Page 19 - Florida Sentinel 3-17-20

National
Andrew Gillum Responds To Allegations Of Meth-Related Incident With Male Escort
Houston Pastor Pleads
Over the past few years, Democratic politician An- drew Gillum made a name for himself after he narrowly lost his bid to be Florida's gov- ernor. On Friday, Miami Her- ald reported that Gillum had been involved in an alleged meth-related incident in a Miami Beach hotel.
Police were called to the Mondrian South Beach Hotel in the early hours of the morn- ing, where paramedics were treating 30-year-old Miami resident Travis Dyson for an alleged heart attack. Two other men, Gillum and the other Aldo Mejias, were also pres- ent in the room. Police said there were bags that possibly contained methamphetamine at the scene, and that Gillum was "too intoxicated" to an- swer any questions.
"I was in Miami last night for a wedding celebration when first responders were called to assist one of my friends. While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used metham- phetamines," Gillum said in a statement, according to the Miami Herald. "I apologize to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement." Additionally, he thanked the paramedics of Miami Beach and said he will "spend the next few weeks with my family and appreciate
Investors Out Of Millions
privacy during this time." Talking with police, Mejias said that he joined Gillum and Dyson in the room late on Thursday and discovered them both "under the influence of an unknown substance." He added that Dyson, who para- medics treated at the scene, was having trouble breathing and later vomited before col- lapsing back on the bed. He has claimed that Gillum also went to the bathroom to vomit.
Gillum Announcing That He Will Be Going To Rehab
Andrew Gillum an- nounced that he will be going to rehab after an incident in Miami on Thursday. In a re- cent response, Gillum said:
"After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this
time. This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to al- cohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging ef- fects it can have when un- treated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles. I am com- mitted to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person.
"I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family. I will be stepping down from all public facing roles for the foreseeable future.
"I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have sup- ported me and put their faith in me over the years.
"I ask that you respect my and my family’s privacy dur- ing this time.
Thank you."
KIRBYJON H. CALDWELL
16,000-member Windsor Vil- lage United Methodist Church in Houston, preyed on victims with dementia and medical ail- ments, including one who was diagnosed with terminal can- cer.
“And some of these victims have been without hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2013. For many of them, it rep- resents their life savings, and the dragging out of this prose- cution compounds their loss,” according to the government, which denied Caldwell’s pre- vious request for a third con- tinuance in his case.
ANDREW GILLUM
The senior pastor of a Hous- ton megachurch pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges he scammed investors out of mil- lions of dollars.
Kirbyjon H. Caldwell and financial planner Gre- gory Alan Smith have been federally indicted of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy for selling $1M+ of worthless Chinese bonds to vulnerable investors. Some lost their life savings. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges last year.
“These defendants used their positions as religious leaders and investment advis- ers to defraud Louisiana resi- dents – many of whom are elderly and retired,” U. S. At- torney David Joseph said in a statement. “In doing so, the defendants abused the trust and respect of their victims for the sole purpose of stealing their money. This type of de- ceit can be devastating for vic- tims, especially when life savings are lost. My office will continue to vigorously prose- cute those who use confidence schemes to prey upon the eld- erly and people of faith.”
Caldwell, pastor of the
Guilty To Scamming
Minnesota Woman Throws Son, 11, Off 4th Floor Balcony
A Minnesota mom dragged her 11-year-old son out of bed and threw him off the balcony of their fourth-floor apart- ment, before punching and spitting on responding officers, investigators said Wednesday. Itayvia Lloyd, 33, admitted to the attack on her child, but has yet to explain the incident, St. Paul police spokesman Steve Linders told reporters.
A witness called police after seeing the child fall from the balcony, thinking it was a sui- cide attempt, Linders said. The boy was found lying in a courtyard with significant in- juries, and was unable to tell officers and paramedics what happened.
Lloyd is accused of yanking her 11-year-old son from bed and throwing him off their apartment's fourth-floor bal- cony, leaving him with trau- matic injuries.
The child suffered at least one broken femur, a fractured
jaw and head injuries, but was expected to survive, Linders said, adding he may be “in- jured emotionally as well.”
A 6-year-old sibling was also found in the apartment unharmed.
Lloyd told investigators she threw her child over the balcony and was arrested, po- lice said.
During Lloyd’s arrest, she tried to punch an officer who was putting her in handcuffs, according to a criminal com- plaint obtained by FOX9 Min- neapolis. After she was placed in a holding cell at a county jail, the document stated she approached an officer and spat on his face.
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 19