Two Arrested for Organized Retail Theft

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) yesterday arrested Bryan Hart, 30, of St. Petersburg and William Farrar, 27, of St. Petersburg. Both are charged with Organized Scheme to Defraud.

FDLE began investigating when a central Florida retail store contacted FDLE’s Orlando Regional Operations Center after discovering Hart and Farrar’s illegal activity. The investigation revealed that the two men were purchasing external computer hard drives from retailers, removing the components inside and replacing them with damaged components. They would return the tampered drives back to the store and obtain refunds. Hart and Farrar then sold the new parts they had removed to other individuals and through online advertising. … Continue Reading

Authorities Continue to Seek Information in Five-Year Murder Case

Saturday marks the five-year anniversary of the disappearance of 19-year-old Pamela Kinney from Apalachicola, Fla. Kinney was last seen August 14, 2005 in Apalachicola. Her remains were found on Sept. 5, 2005 in a secluded wooded area off Tilton Road just west of Apalachicola. … Continue Reading

Santa Rosa Man Arrested for Doctor Shopping

Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agents yesterday arrested Ricky George Perritt, 43, of Pace, Fla. on charges of withholding information from a practitioner to obtain a controlled substance, obtaining a prescription by fraud, and trafficking in hydrocodone.

On June 30, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a local physician’s office alleging that Perritt had fraudulently obtained hydrocodone through his wife, a former employee of the office, who called in several prescriptions for hydrocodone for herself and Perritt. … Continue Reading

Eighteen Arrested in Taylor County Prescription Drug Trafficking Sweep

Taylor County Sheriffs Office (TCSO) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Tallahassee Regional Operations Center yesterday arrested 18 individuals on charges of prescription drug trafficking. The arrest sweep follows a nine-month joint investigation which targeted illegal pharmaceutical drug sales and distribution in Taylor County. … Continue Reading

Five Arrested for Racketeering, Medicaid Fraud

~Former hospital administrators and medical staff arrested, more arrests pending~

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today announced the arrest of five individuals on various felony charges including racketeering, Medicaid fraud, money laundering, aggravated white collar crime, and operating a scheme to defraud. The arrests are the culmination of a joint investigation between the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, FDLE and the State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit into activities at the now closed Trinity Community Hospital and its affiliated clinics in Hamilton, Suwanee and Columbia counties. More arrests are pending. … Continue Reading

Two Arrested for Organized Scheme to Defraud; Selling Unregistered Securities

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today arrested Mark Brivik, 55, of Orlando, Fla., and Marie Brivik, 53, of Sarasota, Fla., on charges related to organized scheme to defraud.

The investigation began in 2007 after FDLE received allegations that Mark Brivik, managing member of River Meadows Development, LLC, had fraudulently solicited investments in a real estate project in Manatee County, Fla. The investigation revealed that between 2005 and 2007 Mark Brivik defrauded seven investors out of more than $4.1 million by convincing them that an “option to purchase” was available on a parcel of land.  This option did not exist. … Continue Reading

Former Child Protective Investigator Charged with Falsification of Records

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) special agents today arrested Qua-Keita Anderson, 27, of Jacksonville, on charges of official misconduct, a third-degree felony; and falsification of child protective records which contributes to great bodily harm, a second-degree felony. Anderson is a former child protective investigator for the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Jacksonville office. … Continue Reading

Construction Business Owner Arrested on Organized Scheme to Defraud

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the State Attorney’s Office, 10th Judicial Circuit, today announce the arrest of Ian Robert Stewart, 44, of Davenport, Fla. on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. Stewart is the owner of Marchstone Homes and R&I Construction, Inc., located in Davenport. … Continue Reading

FDLE Investigates Pensacola Shooting Incident

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is investigating a July 14 shooting incident involving the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).  The incident occurred during a traffic stop conducted by Trooper Michael Black near Longleaf Drive in the 7000 block of Pine Forest Road in Pensacola, Fla.   Preliminary investigative findings indicate that both the subject and trooper discharged their firearms. … Continue Reading

FDLE Concludes Investigative Activity in Shooting Incident

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has concluded investigative activity for a July 3 shooting incident that resulted in the death of Kevin Ryan Fuder, 30, of Bay County, Fla.

On July 3, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a trespassing call at 13830 County Line Road. Fuder died at the scene following an exchange of gunfire between the subject and responding law enforcement personnel. FDLE was asked by the BCSO to conduct an independent investigation of the shooting. FDLE conducted interviews with the individuals involved with the incident and forensic personnel processed the scene. … Continue Reading

Agents Arrest Jacksonville Man for Possession of Child Pornography

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Computer Crime Center and investigators with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested John Michael Fleehart, 39, of Jacksonville, Fla., for possession of child pornography.

The investigation began May after investigators observed videos of child pornography being shared over the Internet. The investigation revealed the child pornography was downloaded from a computer at Fleehart’s residence. … Continue Reading

2009 Report by Florida Medical Examiners Commission on Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today released the Florida Medical Examiners Commission Report on Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons.  The report contains information compiled from autopsies performed by medical examiners across the state in 2009.  During that period, there were approximately 171,300 deaths in Florida.  Of those, 8,653 individuals were found to have died with one or more of the drugs specified in this report in their bodies. … Continue Reading

ICE and Florida Department of Law Enforcement announce statewide activation of Secure Communities to prioritize, identify and remove criminal aliens

Secure Communities strategy prioritizes immigration enforcement actions against convicted criminal aliens

MIAMI – On Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), announced that ICE is using a new biometric information sharing capability in every Florida county to help federal immigration officials identify aliens, both lawfully and unlawfully present in the United States, who are booked into local law enforcement’s custody for a crime. This capability is part of Secure Communities – ICE’s comprehensive strategy to improve and modernize the identification and removal of criminal aliens from the United States. … Continue Reading

FDLE to Hold Press Conference Today to Announce Major Arrests

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will hold a press conference today to announce major arrests in a high-end burglary ring. Also joining FDLE, will be officials from the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, Jupiter Police Department, North Miami Beach Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, Boca Raton Police Department and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.

The press conference details are as follows:

Date:              Monday, June 21, 2010
Time:             2 p.m.
Location:       FDLE Palm Beach Field Office, First floor conference room
Address:        2300 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach, FL 33426

For Further Information Contact:
Heather Smith, Kristen Chernosky or Mike Morrison
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001

Charter Class of Executive Future Studies Program Graduate Today

The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute announces the graduation today of 27 senior managers from the Executive Future Studies Program. The graduates represent criminal justice agencies around the state who serve in a leadership role within their agency.

The goal of the Executive Future Studies Program is to prepare Florida’s Criminal Justice leadership for the challenging and changing demands of the future. Class participants study the trends and events that will challenge criminal justice professionals and Florida in the new millennium and examine the leadership skills necessary to create and lead the changes that lie ahead. … Continue Reading

FDLE Recognizes June as National Internet Safety Month

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) joins the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and SecureFlorida.org in recognizing June as National Internet Safety Month. Floridians are encouraged to educate themselves about Internet safety and review tips for keeping children safe online.

“Online safety is important year round,” said Special Agent Supervisor Mike Phillips of FDLE’s Computer Crime Center. “Adults and children should be aware of the potential dangers in cyberspace and take steps to protect their information and themselves against cyber stalking, identity theft, and sexual exploitation.” … Continue Reading

Officer Charged with Battery and Abuse

Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agents arrested Flagler Beach Police Department (FBPD) Lt. Robert Wayne Milstead, 55, today and charged him with one count of abuse of a disabled adult, a third-degree felony; and one count of battery, a first-degree misdemeanor.

FDLE’s investigation began in January after receiving complaints about Lt. Milstead. FDLE agents with the Jacksonville Regional Operations Center identified two incidents during which Lt. Milstead used excessive force. The first incident occurred during a traffic stop April 3, 2008 in Flagler Beach. Agents say Lt. Milstead asked the driver to exit the vehicle. When the driver advised Lt. Milstead he was unable to get out of the vehicle without using his cane, Lt. Milstead allegedly removed the driver from the vehicle and threw him on to the ground, handcuffing his hands behind his back. Agents say Lt. Milstead then used pepper spray on the driver when he was unable to stand up and walk. … Continue Reading

Cabinet Recognizes FDLE Members for Outstanding Service

Four top performing members of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were honored today with resolutions from Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet. Special Agent Mark Willis, Crime Laboratory Analyst Beth Ordeman, Law Enforcement Officer James Horton and Senior Management Analyst Adrienne Lucas were duly recognized for their exemplary efforts in 2009. … Continue Reading

FDLE Members to be Recognized by Cabinet for Superior Performance

Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet will recognize four Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) members tomorrow with resolutions for their superior performance during the 2009 calendar year. The members being recognized are recipients of the department’s annual awards program.

Details are as follows:

Date:              Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Time:             9 a.m.
Location:       The Capitol, Cabinet Meeting Room
Address:        400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Fla.

For Further Information Contact:
Heather Smith, Kristen Chernosky or Mike Morrison
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001

FDLE Targets Prescription Drug Traffickers in “Operation Pain Killer”

~Five-Month Investigation Results in 172 Arrests~

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today announced the arrest of 172 individuals and the seizure of more than 20,000 prescription pills in “Operation Pain Killer,” an aggressive five-month investigation targeting Central Florida prescription drug traffickers. The multi-agency operation began Jan. 1 and culminated with a final arrest round up and drug seizures on June 2.

“These are the street-level dealers who endanger lives by peddling prescription narcotics,” said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. “I’m pleased that this investigation neutralized numerous distribution points in Central Florida. There will be follow-up operations to attack this lethal supply chain.” … Continue Reading