Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 7-12-16 Online Edition

Local
Two Meetings Planned To Address Police Shootings
Volunteers Sought For County’s Diversity
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
This week, two meetings will take place to address the relationship between police and the Black community. The meetings are being held in conjunction with encoun- ters that turned deadly for two Black men last week.
On Tuesday, a press con- ference will take place at 10 a.m., in the Tampa City Coun- cil Chambers, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd., 3rd floor. The press conference will include politi- cal leaders in Hillsborough County, and Darrick Full- wood, pastor of City Life Church, along with faith- based ministers. They will dis- cuss the tensions developing throughout the country as a result of the incidents in Fal- con Heights, Minnesota; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Dallas, Texas.
The purpose of this press conference is to ask citizens of Tampa to remain calm, pa- tient, and prayerful.
Tampa City Councilman Frank Reddick said, “We believe strongly that citizens have the right under the First Amendment of the Constitu- tion to express themselves publically. But we do not be-
Advisory Council
FRANK REDDICK
lieve in unruly confrontations that will destroy our commu- nity as a whole.
“Our goal is to work with the Tampa Police Department to come up with solutions, community policing policies, that will address the concerns of the community and to make the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County a better place to live, work and wor- ship without prejudices, in- timidation, and moral ineptitude. We want to main- tain unity in our community and not absurdity,” Council- man Reddick said.
The second meeting will take place on Thursday, at 6 p.m., at Beulah I. B. Church, 1006 W. Cypress.
REV. DR. JAMES FAVORITE
Rev. Dr. James Fa- vorite, pastor of Beulah I. B. Church, and president of Pas- tors on Patrol said the meet- ing will also discuss the recent shootings of the two Black men who died at the hands of police as well as the shooting in Dallas, Texas.
During the meeting, which will include members of the clergy, community leaders and elected officials, the group will discuss ways to im- prove the relationships be- tween police and the African American community.
Anyone in need of addi- tional information about the meeting can contact Rev. Fa- vorite at (813) 251-5591.
Hillsborough County Com- missioners are seeking volun- teers to serve on the Diversity Advisory Council. The Council was created to facilitate com- munication between Hillsbor- ough County government and diverse populations, and to address matters related to di- versity that affect County gov- ernment and residents.
The Council is appointed by the Board of County Commis- sioners and is comprised of two individuals from each of the following categories: African-American; Caribbean; Far East Asian; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender; Hispanic/Latino; Indian Asian; Middle Eastern; Native American; Northern and Southern European; People with Disabilities; and At- Large (Identification with a specific category is not re- quired).
Fourteen seats are avail- able. Positions are specified as individuals from the following categories: African-American; Caribbean; Far East Asian; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender; Hispanic/Latino; Indian Asian; Middle Eastern; Native American; Northern and Southern European; People with Disabilities; and At-large.
All nominees must reside and be registered voters in Hillsborough County. Ap- pointments are voluntary po-
sitions; therefore, members serve without compensation. Eleven positions have two- year terms. Three positions have a one-year term.
The deadline to apply is Thursday, July 28, 2016. Citi- zens interested in being con- sidered for appointment must submit: an essay of 200-500 words highlighting what your goals would be as a member of the Diversity Advisory Council and state why you are most suited to carry forth those goals; a completed Question- naire for County Appoint- ments - Diversity Advisory Council and a Standards of Conduct Form. All questions must be answered. Applicants declining to submit an essay will be eliminated from fur- ther consideration for service on the Diversity Advisory Council.
The forms are available in the Commissioners’ reception area on the second floor of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa; by calling the Boards and Councils Coordinator at (813) 272-5826; or on the County’s website at: www.HillsboroughCounty.org . Click on the “Government” link on the top of the page, then the “Boards and Com- mittees” sublink. The forms are in the middle of the page. Forms must be signed and dated.
Former Bank Officer Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement
United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced that Michael L. Johnson, 56, pleaded guilty to misap- propriation of bank funds and embezzlement. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
According to the plea agree- ment and court proceedings, Johnson was employed as a Senior Vice President/Special Assets Officer at American Momentum Bank. In his ca- pacity as a Special Assets Offi- cer, Johnson was responsible for marketing and selling bank-owned properties to investors in order to remove these troubled assets from the bank’s balance sheet. John- son signed the closing docu- ments, including the HUD-1
MICAHEL L. JOHNSON
Settlement Statement, on be- half of American Momentum Bank.
Beginning around June 2012, and continuing through November 2014, Johnson de-
vised a scheme to misapply and embezzle funds provided by American Momentum Bank. After the sale of bank- owned properties had been approved by the bank, John- son set up closings with real estate settlement agents. He then contacted the agents and ordered additions and/or changes to the disbursement side of the HUD-1. After clos- ing, funds provided by Ameri- can Momentum Bank were directed to bank accounts con- trolled by Johnson’s family members.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Tampa Police De- partment and the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Of- fice of Inspector General.
PAGE 8 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY,JULY 12, 2016