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.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
FDLE arrests Florida City PD corporal for official misconduct
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
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
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.
Florida Fusion Center recognized as Fusion Center of the Year
The Florida Fusion Center, which is housed at FDLE’s headquarters, was recognized last week by the National Fusion Center Association as the 2017 Fusion Center of the Year for its continued commitment to vigilance and excellence in defense of Florida and its citizens.
The Florida Fusion Center also received the Maritime Domain Awareness Excellence Award in recognition of its efforts to improve the safety and security of Florida’s coasts, waterways, and ports.
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “The Florida Fusion Center is committed to being at the forefront of public safety and security, working with our partners across the state and nation to ensure the safety of our great state and its residents. Congratulations to our team and our partners for these awards as recognition of their continual commitment to excellence.”
A fusion center is a collaborative effort of state and federal agencies working in partnership with local partners to share resources, expertise and/or information to better identify, detect, prevent, apprehend and respond to criminal and terrorist activity utilizing an all crimes/all hazards approach. Located in Tallahassee, the Florida Fusion Center serves as Florida’s primary fusion center for the gathering, processing, analysis and dissemination of terrorism, law enforcement and homeland security information.
FDLE arrests Orlando man on 13 counts of child pornography
Agents with the Orlando Cyber Crime Task Force of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today arrested Kevin Todd Jones, 52, of 319 S. Boyd Street, Orlando, on 13 counts of possession of child pornography.
Agents received a tip about Jones downloading suspected child pornography and began an investigation. After obtaining a search warrant, agents went to Jones’ home and conducted an on-scene forensic examination. They found evidence of child pornography on digital devices, which were seized for additional forensic analysis.
Jones was taken to the Orange County Jail with a no-bond status. The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, 9th Judicial Circuit.
Former DCF worker charged with two counts of falsifying records
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have arrested Doreece J. Hines, 31, of 1333 Sunset Blvd., Daytona Beach, on two counts of falsifying records.
Hines was employed as a child protective investigator for the Department of Children and Families. She has been terminated.
In April 2017, agents launched an investigation into allegations that Hines had falsified documents in the Florida Safe Families Network. Hines was assigned a case involving a child with bruises on the child’s body. The investigation revealed Hines documented she made a visit to the child’s home and spoke with a parent to determine if the child was in present danger. It was later found no visit to the child’s home or conversation took place. Hines entered incorrect information in her case notes and later tried to change those notes.
Hines also failed to follow protocol and notify law enforcement and the child protection team about her case.
She was booked into the Volusia County Jail. The Office of the State Attorney, 7th Circuit, will prosecute.
FDLE arrests two Pensacola women for dealing heroin
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Paola Sotolongo, 46, and Krystel Theologis, 27, for drug trafficking and possession following a heroin distribution investigation. The investigation began in July and yesterday a search warrant was conducted at a home shared by the women, 7155 Mobile Highway in Pensacola, where both were arrested. The State Attorney’s Office, ATF and FBI assisted in the investigation and search warrant.
During the search, investigators found prepackaged heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine along with fentanyl, marijuana and alprazolam. Sotolongo was charged with trafficking in heroin and methamphetamine and possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a place of worship. Theologis has been charged with possession of alprazolam with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a place of worship, and possession of marijuana.
Both women were booked into the Escambia County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, First Judicial Circuit.
Fugitive Facing 375 Years in Prison Arrested After Years on the Run
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today announced the arrest of a man wanted in connection to drug diversion schemes after five years on the run. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Gil Hevia, 47, this week in Orlando.
Hevia is involved in a drug diversion enterprise operating in Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas, involving the buying and selling of more than $40 million in black market pharmaceuticals. These drugs included anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and HIV medications.
Additionally, Hevia is involved in a separate but similar multistate drug diversion ring that orchestrated the purchase of millions of dollars of medications on the black market. This criminal enterprise operated from Florida to Tennessee, Michigan, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. The defendant purchased the black market drugs primarily from Medicaid recipients in Florida and New Jersey, and then resold the drugs to pharmacies in the Northeastern United States.
Attorney General Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, investigated both cases. For more information about these cases, click here and here.
Between the two cases, Hevia faces several felony charges related to trafficking in contraband prescription drugs, Medicaid fraud, money laundering and organized scheme to defraud. If convicted of all charges, Hevia faces up to 375 years in prison. Attorney General Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute these cases.
FDLE Agents arrest former attorney on embezzlement charges
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested David Land Whigham Tuesday on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. He faces 22 felony counts.
An investigation launched in April 2016 found that Whigham, a one-time licensed attorney who was disbarred in May 2016, had deprived his clients of at least $1.5 million through intent and false pretenses.
Beginning in July 2011 and continuing through April 2016, Whigham embezzled funds from 11 victims. The victims included charities, disabled adults and disabled children. Whigham was entrusted by his clients to act in their best interest and for their benefit; however, the investigation revealed he deceived his clients and utilized their money for his own personal benefit
Whigham was transported to the Hillsborough County Jail on a $3 million bond. The State Attorney’s Office, 13th Circuit, will prosecute the case.
