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Features
Man Pleads Guilty In Nearly
‘A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To
$3 Million Social Security Scam
Waste:’ Local UNCF Chapter
A 37-year-old Tampa man has pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme that resulted in the thefts of social security checks. He worked in con- junction with a postal em- ployee and other co-conspirators.
The plea affidavit
Richard Lee Anderson entered into stated Ander- son obtained the checks from a mail handler at the United States Postal Service and would pass them on to other individuals for a per- centage of the face value.
Once the checks were cashed, Anderson would in turn give the mail handler an agreed upon percentage of the money he obtained. Offi- cials said all of the checks Anderson received were addressed to recipients in specific zip codes.
The theft of the checks began in January 2012 and continued until October 2012. On October 4, 2012, the Tampa Police Depart- ment recovered 245 social security checks, valued at $165,929.10, from a resi- dence in the 3000 block of N. 42nd Street in a Highland Pines neighborhood.
The checks were made payable to several residents in Pinellas County. During the execution of a search warrant at the address, 5 ad-
agreed to give Anderson a set percentage of the pro- ceeds.
Officials said financial records from three Tampa businesses known to have been used by Anderson’s runners revealed that checks, valued at approximately $2,085,649.50, and ad- dressed to beneficiaries were cashed.
Officials estimated that Anderson received and dis- tributed approximately $2,275,435.80 in stolen checks during the operation of the scheme.
The government launched its investigation after a large number of checks were reported stolen during certain periods of the month.
Anderson was arrested in November 2015. A sen- tencing date has not been es- tablished.
Hosts Annual Luncheon
RICHARD LEE ANDERSON ... Facing up to 10 years in prison
ditional checks, worth $3,636.20 were seized.
Officials said in the spring of 2012, Anderson ap- proached an individual and offered to sell checks for 15% of their face value. The indi- vidual accepted the deal, cashed the checks, and re- turned 15% of the checks to Anderson, the plea agree- ment stated.
The individual later be- came a cooperating witness for the government. The wit- ness told officials that ap- proximately $1.5 million in checks had been received from Anderson.
Another cooperating wit- ness helped Anderson to store and pass the checks. The witness said Anderson provided the checks to run- ners, who were allowed to sell them. However, they
FYI Wednesday
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Ensuring more young Black students get to college –andstaythere–isamis- sion in which everyone can play a role.
In his address at the 10th Annual UNCF Black History Luncheon, Rep. Ed Narain (D-Tampa) implored the au- dience to support the philan- thropic organization that funds more than 10,000 scholarships for African American and other students of color at more than 1,000 colleges, including histori- cally black colleges and uni- versities.
The dollars donated to the UNCF help students not only get to college, but also get through, Rep. Narain said.
It’s also important that the Black community reach out to the community at-large – in- cluding the business sector and religious groups – to help keep important causes like the UNCF going, he said.
“We can’t do this by our- selves,” he said. “It always takes a coalition.”
This year’s luncheon – hosted by the Bay Area UNCF Leadership Council – fea- tured remarks by Bethune- Cookman University President Edison O. Jack- son and entertainment by the Howard Blake High School Gospel Choir.
Dr. Walter Smith, pres- ident emeritus of Florida A&M University, received the council’s Champion of Educa- tion award.
Dr. Smith, who led the re- search institution from 1977 to 1985, echoed Rep.
State Representative Ed Narain was the guest speaker for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Black History Luncheon in Tampa.
Narain’s
“We certainly need to con- tribute to UNCF to help these institutions grow,” he said.
Putting a college educa- tion within reach of Black stu- dents is a responsibility on which the Black community must take lead, Rep. Narain said.
“If you’re waiting for someone who’s going to ride in on a white horse and save us, it’s not going to happen,” he said.
Narain, a Star Wars fan, encouraged students to ad- here to Yoda’s advice to dis- regard the act of “trying” to accomplish goals.
“Yoda was right,” he said. “In life you are either doing something or not doing something. There is not try- ing in this world.”
Students also should clean up their language and discon- tinue saying three F-words: fear, fail, and fall, Rep. Narain said.
Evening Speaker
REVEREND THOMAS HADDEN
The Reverend Thomas Hadden of People for Christ Ministries will be the 7 p. m. speaker Wednesday, March 2, 2016, for the 3rd anniversary celebration of Pastor Alphonso and First Lady Angela Lewis. The anniver- sary theme is “A Servant’s Heart Committed To Serve.”
The anniversary celebra- tion will continue with services March 11th and 13th.
National Council Of Negro Women Monthly Meeting
National Council of Negro Women Tampa Metropolitan Section (NCNW) meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 10 a. m. at the HOPE Center, located at 4902 N. 22nd Street, Tampa, 33610 across from Middleton High School.
Christie Jacobs is the re- porter.
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