Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 8-3-18

Local
Businesswoman Gets 4 Years In Tax Fraud Case
NATALIE RENE BROWN PANKO
On Tuesday, a U. S. Dis- trict judge sentenced a Tampa businesswoman to serve time in prison. She was also court ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
In May, a jury found Mrs. Natalie Rene Brown- Panko, guilty of 1 count each of conspiracy to commit theft of government money, con- spiracy to commit access de- vice fraud, and conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft. She was also found guilty of theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft in a superseding indict- ment.
U. S. District Judge Steven Merryday sentenced Mrs. Brown-Panko to serve 4 years and 3 months in fed- eral prison. She must also pay one-third of $131,782.12 in restitution to the Internal Rev- enue Service.
According to Court docu- ments, “The United States has established that Panko per- sonally obtained $34,119.34 in proceeds as a result of her par- ticipation in the conspiracy to commit theft of government money and conspiracy to com- mit access device fraud charged in count 1; the theft of government money charged in
MS. MAZIE HILL
counts 2, 3, and 4; and the ac- cess device fraud charged in counts 5, 6, and 7.”
At the time of the trial, Mrs. Brown-Panko, 57, owner of Ladies of the Sea Restaurant, was found guilty of 7 of the 10 charges filed against her. She was indicted on the charges in July 2017. The federal government al- leges that Mrs. Brown- Panko, along with Ms. Mazie Hill, of Sarasota, and Rico Simmons, of Tampa, were co-conspirators in the crime.
The indictment stated that the offenses were traced at least between August 2012 and November 2012.
The indictment alleges that the defendants would obtain Square Inc., merchant ac- counts attached to restaurant accounts opened by Mrs. Brown-Panko and her co- conspirators at banks and credit unions.
After obtaining the funds, they would withdraw the money after it was deposited. They allegedly used the money to pay others and to obtain cash and goods for their own use. Officials said they covered up the transactions by listing the fraudulent debit and credit cards as catering and restau-
rant business.
She initially entered into a
plea agreement with the fed- eral government in January 2018. She was scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2018. However, Mrs. Brown- Panko rescinded her guilty plea and requested a trial.
Ms. Hill, 52, entered a guilty plea in October 2016 to 1 count of conspiracy to com- mit theft of government prop- erty and 1 count of aggravated identity. She was sentenced to 2 years in jail in February 2018.
Simmons, 42, entered guilty plea in December 2017. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison in March 2018, for con- spiracy to commit theft of gov- ernment property, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was also or- dered to repay $156,100.12 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Mrs. Brown Panko is a well-known Tampa native and businesswoman. She has owned and operated Ladies Of The Sea Restaurant, for 15 years. The restaurant was originally located at the corner of Cass and N. Nebraska Av- enue. She relocated it to 2705 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., in East Tampa several years ago.
RICO SIMMONS
Church To Open Outreach Center On Monday
Bill Weiner, Jr., left, and Jennifer Tran, right, both of the Tampa Bay Rays, are shown with Bishop Sylvester Robinson, Pastor and First Lady Tammy Robinson and Alicia Banks .
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
The program aims to reach youth ages 18-24.
The Pastor and committee members at Peace Missionary Baptist Church are excited about Monday, August 6, 2018. That’s when the Peace Outreach Resource Center (PORC) Youth Drop-In Cen- ter will have its official open- ing at 12 noon.
A vision of the church’s pastor, Bishop Sylvester Robinson, the faith-based youth drop-in center provides a safe, non-judgmental space for disadvantaged youth ex- periencing homelessness.
“We will offer them an op- portunity to come in out of the elements for a few hours on the days that we are open,” states Mrs. Tammy Robin- son, Executive Director/Co- Founder. “They will be able to take a shower, do laundry, re- ceive a meal, charge their phones and among many other things – simply relax,” she said.
PORC has reached into the community and has sev- eral partners: Feeding Tampa Bay,Mr.Bubbles,LawOffices of Julianne M. Holt, Phoenix House Brandon, Hillsbor- ough County Children Serv- ices, Family Network on Disabilities, Agency for Com- munity Treatment Services, Inc. (ACTS), Insight Counsel- ing and Wellness, Florida Healthy Transitions, FL Dept. of Children and Families, Erwin Technical College, Hillsborough County Anti-
Drug Alliance and DACCO. On July 19, 2018, PORC held a ‘soft opening’ of the fa- cility. There were several Tampa and Hillsborough County agencies represented, including Bill Weiner, Jr., and Jennifer Tran of the Tampa Bay Rays, who are looking to partner with PORC to meet the needs of the youth experiencing home-
lessness.
“Our desire is to offer a lit-
tle help to those that may have lost their way or been misguided. It is time for the Church to really be the Church. These are people in our community,” First Lady Robinson said.
“From its inception, the Peace Outreach Resource Center has been about com- ing together and offering help – from those that volunteered their time and talents to make sure the facility was renovated, to those that have said ‘we want to partner with you to make a difference’,” she stated.
Those who have been on the journey along with Bishop and Mrs. Robin- son are: Alicia Banks, Di- rector of Program/Co-Founder; Diane Jackson, Nurse Practitioner; Toni Kendrick, Administrative Assistant; Kenneth Cayasso, Kitchen Manager; and Antonio Wimberly, Director of Security.
The Center, located at 2607 E. 24th Ave., will be open on Mondays, 12 p. m. – 4pm.,andFridays,4p.m.– 7p.m.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018