Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today arrested Jonathan Lance Hobby, a former police officer with the Dade City Police Department, on several charges related to insurance fraud.
In addition to Hobby, agents arrested Bruce Dewayne Wilson Jr. and Carl “Chuck” Roach Jr.
All three were charged with conspiracy to deal in stolen property and operating a chop shop. Hobby and Wilson were also charged with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. Hobby alone faces two additional charges: insurance fraud and filing a false police report.
During an investigation, detectives with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and FDLE agents found that in May 2017, Hobby claimed his 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 truck was stolen from Rancho Bonito in Lakeland. He contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and filed a report.
Hobby then contacted his insurance company and filed an auto theft claim, which was paid in the amount of $24,712.72. In October 2017, the truck was located at After Hours Diesel Service, a business run by Bruce Dewayne Wilson. Agents discovered that Wilson and Hobby had an arrangement to falsely report the truck as stolen and to sell most of the parts. It was later determined Carl “Chuck” Roach Jr. had knowledge of the fraud and participated in dismantling the truck.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute.
All three suspects were taken to the Pasco County Jail. Bond was set for Hobby at $50,000. Wilson’s bond was set at $15,000 and Roach’s bond is $10,000.
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Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area celebrates 75 years of Florida WMAs
On Saturday, Jan. 27, the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area will host a day of fun and exploration celebrating Florida’s 75-year history of conserving native species and habitats on its wildlife management areas.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites the public to enjoy this free, family-friendly Tosohatchee WMA event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event was rescheduled from a previously announced date.
Only about 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, Tosohatchee WMA has woodlands and waterways reminiscent of Florida in the 1940s, when the first wildlife management area was created in the state. Osceola wild turkey and white-tailed deer roam here. Purple gallinules and roseate spoonbills pick their way through marshes flowing into the St. Johns River. Bald eagles and swallow-tailed kites can be spotted, as well as flocks of migratory birds, such as painted buntings, making their winter stopovers.
“Tosohatchee is a spectacular piece of old Florida. We are a great getaway from urban areas,” said FWC wildlife biologist Tom Shupe.
Participants at the Tosohatchee event will have opportunities to go on hay rides with biologists, aim a bow during an archery activity, meet FWC law enforcement officers and their K-9 companions, admire the winners of the yearlong WMA photo contest, and learn about the science behind the comeback of the Osceola wild turkey, which only lives in Florida.
“The 75th anniversary of Florida’s wildlife management areas inspired us in 2017 to throw outdoors celebrations all year long, from bioblitzes and bird-watching tours to geocaching, a photo contest and volunteer work days,” said Jerrie Lindsey, who leads the FWC’s Public Access Services Office. “The Tosohatchee event tops off our quest to get more people out on WMAs enjoying both the wildlife and the recreational opportunities. We invite you to keep coming back to our WMAs year after year.”
“Wildlife management areas throughout the state give people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to experience beautiful areas that Florida is conserving for wildlife,” said David Johnson, head of the FWC’s Wildlife and Habitat Management Section that manages the WMAs. “There are a variety of outdoor activities at WMAs, ranging from hunting and fishing to wildlife-viewing, hiking, biking and primitive camping. There is also the simple pleasure of taking a leisurely drive through a WMA and stopping along the way for a picnic.”
What other fun activities can you expect at the Tosohatchee event?
You can check out a variety of hands-on activities for kids, join Florida Trail Association volunteers on short woodland walks and take tours on how to identify native plants.
More about the WMA system’s 75th anniversary and the experiences that WMAs offer to Floridians and visitors all yearlong is at MyFWC.com/WMA75.
Attorney General Bondi Recognizes Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Attorney General Pam Bondi today presented a Florida Cabinet resolution recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and commending law enforcement, local governments, advocates and communities for efforts in combating this horrible crime. As part of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Education are also encouraging students and school faculty to keep their eyes open in order to spot a victim of human trafficking.
“I want to thank our local and state leaders, law enforcement officers, experts and survivors. I look forward to continuing working together to fight human trafficking and help those victimized by it,” said Attorney General Bondi. “Awareness is a powerful tool and it is especially important for teens and educators to be aware of human trafficking and how to spot it. Students and faculty are uniquely positioned to notice changes in behavior that may be related to human trafficking. Working with DOE, we will provide students with the information they need to identify the signs and quickly report suspected human trafficking.”
“The safety of Florida’s students is our top priority, and the education community plays a significant role in preventing and identifying human trafficking,” said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. “Because of this, we offer ongoing training to school personnel to ensure that teachers, administrators, counselors, school nurses, school resource officers, and afterschool and transportation staff have the information and resources necessary to protect students.”
Knowing how to spot human trafficking and recognize a victim are key in helping stop the crime. If someone suspects human trafficking, they should report the crime to local law enforcement or call 911. Attorney General Bondi encourages Floridians, especially school faculty and students, to know the signs of human trafficking and how to report it by visiting YouCanStopHT.com and downloading the new infographic.
Below are a few common signs students and teacher can spot in a human trafficking victim:
· Unexplained absences;
· Sudden change in usual attire, behavior or relationships;
· Chronically runs away; and
· Abrupt increase in material possession.
To view a copy of the resolution Attorney General Bondi presented recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month during today’s meeting of the Florida Governor and Cabinet, click here.
Florida Forest Service Celebrates Florida’s Arbor Day, Encourages Communities to Become Tree City USA Certified
To celebrate Florida’s Arbor Day on Friday, Jan. 19, the Florida Forest Service will join communities throughout the state in several tree planting projects, tree seedling giveaways and forestry education activities to highlight the benefits of trees. Florida’s Arbor Day is held each year on the third Friday in January. A list of Florida’s Arbor Day festivities in your area can be found on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ events calendar.
Florida is currently home to a record-breaking 179 Tree City USA communities, which is the most in state history and ranks fourth in the nation. Tree City USA communities are recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation for their proactive effort to manage and expand public trees, which help moderate temperature extremes, reduce storm water runoff and absorb air pollutants.
“We encourage all Florida communities to work with their local county forester to become official Tree City USA communities and expand their public trees,” said Jim Karels, Florida State Forester.
Communities can achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management, including: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.
Comprehensive Case Information System (CCIS) Poised to ‘Raise the Bar’
Florida’s statewide Comprehensive Case Information System (CCIS) has been awarded a $527,833 grant from the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) to expand its business intelligence and reporting capabilities.
Developed and operated by the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, CCIS delivers authorized users read-only access to real-time statewide court records through one centralized portal. The system has data from more than 135 million cases involving 403 million parties and is utilized by local, state and federal government entities to protect Florida’s residents and visitors.
“CCIS has grown from an organic solution to share data across county lines into an invaluable tool connecting more than 45,000 authorized users with the vital information they need to protect our state,” said Chris Hart IV, Chief Executive Officer of Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. “This funding allows us to raise the bar even higher and ensure our users have the most advanced technology at their fingertips.”
The concept of CCIS was conceived in 2002 when Florida’s Clerks of Court recognized a statewide need to view court case information across county and circuit lines. It was identified in statute in 2005 and implemented statewide in 2006. CCIS is funded by a portion of a recording service charge authorized in sec. 28.24(12)(e), Fla. Stat., and received a $1.79 million grant from NCHIP in 2014* for new and upgraded features.
CFO Jimmy Patronis' Statement on Passage of Credit Report Freeze Fee Bill Out of Final House Committee
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued the following statement regarding the unanimous approval of House Bill 953, sponsored by Rep. Shawn Harrison (R-Tampa), by the Florida House of Representatives Commerce Committee.
“In today’s digital world data breaches have become our reality, and it’s important for Floridians to be able to easily freeze their credit to protect themselves from fraud. This vote in the House Commerce Committee is a win for Florida consumers.
“Thank you to Rep. Harrison for his steadfast commitment to eliminating the credit report freeze fee, to Commissioner Putnam for his work with me on this issue, and Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) for his leadership on this issue in the Senate. I look forward to seeing this measure pass this legislative session.”
The next stop for HB 953 is the House floor.
CFO Jimmy Patronis’ Statement on Passage of Credit Report Freeze Fee Bill Out of Final House Committee
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued the following statement regarding the unanimous approval of House Bill 953, sponsored by Rep. Shawn Harrison (R-Tampa), by the Florida House of Representatives Commerce Committee.
“In today’s digital world data breaches have become our reality, and it’s important for Floridians to be able to easily freeze their credit to protect themselves from fraud. This vote in the House Commerce Committee is a win for Florida consumers.
“Thank you to Rep. Harrison for his steadfast commitment to eliminating the credit report freeze fee, to Commissioner Putnam for his work with me on this issue, and Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) for his leadership on this issue in the Senate. I look forward to seeing this measure pass this legislative session.”
The next stop for HB 953 is the House floor.
First top prize claimed in new FLORIDA 20X THE CASH Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Angelique Housh, 30, of Holiday, claimed a $1 million top prize in the FLORIDA 20X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $770,000.00.
Housh purchased her winning ticket from Beacon Square Grocery, located at 3332 West Moog Road in Holiday. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The new $5 game, FLORIDA 20X THE CASH, launched on January 15, and features 14 top prizes of $1 million, and more than $110 million in cash prizes. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-4.22.
Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.
Randi Zuckerberg to Speak at UT’s Today’s Entrepreneurial Women Speaker Series Jan. 23
On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the University of Tampa will welcome entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author and tech media personality Randi Zuckerberg as part of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center’s Today’s Entrepreneurial Women speaker series.
The program, which will be held in Plant Hall, Fletcher Lounge, will run from 1–2 p.m., followed by a networking reception from 2–3 p.m. The program will be moderated by Rebecca White, director of UT’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center.
Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, developing technology, content and live events all with the mission of putting intelligent, tech-savvy, entrepreneurial women of all ages at the center of pop culture and media.
A Harvard University graduate, Zuckerberg hosts a weekly business talk radio show, Dot Complicated, on SiriusXM. She has two TV shows currently on air: DOT, which airs on NBC Universal Kids and is the winner of Kidscreen’s Best New Preschool Series, and American Dreams, which is on HSN and highlights entrepreneurs around the country. She is the best-selling author of Dot Complicated, Dot and, most recently, Missy President.
Zuckerberg travels the world, speaking about technology, entrepreneurship, her time as an early employee at Facebook, leading major marketing initiatives in the company’s formative years, and, shockingly, how to unplug.
Admission for UT students is a $5 refundable deposit (free for UT faculty and staff with registration). General admission is $25 and includes a copy of Dot Complicated, and corporate sponsorships are available for $500 and include four tickets and four copies of Dot Complicated.
RSVP by Jan. 22 at randi.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact [email protected].
Flagler College to show ‘Dare Not Walk Alone’ and hold panel on civil rights movement
Flagler College will hold a public screening of the documentary “Dare Not Walk Alone” followed by a panel on the legacy of the civil rights movement on Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium.
“Dare Not Walk Alone” is a 2006 documentary that chronicles civil rights protests in St. Augustine in 1964, and inequalities that continue to exist in the city today. It was written and directed by Flagler alumnus Jeremy Dean, an artist whose pieces revolves around the central themes of social awareness and historic revelations.
Following the screening of the film, Flagler Professor of History Michael Butler will moderate a panel discussion that includes: Dean; Evan Milligan, Law Fellow at Equal Justice Initiative; Hasani Malone, Flagler student and president of the Black Student Association; and Maude Jackson, a St. Augustine resident and participant in the 1964 Civil Rights demonstrations in St. Augustine.
“Dare Not Walk Alone” received numerous awards, a theatrical and TV release and special screenings at The King Center, the Skirball Center, and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Dean is the recipient of the Independent Southern Filmmakers Tour award and nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
This event is being done in partnership with NAACP St Augustine, Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, Women’s March St Augustine and Indivisible St Johns. The event is free and open to the public.
