Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 4-3-18

Bondsman Given
Father Of Slain Teenager Responds To Guilty Verdict
7 Years For Stolen
Checks, ID Theft
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last week, a Tampa woman was convicted for her role in a death investi- gation. Ms. Heidi Quinn, 51, was convicted of remov- ing two guns from the scene of the shooting, bury- ing them, and then putting them back. Ms. Quinn will be sentenced on April 11, 2017.
Ms. Quinn was charged with 2 counts of tampering with physical evidence. The jury couldn’t agree on a verdict during the first trial and a mistrial was declared.
On January 1, 2017, Jayquon Johnson died from a gunshot wound. Cody Quinn, who was 16 at the time, claimed self- defense in the shooting and was not charged. However, he was charged with sev- eral other crimes. He is currently awaiting trial.
Since the death of his son, Johnny Johnson has called for accountabil- ity. At the time of the shooting, he said his son paid the ultimate price for what police termed as a drug transaction that had gone wrong.
Speaking on behalf of his family of the verdict, Johnson said, “I just want
Last October, a federal jury found a bail bonds- man guilty in a case involv- ing the theft of, cashing of government property and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced this week.
James J. Jean-Rene, 54, of Riverview, was found guilty by a federal jury on October 3, 2017. He was convicted of 1 count 0f conspiracy, 7 counts of theft of government prop- erty, and 7 counts of aggra- vated identity theft.
On Wednesday, U. S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday sentenced Jean-Rene to 7 years and 4 months in federal prison for conspiracy, theft of gov- ernment property, and identity theft.
As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $850,174.92, which are considered the proceeds of the crime.
According to docu- ments and testimony pre- sented at trial, Jean-Rene
JAMES J. JEAN-RENE
deposited more than 100 United States Treasury checks for tax refunds or veterans’ pension benefits into bank accounts for his bail bonds company – A United Bail Bonds.
Jean-Rene falsely claimed that the checks were payments for bail bonds. He had purchased the checks from individu- als who had either stolen the checks or had filed fraudulent tax returns and received the refund checks. The victims in this case in- cluded veterans, elderly and disabled individuals.
JAYQUON JOHNSON ... Killed January 1, 2017
the people to know that the justice system held Heidi Quinn accountable for her actions of moving the guns. She was found guilty and my family and I are very grateful for all the support.
“Also, there are more chapters to this story and we have one more chapter to complete with her son, Cody Quinn. There were things said in the trial of Ms. Quinn by witnesses that I know will be very useful in the case against her son. I will be asking the State to look into what was said on the stand. We are still asking the community for their support to stand fast with us because change is on the way. Thank all of you so much!”
Jayquon was 17 when he died after being shot.
JOHNNY JOHNSON ... Father of Jayquon Johnson
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death and stated in charging affidavits that Johnson had gone to pur- chase marijuana from Quinn and both were armed.
Quinn alleged that Johnson attempted to rob him and he shot in self-de- fense. The shooting took place in the garage of the home on Cabbage Palm Drive, in Valrico.
Cody Quinn was charged with trafficking in oxycodone, possession of cannabis with the intent to sell, being a minor in pos- session of a firearm, and possession of drug para- phernalia.
FYI
Lakeland Branch NAACP 71st Annual Freedom Fund Banquet
The Lakeland Branch NAACP will be hosting their 71st Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Apostle Henry Ross, Sr. Family Center, 1302 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Avenue Lakeland, Florida 33805.
The Keynote Speaker for the banquet will be Pastor Harold D. Lewis. The theme for this year is: “Stead- fast And Immovable.”
The reception will start at 6 p. m. and the banquet will start at 7 p. m.
For more information about the Freedom Fund Banquet, please call Larry Mitchell, (863) 661-9483 or the Lakeland Branch NAACP Office, (863) 682-8879.
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