Vicki Laspina [Mugshot]A Villages woman is in jail after officials say she stole almost $15,000 from the woman she was supposed to be caring for.
Vicki Lee Laspina, 59, was supposed to be taking care of the 92-year-old woman who Laspina says is like a mother to her. Instead, she used the victim’s checking account to make out two cashier checks to herself.
One check totaled $9,679 and the other was a sum of $5,000 totally out to $14,679.00.
The investigation was referred to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office back in late August after it was determined by Sumter County authorities that the Citizen’s Bank Laspina used located in the Villages was over county lines.
Marion County detectives went to Laspinas residence located at 17020 SE 96 Chapelwood Circle in the Villages on August 26, 2013, to question her about the incident.
Laspina informed detectives that she has been very good friends with the victim for about five years and stated that they were so close, she is like a daughter to the victim.
She confirmed to detectives that she did in fact care for the victim and even went to the bank to be put on the victim’s checking account, but says it was at the victim’s request. Laspina stated that when they went to the bank the victim stayed in the car and a bank employee came out to her in order to have the victim sign paperwork. Laspina admitted that she told the bank official she was the victim’s daughter.
The next day Laspina returned to the bank without the victim and had the two cashier’s checks made out. She claimed that the victim told her she would give her the money but said the victim did not specifically say Laspina could go to the bank and have the checks generated.
When asked about the victim’s mental capacity, Laspina told detectives that she feels the victim has full mental capacity but later said the victim has “good days” and “bad days” when it comes to her memory.
When detectives went to the victim’s house to interview her she stated that she knew why the detectives were there, and then said, “How could a friend rob me of my money”.
The victim told detectives that she remembered going to the bank with Laspina, but says when the bank employee came outside she thought she was only signing a check and did not know Laspina was putting herself on the victim’s checking account.
On August 27 2013, Laspina called the detective and told him over the phone that she knew she was wrong for generating the checks without the victims consent and said she had planned on telling her when the bank statements came in.
The bank official told detectives that at first she didn’t think anything was suspicious about the transaction until Laspin came in to get the checks and was acting strange. The bank employee went to her manager and which the decision was made to contact the victim.
The victim told the bank via telephone that she did not give Laspina permission to have the two cashier checks made and stated she did not know they were there the previous day to put Laspina on her checking account.
Laspina was arrested and charged with one count of Swindle Property Under $20,000 and one count of Larceny from Victim 65 years-of-age or Older.
She was booked into the Marion County Jail and released on a $10,000 bond.
BlackBerry, once the dominant on-your-hip e-mail company is making a financial decision to sell.
The struggling company BlackBerry, is selling to Fairfax, who currently controls nearly 10 percent of the company. Fairfax is set to pay an estimated $4.7 billion for the former Smartphone giant.
Earlier this month BlackBerry laid off 40 percent of the companies employees, and reportedly will report a loss of a whopping One Billion Dollars for the second quarter.
BlackBerry held 47 percent of the market, but has recently fallen to only two percent. The company lost the market to Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android operating system.
BlackBerry plans to step back from the consumer market and concentrate on enterprise, government, law firms, and security forces.
It is unclear how the sale will affect current BlackBerry users at this time.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) announced today an additional enforcement week dedicated to the Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) campaign will begin September 23, 2013 and run through September 27, 2013.
The TACT campaign is targeted to highlight the danger of aggressive driving behaviors when interacting with large trucks on the road.
Motorists are at a serious disadvantage if involved in a crash with a large commercial vehicle. Large trucks can be as long as eighty feet and weigh up to twenty tons. The large size also means it takes forty percent longer for them to come to a stop than a smaller vehicle. Troopers statewide will be on the lookout for car and truck drivers who exhibit aggressive driving such at following too closely, unsafe lane changes and speeding.
“FHP is committed to reducing the number of commercial vehicle-related crashes on Florida roadways” said Colonel David Brierton, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “We can reduce crashes if we all share the roads safely, avoid aggressive driving behaviors and exercise additional caution when driving near larger vehicles.”
Do you drive defensively around big trucks? Protect yourself and your passengers by learning how to share the road safely. FHP offers these tips for driving around large trucks:
Stay out of the No Zone: Be aware that large trucks have large blind spots (also known as “No Zones”).
Pass trucks with caution: Pass on the left side for maximum visibility and maintain a constant speed.
Don’t cut trucks off: Be sure to leave plenty of room when you pull in front of a truck. Large trucks simply can’t stop as quickly as cars.
Practice patience around larger vehicles that are not traveling at the same speed as your vehicle.
Don’t drive distracted: Anything that takes your full attention off of the road, even for a second, could be deadly. This includes texting, changing the radio station, talking to passengers, etc.
For more information about TACT, FHP’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement and No Zones, visit FLHSMV.
Adrian Mendez [Mugshot]Marion County, Florida — A Marion County man is in jail after police say he kidnapped a girl on Wall Street in Eustis, and then ran her over with his SUV.
It was around 7 p.m., Sunday when authorities say Adrian Mendez, 21, offered a 14-year-old girl $200 to have sex with him, which the girl refused.
According to reports, Mendez became angry at the refusal, snatched the girl up by her hair, and pulled her into his vehicle.
The girl put up a fight, but Mendez choked the girl until she lost consciousness. When the girl regained consciousness, she said she was dazed but knew she laying on the side of the road.
According to detectives, a witness said they saw a dark SUV intentionally speed forward spinning the tires on top of the girl and, then “throw” the SUV in reverse and run over her again.
Mendez, who thought the girl was dead, then fled the scene.
Medics said when they arrived “the girl was barely hanging on to life.”
Detectives said the girl sustained serious injuries to her neck, and that it appeared the vehicle had crushed her legs and hips. She was transported via helicopter to Orlando Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Mendez was found at his home, located at 16905 SE 249th Terrace, Marion County, on Monday morning.
He was arrested and charged with Attempted Murder, one count of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and one count of False Imprisonment.
He is being held at the Marion County Jail without bond.
Ocala, Florida — A three car pileup in Ocala shut down southbound lanes on I-75 just south of US 27 causing a big mess Sunday morning.
A 2006 Ford F250 pick-up truck was traveling on the southbound side of I-75 in the outside lane when the truck experienced an equipment malfunction. The driver of the pick-up, Michael R. Leach of Jacksonville lost control of the truck which was carrying a trailer loaded with wooden crates. Leach exited the vehicle and attempted to warn other motorists of the debris.
Edward L. Farmer of Ocala was traveling southbound in the center lane on I-75 in his 2010 Acura. Farmer was unable to avoid the collision and struck the trailer. He exited his vehicle and moved to the shoulder of the highway.
A few minutes later a 1996 Peterbilt semi was traveling south in the outside lane driven by Freddie J. Melson of Kentucky. Spotting the pickups headlights on the Westside of the highway, Melson relized something was wrong and moved over to the center lane, unaware of the Acura and wooden crates. The semi then struck the rear of the Acura, destroying the car.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there were no injuries involved in the crash and no citations were issued.
All three lanes of southbound I-75 were shut down for about 30 minutes. One lane was opened a short while later allowing traffic through. The entire scene was cleared up by 11:30 a.m.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) selected the health plans it will contract with for the Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) program.
The Agency selected 10 general, non-specialty MMA plans via a competitive bidding process. In addition, the Agency selected five companies to provide specialty plans, including specialty plans focused on HIV/AIDS, child welfare and foster care, severe and persistent mental illness, and adults with chronic conditions.
A listing of the plans selected for each region and relevant information about the procurement can be found via the Department of Management Services’ Vendor Bid System atMyFlorida.
“I believe our evaluation and negotiation teams did an excellent job in selecting nationally accredited, top caliber plans that will be able to meet the needs of Florida’s Medicaid population. The Agency has confidence these plans will be able to provide high quality care through robust networks, a variety of extra benefits, and increased flexibility in meeting the unique health care needs of each recipient they serve,” said Secretary Liz Dudek.
Some facts of note regarding the selected plans:
The Agency selected eight Florida-based plans: Better Health, LLC; First Coast Advantage, LLC; Integral Health Plan, Inc. d/b/a Integral Quality Care; Preferred Medical Plan, Inc.; Prestige Health Choice; Wellcare of Florida, Inc. d/b/a Staywell Health Plan of Florida; Freedom Health, Inc.; and Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc. d/b/a Clear Health Alliance HIV/AIDS Specialty Plan.
Five different companies were selected to provide specialty plans that will serve populations with a distinct diagnosis or chronic condition; these plans are tailored to meet the specific needs of the specialty population.
Recipients who qualify to enroll in a Managed Medical Assistance plan will receive information at least 90 days ahead of when any change will take effect. Implementation is anticipated to begin in mid-2014. Additional information about the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program and the opportunity to sign up to receive email updates about can be found on the SMMC website at AHCA MyFlorida.
Ocala, Florida — Ocala residents should pat themselves on the back. Due to an overwhelming amount of votes from the community, the Ocala Drive-In won the “Project Drive-In” contest enabling them be able to keep their doors open.
Honda Motor Corp. hosted the contest and now a historic landmark will be here for years to come.
Owners John and Charlie Watzke received confirmation early this morning that the Ocala Drive-In had been chosen as one of the winners to receive a new digital projection system. The new digital projection system is said to be worth an estimated $80,000.
With technology changing by the minute, the new system will now be the main artery of the Drive-In.
The owners wrote on Facebook, “We want to Thank Everyone with a Huge Celebration Party but the weather does not look like it will co-operate with us at the drive-in for the next few days so Please Watch for the Announcement of the Celebration Party and come out and join us. THANK YOU , THANK YOU , THANK YOU, THANK YOU”
This is proof that the community still has what it takes to pull together when it really counts.
The iconic Drive-In opened in 1948, making the win a huge victory for a piece of Ocala History.
Kevin Roger Bailey [Mugshot]Ocklawaha, Florida — A call came in around 1:30 a.m., September 22, 2013 about an assault and battery, however it soon escalated and SWAT had to be dispatched to 12220 S.E. 134th Court, Ocklawaha.
Detectives say the victim called about Kevin Roger Bailey, 34.
It was reported to the Sheriff’s Office that Bailey was armed with a gun and a knife, both of which he was using in a threatening manner toward his family.
Several family members did suffer injuries as a result of Bailey’s actions.
As deputies arrived Bailey fired his weapon, however it is not known if Bailey aimed at law enforcement while he fired.
Bailey then ran into the woods, and it was at that time SWAT was called to assist.
As members of SWAT moved in on Bailey, he turned the gun on himself, and committed suicide.
At this time it is unclear as to what led Bailey to assault his family then take his own life.
Polk County, Florida — Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office are asking for help from the public with an Attempted Murder Investigation.
At approximately 6 a.m., on Saturday, September 21, 2013, a shooting incident occurred in the area of Edwin Street, NE Winter Haven.
31-year-old Kelvin Lewis Key-Herrington of 518 Sears Avenue NE, Winter Haven, was identified as the shooter. The victim was transported to a local hospital to be treated for an injury to the hand.
66-year-old Deborah Mobley Thompson, Key-Herrington’s grandmother of 213 Avenue P NW, Winter Haven, approached a witness shortly after the incident and threatened the witness with violence if her grandson was identified as the shooter.
There are active warrants for the arrest of both Kelvin Key-Herrington and Deborah Thompson. Key-Harrington is facing charges of Attempted Murder, Shooting into an occupied Vehicle, Tampering with a Victim and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Thompson is facing charges of Tampering with a Witness.
Both are considered to be armed and dangerous.
A $3,000 reward is being offered for the capture of Kelvin Key-Herrington.
Anyone with information in the whereabouts of Key-Herrington and Thompson is urged to contact Detective Jacob Alderman at 863-297-1100, or 863-298-6200.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL HEARTLAND CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-800-226-TIPS
Hammond, Indiana—A Texas leader of the Latin Kings street gang was sentenced today in Hammond, Indiana, to serve 262 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David Capp of the Northern District of Indiana.
Dante Reyes, aka “DK,” 41, of Alton, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano in the Northern District of Indiana. In addition to his prison term, Reyes was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release. On March 14, 2013, Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy.
According to the third superseding indictment filed in this case, the Latin Kings is a nationwide gang that originated in Chicago and has branched out throughout the United States, including the state of Texas. The Latin Kings is a well-organized street gang that has well-defined leadership and is composed of regions that include multiple chapters. The third superseding indictment charges that the Latin Kings was responsible for more than 20 murders in southeast Chicago, northwest Indiana, and Big Spring, Texas.
During a co-defendants trial, the government presented evidence of several murders committed by members of the Latin Kings. In addition, cooperating defendants testified that the Latin Kings was responsible for distributing more than 150 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana over the course of the racketeering conspiracy.
During his guilty plea proceeding, Reyes acknowledged that he became a member of the Latin Kings at an early age and ultimately rose to the level of South Texas Regional Inca. He admitted that he attended at least two meetings in Texas with other members of the Latin Kings leadership in order to solidify the relationship between the Latin Kings in Texas and Chicago. Reyes further admitted that on at least one occasion, he traveled to the Chicago area with other Latin Kings members to meet with local Latin Kings leadership.
According to court documents, Reyes distributed cocaine and marijuana to Latin Kings members in Texas. He also distributed cocaine in Michigan through the use of couriers. These couriers traveled from Texas by bus or other vehicles and passed through the Northern District of Indiana while en route.
Twenty-three Latin Kings members and associates have been indicted in this case. Including Reyes, 21 defendants have pleaded guilty, one was convicted by jury, and one remains a fugitive.
Arcadia, Florida — Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Ft. Myers Regional Operations Center arrested Charles Junior Lee, 47, of Arcadia, Florida., on one count of Organized Scheme To Defraud (greater than $50,000.00), one count of Grand Theft (over $100,000) and one count of Official Misconduct.
Lee resigned his position as City Marshal on May 20, 2013 during a financial audit.
FDLE Agents from the Sebring Field Office began their investigation on May 21, 2013 at the request of the City of Arcadia after then-Assistant City Marshal Matthew Anderson observed suspicious transactions involving checks Lee had written. These checks were made payable to Lee from three police department checking accounts.
On May 21, 2013, a search warrant was executed at Lee’s former office. During the search, investigators examined the checkbooks for the accounts questioned. Investigators found that information on the receipts and checks did not match. In addition, agents found several completed checks, which had not yet been issued and were backdated to 2011 and 2012. Investigators believe that checks were backdated in an effort to cover-up fraud.
After a review of bank records, investigators determined that between 2006 and 2011, Lee wrote 207 checks to himself from the police department checking accounts, totaling $151,100. These checks ranged in value from $200 to $3,000. Check images were not available prior to 2006 so it is unknown whether Lee wrote checks to himself before that time. Lee was elected to the office of City Marshal in 2001.
Investigators believe that of the $151,100, only $6,100 may have been used for expenses related to legitimate police department work. Agents were unable to identify any legitimate use for the remaining $145,000.
In a July 11, 2013, non-custodial sworn interview, Lee told FDLE Agents that he began misusing funds in approximately 2006 to “maintain his standard of living.” Lee also stated that when he learned of the pending audit, he attempted to create fictitious documents to conceal theft from the accounts.
Lee was arrested at the Desoto County Sheriff’s Office around 11:35 a.m. on September 18, 2013 and booked into the Desoto County jail on a $41,500.00 bond.
Elin Marie Peterson [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — On Tuesday, September 18, 2013, Marion County Sheriff Deputy Elizabeth Hart, responded to a call of a possible drunk driver around the 7000 block of East Highway 40.
When Deputy Hart arrived on scene she observed a white Toyota facing eastbound on the south side of E Hwy 40, with the driver of the vehicle, Elin Marie Peterson, 33, still behind the wheel with the keys in the ignition, according to an arrest affidavit.
The witness, who reported Peterson, was still at the location and told the deputy that she observed the vehicle go off the roadway, striking the bushes. When she (The Witness) tried to get Peterson out of the car, she refused.
When the deputy asked Peterson what happened, she replied that she is “considered an alcoholic” and that was how she went off the road. She also told the deputy that she had drank four cans of beer that contained eight percent alcohol.
According to reports, Peterson initially refused to perform a field sobriety test unless she was able to speak to her boyfriend, however after being informed that she was under investigation for suspicion of DUI, she did comply.
After completely failing every exercise she was asked to perform, it was evident to the deputy that Peterson was extremely intoxicated.
Peterson was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she performed an alcohol breath test which registered at a shocking .410, that is five times the legal limit of .08.
Due to such a high BAC the jail would not accept her; therefore she was transported to Munroe Regional Medical Center for medical clearance.
The Toyota she was driving which belonged to Peterson’s mother, was impounded by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Peterson was charged with DUI and is currently in the Marion County Jail on a $500 bond.
WARNING: THIS ARTICLE MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS
Worcester, Massachusetts/Largo, Florida — An investigation led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, named “Operation Holitna” that originated in Boston back in 2010 has led to the arrests of 54 predators in at least six different countries, and the rescue of around 167 child victims worldwide.
One of the predators arrested in the investigation was identified as Geoffrey Portway, 40, of Worcester, Massachusetts. Portway was sentenced on Tuesday, September 17, 2013, to more than 26 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of sex offender probation for Solicitation To Commit A Crime Of Violence, Solicitation For The Kidnapping Of A Child, and Possession And Distribution Of Child Pornography.
Since Portway is a citizen of the United Kingdom, he also faces deportation upon his release from prison.
Portway had multiple conversations with other very disturbed men in various chat rooms which were being monitored by investigators. The conversations between these men consisted of talk about mutual interests in abducting, raping, torturing, murdering, even cooking and eating children. Many of the conversations involved the trading of child pornography. Including images of children known by the men, accompanied by discussions of the desire to sexually abuse, murder and cannibalize those children.
In one conversation, Portway asks another man to help him kidnap children, saying, “I want to eat… The two boys you will bring me. Perhaps not today, but it will happen that is all I live for…I am serious. It is the only thing that gets me up in the morning.”
After tracking Portway through his computer, Homeland Security Investigations special agents along with state and local police raided his home on July 27, 2012, in Worcester. Armed with a federal search warrant they executed a search of the residence, what they found inside was like something straight out of the TV show, “Criminal Minds”.
A forensic examination of his computer revealed over 4,500 exchanges of child pornography with others and around 20,000 images and videos of child pornography much of which depicted dead children as well as people cooking and eating children.
However, the most shocking thing agents found during the search was not what was inside the home, but what was actually underneath the home.
An eerie stairway led them to a locked door in the basement of the residence. Behind that door was a sally port that led to a second door with a keyed lock. Behind the second door was a dungeon, which was lined with acoustical sound deadening material, a chair, a television and what appeared to be an internet modem. The room also contained a child-sized homemade coffin, with large speakers covered in mesh wire at one end with exterior locking devices. A steel cage that was approximately three feet wide, two feet high, and four feet long with multiple locking devices and had a steel table top with steel rings at six points, presumably for restraints.
There was a deep freezer, an upright freezer, disposable scalpels, deluxe butchering kits and castration tools. In recovered chats from Portway’s computer, he described his dungeon as a place he intended to use for keeping kidnapped children while he sexually abused them, and where he would eventually murder and eat them.
Portway’s attorney, Richard Sweeney blamed his client’s behavior on a troubled life, saying that Portway realized he was gay at the age of 8, and couldn’t tell anyone because his dad was a homophobe. Sweeney went on to say that Portway resorted to a fantasy world and as a child, Portway himself had a desire to be eaten.
Sweeney referred to Portway’s basement as a “theater” rather than a dungeon. He said, “He walked in there and he would do his fantasies, and he would do it in the privacy of his own home. He never tried to put himself in a position where he would have contact with children and he never laid a hand on any minors.” He added, “In Mr. Portway’s case, there’s pornography, there’s a fantasy world, there’s no child.”
On May 6, 2013, Portway pled guilty to Solicitation To Commit A Crime Of Violence, Solicitation For The Kidnapping Of A Child, and Possession And Distribution Of Child Pornography, he was sentenced Tuesday to 320 months in prison in accordance with the plea agreement signed by Portway.
Bruce M. Foucart, the special agent in charge of HSI Boston, said, “Mr. Portway made his intentions explicitly clear in online conversations with depraved like-minded individuals. The sophisticated child torture chamber he built in his basement also clearly demonstrated his strong desires to ensnare a child victim. There is no doubt in my mind that given the right set of circumstances, Mr. Portway would have acted on those perverse urges.”
Among the several people Portway solicited for their help in abducting children it was predominantly from Michael D. Arnett, 38, of Roeland Park, Kansas. As early as 2010 Portway utilized Skype and other programs to communicate with Arnett, trading child porn including images of injured, mutilated and deceased children while chatting about the abduction, rape, sexual abuse, murder, and cannibalism of children.
Over months, Portway repeatedly asked Arnett to kidnap a child for him, with the intent that Portway would ultimately rape, kill, and eat that child. Those solicitations included discussing real children by name and photo, which Arnett claimed to know and have access to.
In the chats Portway and Arnett discussed the different ways to kidnap children and the age range that Portway preferred. Portway was told by others that Arnett had helped with such requests, and that he had experience in the abduction and sexual abuse of children.
Arnett has since been arrested and pled guilty in Kansas to Sexual Exploitation Of A Child For The Purposes Of Producing Child Pornography.
Arnett was also communicating with other pornography suspects who have been arrested and charged in the international investigation. Those men who communicated directly with Arnett are: Ronald Brown, 57, of Largo, Florida; Robert Mucha, 56, of Newton, New Jersey; Jason Scarcello, 42, of Anderson, California; and Richard Dates, 67, of Grant, New Mexico.
Following the publicity of the Arnett arrest in Kansas, HSI agents also arrested Robert Poe III, 38, of Kansas City, Kansas, after being identified in May of 2012, when a victim came forward and reported he and his brother had both been sexually molested as minors by Poe and Arnett. Poe pleaded guilty on February 19, 2013.
Ronald Brown, 57, of Largo, was a Christian puppeteer who put on puppet shows at schools, churches, and birthday parties, according to authorities. During his chat sessions with Arnett, he discussed his desire to tie a child up, lock him in a closet and then eat him for Easter supper. In another he stated that his mouth watered when he looked at a female toddler.
Brown even sent Portway a photo of a boy with lines drawn on him to identify the different cuts of meat. They then discussed taking that child to a rented house in the Everglades, mutilating him, eating his body over several weeks and then feeding the “leftovers” to alligators.
Brown was sentenced to 20 years in prison back in July of 2013.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, defendants and victims continue to be identified around the world.
Homeland Security Investigations encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423, which is staffed around the clock by investigators.
If you have any information related to this investigation, you are asked to call 617-748-3274.
Gabriel Ayala-Quinones [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — On September 18, 2013 the Orange County Sheriff’s located a package that contained cocaine. The cocaine had been placed in a steel picture frame that had been welded and turned into artwork. It was being shipped via FedEx.
The package was addressed to an Oscar Ortiz of 34 Fir Dr. Trc. Ocala, Fl 34472.
Agents from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office delivered the package to the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team in Ocala. The team then set up an operation to conduct a controlled delivery of the item to the intended recipient.
A black male answered the door and identified himself as Oscar Ortiz, he signed for the package using that name.
Agents then watched as “Ortiz” loaded the piece of artwork in to the bed of a blue GMC pickup truck. Agents then followed the truck to Green Gables Apartments located at 2600 SW 10th St. Apt #2004. “Ortiz” dropped off the package and drove away.
Agents then served search warrants on both the “Ortiz” address and the recipient address at Green Gables.
A Black male later identified as Gabriel Ayala-Quinones, 36, was located sitting at the kitchen table with tools trying to cut the steel frame open.
The steel picture frame was lying on top of the box it was delivered in and on the counter was a large amount of U.S. money.
Agents found 800 grams of cocaine in the kitchen freezer.
Ayala-Quinones was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.
Agents transported the frame, 800 grams of cocaine, and the cash back to the Ocala Police Department where the frame was disassembled.
The frame contained 5.5 kilos of cocaine. In total agents recovered 5100 grams of cocaine and $10,500 in cash.
Quinones was charged with one count of Trafficking Cocaine over 400 grams. His bond was set at $250,000.
We do not have any further information on “Ortiz”.
Patricia Elkhateeb [Mugshot]Dunnellon, Florida — A fourth arrest has been made in the largest synthetic marijuana bust in Marion County history.
On Tuesday, September 17, 2013, authorities arrested 30-year-old, Patricia Elkhateeb in connection with the K-2 operation that took place at a closed doughnut shop in Dunnellon.
According to reports, agents recovered documents inside an office located in the northwest side of the building, which was determined to belong to Patricia Elkhateeb.
The documents show that Elkhateeb did in fact have knowledge of the operation and was renting the building from an individual for the sole purpose of manufacturing synthetic marijuana.
Recovered in the office were numerous documents believed to be ledgers recording the sales of synthetic marijuana packages, along with multiple invoices addressed to Elkhateeb, stating “rent due” for the months of July and August 2013 for the building located at 10155 Southwest County Road 484.
Agents also recovered a hand written note from the owner of the building, identified as Tony O’Connor, dated August 28, 2013, addressed to “Patricia” that read, “Please ensure that these bills are paid on time to avoid the power being cut off.”
Agents placed a call to O’Connor, who confirmed that Patricia Elkhateeb was renting the property from him.
Elkhateeb was arrested and charged with one count of Manufacturing A Synthetic Narcotic, one count of Unlawfull Possession Of A Controlled Substance With Intent To Distribute, one count of Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, and one count of Leasing A Property For Manufacturing A Controlled Substance.
She was booked into the Marion County Jail and has been released on a $151,500 bond.
LAREDO, TX—Kevin Corley, 30, the convicted “hitman” involved in a murder-for-hire plot and drug conspiracy, has been ordered to federal prison for 13 years, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Corley, of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty last September to conspiracy to commit murder for hire, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, and for possessing a firearm during in and in relation to a crime of violence. He is the last of seven co-defendants to be sentenced in a conspiracy involving some of the defendants in murder-for-hire and all of them in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen handed Corley 96 months for the conspiracy charges and a consecutive sentence of 60 months for the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, for a total of 13 years in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Kazen noted that although Corley became the leader in the overall conspiracy by getting the team together, selling armored vests, purchasing assault rifles, and giving them to undercover agents, he ultimately took responsibility by pleading guilty and assisted in the convictions of others as a very effective witness at trial.
Samuel Walker, 29, also a former U.S. Army soldier of Sharon, Mississippi, and Calvin Epps, 29, of Hopkins, South Carolina, were convicted following the jury trial in which Corley testified. The remaining four—Marcus Mickle, 21, and Robert Corley, 24, both of Columbia, South Carolina; Shavar Davis, 30, of Denver, Colorado; and Mario Corley, 41, of Saginaw, Texas, all pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to terms ranging from 30 months to 15 years in prison for their roles in the overall conspiracy.
The investigation began in January 2011, when Mickle began negotiations with persons whom he thought were members of the Los Zetas Cartel, actually undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, to purchase marijuana in return for stolen weapons. According to the testimony of DEA agents, the discussions concerned the distribution of marijuana in the Columbia, South Carolina area and how Mickle and Epps told undercover agents about a friend in the military who could provide military weapons to them. The agents were later introduced to Kevin Corley who identified himself as an active duty officer in the army responsible for training soldiers. According to the agents’ testimony, Kevin Corley offered to provide tactical training for cartel members and to purchase weapons for the cartel.
Over the next several months, Kevin Corley continued to communicate with undercover agents regarding the services he could provide the cartel as a result of the training, experience, and access to information and equipment items afforded him as an active duty soldier.
On January 7, 2012, Kevin Corley traveled to Laredo and met with undercover agents. During this meeting, he claimed he could raid a ranch located at or near Laredo containing 20 kilograms of cocaine and conduct a contract killing there. Kevin Corley proposed a $50,000 fee for this work but stated he would need to bring his own team. After further negotiation, Kevin Corley stated he would accept a $50,000 fee and five kilograms of cocaine.
During March 2012, Kevin Corley allegedly arranged for 300 pounds of marijuana to be delivered to Mario Corley in Charleston, South Carolina. Kevin Corley also assisted in brokering 500 pounds of marijuana and five kilograms of cocaine for Mickle and Epps and discussed with agents the distribution of these narcotics in South Carolina, Texas, and Colorado.
Agents testified that on March 5, 2012, Kevin Corley delivered two AR-15 assault rifles with scopes, an air soft assault rifle, five allegedly stolen ballistic vests, and other miscellaneous equipment to an undercover agent in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in exchange for $10,000. At the meeting, Kevin Corley and the undercover agent again discussed the contract killing and the retrieval of the cocaine which was to occur on March 24, 2012. Kevin Corley stated he had purchased a new Ka-Bar knife to carve a “Z” into the victim’s chest and was planning on buying a hatchet to dismember the body. He further told agents he had discussed the plan with Walker, that Walker was going to be a part of the team that would come to Texas to commit the murder for hire and that he and Walker had gone to the rifle range and test-fired Walker’s scoped rifle.
On March 24, 2012, Kevin Corley, Walker and Davis traveled to Laredo and met with undercover agents, at which time they discussed the location of the intended victim, the logistics of performing the contract kill, and their respective roles. Walker said he could hit the intended victim from more than two football fields away with his rifle. Immediately thereafter, the three were arrested, during which time a fourth suspect was shot and killed. A subsequent search of the vehicle in which Corley and the other co-conspirators arrived revealed two semi-automatic rifles with scopes, one .300 Caliber Weather by Magnum bolt-action rifle with a scope and bipod, one hatchet, one Ka-Bar knife, one bag of .223 caliber ammunition, and one box of .300 caliber ammunition. During the trial, Kevin Corley testified that the .300 caliber Weather by Magnum rifle and ammunition belonged to Walker and that Walker was supposed to take the long-distance shot at the intended victim with this weapon.
Meanwhile, also on March 24, 2012, undercover agents met with Epps and Mickle in Columbia, South Carolina, at a motel parking lot. During this meeting, Epps and Mickle discussed with the undercover agent the pre-arranged purchase of five kilograms of cocaine and 500 pounds of marijuana for which Epps and Mickle were supposed to provide $50,000 as an initial payment. During the meeting, Epps and Mickle were arrested. Epps had a loaded Raven Arms Model MP-25 handgun in his right cargo pants pocket, while Mickle had a loaded Springfield Armory XD-40 handgun in the right side waistband of his pants, as well as a loaded spare magazine.
On this same date, Mario Corley, having traveled from Texas to Columbia, South Carolina, to pick up Robert Corley, proceeded to Summerville, South Carolina (near Charleston), to meet with persons whom Mario and Robert Corley believed would provide them with 300 pounds of marijuana. Robert Corley admitted to making an agreement with Mario Corley to go to Charleston to pick up “a bunch of weed” and test the quality of the marijuana, in addition to helping Mario Corley load the bundles of marijuana into Mario Corley’s white van. At the time of his plea, Robert Corley stated he was expected to be paid a pound of marijuana from Mario Corley.
DeLand, Florida — DeLand Police Officer James Harris was fired from his job after he accidentally ran over Marlon Robert Brown as he was fleeing from officers.
FHP spokesperson, Sgt. Kim Montes, says 38-year old Marlon Robert Brown “failed to stop” for a Volusia County deputy who attempted to pull him over for a seat belt violation on Green Avenue at Parsons Avenue at 12:36 Monday morning. The Volusia County deputy then backed off and radioed dispatch to alert officers in DeLand that the driver was in their area.
Marlon Brown fled from his car on foot after DeLand Police Officers attempted to pull him over. As officers were pursuing Brown, he slipped and fell in front of the officer’s patrol car, causing the officer to run over him.
Brown led two separate agencies and multiple officers on a chase, but it was Officer James Harris that went around other officers; running Brown over with his patrol car. Officer Harris was fired for violating department policy involving a pursuit, according to officials.
The family of Marlon Brown hired Benjamin Crump, the no-name attorney that recently made a name for himself during the Trayvon Martin case.
Benjamin Crump says the officer should have been charged with vehicular homicide. A grand Jury refused to press charges against Officer James Harris earlier this month, citing the video did not show cause for charges to be filed, because the video clearly showed Marlon Brown falling in front of the vehicle.
Crump said during a press conference, “Marlon Brown was executed in a vegetable garden.”
This case has created outrage from both sides, and many are now wondering how an officer is supposed to peruse a criminal if they are going to get fired – then the city sued – every time an accident happens while an officer is performing his duties.
“The officer was doing his job, everybody knows you don’t run from the cops unless you did something wrong and have a reason to run. You don’t just run because you weren’t wearing a seat-belt,” Said Resident Tyrece Jackson. “I mean… I have been arrested for child support, but look at Marlon’s criminal past. Everyone knows he was a bad man.”
Brown was a known felon in the area.
Brown had been arrested more than a dozen times. He has had 18 misdemeanor charges, five felony charges, and three felony convictions.
Brown has an array of charges such as:
Felony Possession Of a Controlled Substance
Battery (multiple)
Uttering Forged Checks (multiple)
Grand Theft
Driving On A Suspended License (multiple)
VIEW LIST
Charges List For Marlon Brown [Click To Enlarge]Krystal Brown, Marlon Browns Ex-wife, received a payout of $550,000 from the city of DeLand for Marlon Browns death. The settlement releases the city from any further legal action.
Crump is now asking for further investigation to be conducted by an independent party.
Ocala Post slowed the video down and watched it frame-by-frame; it takes only one second after Brown slips for the patrol car to hit him. Officials say the one second would not have allowed sufficient time for Harris to stop his patrol car in slippery grass.
The medical examiners report doesn’t show any broken bones, fractures, or head injuries. The report states he died from mechanical asphyxia, which was the weight of the car that kept him from breathing. Crump is now accusing the medical examiner of fabricating the report.
It is still unclear as to why Marlon Brown ran from police; however, police said Brown was under a court ordered curfew.
We want to hear from you. Do you think Officer Harris should have been fired? And do you feel he was fired as a political move to avoid further attention from the media spotlight?
Daniel Kelley [Mugshot]Seminole County, Florida — Daniel Kelley, 26, was arrested for sending sexual text messages to a 14-year-old student.
Kelley, a special needs teacher at Bridges Academy in Winter Springs was fired immediately following his arrest.
According to the sheriff’s report, the girl was in Kelley’s homeroom class.
Kelley had exchanged hundreds of e-mails with the young girl, according to his arrest affidavit.
“It’s extremely disturbing when a teacher is involved. The teacher is in a position of trust and authority, so they should never put themselves in a position where they’re having this kind of communication with children,” said Kim Cannaday of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said Kelley was arrested after the girl’s father found graphic emails between Kelley and his daughter.
Investigators say the e-mails were very explicit in nature and described multiple sexual acts. Kelley repeatedly asked the teenage girl to send him pictures of her breasts. The young girl never agreed to his requests.
“Several times he actually solicited this victim to send nude photos of herself and fortunately she didn’t send those photos, but she did send some that were borderline,” said Cannaday.
Investigators are concerned that Kelley may have other victims.
If your child had inappropriate contact with Kelley, or you have information about other children Kelley may have inappropriately had contact with; you are urged to call the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at 407-665-6600
Marion County, Florida — A DUI arrest is made after Sheriff Chris Blair spots a reckless driver.
On Monday, September, 16, 2013, Marion county Sheriff, Chris Blair was traveling along Highway 326 when he spotted a vehicle traveling westbound in a very reckless manner.
Sheriff Blair called for a patrol unit as he followed the vehicle which turned into a Sweet Bay shopping center at the corner of Highway 326 and North US Highway 441.
Blair continued watching the vehicle until a deputy arrived to the Sweet Bay parking lot.
Due to the Sheriff observing the vehicle traveling erratically, Deputy Mitchell Sorrells was able to conduct a traffic stop on the male driver later identified as 23-year-old, Andrew R. Adair.
Adair was behind the wheel of his black 2011 Mitsubishi when the deputy approached the driver. According to reports, when the deputy made contact with Adair, his eyes were glassy, watery, and his speech was slurred.
The arrest report noted that when the deputy had Adair exit the vehicle to conduct a field sobriety test, there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from Adair’s person and breath.
A field sobriety test was performed in which Adair failed multiple portions of the test. At one point as seen in the video, Adair even fails to follow simple instructions.
An inventory of the vehicle also turned up nine empty Bud Light beer cans.
Adair was placed under arrest and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he performed an alcohol breath test, blowing a .167.
He was booked for DUI and released a short time later on a $500 bond.
