.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

The U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the unsealing of a 32-count indictment against a Tampa business owner. He is charged with tax fraud and aggravated identity theft crimes.

Russell B. Simmons, Jr., 42, has been indicted on 8 counts of wire fraud, 8 counts of filing a false claim with the Internal Revenue Service, 7 counts of theft of government property, and 9 counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years for each wire fraud charge, five years for each false claim count, and ten years on each theft of governmental property.

Additionally, the document release stated, Simmons faces a “mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison for each aggravated identity theft count, (18 years), which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed for any of the other underlying offenses.”

The indictment also notified Simmons that the government will forfeit numerous assets, including $47,580 in cash, $118,275 found on a Green Dot and Walmart Money Cards, a Bentley, and numerous pieces of jewelry including a Rolex watch, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

Simmons, the owner of Simmons Auto Sales, 4615 N. 34th Street, is accused of engaging in a scheme to defraud by filing fraudulent income tax returns and negotiating fraudulent tax refunds.

He is accused of accepting, purchasing, and negotiating treasury checks known to be obtained illegally from individuals buying cars from his used car lot.

The indictment said Simmons had knowledge that the checks had a much higher face value than the price of the vehicles he sold. Investigators said he also swiped reloadable cards, knowing they contained tax refund money.

“Simmons kept a large percentage of the value of the cards for himself and provided the balance to his co-conspirators in cash,” the indictment said.

Officials said Simmons also filed fraudulent refunds, loaded the refunds on to debit cards, and used the cards at various ATM machines around the city.

John W. Joyce, Special Agent in Charge, Secret Service, Tampa Field Office said, “The arrest of Mr. Simmons is significant due to the sheer volume of tax fraud perpetrated by this individual. Mr. Simmons and others have shown a flagrant disregard for the law and have abused the electronic tax filing system.”

On Tuesday, a woman who admitted to hosting “drop parties” for income tax fraud entered a guilty plea. A district judge accepted the guilty plea she entered last month.

Arswaya Ralph

The U. S. Attorney’s Office identified the woman as 33-year-old Arswaya Ralph, of Riverview. Ms. Ralph surrendered to police and faces charges in the filing of 65 false income tax claims and identity theft.

According to court documents, Ms. Ralph pleaded guilty to making a false claim, of which she can be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison; and identity theft, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. A sentencing date has not been set by the court.

She is also ordered to pay full restitution in the case. She will also serve a term of probation.

Officials learned through investigation that Ms. Ralph and others were allegedly using stolen identities to perpetuate the tax frauds. According to court documents, “Ralph and others were filing fraudulent federal income tax returns with stolen identities.

“…The investigation also revealed that Ralph attended and hosted “Drop Parties” during which she and others filed numerous fraudulent income tax returns at the same time.”

On June 2, 2011, during the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement recovered and confiscated numerous items. Some of the items confiscated included a 2010 Buick Lacrosee, $27,000 in cash, 42 preloaded debit cards, $4,387 in currency in a Betsy Johnson designer handbag, a pair of Gucci sunglasses with the case, two laptop computers, and approximately a dozen handwritten ledgers.

The ledgers contained the names, dates of birth, social security numbers and other personal identification. The ledgers also contained bank account and routing numbers, court documents showed.

Police also seized designer clothing, shoes, luggage, handbags, and a pink firearm. Authorities said Ms. Ralph had not reported any legitimate income during 2011.

After having heard her Miranda warnings, Ms. Ralph told law enforcement that she had been filing fraudulent tax returns since August or September 2010, and that she had purchased the vehicle with some of the funds.

According to court documents, the 65 false claims alone resulted in an intended loss of $467,781 from the Internal Revenue Service.