Physical Therapy Owner and Employees Charged with Fraud www.privateofficer.com

 

BOSTON MA May 17 2013—A Brockton woman and three of her employees were charged with defrauding insurance companies in connection with physical therapy services.
Walkyria Massie, a/k/a Vicky Lopes, 37, of Brockton; Edward Rossi, 53, of Rochester; Deidre Chouinard, 36, of North Attleboro; and Manuela Andrade, 24, of Brockton, were charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and three separate instances of mail fraud.
The indictment alleges that Massie was the owner and operator of Westgate Physical Therapy in Brockton. Patients would seek treatment at Westgate for minor injuries, generally sustained in car accidents. Massie employed Chouinard, a physical therapist; Rossi, a physical therapy assistant; and Andrade, an office manager. The indictment alleges that Massie, Rossi, Chouinard, and Andrade conspired together to falsify patient treatment charts to reflect therapy that was either never given, or was performed by unlicensed personnel, including Massie herself. Massie caused these fraudulent physical therapy claims to be submitted by mail to private insurance companies for payment. Various insurance companies paid more than $400,000 in bodily injury claims to Westgate and its patients during a two-year period, based on these fraudulent submissions.
On the charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, the defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Anthony DiPaolo, Vice President/Chief of Investigations of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelbey Wright of Ortiz’s Health Care Fraud Unit.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DMV employee suspected of stealing credit cards arrested www.privateofficer.com

 

Palm Desert CA May 2 2013 A DMV employee is behind bars for allegedly stealing credit cards of people who he helped at the Palm Desert DMV, it has been reported.
The thefts took place on two separate occasions in Jan. and March earlier this year, Sgt. Brad Farwell stated in a Riverside County Sheriff’s press release.
During a follow-up investigation and with the help of DMV investigators, Martin Mendoza, 24, of Desert Hot Springs was identified as the employee who conducted the transactions with both victims.
Burglary investigators went to the Palm Desert DMV at about 2 p.m. on Thursday Apr. 18 and arrested Mendoza for credit card fraud and theft.
He was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio, Sgt. Farwell said.
Anyone with further details regarding this investigation is urged to call Deputy Aldrich at 760-836-1600 or anonymously at 760-341-STOP (7867).

13 corrections officers indicted in Md., accused of aiding gang’s drug scheme www.privateofficer.com

 

Baltimore MD April 24 2013 More than a dozen Maryland state prison guards helped a dangerous national gang operate a drug-trafficking and money-laundering scheme from behind bars that involved cash payments, sex and access to fancy cars, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Thirteen female corrections officers essentially handed over control of a Baltimore jail to gang leaders, prosecutors said. The officers were charged Tuesday in a federal racketeering indictment.
The indictment described a jailhouse seemingly out of control. Four corrections officers became pregnant by one inmate. Two of them got tattoos of the inmate’s first name, Tavon — one on her neck, the other on a wrist.
The guards allegedly helped leaders of the Black Guerilla Family run their criminal enterprise in jail by smuggling cellphones, prescription pills and other contraband in their underwear, shoes and hair. One gang leader allegedly used proceeds to buy luxury cars, including a Mercedes-Benz and a BMW, which he allowed some of the officers to drive.
“The inmates literally took over ‘the asylum,’ and the detention centers became safe havens for BGF,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt, using shorthand for the prison gang’s name.
The indictment, unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, puts the spotlight on the enduring power of gangs in jails and prisons. In particular, prosecutors were highly critical of Maryland’s facilities in Baltimore, with procedures and personnel that were “completely inadequate to prevent smuggling” and lacked “effective punishment.”
The Black Guerilla Family was founded in California in the 1960s but now operates nationwide in prisons and on the streets of major U.S. cities, including Baltimore. It arrived in Maryland’s prison system in the 1990s, according to the Justice Department, and is increasingly involved in narcotics trafficking, robbery, assault and homicides. By 2006, federal authorities say, the BGF had become the dominant gang at the Baltimore City Detention Center.
Gary D. Maynard, head of the Maryland agency that oversees the prisons, appeared at the Baltimore news conference where prosecutors announced the charges, and took responsibility for ongoing problems.
“It’s totally on me. I don’t make any excuses,” said Maynard, who was appointed by Gov. Martin O’Malley in 2007, when the prison system was experiencing a spate of inmate violence and corrections officers’ complaints of staffing shortages. “We will move up the chain of command, and people will be held accountable.” A spokesman said late Tuesday that all of the officers have been suspended without pay and that the department will recommend that they be fired.
In a statement Tuesday, O’Malley said the indictment arose in part from the efforts of a Maryland prison task force that includes state and federal officials.
It comes at a sensitive time for the Democrat, who is weighing a 2016 presidential bid. Aides have said that part of O’Malley’s political pitch would be his record as a “performance-driven” manager of state government. “We have zero tolerance for corruption among correctional officers, and we will continue striving to make all correctional facilities as secure as they can possibly be,” the governor said.
State Sen. Joseph M. Getty (R-Carroll), a member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, said the revelations, coupled with a recent string of inmate killings at Maryland prisons, were “a pretty harsh indictment” of O’Malley’s prison policies.
“This is frightening to us as legislators — the level of collusion that has existed between the correction officers and inmates,” Getty said
At the center of the investigation was an alleged leader of the Black Guerilla Family, Tavon White, who prosecutors said fathered five children with four of the corrections officers — Jennifer Owens, 31, of Randallstown; Katera Stevenson, 24, of Baltimore; Chania Brooks, 27, of Baltimore; and Tiffany Linder, 27, of Baltimore — since his incarceration on attempted murder charges in 2009.
In one wiretapped cellphone call in January, White, 36, of Baltimore, told an acquaintance: “This is my jail. You understand that? I’m dead serious. I make every final call in this jail.”
The prison guards were among 25 defendants, including inmates and outside suppliers, charged with racketeering and drug conspiracy. Twenty of the defendants are also charged in a money-laundering conspiracy. Defendants made initial appearances in court Tuesday; they face maximum prison time of 20 years on the racketeering and drug conspiracy charges. The online court docket did not list attorneys for the defendants. One of the defendants was killed in a robbery, prosecutors said, in the hours before the April 2 indictment was filed.
Four years ago, federal authorities in Baltimore targeted the BGF gang at the state prison in Baltimore, sending its reputed leader to prison for 12 years. In that case, prosecutors alleged that gang members, along with four prison guards who were also implicated, ordered hits from their cellphones and enjoyed salmon and Grey Goose vodka that had been smuggled in.
But the scope of corruption in the current case, Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, was stunning.
“Correctional officers were in bed with BGF inmates,” he said. “We need to be able to rely on people within law enforcement — to make sure they are on our side.”
Court papers that were made public Tuesday point to a highly organized, profitable smuggling enterprise within the Baltimore City Detention Center and several connected facilities, including the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center.
According to an affidavit for search warrants for the homes of the prison guards, who were arrested Tuesday, gang leaders strategically recruited female officers who they thought had “low self-esteem and insecurities.”
Gang leaders also relied on other inmates, known as “working men,” whose jobs throughout the prison gave them greater flexibility to pick up and deliver contraband. Inmates then paid for the drugs and cellphones using 14-digit numbers from prepaid debit cards that had also been smuggled into the prisons.
Within Maryland’s detention facilities, staff workers are generally free to move within their assigned areas, according to department spokesman Rick Binetti. With identification, they can often move freely outside of their assigned locations.
In one instance, prosecutors described Officer Jasmin Jones allegedly standing guard outside a closet while Officer Kimberly Dennis had sex with inmate Derius Duncan.
Maynard said department policy prohibits such relationships between inmates and correctional officers but added that he was unaware of the specific allegations until the court documents were made public Tuesday.
Corrections officers also allegedly warned inmates about impending searches of cells, according to prosecutors. In January, White spread the word to other inmates in a cellphone call recorded by law enforcement: “I just got a message saying that they was going to pull a shakedown tonight. Let me call all these dudes in my phone and let them know.”
In prison, prosecutors said, White bragged about earning $16,000 during a slow month. Percocet pills that cost $10 outside the prison walls, for instance, went for three times as much behind bars. One-gram bags of marijuana sold for $50, a profit of about $1,000 per ounce, according to court documents.
White is also accused of using the money to buy cars for corrections officers to use.
Sen. Lisa A. Gladden (D-Baltimore), who works as a public defender in Baltimore when the legislature is not in session, said the large percentage of female corrections at the detention center contributed to the problem. “A lot of times, they become smitten with the inmates. [The inmates] talk really sweet and say really nice things, and the CO’s fall for them. You need to have a bunch of rough, ugly men.”
But Maynard, the state prison chief, said that the sex of the officers was not the issue. It is not uncommon, he said, for detention centers across the country to employ women. The issue, he said, was this particular group of “bad actors,” who were strategically targeted and were willing to break the law.

Source- Washington Post

Alert Hard Rock Hotel & Casino security officers lead police to major drug bust www.privateofficer.com

TULSA OK April 15 2013-

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino security responded to a smoke alarm in a seventh-floor hotel room, where 31-year-old Raven Holmes was found smoking meth, according to arrest affidavits.

The officers found that Holmes had more than a pound of meth, scales and other drugs packaged for sale in the room.

Hard Rock officials then called for police backup, which, with the help of local, county and federal law enforcement, set up a sting that netted seven suspects.

The suspected buyers were all arrested for charges ranging from possession of a controlled substance to endeavoring to traffic drugs.

John Hunt, 68, Gene Miller, 53, Shelley Boothe, 30, Carol Fogelman, 30, Ayla Jones, 20, Charles Yahola, 24, and John Cooper, 34, were busted trying to buy large amounts of meth at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa last week.

All seven, with the exception of Cooper, are listed as Tulsa residents.

Holmes and 35-year-old Gonzalo Ponce-Arturez of Austin, Texas, were indicted on federal drug charges Monday.

According to court documents, Holmes admitted to selling large amounts of meth out of Tulsa hotels on several occasions. She claims to have sold the drugs for a man who is member of a Mexican drug cartel.

“This is a plague in our community,” said Rogers County District Attorney Janice Steidley. “With the efforts of all the law enforcement and the casino security staff, that were involved, we got that off the streets of Rogers County. That’s something we are quite proud of.”

Denver Sheriff’s Deputy Suspected In Aiding Escapee www.privateofficer.com

 

DENVER CO April 10 2013 – A Denver Sheriff’s deputy is in custody and suspected of helping a dangerous inmate escape from the downtown Denver jail Sunday night, CBS4 reports.

Felix Trujillo, 24, escaped at approximately 7 p.m. and he is considered armed and extremely dangerous. Deputy Matthew Andrews is suspected of providing a department coat, gun belt, pants and hat to Trujillo to help him escape, in exchange for money. Sources tell CBS4 that the inmate told the deputy he was in danger in the jail, and that prison gangs had been threatening him and that he needed to get out.

Multiple sources say Andrews has confessed to his supervisors. Sources also report that he not only provided a uniform to assist in the escape, but then drove the inmate to a location north of Denver where a getaway car was waiting for Trujillo.

Clearly this person is a danger,” Lt. Matt Murray told CBS4. “We want the public to be aware of that, to know that we are working in cooperation with the sheriff’s office and law enforcement in the metro area to locate and apprehend this person.”

Sources say Andrews was taken to the county jail Broomfield, but an employee there referred a media call back to the Denver Sheriff’s Department. Andrews faces a felony charge of assisting with an escape. His bond was set at $10,000 and he is scheduled to appear on court on April 22.

While Andrews allegedly confessed to his supervisors, sources say he refused to make a statement to Denver police investigators when he was taken into custody. Andrews, 36, has been with the Denver Sheriff’s Department since 2011.

He graduated from their academy in June 2011 and was assigned to work at the downtown detention center.

Trujillo is described as being an Hispanic male with short black hair and brown eyes, about 5-feet-6, 140 pounds and with several neck tattoos. Anyone who knows where he is or sees him is asked to call 911 immediately
Source> CBS4

Police Make Arrests in 30 Fraud Cases at Montgomery Mall Nordstrom www.privateofficer.com

Montgomery County MD April 8 2013 Montgomery County police have arrested three Baltimore residents they say were involved in a plot to fraudulently return items to the Sunglass Hut and the Nordstrom in the Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Police believe the group is responsible for more than 30 fraudulent transactions at the Bethesda Nordstrom in 2012.

One of the suspects is a former employee at a Georgia Nordstrom, and police say they believe he may have used his inside knowledge of the store’s return policies to aid in the fraudulent transactions.

On April 3, Montgomery County police arrested Charmaine Rogers, 38, of the 2300 block of North Pulaski Street in Baltimore; Antwine Finch, 31, of the 5000 block of Clifton Avenue in Baltimore; and Kenyon Saunders, 24, of the 5000 block of Clifton Avenue in Baltimore. Police also are searching for a fourth suspect, Les Royal Brown, 24, who did not have a confirmed address.

Police say search warrants executed at the Baltimore homes of Finch, Rogers and Saunders uncovered $200,000 worth of merchandise believed to be stolen.

Finch is a former employee at a Georgia Nordstrom, according to Officer Rebecca Innocenti, a police spokeswoman. “He might have had knowledge of how the store works and how returns are made,” Innocenti said. Police say the suspects would purchase an item at a store and obtain a standard receipt and a gift receipt. The suspects would return the item at a different store location without a receipt in exchange for cash.

Then, using the standard receipt and the gift receipt from the first transaction, police say they fraudulently returned identical items to store locations and received cash refunds. The items they returned fraudulently included sunglasses at the Sunglass Hut, Innocenti said.

The charges against the four suspects include multiple counts of theft, theft scheme over $1,000, conspiracy to commit theft over $1,000, and multiple counts of trespassing, according to police.

The charges are all based on transactions made at the Westfield Montgomery Mall, though police believe the group may have committed fraud at stores throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC, Innocenti said. Police are continuing to investigate using credit card statements and the items uncovered with search warrants, Innocenti said. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Les Royal Brown is asked to call Detective O’Brien at 301-565-7740.

Rock Hotel & Casino meth suspects await prosecution www.privateofficer.com

TULSA OK April 5 2013 – Seven suspected methamphetamine users are awaiting prosecution after a sting at a Green Country casino led to their arrest.
John Hunt, 68, Gene Miller, 53, Shelley Boothe, 30, Carol Fogelman, 30, Ayla Jones, 20, Charles Yahola, 24, and John Cooper, 34, were busted trying to buy large amounts of meth at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa last week.
Casino security first responded to a smoke alarm in a seventh-floor hotel room, where 31-year-old Raven Holmes was found smoking meth, according to arrest affidavits. The documents go on to state Holmes had more than a pound of meth, scales and other drugs packaged for sale in the room.
Hard Rock officials then reportedly called for police backup, which, with the help of local, county and federal law enforcement, set up a sting that netted the seven suspects.
The suspected buyers were all arrested for charges ranging from possession of a controlled substance to endeavoring to traffic drugs.
All seven, with the exception of Cooper, are listed as Tulsa residents.
Holmes and 35-year-old Gonzalo Ponce-Arturez of Austin, Texas, were indicted on federal drug charges Monday.
According to court documents, Holmes admitted to selling large amounts of meth out of Tulsa hotels on several occasions. She claims to have sold the drugs for a man who is member of a Mexican drug cartel.
“This is a plague in our community,” said Rogers County District Attorney Janice Steidley. “With the efforts of all the law enforcement involved, we got that off the streets of Rogers County. That’s something we are quite proud of.”
Steidley’s office is expected to prosecute the suspected buyers.

source- http://www.kjrh.com/

Staten Island Man Tried To Abduct Girl at Miami International Airport www.privateofficer.com

Miami Fla March 27 2013 Miami-Dade Police said they arrested a Staten Island, New York resident after he attempted to abduct a girl at Miami International Airport Monday night.

The victim had just arrived and was waiting for transportation to a family member’s home by an exit door of Terminal J at about 10 p.m. when Anthony Calvanese III, 24, grabbed her by the arm and said “you belong to me and you’re coming with me,” police said in an arrest affidavit.

Calvanese pulled the girl by the arm towards the inside of the terminal, as she began to scream loudly, according to the affidavit.

Several family members who were standing nearby heard her screams and began to walk towards her, and Calvanese released the victim and fled the scene, the affidavit said. Calvanese was later located, and the family members identified him as the man involved, police added in the affidavit.

Calvanese is being held on no bond on a charge of false imprisonment of a child under age 13, online Miami-Dade Corrections records said. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney.

Two Texas state troopers indicted for roles in roadside body cavity search of two women www.privateofficer.com

Dallas TX March 26 2013 A pair of Texas state troopers involved in an allegedly “horrific” hands-on cavity search of two women last summer have been indicted on criminal charges, according to reports.

Former Trooper Kelley Helleson was charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of official oppression in the July 13 incident caught on a dashboard camera along an Irving highway, reported CBS affiliate KTVT in Dallas.

The Texas Department of Public Safety fired Helleson following an investigation. The other trooper, David Farrell, was charged with theft after one of the women said her prescription bottle of hydrocodone went missing following the traffic stop near Dallas, according to KTVT.

They were charged after a grand jury handed up the indictments against them Friday. Texas women Ashley Dobbs, 24, and her aunt Angel Dobbs, 38, filed a suit last year saying they were traumatized by the search. “Angel Dobbs was overwhelmed with emotion and a feeling of helplessness and reacted stating that Helleson had just violated her in a most horrific manner,” the lawsuit reads. Farrell had pulled the women over after he said one of them flung a cigarette out of the car.

He questioned the women about using marijuana and had Angel Dobbs, the driver, perform a sobriety test. She reportedly passed. Helleson also was called over to search the women, and stuck her hands down their pants. “This has been an eye-opening experience for me,” Angel Dobbs tells Farrell in the video.

“I’ve never been pulled over, never searched like this. … I was like totally violated over there a few minutes ago. I had a finger in my a– and a finger in my p—-. …This is so embarrassing to me.”

The women also claimed that Helleson used the same latex glove to check both of their anuses and vaginas — all while other cars zipped past them on the public roadway. The women were eventually slapped with a warning for littering. Helleson’s attorney, Robert Baskett, didn’t immediately return a request for comment Sunday.

He told KTVT that his client is not guilty and is appealing her firing. Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, was also named in the women’s suit because he allegedly knew about other similar strip and cavity searches and failed to stop them.

His department couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday. The Dobbses’ attorney, Scott Palmer, previously told the Daily News that Helleson’s invasive search tactic “isn’t supposed to happen and should never happen again.”
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/

Bank Employee Indicted for Cashing Forged Tax Refund Checks www.privateofficer.com

ANCHORAGE AK March 24 2013 —U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a former employee of Wells Fargo Bank was indicted on charges of negotiating forged U.S. Treasury checks on two separate occasions.
Melissa Licelot Duran-Muniz, 24, of Anchorage, is the sole defendant named in the two-count indictment. The indictment charges that on April 18 and April 22, 2011, Duran-Muniz used her position to assist others in depositing or cashing two forged U.S. Treasury checks in the amounts of $6,776 and $7,702, respectively.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Bradley and Stephanie Courter, who presented the case to the grand jury, this indictment is related to an indictment returned in July 2011 charging multiple defendants with conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns and negotiating fraudulently obtained tax refund checks. Defendants in that case used bank employees like Duran-Muniz to further their scheme.
The law provides for a maximum sentence on each count of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
The case was investigated under the purview of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is made up of personnel from the U.S. Attorney’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Coast Guard; and the Anchorage Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Two Arrested In Confrontation With Police Officer Outside Publix Headquarters www.privateofficer.com

LAKELAND Fla March 20 2013  Two people were arrested Sunday amid preparations for a rally outside Publix headquarters in Lakeland.

Jonathan Borque, 33, of Wesley Chapel, and Giau Duong, 24, of Winter Haven, are accused of fighting with an officer, a confrontation that brought all three to the ground near the grocery chain’s offices, according to the Lakeland Police Department.

Borque and Duong received minor injuries, said Capt. John Thomason, an LPD spokesman. The officer, Detective Richard Rose, wrote in the arrest report that he injured his back and hand. Thomason said Rose may have received a concussion.

Officers arrested the pair about 12:40 p.m. at 1300 Publix Corporate Parkway. Hundreds of Coalition of Immokalee Workers members were marching toward the area as part of a rally to urge Publix to join the Fair Food Campaign to benefit tomato pickers.

Jordan Buckley, an organizer with Interfaith Action, a coalition partner, said neither Borque nor Duong were connected to the rally.

A small group of rally workers were prepping the spot for the rally when the fight began, Buckley said.

Thomason said Rose was working there to keep protesters from crossing onto Publix property during the rally.

Borque and Duong approached Rose with a camera and told him they were filming him, Thomason said. Borque was dressed in camouflage pants and shirt, he said, and wore a white painter’s mask on his face.

Rose had warned the pair about coming onto Publix property, Thomason said. Borque stepped into the road as a traffic light turned green, he said, blocking the flow of vehicles.

Rose wrote in the arrest report that he asked Borque for his identification. Borque told him he didn’t have one, and “I know my rights.” Rose wrote that he told Borque, who was walking away, that he was “conducting an investigation and he could not leave.”

Rose grabbed Borque, he wrote, and Borque jerked away and pushed Rose in the chest.

Duong stepped between Rose and Borque as Rose tried to make an arrest, and she pushed and struck the officer, he wrote.

Thomason said Rose’s radio was pulled from him and he was unable to call for backup. Nearby Publix security officers witnessed the fight and called 911.

Borque and Duong were booked into the Polk County Jail on Sunday night on charges of resisting arrest with violence — a felony — and resisting arrest without violence. Thomason said they may receive additional charges.

They remained in Polk County Jail on Monday evening. Each has a bail of $1,500.

Source:The Ledger

Fifteen Charged in Telemarketing Scheme to Defraud Timeshare Unit Owners www.privateofficer.com

Press Release Miami Fla March 9 2013 Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced today a two-count indictment charging conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The indictment charges the following 15 defendants: Pasquale Pappalardo, 60, of Coral Springs, Florida; Pasqualino Agovino, 49, of Coral Springs, Florida; Patride Ditroia, 43, of Coral Springs, Florida; Louis Duany, 64, Wilton Manors, Florida; Michael Bleich, formerly of Boca Raton, Florida, 36; Audwin Lovinsky, of Tamarac, Florida, 35; Ibrahim Al-Dabbas, 47, Deerfield Beach, Florida; Michael Vincent Scheel, 50, of Boca Raton, Florida; Diana Harrington, 65, of Boca Raton, Florida; Ashley Lowton, 24, of Clermont, Florida; Charles Lee, 24, of Coral Springs, Florida; Kenneth Rockmore, 27, of Lauderhill, Florida; Ricardo Davis, 25, of Tamarac, Florida; Milton Oliver, 37, of Boynton Beach, Florida; and Clinton Ross, 57, of Redondo Beach, California.

All defendants are charged in count one of the indictment with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. Count two charges defendants Pappalardo, Agovino, Ditroia, and Duany with conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956. Defendants Pappalardo, Ditroia, Lovinsky, Oliver, Agovino, Duany, Lowton, Davis, and Lee all appeared in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow. Bond hearings are scheduled for tomorrow. Arrests are expected to continue during the week.
So far, 41 defendants have been charged to date for their involvement with a timeshare resale telemarketing room called Timeshare Mega Media and Marketing Group Inc. (TMMMG). The other cases previously filed include Case Nos. 11-60190-CR-Cohn, 11-60247-Cr-Marra, 11-60268-Cr-Hurley, 12-60019-Cr-Scola, 12-60149- Cr- Scola, and 12-mj-6114-RSR.
According to the indictment, in June 2009, Pappalardo incorporated TMMMG, using defendant Duany and Duany’s mother as nominee owners. Pappalardo was a co-owner of TMMMG, and Ditroia, Agovino, and Duany helped run TMMMG for him. According to the allegations in the indictment, the defendants conspired to unlawfully enrich themselves by making false representations over the telephone to individuals who were trying to sell their time-share units. Among the false statements, the defendants would tell customers, most of whom lived outside of the state of Florida, that the defendants had successfully sold their time-share unit and asked the customer to pay a fee to finalize the sale, a which fee would purportedly be refunded at closing. This fee ranged from at least $1,996 to as much as $10,000.
According to the indictment, the defendants knew that TMMMG never had any buyers for any of the sellers of their timeshare units. In this way, during the 10 months that TMMMG was in business, it fraudulently induced customers to send approximately $5,000,000 to TMMMG, of which Pappalardo received at least $300,000 in checks and hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash from victims.
If convicted, defendants Pappalardo, Agovino, Ditroia, and Duany each face a possible statutory maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Defendants Bleich, Lovinsky, Al-Dabbas, Scheel,
Harrington, Lowton, Lee, Rockmore, Davis, Oliver, and Ross each face a possible statutory maximum sentence of up to twenty years in prison.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI. Mr. Ferrer also recognized the assistance provided by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the Federal Trade Commission during this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey N. Kaplan.

Four MS. shoplifters charged with felonies in thefts www.privateofficer.com

Pontotoc MS Feb 24 2013 Police Chief Larry Poole said that two Derma residents and two Calhoun City residents were arrested by officers February 2 and charged with felony shoplifting.
The alleged shoplifting occurred around 2 a.m. at Wal-mart in Pontotoc, Poole reported.
Those arrested and charged with felony shoplifting included:
-Resheka Shonta Stovall, 24, of Underwood Drive, Derma;
-Maurice William Buchanan, 23, of Underwood Drive, Derma;
-Camilla Jean Penson, 26, of Johnson Avenue, Calhoun City;
-and Trane Anastacia Foxx, 32, of Simmons Drive, Calhoun City.
Poole said officers stopped the suspects’ vehicle on McCord Road shortly after they left Wal-Mart.
Poole said that alleged shoplifted items recovered during the arrest included three electric scooters, several children’s Innovation Tablets, household items and clothes.
“The items we retrieved totaled $1,250.16,” Poole reported.
Bond was set at $5,000 each for the four suspects, who will await action of the grand jury in April, he said.
“Foxx is on probation through MDOC and is being held for a probation revocation hearing, and the other three were released on bond,” Poole said.
Source-Pontotoc Progress

Thirty People Indicted in Massive Florida-Arizona Drug Conspiracy www.privateofficr.com

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Press Release

Florida Feb 22 2013
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; Antonio J. Gomez, Acting Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Field Office; and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, announce the arrests of 30 individuals engaged in a massive drug conspiracy that trafficked drugs from Arizona to Florida. The defendants were arrested earlier today and are expected to make their initial appearances today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dave Lee Brannon in West Palm Beach at 1:00 p.m.

Charged in the 12-count indictment are George Evans Bivins, Jr., a/k/a “Ziggy,” 30, of West Palm Beach; Antonio Markeith Beverly, a/k/a “Tony,” 29, of West Palm Beach; Daniel Emmanuel Torrez, 31, of Tucson, Arizona; Lavaris Reshard Bivins, a/k/a “Varis,” 22, of West Palm Beach; William Alvarenga, a/k/a “Chico,” 19, of Boynton Beach; Jessica Marie Arvizu, 30, of Tucson, Arizona; Michael Maxwell Barkley, a/k/a “Tater,” 38, of Lake Worth; Jerrick David Bartee, 30, of West Palm Beach; Kirk Douglas Bivins, a/k/a “Kirky,” 38, of Riviera Beach; Demetri Pernell Cobb, a/k/a “Meechi,” 23, of Lake Worth; Darren Duane Donnally, 39, of Palm Springs; Quatavious Carnell George, a/k/a “Jelly Boy,” 26, of Riviera Beach; Wellington Timothy Glinton, a/k/a “Timmy,” 20, of Lake Worth; Javaris Reshad Bartelmy, 24, of Boynton Beach; Ernest Andrew Holiday, a/k/a “Bam,” 30, of Riviera Beach; Jean Innocent, a/k/a “Barko,” 20, of Lake Worth; Demetrice Lemane Jones, 37, of Riviera Beach; Dominic Perry Lamare, 33, of Port St. Lucie; Patrick Jarrod Lowe, 24, of Lantana; Richard John Mercy, 30, of North Palm Beach; Frank Davis Moore, Jr., a/k/a “Bow Head,” “Bodeen,” 33, of Royal Palm Beach; Evens Pierre Louis, a/k/a “E-Bo,” 27, of Palm Springs; Theresa Lashai Razz, 28, of West Palm Beach; Lori Beth Mae Saccoman, 50, of West Palm Beach; Jeannot Saintelus, a/k/a “Jit,” 23, of Lake Worth; Calvin Leon Sirmans, Jr., a/k/a “CJ,” 28, of Lake Worth; Jamie Toby, 24, of Lake Worth; Monica Deloris Toby, 47, of Lantana; Eric Lanard Williams, a/k/a “Baby Boy,” 29, of Lantana; and David Lendell White, a/k/a “Popper,” 25, of Lake Worth.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “Today, the streets of Lake Worth and the surrounding areas are just a little safer, thanks to the concerted efforts of the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. Thanks to their hard work, we have removed more than two dozen drug traffickers from our streets.”

“Through the combined efforts of local and federal law enforcement, this massive drug trafficking conspiracy is out of business,” said Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami. “Drugs and the violent gangs that profit from them have a devastating effect on our communities and we will continue to work with our partners to make South Florida a safer place.”

Antonio J. Gomez, Acting Inspector in Charge for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service stated, “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all of our law enforcement partners in making our communities safer by working to eradicate narcotics from the U.S. mail stream.”

More specifically, the indictment, filed on February 7, 2013 and unsealed today, charges the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and/or cocaine hydrochloride, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and/or cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), and 846. If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a statutory maximum term of life in prison.

According to statements made in court, this conspiracy involved multiple kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride that were shipped from Tucson, Arizona to Palm Beach County for sale and distribution as both cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base. Much of the cocaine was sold in and around the streets of Lake Worth, Florida.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rinku Tribuiani and Robert Waters.

An indictment is only an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Eleven South Florida Residents Charged in $34 Million Stolen Identity Tax Refund Scheme www.privateofficer.com

U.S. Attorney’s Office /FBI
PRESS RELEASE

Miami Fla Feb 13 2013

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, announced the unsealing of a 43-count indictment charging defendants 11 South Florida residents with stolen identity tax refund fraud.
Charged in the indictment are Henry Dorvil, aka “D,” 35, of Hollywood; Herve Wilmore Jr., 29, of Aventura; Dukens Eleazard, aka “DK,” 33, of Pembroke Pines; Marie Eleazard, aka “Fanfan,” 32, of Miami; Jesse Lamar Harrell, 26, of Miramar; Luckner St Fleur, aka “Nene,” 32, of Miami; Ruth Cartwright, aka “Princess,” 30, formerly of Plantation; Miguel Patterson, 35, of Miami; Brandon Johnson, 29, of Miami Gardens; John Similien, 24, of Plantation; and Marc Leroy Saint Juste, 26, of Tamarac. Defendants Dorvil, Harrell, Patterson, Johnson, and Saint Juste made their initial appearances in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow in Fort Lauderdale at 1:00 p.m. today. Defendant Cartwright was arrested in the Northern District of Georgia and will make her initial appearance there. Defendants Wilmore, both Eleazards, St Fleur, and Similien remain at large.

Specifically, each defendant is charged with one count of conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, commit wire fraud, and commit aggravated identity theft, all in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 371; as well as two counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., §§ 1343 and 2. In addition, defendants Dorvil, Wilmore, Dukens Eleazard, Marie Eleazard, Harrell, St Fleur, Cartwright, Patterson, Johnson, and Similien are charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. §§ 1028A(a)(1) and 2. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $443,449.07 seized from a bank account; a 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT Premium Sport and 2010 Nissan Maxima registered to defendant Dukens Eleazard; a 2011 Infiniti M37 registered to defendant Marie Eleazard; and a 2010 Porsche purchased by defendant Wilmore.

According to the indictment, the defendants recruited knowing participants and unknowing victims to put businesses, bank accounts, and Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs) in the defendants’ names. The defendants used this information to execute their fraud scheme, including tax refund fraud. The defendants also used the personal identification information of real people, including some deceased, to file false income tax returns with the IRS. In this way, the defendants received IRS refund checks [U.S. Treasury checks and Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) checks] at addresses and bank accounts that they controlled. To avoid having the fraud discovered, the defendants negotiated the fraudulently obtained income tax refund checks at each other’s businesses.

According to the indictment, from about January 2009 through March 2012, the defendants filed with the IRS approximately 6,961 federal income tax returns, requesting refunds totaling approximately $34,096,321. Of the 6,961 field tax returns, 2,763 used the identities of deceased individuals.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer, “Stolen identity refund fraud is spreading in South Florida like an out of control wildfire. Two days ago, we announced charges against 14 individuals in six separate cases on charges of stolen identity refund fraud. Today, in just one case, we are charging another 11 individuals who used stolen identities, including that of almost 3,000 deceased persons, to file fraudulent returns seeking close to $35 million in tax refunds. My office, in conjunction with the members of the South Florida Identity Theft Tax Fraud Strike Force, will continue to prosecute these thieves, not just to punish them, but also to deter others from thinking they can get away with stealing honest taxpayers’ hard-earned refunds.”

Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Gonzalez stated, “These defendants conspired to use the personal identification information of taxpayers, including deceased individuals, to file false income tax returns with the IRS. These actions not only pose a serious problem for taxpayers but adversely affect the integrity of our tax system. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to remain vigilant in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those individuals who seek to willfully defraud the United States Treasury and have a blatant disregard for the victims of their schemes.”

“Unfortunately, this is another example of the rapidly growing wave of stolen identity tax refund fraud,” said Xanthie C. Mangum, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami Division. “The FBI continues to actively target these fraudsters who seek illicit gains by victimizing hard-working taxpayers.”

Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Paula Reid stated, “The existence of identity theft in the South Florida region is an unfortunate criminal epidemic. At any time, anyone is subject to being a victim. The investigative efforts of the law enforcement community must remain strong and unwavering as the offenders’ continuous success and harm with this stealthy crime cannot prevail.”

If convicted, the defendants face a possible maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and two years consecutive in prison for each count of aggravated identity theft.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI, FBI, and USSS. Mr. Ferrer also thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Labor, and the Social Security Administration for their help on this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Karadbil.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

Couple arrested for theft after Concord court security officer misplaces gun www.privateofficer.com

CONCORD NH Jan 29 2013 – State police have arrested a Pittsfield woman and a Barnstead man Saturday, charged with taking a handgun that a Concord District Court security officer misplaced while she was using a bathroom.
According to New Hampshire State Police, officers from Troop D responded to Concord District Court at 1:30 p.m. Friday to investigate a report that a court security officer had a sidearm that was unaccounted for.
Court Security Officer Julie Bickford reported that her sidearm was missing from her holster, and that she believed that she might have misplaced the gun while using a bathroom. The courthouse was searched by troopers, a K-9 team, and court security personnel, but the weapon was not located.
State police reviewed Concord District Court security tapes and identified a female, Courtney Rojek, 24, of Pittsfield, seen exiting the women’s bathroom with a handgun in her hand within minutes of Bickford exiting the women’s bathroom.
Police said Rojek was seen placing the semi-automatic handgun on a table in the vestibule just outside the bathroom, and motioning a male subject over to her, identified by police as Jacob Noury, 33, of Barnstead.
On video, state police say Noury was seen handling the handgun and then placing it in Rojek’s waistband. Rojek and Noury are then seen exiting the court and leaving in a vehicle.
Arrest warrants were initiated for Rojek and Noury for Class A felony charges of theft of lost or mislaid property and Class b felony charges for possession of a firearm in a district or superior court facility.
State police, along with Chichester police, located both Rojek and Noury at a tattoo parlor owned by Noury on Route 4 in Chichester Saturday evening. Both were taken into custody without incident.
A search warrant was requested and granted for Noury’s residence in Barnstead. A search was conducted and the missing sidearm, a Glock 40mm semi-automatic pistol, was located inside the residence, according to police.

Noury and Rojek were held on $10,000 cash bail at the Merrimack County Jail. They are due to be arraigned Monday, in Concord District Court.

Source:Union Leader

Kmart robbery suspect appears in court www.privateofficer.com

MASSILLON OH Jan 14 2013
Bond has been set at $50,000 for an Ashland man who allegedly shoved a Kmart security officer Friday as he was trying to leave the store with more than $1,000 worth of sports equipment, tools and electronics.
Jordan McWeeny, 24, of 1423 Cleveland Ave., Ashland, was detained following a brief struggle and charged with third-degree felony robbery. He made his first appearance Monday in Municipal Court. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Monday.
McWeeny reportedly grabbed a number of items from the store, 2600 Lincoln Way E., and stuffed them into a suitcase.
“(Security officers) gave chase and they were able to catch up with him,” said Massillon police Sgt. J.J. DiLoreto.
Bond has been set at $50,000 for an Ashland man who allegedly shoved a Kmart security officer Friday as he was trying to leave the store with more than $1,000 worth of sports equipment, tools and electronics.

Jordan McWeeny, 24, of 1423 Cleveland Ave., Ashland, was detained following a brief struggle and charged with third-degree felony robbery. He made his first appearance Monday in Municipal Court. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Monday.

McWeeny reportedly grabbed a number of items from the store, 2600 Lincoln Way E., and stuffed them into a suitcase.

“(Security officers) gave chase and they were able to catch up with him,” said Massillon police Sgt. J.J. DiLoreto.

Source: IndeOnline.com

13 charged with shoplifting in Kennett www.privateofficer.com

KENNETT, MO Jan 14 2013

Kennett Police Department say thirteen people have been charged with shoplifting from stores between January 3-10.

Below is a list of those who police say were charged with shoplifting:

• Diana Duke, 25, of Kennett
• Adrianne Helton, 22, of Wardell
• Cordarell Lewis of Kennett
• Latoya Burton, 28, of Kennett
• Shawn Cornman, 24, of Campbell
• Latasha Dettrie 31, of Campbell
• Pamela Cole, 42, of Campbell
• Lisa Smith, 33, of Holcomb
• Laquita Williams, 23, of Kennett
• Victoria Atkinson, 24, of Kennett
• Ebony Bowles, 23, of Kennett
• Nikita Wallace, 23, of Springfield
• Jessica Pickard, 28, of Kennett

Police say you can contact them at (573)-888-4622 if you have information about these or other crimes.

Source: KFVS

NY parking attendant uses card skimmer to scam customers www.privateofficer.com

New York NY Dec 7 2012 This midtown parking garage was really a ripoff. Prosecutors said parking attendant Chinoy Shaw, 27, used a skimmer device to record card information and data from the magnetic strips of at least 50 customer credit cards at Eastway Tenant Parking on W. 49th St. near Seventh Ave.

Shaw was allegedly part of a team of seven scam artists, charged Wednesday, that collected customer information between September and November 2011.

From the stolen accounts, they made forged cards that they used to buy $36,000 worth of iPads and Macbook Pros from B&H Photo on Ninth Ave, the district attorney said.

Former B&H cashier Nidia Delacruz, 21, was in on the scam and processed the fraudulent Apple purchases, prosecutors said.

“Shoppers” Stephanie Bundrick, 21, Axell Dume, 21, Edgar Estevez, 24, Jonathan Guerrero, 19 and Yomaliys Nachapele also allegedly made charges on the stolen accounts at Home Depot, Verizon and gas stations.

Five of them were arraigned on a 165-count indictment that included conspiracy, grand larceny, identity theft, criminal possession of forged instrument, possession of stolen property and scheme to defraud. Delacruz and Estevez are not yet in custody.

The scam artists “made parking a vehicle in a Manhattan garage more costly than it already is,” District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said in a statement. Shayna Jacobs
source-www.nydailynews.com/

4 arrested as security guard battered in Wisconsin www.privateofficer.com

Madison WI Nov 28 2012

A security guard was battered in a shoplifting case in which a baby in a stroller was used as a cover for stolen merchandise on Black Friday at an East Towne Mall store, Madison police reported.

The incident took place in front of a large crowd of shoppers at about 8 p.m. Friday at J.C. Penney, police said in a news release.

Lesley Williams, 22, of Sun Prairie, was tentatively charged with battery and retail theft. Ashley Williams, 24, of Reedsburg, was tentatively charged with disorderly conduct and bail jumping. A 14-year-old Madison female was tentatively charged with battery and released to a family member. And Alicia Lembeke, 23, of Sun Prairie, was cited and released for retail theft.

Police said those four were stopped by a security guard as they tried to leave J.C. Penney and re-enter the mall.

“The thieves had been placing stolen items in a stroller, beneath a baby,” said police spokesman Joel DeSpain in the release.

When the guard asked the women to stop, Lesley Williams and the 14-year-old allegedly punched and kicked him, while Ashley Williams allegedly yelled that she was going to kill him.

“The youngest suspect later admitted to an officer that she had anger problems,” DeSpain said.

Stolen clothes and other items taken from J.C. Penney were found beneath the infant in the stroller. The baby was not injured.

“The guard wasn’t seriously hurt but he was bleeding from a cut near his ear,” DeSpain said.

source-host.madison.com

Father-daughter killed in Fort Lee fire www.privateofficer.com

 

FORT LEE, Va. Nov 22 2012 – A father and daughter were killed in a Monday morning fire at Fort Lee army base near Petersburg. The military identified the fire victims as Sgt. Corey Flowers, 24, and his 2-year-old daughter, Kourtney Flowers.

The death has shaken those at the Army post.

“Spc. Pauletta Flowers, the wife of Sgt. Flowers and mother of Kourtney, was not in the residence during the fire,” Public Affairs Officer Stephen Baker said in an email.

Investigators determined the fire started in the kitchen of the family’s duplex unit on Belleau Wood Road in the Madison Park subdivision. Fort Lee Fire Chief Tom Bahr said “unattended cooking involving the use of an open frying pan and cooking oil” caused the fire.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) is still investigating the “cause and manner” of death for both father and child.

On Monday, Fort Lee Fire Chief Thomas Bahr said when crews arrived just before 3:00 a.m., it appeared the fire had been burning for a “length of time.” He said the fire had spread to a neighboring unit and it was the people in that unit that called for help after hearing a smoke alarm.

When asked on Monday if he believed the fire and deaths were the result of foul play, Bahr said “nothing is ruled out, but it does not appear to be at this time.”

Source:WTVR

Rome Georgia police charge 4 people with thefts www.privateofficer.com

 

Rome GA Nov 8 2012 Officers arrested four people on shoplifting charges on Friday, two each from two different locations, according to Floyd County Jail reports.

According to the reports:

Melinda Gay Green, 49, of 87 Hennon Drive, and her son Cory William Green, 23, of 107 Kirton St., were each charged with misdemeanor shoplifting from the West Rome Walmart. The Greens stole nearly $50 worth of health and beauty products which Melinda Green concealed in her purse just before 12:30 p.m.

Kerry Waymond Wood, 24, of 1736 Johnson Lake Road, Cedartown, and Hannah Brittany Welchel, 22, of 239 Felton Rockmart Road, stole clothes valued at $298 from Belks on Martha Berry Highway on Friday just before 1 p.m. They were each charged with misdemeanor theft by shoplifting.

Wood, Welchel, and the Greens remained in jail Friday night.

Source:RN-T.

Parkersburg teacher arrested for sexual exploitation by a school employee www.privateofficer.com

PARKERSBURG, Iowa Oct 21 2012— Authorities on Friday arrested a former teacher with theAplington-Parkersburg School District on four counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee, Class D felonies.

Ashley Anderson, 24, of Ackley, admitted engaging in sexual misconduct with four male students ages 16 to 18 years old, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The alleged incidents occurred during the 2011-12 school year.

Anderson turned herself in at the Butler County Sheriff’s Office about 12:30 p.m. Friday. She was booked and released after posting $5,000 bond.

According to a criminal complaint, Anderson allegedly sent nude photos of herself in text messages and engaged in sex acts with at least three of the students.

Parkersburg police in September learned about the alleged incidents after a student confided in another person and a teacher heard about it, according to Larry Hedlund, a special agent in charge with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Anderson was employed by the Aplington-Parkersburg School District for two years starting in 2010. She taught high school math, algebra, geometry and pre-calculus before resigning her position this fall. She had also served as the faculty adviser for Students Against Drunk Driving and the prom committee and was the assistant coach for girls track.

Principal Dave Meyer and Superintendent Jon Thompson in a statement said the Aplington-Parkersburg School District officials were aware of the allegations but could not comment on specifics.

“We can affirm that our students will always be our first priority and that we have followed all school policies on matters such as this and that the school cooperated fully with the police investigation,” they said.

The investigation found that Anderson had a relationship with an 18-year-old senior she had in class last fall that started with kissing and escalated to multiple sex acts, including at his residence. Anderson had similar relationships with a 16-year-old junior and a 16-year-old sophomore, the complaint says.

A fourth relationship with a 17-year-old student included a kiss on a gravel road after track practice last spring and continued after he graduated from the school, the complaint says.

Sexual exploitation by a school employee is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Source-WCFCourier

Police arrest three people in Denver bar fire and murder of five patrons www.privateofficer.com

DENVER CO Oct 20 2012 (AP) — Three people have been arrested in connection with the killing of five people at a bar that was then set on fire, apparently to hide the crime, and the motive was robbery,Denver police said Thursday.

Police Commander Ronald Saunier said the suspects went to Fero’s Bar & Grill bar to rob it before closing time Wednesday, but he didn’t go into details about how it turned into a murder case.

An officer on routine patrol around 2 a.m. Wednesday noticed a fire inside the bar. Inside, firefighters found the bodies of one man and four women, including 63-year-old Young Fero, the bar owner.

The suspects are Joseph Hill, 27, and his brother, Lynell Hill, 24, and Dexter Lewis, 22. They were all arrested in Denver.

The Denver medical examiner identified the other victims as Daria M. Pohl, 22; Kellene Fallon, 45; Ross Richter, 29; and Tereasa Beesley, 45. Pohl, Fallon and Beesley were from Denver. Richter’s hometown wasn’t released.

The medical examiner didn’t release the cause of death.

The bar is in a strip mall about five miles south of downtown Denver, just beyond the upscale Cherry Creek North shopping district. It is wedged among a check-cashing store, a tennis shop, a nail salon and a car repair business on busy Colorado Boulevard.

Police said the fire did extensive damage, but little of that was visible from the outside.

The bar attracted both regulars and people staying in nearby hotels, but neighbors said it didn’t seem busy most days.

Frequent patron Chris Brady said the bar’s customers ranged from “semi-homeless-looking people” to patrons in suits and ties.

He was at the bar for a regular poker game held Tuesdays and left at about 11 p.m.

“There was nobody random or crazy in there,” Brady said.

Brady said Fero was known for cooking up beef dishes for customers at a moment’s notice and usually would close the bar herself.

She bid him goodnight Tuesday as he paid his tab.

“She said, “Thank you, sweetie. Have a good night,’” Brady said. “I said, ‘You too.’”

Mike Spinale, one of Fero’s neighbors in Aurora, described her as “really nice.”

“She didn’t speak much, but I know she owned a bar and she worked all the time,” Spinale said. “She told me she did everything herself.”

Danny Fero, who said he was Young Fero’s ex-husband, said he talked with Young Fero about a month ago regarding a visit with their daughter, but she made no mention of any threats. He said he was shocked by the events at the bar he once co-owned with her.

He told The Denver Post the two had met when he was working as a spokesman and photographer for the U.S. Army in Seoul, South Korea, and she was a clerk at the Korean Ministry of Agriculture. The two later married and had a daughter.

Jerry Richardson, who maintained an ATM at the bar, described Young Fero as “feisty.”

“When she wanted that machine fixed, she would tell you about it,” Richardson said.

Few details were immediately known about the other victims.

At an address listed for Pohl, a man who answered the door declined to comment. But neighbors Bert and Suzanne Kasben expressed disbelief that the studious 22-year-old was killed.

“She was always working,” Bert said, adding he knew she held several waitressing jobs.

The Kasbens said Pohl was one of three sisters in a tight-knit family who often were seen walking their dog in a quiet cul-de-sac.

Meanwhile, Beesley was listed in state records as the owner of Maxim Lounge, another Denverbar.

Frank Peluso, who works in an office building half a block from Fero’s Bar & Grill, said he used to eat lunch at the establishment but hasn’t been there in three years. It seemed to be declining and the owners have tried various things to attract more business, including offering karaoke, he said.

“It’s one of those places that you wonder how it stays in business,” Peluso said.

Resident Matthew Neam said you can’t see into the bar because the front windows are frosted. He said he and his friend used to joke about what might be inside.

“I’ve never gone in there,” Neam said. “It always looked kind of sketchy to me.”

Mentor Ohio trio charged after pulling knife on security agent www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Mentor OH Sept 13 2012 A man faces a charge of aggravated robbery after he pulled out a knife while scuffling with a department store security guard Sunday, according to Mentor Police.

Aaron Lunato, 24, of Painesville, was trying to return three cases of shoplifted bracelets at J.C. Penney when the altercation occurred, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien said.

He had done the same thing with shoplifted watches earlier that day, Zbiegien added.

A security guard found Lunato suspicious and tried to stop him. When he did, Lunato hit the guard in the throat with his forearm, Zbiegien said.

The two scuffled and Lunato pulled out a pocketknife. However, the guard was able to knock the knife out of Lunato’s hand and kick it away, Zbiegien said.

Lunato ran into the parking lot where he jumped into a white pickup truck. The truck was driven by Michael Ragozzino, 28, and a woman named Tonna Kovacs, 34, was also inside. Both Ragozzino and Kovacs live in Painesville.

However, Mentor Police saw the truck and stopped it before Lunato and the others could get away, Zbiegien said.

Police arrested the three and searched the truck. Inside of it, they found heroin, a prescription opiate called suboxone and drug paraphernalia like spoons, needles, cotton balls and more, Zbiegien said.

Lunato was charged with aggravated robbery and possession of heroin and drug-abuse instruments.

Ragozzino was charged with complicity to aggravated robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kovacs was charged wth misdemeanor counts of possession of drugs, drug-abuse instruments and paraphernalia.

Lunato and Ragozzino were arraigned Monday morning in Mentor Municipal Court.

Four shoplifters face felony charges in Home Depot scam www.privateofficer.com

 

SALEM NH Sept 10 2012 — Two shoplifting suspects chose a vanity at Home Depot Wednesday evening, then walked around the store, filling it with tools and other items, police said.

The two then went to a self-checkout register, scanned a few of the items and left the store with the goods, valued at $2,000.

Police stopped the suspects’ car as it was leaving the parking lot just before 5:30 p.m.

The four people in the car were arrested and all face at least one felony charge. They all remained in the county jail yesterday evening.

Tiffany Harrison, 24, of Brooklyn is charged with felony willful concealment and false report to law enforcement.

Pierre Louis, 28, of Philadelphia and Rodrigue Domingue, 29, of Brooklyn both face felony charges of criminal liability for conduct of another.

Kenton Ames, 34, of Brooklyn faces a felony charge of theft by deception and possession of false identification.

Harrison, Domingue and Ames all refused the services of a bail commission and were taken to the county jail pending their arraignment in 10th Circuit Court in Salem.

Lous had cash bail set at $5,000, but did not post it and also remains in jail.

Source:eagletribune.com

Newton couple charged in shoplifting incident www.privateofficer.com

 

WATERTOWN MA Sept 6 2012 — Police arrested a Newton man and a Newton woman for alleged shoplifting from Stop and Shop on Aug. 28 at approximately 6:45 p.m., according to Lt. Michael Lawn of the Watertown Police Department.

Police responded to the Stop and Shop on Pleasant Street after security reported that the Newton man and woman had entered the store, allegedly placed random items in a green bag and attempted to leave the store. The items cost $133.60, according to Lawn. Police arrested Danielle Marie Williamson, 24, of 713 Watertown St. and George Haggie, 25, of 13 Dalby St. and charged them with shoplifting more than $100 by concealing. Haggie was also arrested on a warrant out of Waltham District Court for failure to pay court fines, said Lawn.

Police arrested a Newton man and a Newton woman for alleged shoplifting from Stop and Shop on Aug. 28 at approximately 6:45 p.m., according to Lt. Michael Lawn of the Watertown Police Department.

Police responded to the Stop and Shop on Pleasant Street after security reported that the Newton man and woman had entered the store, allegedly placed random items in a green bag and attempted to leave the store. The items cost $133.60, according to Lawn. Police arrested Danielle Marie Williamson, 24, of 713 Watertown St. and George Haggie, 25, of 13 Dalby St. and charged them with shoplifting more than $100 by concealing. Haggie was also arrested on a warrant out of Waltham District Court for failure to pay court fines, said Lawn.

Liberty Village security help police nab shoplifter www.privateofficer.com

EMINGTON NJ Sept 4 2012 — Three men in their early 20s from Paterson were charged with shoplifting and other offenses after a security guard helped police catch the suspects who allegedly took items from several stores at Liberty Village.

Flemington Police gave the following account:

On Aug. 27, at about 2:30 p.m. Patrolman Louis Hribik received a call to respond to the Bass shoe outlet store in Liberty Village for a shoplifting complaint.

The manager of Bass told the patrolman that three Hispanic males, one wearing a white T-shirt with two large gold rings on his right hand, one in a red shirt and another in a white shirt, removed several pairs of shoes from the store.

The patrolman then checked the area and with the help of a Liberty Village security guard they were able to catch and detain two subjects, later identified as Robinson Cabrera-Camilo, 22, of Paterson and Fausto Peguero-Nunez, 24, also of Paterson.

The security guard told the patrolman that the third suspect ran though some houses towards Brown Street.

While other police officers were checking the area for the third suspect, Detective William Svard saw a male matching the description running near 179 Main St. carrying a bag of items.

The male was then detained without incident and identified as Benito Vinas-Castillo, 22, of Paterson.

All three subjects were placed under arrest and charged with shoplifting, theft and hindering. Bail was set at $25,000 full for all three subjects. They were lodged in the Hunterdon County Jail in lieu of bail.

Items from Bass, Nike, Jockey and Polo were recovered from the subjects.

CT trio charged with shoplifting from outlets www.privateofficer.com

 

Clinton CT Aug 12 2012 — Three Hartford residents are accused of stealing merchandise worth more than $2,500 from Clinton Crossing and Tanger Outlets in Westbrook.

Phathesia Robinson, 28, 91 Barber St., Joycelyn Mack, 30, 67 Edgewood St., and Jeremy Hasty, 24, 7 May St., were all charged with third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny on Saturday. All three appeared in Middletown Superior Court Monday to face the charges, which are class D felonies and carry a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Store employees at Tanger Outlets in Westbrook called police after seeing the trio and suspecting they were stealing from multiple stores, including Carters and Osh Kosh, police said. Employees reportedly watched Robinson, Mack and Hasty walk to a car and deposit shopping bags, then return to the shops.

A security officer approached the car and saw brand new Carter’s clothing with tags and hangers still attached. By the time police arrived, the trio had left the mall.

Police found the car a short time later at the Clinton outlets. Officers set up a perimeter, and when the three returned to the car with more shopping bags, police took them into custody.

When police asked to see receipts for the multiple items in the car, all three suspects denied knowledge or involvement with the items, police said. Police found merchandise from 14 different stores with a total estimated value of $2,640.

Robinson had bond set for $5,000 cash or surety and is due back in court Aug. 27. Mack was appointed a public defender and is due back in court Aug. 22. Hasty posted a $5,000 professional surety bond and is due back in court Aug. 27. All three defendants were ordered not to have any contact with each other and to stay away from both the Clinton and Westbrook outlets.

Source:middletown press

Cleburne school district substitute teacher arrested www.privateofficer.com

 

Cleburne TX Aug 11 2012 Police arrested a former Cleburne school district substitute teacher Wednesday on a charge of improper relationship between educator and student.

Justice of the Peace Ronny McBroom of Precinct 1 magistrated Jason Paul Allen, 24, of Grandview on Thursday morning and set his bond at $25,000.

A former student of the Cleburne school district told police that she willingly engaged in sexual intercourse with Allen two years ago when she was 16, according to police reports. Allen was a substitute teacher with the district at that time but was not employed by the district at the time of his arrest, police said.

The Texas Legislature strengthened existing law in 2003 to forbid any relationship between an educator and student in a private or public primary or secondary school.

Those suspected of committing the crime face a second-degree felony charge.

A school district official confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Allen worked as a substitute from 2010-11 but has not been used since and was no longer on the district’s substitute list at the time of his arrest.

Substitute teachers are considered employees of the district and receive training on policies concerning employee standards of conduct, said Lisa Magers, a school district spokeswoman, including a standard prohibiting district employees from forming “romantic or other inappropriate social relationships” with students.

Any sexual relationship between students and district employees is always prohibited, even if consensual, Magers said.

Magers said CISD is cooperating with the law enforcement investigation, Magers said.

“As it is an ongoing police investigation, a personnel issue and, in the district’s desire to protect the victim, CISD cannot comment on the allegations or charges,” Magers said.

McBroom also imposed special conditions of bond that include prohibiting Allen from having any contact with the alleged victim.

Source:Cleyburne Times Review