Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for FDLE

FDLE

FDLE arrests man in identify theft scheme targeting teachers

Posted on

One suspect still at large

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Office of Executive Investigations, with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, arrested Ralph Alonso Everett Jr. of Miami for organized scheme to defraud, reemployment assistance fraud and criminal use of personal identification. A second man, Isaiah Lewis also of Miami, is at large. The pair is accused of stealing the identities of teachers statewide and using their information to collect unemployment benefits.

The investigation began in 2016, after the DEO’s fraud investigation team identified a pattern of suspicious reemployment assistance claims. Losses to the State of Florida are in excess of $50 thousand.

The investigation identified over 100 employees associated with 65 different school board districts that had their identities illegally used to submit fraudulent reemployment assistance claims from February through December 2016. Although Everett and Lewis attempted to defraud DEO of over $200 thousand in fraudulent claims, DEO’s fraud identification team was able to identify the fraudulent activity which significantly reduced loss to the state.

Investigators believe Everett and Lewis defrauded DEO by filing fraudulent claims utilizing identities of school board employees across the state and several individuals from the healthcare sector. The money was disbursed from DEO into fraudulent bank accounts under the control of Everett and Lewis. The funds were subsequently withdrawn from ATMs throughout Miami.

FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “Thanks to the swift, diligent work of the DEO team, FDLE agents and Department of Labor, these criminals were stopped in their tracks and losses to Florida citizens mitigated.”

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of DEO said, “DEO is incredibly thankful for our partnership with FDLE to arrest criminals who steal from Floridians and the Reemployment Assistance Program. Our team is committed to safeguarding taxpayer dollars while providing Floridians a financial bridge to their next job.”

Everett was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $80,000 bond while Lewis remains at large. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.

The investigation is on-going and there could be additional arrests.​

FDLE arrests former Veterans Foundation director for grand theft

Posted on

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 57-year-old Antonio Colmenares and 60-year-old Antonio Sabatier, both of Miami, on first-degree grand theft related to more than $300,000 worth of donated items to the Florida Veterans Foundation (FVF).
The FVF is a nonprofit that offers support to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA).
Colmenares, of 4345 SW 10th St., was a volunteer as the Miami Director for the FVF; Sabatier, of 4247 SW 10th St., is a close friend of Colmenares. He did not have an appointed position with the FVF.
In March 2015, FDLE received a complaint from the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs alleging a theft of disaster blankets and ready-to-eat emergency meals. The items had been provided to FVF by a Tampa-area nonprofit agency to be used for an event to help homeless veterans in Miami. Colmenares had organized the event. During the investigation, agents found that in February 2015 Colmenares and Sabatier arranged for the sale of more than 27,000 blankets and 9,700 meals instead of using the items for their intended purpose. The proceeds from the sale of the items totaled $46,800 and did not benefit FVF but were deposited into an account of Nike Management, a company owned by Sabatier.
The investigation uncovered that other donated items, such as sleeping bags, cots and back packs, were also sold for profit. Colmenares and Sabatier sold most of the items to Worldwide Tactical, a Miami company, on three different occasions: April 2014, February 2015 and May 2015 for a total of $79,394.41. Worldwide Tactical had no knowledge the items were being sold illegally.
“These donated items should have gone to help feed and warm veterans struggling to get back on their feet—instead they were sold to fatten the pockets of those charged with preying on the good intentions of others,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I want to thank FDLE for their tireless efforts investigating this case and working with my Office of Statewide Prosecution. I also want to commend the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs for immediately contacting law enforcement about the alleged theft so an investigation could be opened.”
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said: “These items were donated with the express purpose to help our veterans who unselfishly serve our country. To take advantage of any opportunity that would benefit them is indefensible.”
The Inspector General’s Office of the FDVA assisted with this investigation. Both Colmenares and Sabatier were booked in the Miami-Dade Jail on a $20,000 bond each.

Tampa man arrested for illegal practice of dentistry

Posted on

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Abdel Rahman Hussein Rabah, 42, of 517 Winham St., Tampa, on charges of unlicensed practice of a health care profession and practice of dentistry or dental hygiene without a license.
He was arrested at 6441 Eureka Springs Road, Tampa, where he established the illegal dental practice.
This was a joint investigation with Homeland Security Investigations. The Florida Department of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
FDLE agents were contacted by the state DOH in December 2017 regarding complaints Rabah was practicing dentistry without a license. The investigation showed while Rabah had posted photos on social media accounts of his dentistry work, he did not hold an active license to practice dentistry. Further investigation revealed Rabah sometimes referred to himself as “Dr. Abdel Rahman.”
Investigators also learned Rabah was discarding trash at his residence that contained used syringes, extracted teeth and bloodied paper towels and dental gauzes.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute.
Rabah was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail on a bond of $30,000.

FDLE arrests Florida City PD corporal for official misconduct

Posted on

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Ken David Armenteros, 37, a corporal of the Florida City Police Department, for two counts of official misconduct.
Armenteros, who was off-duty on the afternoon of Monday, September 13, 2016, and on his personal motorcycle, requested emergency back-up via the Miami-Dade Police Department’s 911 Center after a confrontation outside a known “drug house” in Florida City with a man who was later arrested by responding Florida City police officers.
A criminal complaint including allegations made against Armenteros by his colleagues was filed with FDLE. FDLE’s investigation revealed that Armenteros materially and fraudulently misrepresented the facts leading up to and surrounding the request for back-up and subsequent arrest of Christopher Maurice Lewis on the official charging documents. The charges against Lewis were later dropped by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office when the evidence of deception by Armenteros came to light.
Armenteros surrendered himself today to FDLE agents and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Detention Center. He will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 11th Judicial Circuit.

FDLE arrests former Dade City PD officer on insurance fraud charges

Posted on

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.

Altamonte Springs man arrested on 10 counts of child pornography

Posted on

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Orlando Cyber Crime Task Force today arrested Timothy Young, 38, of 133 Oyster Bay Circle, Apt. 360, Altamonte Springs, on 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
After receiving a tip, FDLE agents launched an investigation and found that Young had downloaded images depicting child pornography. During the execution of a search warrant, agents conducted a forensic preview of digital devices and found at least 10 files of children who appeared to be under the age of 10 in sexual images.
Young was taken to the Seminole County Jail on a $350,000 bond. He will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, 18th Judicial Circuit.

Senator Aaron Bean Unveils Unsolved Cases in Florida Website

Posted on

Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) unveiled Florida’s new unsolved cases website featuring more than 400 unsolved homicides. The Unsolved Cases in Florida website features unsolved homicides that have been submitted by local law enforcement agencies for placement on the website. The website was developed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). In his prior role as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, Senator Bean had the idea for a statewide website featuring unsolved cases. Senator Bean worked with FDLE to create the website.
“In Florida the bad guys are never off the hook,” said Senator Aaron Bean. “Our goal is to arrest the criminals who committed these crimes. By empowering our citizens, they can help local law enforcement agencies by providing tips on these cases.”
“Florida’s local law enforcement agencies work tirelessly on these unsolved cases,” said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen.  “This website allows local agencies to display their unsolved homicide cases to be seen by millions of eyes.”
“Unsolved homicide cases cause indescribable pain for the those closest to the victim, which is why the Florida Sheriffs Association created the Cold Case Advisory Commission in 2015 to provide assistance to local law enforcement agencies,” said Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, chair of the FSA Cold Case Advisory Commission. “The Sheriffs of Florida today are very grateful to Senator Aaron Bean for his passion and energy, and to the FDLE for creating a website that will provide the public with access to unsolved cases.”
“No matter how much time passes, law enforcement will continue to search for answers to bring justice for victims and their families,” said Chief Kevin Lystad, Miami Shores Police Department and President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA). “The FPCA and its members commend Senator Aaron Bean for his idea to create this type of website, another tool for investigators to help find answers in these unsolved cases.”
The Unsolved Cases in Florida website can be found on FDLE’s website.
Senator Bean represents Senate District 4, which includes parts of Nassau and Duval Counties. He can be contacted in Tallahassee at (850) 487-5004 or in his District Office at (904) 757-5039.
Senator Bean will be holding a press conference at 10:00 a.m. this morning in front of the Senate Chambers at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee.

FDLE arrests Milton man for child pornography

Posted on

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today arrested Cesrow Reginald Freemont Crawley, 28, of 6553 Kennington Circle, Milton, for two counts of transmission of child pornography by electronic device.
Agents seized multiple devices for additional forensic analysis and future charges may be pending.
Crawley was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit.

FDLE arrests Santa Rosa Detention Deputy for theft of intellectual property

Posted on

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today arrested Russel Edmund Scott, 49, for theft of intellectual property. Scott is a Detention Deputy at Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office (SRCSO).
The Sheriff’s Office requested that FDLE investigate Scott for unauthorized possession of SMARTCOP proprietary files on his personal share drive located on the SRCSO computer network system.
SMARTCOP provides system development, implementation and support services for public safety products including Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records Management System (RMS), Mobile Computing with Field Based Reporting, and Jail Management System (JMS).
During the investigation, FDLE agents discovered Scott, a former SMARTCOP employee, was in possession of numerous files that were determined to be SMARTCOP proprietary information and Scott was not authorized to possess them.
Scott was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit.

FDLE to Host Child Safety Fair February 10th

Posted on

MEDIA ADVISORY

Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Fort Myers Regional Operations Center will be hosting a “Child Safety Fair” as part of FDLE’s 50th Anniversary. The fair will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2018 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the parking lot of FDLE’s Fort Myers Regional Operations Center located at 4700 Terminal Drive in Fort Myers.
The event is open to the public and is free of charge. State and local law enforcement agencies along with other safety organizations will have activities for children and their parents including:

  • SWAT and K-9 Demonstrations
  • Fire Safety
  • Free Bike Helmet Giveaway (while supplies last)
  • Fingerprinting
  • Escape House
  • Free Car Seat Checks
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Presentations
  • Smokey the Bear

Please join FDLE and local public safety agencies for a fun day of activities for the whole family.
FDLE’s mission is to promote public safety and strengthen domestic security by providing services in partnership with local, state and federal criminal justice agencies to prevent, investigate and solve crimes while protecting Florida’s citizens and visitors.
For Further Information Contact:
Larry Long
FDLE Fort Myers Regional Operations Center
(239) 278-7170
Gretl Plessinger, Jessica Cary or Jeremy Burns
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001