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FDLE arrests former child protective investigator

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Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested former Department of Children and Families child protective investigator Jessica Cirino-Lan, 28, for three counts of falsifying records. The DCF Office of Inspector General referred the case to FDLE and assisted in the investigation.

The investigation determined that during April and May of 2016, Cirino-Lan intentionally and unlawfully falsified case reports she submitted in reference to three separate DCF child abuse/neglect investigations assigned to her in her capacity as a child protective investigator. Cirion-Lan did not conduct several home visits she indicated she completed in her reports, and forged the name of a caregiver on a written safety plan she submitted to a supervisor for one of the cases.

On May 10, 2016, Cirino-Lan abruptly resigned from DCF after being questioned about the discrepancies by her supervisor. After her resignation, Cirino-Lan’s cases were reassigned and all children were deemed safe.

Cirino-Lan was arrested today and booked into the Hendry County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit.

FDLE arrests local businessman in tax scheme for racketeering, grand theft

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Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Major Callahan, Jr., today on charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft.

Callahan operated three Pointe 1 Tax Services offices within Highlands County. According to investigators, Callahan used these offices to defraud victims out of out of more than $50,000 in tax refunds. At least 24 victims were identified as having their refunds stolen, or attempted to be stolen, by Callahan through Pointe 1 between 2012 and 2015.

FDLE investigators, with help from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service, believe Callahan, or his co-conspirators, filed federal tax returns with the victims’ information, then forging their signatures on refund checks in order to convert the funds to their own use. The investigation into the conspiracy is ongoing.

Callahan turned himself into the Highlands County Jail. This case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

FDLE arrests Town Councilman for delivery of controlled substances

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Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today arrested Donald Edward Boyd, 77, of 201 Spruce Avenue, for three counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of battery. Boyd is a town councilman in Lake Placid.

An investigation conducted by FDLE agents and the city of Lake Placid Police Department revealed that Boyd was providing a variety of prescription pills, including hydrocodone, Zenzedi and Alprazolam to an individual on multiple occasions over the past several years.

Boyd was booked into the Highlands County Jail. He will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit.

Madison PD, FDLE apprehend 3 for armed burglary

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Investigators with Madison Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement yesterday apprehended three suspects after a home invasion robbery left another suspect dead. Keosha Lewis, 20, and Selena Murray, 18, are charged with armed burglary. Charges of felony murder and armed burglary are pending against Jeremiah Davis, 21.

Yesterday morning four suspects entered a home on Mandina Avenue occupied by a male and female victim. The suspects tied-up the woman and beat the man. Suspect Davis was armed with a gun and threatened the victims. The male victim was able to retrieve his firearm and shoot the suspects, killing one and injuring another.

Suspects Lewis and Murray were not injured, fled the home and were arrested a few hours later. A bystander drove suspect Jamescya Pringle, 19, to Madison County Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced deceased on arrival. Davis, who was shot in the leg, was later located and transported to the hospital.

Lewis and Murray were booked into the Madison County Jail. Davis remains hospitalized and is expected to make a full recovery. The male victim is recovering from his injuries, while the female victim was not injured.

Madison PD, FDLE investigate shooting death

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Investigators with Madison Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the death of a woman, who was found shot in a vehicle that was parked and left abandoned at the Madison County Memorial Hospital this morning.

Shortly after investigators located a man with a gunshot wound. He is being treated at the hospital for a non-life-threatening injury. The incidents appear to be related.

Police continue to search for two others they believe were involved in the incident. The investigation continues. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

FDLE arrests former Veterans Foundation director for grand theft

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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

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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

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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.

Florida Missing Children’s Day to focus on safety of children

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Lt. Governor Carlos López-Cantera and First Lady Ann Scott will join Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen and law enforcement personnel, public officials and citizens on Thursday, December 14 for the 2017 Florida Missing Children’s Day ceremony in Tallahassee.
The annual event is held to remember Florida’s missing children, recognize the state’s efforts in child protection and educate Floridians on child safety and abduction prevention.
The ceremony will include a presentation of awards and a special remembrance event.
Reporters are invited to attend.
What: Florida Missing Children’s Day Ceremony
When: Thursday, December 14, 2017
Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Florida State Capitol Courtyard
Address: 400 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399

Kissimmee man charged with 10 counts of child pornography

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Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Orlando Cyber Crime Task Force arrested Rajiv Israel Kevin Gobin, 20, of 3488 Forest Ridge Lane, Kissimmee, today and charged him with 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
FDLE agents went to Gobin’s home after a preliminary investigation determined child pornography files were being downloaded and shared on the Internet from a specific IP address. Agents obtained a search warrant and executed the warrant. During a forensic preview of a digital device, agents located several files with images depicting child pornography.
Gobin was transported to the Osceola County Jail with a $50,000 bond status until his initial appearance. The Office of the State Attorney, 9th Circuit, will prosecute.