Page 34 - Florida Sentinel 4-20-18

Crime
‘Operation Up In Smoke’ Lands 18 Men In Jail
Woman Sought For Credit Card Fraud
CHRISTOPHER BOOKER
QUENTIN MOORE
CEPHES WEST
MOHAMMAD SABLE
Earlier this
week, a multi ju-
risdictional task
force concluded
“Operation Up
In Smoke” with
the arrests of 18
men. They were
arrested during
the shutdown of
a major illegal
cigarette operation that spanned more than 15 counties.
Those arrested are facing more than 135 charges. The month-long operation included the investigation of 15 stores. During the investigation, police identified the businesses who were buying stolen cigarettes. Undercover detectives sold 170 cartons of cigarettes to the vari- ous businesses and received $3,620 in payments. The value of the cigarettes was $10,880, police said.
Hillsborough County Sher- iff Chad Chronister said, “Shutting down this illegal ciga- rette ring levels the playing field for businesses who do the right thing by following the law and complying with our regulations. This is a win for everyone.”
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law En- forcement conducted an investi- gation that determined Christopher Booker and Quentin Moore targeted chain convenience stores and retail outlets. They allegedly stole large volumes of cigarettes. Agents learned that the retail theft and robbery spree included 51 inci- dents in 20 counties. The thefts took place in 10 different judicial circuits.
As a result, both Booker and Moore are facing 1 count of conspiracy to commit racketeer- ing as well as other charges.
The owners of three stores were also arrested. They were: Tariq Hammad, 31, owners and manager of Shop Rite, 7027 N. Himes; Wasim Soboh, 36,
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a woman in connection with credit card fraud. The credit cards were taken during the burglary of several vehicles.
According to police, on April 12, during the early morning hours, someone entered several unlocked cars in North Tampa near Livingston Road.
After the burglaries, an African American woman was captured on video using one of the victim’s credit cards. It was used at the Walmart, 2701 E. Fletcher Avenue.
The woman is described as being between the ages of 30 and 35, heavyset with short, black hair.
Anyone with information concerning the identity of the woman is asked to contact the
MOHSEN MUSIAD
IBRAHIM IWAIWI
ABHINEET SOOD
TARIQ HAMMAD
HISHAM ABUARAM
MUNTASER EL BOOZ
WASIM SOBOH
JAMIL SALEH
SALAMA MAHMOUD
HAMZEH AYOUB
EYAS SULLAIMAN
HUSAM SULEIMAN
JOHAD NAWABEET
GREGORY HERNANDEZ
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to the identity and arrest of the suspect. Contact Crime Stop- pers of Tampa Bay at 1-800- 873-TIPS or www.crimestopperstb.com.
UNCLE SANDY
owner of Smoke Casa & More, 2500 E. Busch Blvd.; and Gre- gory Hernandez, 52, owner of The Castle Smoke Shop, 8872 N. Florida Avenue, were all charged with dealing in stolen property and grand theft.
The stores in Hillsborough County targeted during the in- vestigation were: 2K Express, 1411 East Hillsborough Avenue; B & R Market, 13002 North 15th Street; Best Value Grocery, 7015 North Himes Avenue; Billionair Smoke Shop, 1214 East Dr. King Boulevard; BP Gas Station; 1005 Lithia Pinecrest Road; Highland Pine Market, 3011 Melbourne Boulevard; and Lithia Smoke Shop (Puff & Stuff), 1001 Lithia Pinecrest Road.
Other businesses investi- gated were: Marathon Gas Sta- tion, 5701 Memorial Highway; Shell Gas Station, 7615 Gunn Highway; Snack Attack, 6824 North 50th Street; Southern Vibez, 7230 South U. S. Highway 301; and The 813 Star, 6904 North 56th Street.
Booker and Moore were arrested and charged by the Florida Department of Law En- forcement.
Christopher Booker, 29, was charged with 1 count of con- spiracy to commit racketeering,
29 counts of grand theft, 7 counts of petit theft, 6 counts of burglary with a mask, and 8 counts of robbery with a mask.
Quentin Moore, 24, was charged with 1 count of conspir- acy to commit racketeering, 34 counts of grand theft, 7 counts of petit theft, 4 counts of burglary with a mask, and 4 counts of rob- bery with a mask.
Those arrested by the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Office were:
Mohammad Sable, 22, was charged with 2 counts grand theft and 2 counts dealing in stolen property; Cephes West, 53, was charged with dealing in stolen property and petit theft; and Hisham Abuaram, 45, was charged with dealing in stolen property, grand theft, and 4 counts of violation of proba- tion.
Mohsen Musiad, 26, Ibrahim Iwaiwi, 24, Abhi- neet Sood, 27, Muntaser El Booz, 44, Salama Mahmoud, 55, Husam Suleiman, 21, Wasim Soboh, 36, Hamzeh Ayoub, 29, Johad Nawabeet, 29, Jamil Saleh, 26, Eyas Sul- laiman, 29, and Gregory Her- nandez, 52, were all charged with dealing in stolen property and grand theft.
It is easier to find men 23, 35, 38, 50 who will vol- unteer to die, 4, 18, 20, 24 than to find those who are willing 5, 39, 40, 43 to endure pain with patience. 9, 12, 17, 22.
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