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Features
Murder Victim
Woman Pleads Guilty In Tax Fraud Case
Studied To Become
Massage Therapist
A Tampa woman may learn her fate on Wednesday in a tax fraud case. She pleaded guilty to theft of government prop- erty in connection with a plea agreement.
Ms. LaTosha Strong, 39, of Tampa, is scheduled to ap- pear before a federal judge in the Middle District of Florida for sentencing on July 27th.
According to her plea agree- ment, Ms. Strong and others filed at least 10 fraudulent fed- eral income tax returns using information of deceased peo- ple. The false tax returns were filed between March 9, 2011 and November 15, 2012.
Investigators said the tax forms were prepared and sub- mitted electronically and the money was deposited into ac-
$85,814. However, the actual tax loss was reduced to $52,735.71 after federal seizure warrants and financial institution reclamations.
Investigators said Ms. Strong withdrew large amounts of money from the accounts and spent the money making purchases, for serv- ices, and engaged in transac- tions at a local casino.
In 2011, Ms. Strong also purchased two cars, a 2005 Nissan and a 2006 Mercedes. However, records show that she had no record of income between 2008 and 2012.
Court documents showed that the information used to file the false tax returns be- longed to deceased people from other states.
Marquette Dames had made plans for his future. His brother, Solomon, said Mar- quette talked about becoming a massage therapist, but due to financial problems, he wasn’t able to complete the course.
On Wednesday, July 6th, Dames, 24, was shot by a bi- cyclist near Fowler Avenue and 15th Street. Witnesses told police an unidentified man shot Dames and rode off on a bicycle that was later found discarded. A video was re- leased later of a suspect riding a bicycle similar to one found discarded.
Dames was hospitalized and pronounced dead the next day.
Solomon said his brother also talked about joining the armed forces but health issues prevented that.
“Marquette was engaged twice, but he never got mar- ried. He also has a lot of chil- dren. He would go broke providing for them, even if he wasn’t involved with their mothers.
“Marquette was an ex- tremely great brother. Even while he was living with one of his girlfriends, if someone in his family needed somewhere
MARQUETTE DAMES
to live he’d move them right in. He was a rare young man and very considerate of others.”
Solomon said Marquette was on his way to his house when he was shot. He also said his brother never expressed having problems with anyone, and pretty much kept to him- self.
“We don’t know why he was killed. It wasn’t robbery. Now, his children don’t have a dad to grow up with, and that’s not fair.”
Solomon said the family is still trying to raise funds to cover Marquette’s funeral expenses, and anyone who wants to help should contact Ray Williams Funeral Home, (813) 253-3419.
LATOSHA STRONG ... Awaiting Sentencing
counts at the Tampa Bay Fed- eral Credit Union belonging to Ms. Strong.
Officials said the amount of the false claims totaled
Mother Vows To Not Stop Until Her Son’s Killer Is Captured
On August 1, 2004, War- ren Mitchell was returning home after a night of partying with some friends.
His mother, Wanda Conaway, said her son’s biggest love was his son, Warren, Jr.
“When he’d come home, be- fore he’d greet me or his dad, he wanted to see his son.”
On this day, however, Mitchell never made it home because he was fatally shot near Howard Avenue and Kathleen Street. An officer found Mitchell in his car, and when the officer opened the door, Mitchell practically fell into his arms.
The person that shot Mitchell has not been ar- rested, and his mother has vowed to not ever give up until her son’s killer is caught.
“Warren, Jr. is 16 now, and he looks so much like his dad, it’s scary. He reminds me of his dad when he talks and just the way he goes through his day-to-day routines. He’s really a great young man, and he misses his dad terribly.”
Mrs. Conaway said she’s
WARREN MITCHELL
been having difficulty reach- ing the homicide detective as- signed to her son’s case, and she understands it’s being treated as a cold case.
“I want to make sure the de- tectives don’t stop trying to find the person who killed my son.
“It’s not right that his killer is free to walk around and spend time with his family and friends, and we have to sit here and continue to mourn.”
Mrs. Conaway said she
appreciates the help she’s got- ten from Darla Saunders, whose son was also murdered, and his killer hasn’t been ar- rested.
“Every time I read the paper, or hear the news on tel- evision, I’m reminded of just how violent it is out there.
“I worry so much about my grandson, and I try to keep him as safe as I can. I’m also very careful about the people I allow to be around him.”
Mrs. Conaway said she wants to encourage other par- ents who have lost a child through violence to come to- gether, and appeal to the peo- ple in communities all over the city to step forward and tell what they know.
“I know someone out there knows who killed my son. I’m sure his family members know. It’s not Christian that this person not be punished for taking the life of another person without cause or rea- son.
“We all pray every night about Warren, Sr., and we also pray and ask God to watch over Warren, Jr.”
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