Page 35 - Florida Sentinel 9-11-15 Edition

Crime
Double Murder Suspect Arrested In Tampa
Authorities Ask For Help In Identifying Shoplifting Suspects
Ex-Bradenton Housing Director Sentenced To Prison
KHASEM AND FAARES YOUSEF
This is a surveillance photo of suspects who stole purses from Dillard’s.
On Tuesday, the U. S. Mar- shals Service arrested Devin Chandler, 25, a suspect in a double murder that occurred in Palmetto.
Chandler was being sought on two counts of murder and one count of armed robbery in connection with the murders of two brothers in their fam- ily’s convenience store.
Detectives said Khasem Yousef, 23, and Faares Yousef, 17, a senior at Mana- tee High School, were killed between 2:30 and 2:45 p. m. Monday, when Chandler walked into Snappy’s Mart, 559 17th Street, West and made his way around the store, picking up a few items then walking up to the counter.
Detectives said instead of paying, Chandler allegedly shot the brothers in the head. Police were called to the scene shortly after the shootings when a customer walked in and found the bodies of the Yousef brothers.
At 1 p. m. Tuesday, Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler was contacted by authorities in Tampa who said Chandler’s vehicle had been seen in the area. U. S. Marshals found Chandler at a nearby home and he was arrested.
The Council on American-Is- lamic Relations Florida offered a reward of $10,000 for infor- mation that would lead to the
DEVIN CHANDLER .....arrested in Tampa for a double murder in Palmetto.
arrest of a suspect, Late Sun- day, the family of the victims also offered a $10,000 reward, in addition to the $1,000 re- ward from Crime Stoppers.
Detectives said Khasem and Faares had been covering the shift at the store because of the Labor Day holiday, but normally worked at another store their father owns.
Shortly after the shootings, Chandler was captured by security cameras at a 7-11 North of Palmetto making a purchase. He was reportedly wearing the same clothes and driving the same car as at Snappy’s.
Chandler had been re- leased from Florida State Prison in September 2011 after serving less than two years on a three-year sentence for at- tempted armed robbery with a weapon.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in identifying suspects in a pair of shoplifting incidents.
The first offense occurred July 25th at 9 p. m. at Citrus Park Town Center Mall when a woman selected three Ultimate Ears speakers, valued at $600, concealed them in a bag, and left the store with the merchan- dise without paying for the items.
The woman is described as a Black female who appeared to be pregnant on surveillance photos. She has curly hair, and was last seen wearing a white blouse, green stretchy pants, black sandals and carrying a black bag.
On July 31st at 10:46 a. m., deputies said three men, one dressed as a woman, entered Dillard’s Department Store, 8161 Citrus Park Mall, and went straight to the handbag department. They reportedly grabbed $7,000 worth of hand-
This is a surveillance photo of a woman suspected of steal- ing speakers from Citrus Park Mall.
bags off the display and ran out the exit with the merchandise. One of the suspects was seen jumping into a waiting gray Nissan Altima.
Anyone with information on either of these offenses, or who can identify the suspects, is asked to call (813) 247-8200.
Stephany West and Wenston DeSue
U. S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced Wen- ston DeSue, 44, of Bradenton to 12 months and 1 day in fed- eral prison for theft of federal funds. As part of his sentence, the Court entered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $276,300.03, the proceeds of DeSue’s theft, and also ordered him to pay the same amount in restitution to the U. S. Depart- ment of Housing and Urban De- velopment (“HUD”).
DeSue pleaded guilty on May 28, 2015.
According to court docu- ments, from January 1, 2006, until September 19, 2013, DeSue was employed as the Executive Director of the Bradenton Housing Authority (“BHA”), a local housing au- thority that receives federal funds from HUD.
An investigation by the HUD - Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of In- vestigation revealed that be- tween September 2010 and September 2013, DeSue was significantly absent from the BHA on a routine basis, engaged in non-BHA activities during work hours, and failed to take annual or sick leave for those absences.
Despite being absent from the BHA much of the time, he ac- cepted his regular salary. In total, DeSue allegedly stole and knowingly converted to his own use $276,300.03 from the BHA in salary, bonuses, and cash- outs of unused leave.
In addition, DeSue spent personal time with BHA Project Director, Stephany West, with whom he was romantically involved.
On numerous occasions, the two spent personal time to- gether during the workday when they should have been working or on some form of leave. Ms. West previously pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds. She was sentenced to five years proba- tion on September 9th.
Ms. West stole and know- ingly converted to her own use $104,550.75 from the BHA in salary, bonuses, and cash-outs of unused leave.
UNCLE SANDY SAYS...
Anger is an acid 5, 18, 22, 30 that can do more harm to the vessel 21, 40, 43, 49 in which it is stored 1, 9, 14, 20 than to anything on which it is poured. 42, 51, 55, 60
Body Found In River Identified As Missing HCC Student
The Tampa Police Depart- ment has identified the body of a man pulled from the Hills- borough River on Monday. He was reported missing by his family Saturday morning.
Police said the cause of death of Bruce Kevin Rivera, 19, of Zephyrhills, will be deter- mined by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Police said Rivera was pos- sibly last seen near the Sul- phur Springs Park.
Rivera was a student at Hillsborough Community Col- lege and his family said it was out of character for him to not
BRUCE KEVIN RIVERA Reported Missing
contact his family. The investi- gation into the case is contin- uing.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 23-A