Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested James Yearby of 3822 SW Coquina Cove Way, Palm City, on a charge of introduction of contraband into a state correctional facility. Yearby is a corrections officer at Martin Correctional Institution in Indiantown, Martin County.
An investigation was launched in August 2016 after reports that Yearby was overheard discussing the possibility of providing cell phones for cash. Yearby offered two cell phones for $1,500.00. He confirmed the deal and received $1,500.00 for both phones. Subsequently, Yearby offered to make a transaction for $5,000.00 involving cellular minute cards.
He was booked into the Martin County Jail and bond was set at $15,000. The Office of the State Attorney, 19tth Circuit, will prosecute.
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FDLE arrests woman for grand theft
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Andrea Velandia, 37, of 11171 NW 10th PL, Coral Springs, Florida on one count of grand theft.
On May 19, FDLE received a complaint from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Florida Department of Education (FDOE). The complaint alleged that Andrea Velandia, owner of World Academy of Learning, was receiving Florida Tax Credit (FTC) subsidies through Step Up for Students (SUFS) for 10 students not actually enrolled at the school. Signatures on negotiated SUFS checks were fraudulently signed in place of the legitimate counter signature of the parents of the students who had left World Academy of learning for other schools. The total amount of SUFS funds fraudulently obtained by Andrea Velandia was approximately $63,056.26.
FDLE, working with the Coral Springs Police Department, located and arrested Andrea Velandia yesterday at her home and she was booked into the Broward County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 17th Judicial Circuit.
FDLE Agents arrest Tampa man on 100 counts of child pornography
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 22-year-old Nathanael Reyes, of 7607 Southern Brook Bend, Apartment 202, Tampa, on 100 counts of possession of child pornography.
FDLE Agents began investigating Reyes after receiving a tip. A search warrant revealed an online account with several videos that appeared to be child pornography. Further investigation revealed as many as 100 images and videos of child pornography, with many of the victims younger than 5 years old.
Reyes was transported to the Hillsborough County Jail for booking on a $1 million bond. The Office of the State Attorney, 13th Circuit, will prosecute.
Tampa man arrested for stealing fuel with counterfeit credit cards
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that investigators with his Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement arrested Yohandys Pompa Corrales, 36, of Tampa for filling an unlawful bladder truck with fuel purchased with stolen financial information. A “bladder truck” is a vehicle that has been retrofitted with hidden tanks that hold high volumes of fuel, which is typically resold on the black market. Since the beginning of 2016, the department has arrested 43 individuals involved in this scheme.
Investigators also recovered 14 counterfeit credit cards from Corrales’ possession. Corrales was charged with: unlawful conveyance of fuel, which is a third degree felony; fraudulently obtaining fuel, a second degree felony; possession of 14 counterfeit credit cards, a second degree felony; forgery of a credit card, a third degree felony; and introduction of contraband into a detention facility, a third degree felony.
Corrales was booked in the Hillsborough County Jail.
The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement protects Florida’s agriculture and consumers through law enforcement in support of all the regulatory aspects of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. For more information, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
FDLE makes arrest in 2014 murder case
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Artavistus Lyndrel Ware, 34, on charges of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with a victim, witness or informant, solicitation to commit murder, solicitation to commit tampering and burglary. A Glades County Grand Jury indicted him last Thursday.
Ware is accused of having Mario Monroy Hughes murdered on Jan. 31, 2014. Hughes was shot to death in his Moore Haven, Florida home days before he was scheduled to testify against Ware in an upcoming drug case, and agents believe Ware had him killed to keep him from testifying.
Even without the testimony of Hughes, Ware was convicted on the drug charges and sentenced to 17 years in prison. He was serving his sentence at Calhoun Correctional Institution in Blountstown, Florida before being brought back to Glades County yesterday to face murder charges.
He was booked into Glades County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit.
Lee County man arrested again following MFCU investigation
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office today announced the second arrest of Ryan Todd Powers, 40, for grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Last month, following a MFCU investigation, authorities arrested the Lee County man on two counts exploitation involving an elderly person. According to the investigation, Powers unlawfully obtained funds from an elderly relative suffering from physical limitations. In order to manage his relative’s affairs, Powers obtained a durable power of attorney on behalf of the victim. Using the power of attorney, Powers allegedly misappropriated the victim’s funds and property.
Since Powers’ release on bond, an ongoing investigation by MFCU’s Patient Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Team discovered that Powers continued to use the power of attorney to sell a vehicle belonging to the elderly relative, again misappropriating property and funds for purposes other than the relative’s benefit.
In addition to the initial counts of exploitation, both third-degree felonies, Powers faces one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony. If convicted, Powers faces up to 15 years in prison and more than $20,000 in fines and restitution. The State Attorney’s Office for the 20th Judicial Circuit will prosecute the case.
The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program. The Patient Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Team plays a key role in helping to ensure that efficient and effective healthcare is being provided. Additionally, the MFCU investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. From Jan. 2011 to the present, Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU has obtained more than $500 million in settlements and judgments.
FDLE arrests Santa Rosa County man for child pornography
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today arrested Thurston Rivers, 46, of 4710 Keyser Lane in Milton, Florida, for three counts of Possession of Material Including Sexual Conduct by a Child. Also arrested at the address was David Dezman, 51, for Possession of a Firearm & Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.
FDLE special agents, with assistance from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Gulf Breeze Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, executed a search warrant at the residence on January 20, 2017, and the investigation determined that Rivers had downloaded and uploaded child pornography images.
Rivers and Dezman were booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit.
Please visit the Secure Florida website to review tips for keeping your children safe online at: http://secureflorida.org/staying_safe/best_practices_for_parents/.
FDLE arrests former child protective investigator
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested former Department of Children and Families child protective investigator Matthew James Wilcox, 38, for falsifying records. The DCF Office of Inspector General referred the case to FDLE and assisted in the investigation.
Wilcox’s case notes indicated that he started a child endangerment investigation that was assigned to him on January 16, 2015 at the West Palm Hospital (WPH). However, the investigation revealed that he never went to the hospital.
On January 17, 2015, Wilcox’s supervisor visited the WPH and determined that Wilcox only spoke to hospital staff by telephone, and did not physically visit the hospital. However, Wilcox wrote in case notes that he visited the hospital and interviewed the child.
Wilcox turned himself into the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office earlier today and was booked into the Western Detention Center. The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case.
FDLE arrests Port Charlotte man for child pornography
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today arrested Nicholas Berlen, 25, of 2474 Mockingbird Street, Port Charlotte, Florida on 20 counts of possession of child pornography.
FDLE special agents, with assistance from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Berlen’s home on January 12, 2017, and seized several computers. FDLE agents conducted forensic examinations on the computers seized and recovered more than 5,000 images of suspected child pornography, some involving children as young as five years old.
Berlen was booked into the Charlotte County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit.
Please visit the Secure Florida website to review tips for keeping your children safe online.
