Page 2 - 5-22-15 Friday's Edition

Features
One Year Anniversary:
WTMP Is On The Bubble
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On May 5, 2014, the popu- lar radio station WTMP 1150 AM 0fficially returned to the airwaves with music that catered to the African Ameri- can population. However, ru- mors are once again circulating that the station is in danger of being sold.
Last year, Banker Curtis Stokes stepped out to bring WTMP AM 1150 back. Several months ago, Stokes turned in the keys and walked away. Lawrence Hires, who was the General Manager, contin- ued to operate the station. However, Hires was termi- nated on Tuesday.
According to a reliable source, the owner of the station is Ms. Chris McMurray, who reportedly owns four other radio stations. A source told the Sentinel, that some of the African American em- ployees have already been dis- charged and replaced with white employees.
However, the format will not change until the station is sold. Ms. McMurray is said to be negotiating with prospec- tive buyers from the Domini- can Republic.
Information about Ms. McMurray found on the In-
LAWRENCE HIRES
ternet list her as the President of Davidson Media Group. The webpage credits her with bringing 35 years of experience in Broadcast Management.
The webpage also said she specializes in improving under- performing assets. It further said, “Her last 6 years have been spent working for private equity firms managing their troubled radio assets resulting in some turnarounds from losses to positive cash flow in less than 12 months as well as sales of some of the assets. Those firms include DB Zwim, Fortress Investment Group, and Northwest Capital Part- ners.
When the Sentinel at- tempted to contact the radio station, the telephone was not answered and no answering service was available to leave a message.
Woman Gets 2 Years For Aggravated ID Theft
Earlier this week, a district judge sentenced a Tampa woman to federal prison for aggravated identity theft. She was also ordered to make restitution to the Internal Rev- enue Service.
U. S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday sen- tenced Makaeia Demps, 39, to two years in federal prison. She pleaded guilty on March 4, 2015.
According to court docu- ments, in December 2011, Ms. Demps was arrested by the Clearwater Police Department. At the time of her arrests, offi-
MAKAEIA DEMPS
cers found two debit cards in
the names of other people in her possession. An investiga- tion revealed that the debit cards contained funds that had been obtained from fraudu- lently filed federal income tax returns.
The investigation further revealed that Ms. Demps was linked to the receipt of refunds generated by filing additional fraudulent income tax returns.
In addition to serving the two years in prison, the court also ordered Ms. Demps to pay $13,441 to the Internal Revenue Service as restitution, court records showed.
Investiture Ceremony For Michael J. Scionti
The Investiture Cere- mony of Michael J. Scionti as Judge of the Circuit Court Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, State of Florida was held April 16, 2015 in Courtroom One, Sixth Floor of the George Edge- comb Courthouse.
Joining Judge Scionti, right, are from left: Craig Latimer, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections; Mayor Bob Buckhorn, businessman Marvin Knight, and Fire Rescue Chief Tom For- ward. (Photograph by BRUNSON)
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015