Page 16 - Florida Sentinel 2-25-20

Memoriam
Crime
Computer Virus Scam Lands 2 In Jail; Recovery Of $67,000
BIRTHDAY MEMORIAM
SISTER ESSIE MAE WYNN WATSON
Happy Birthday, Mom.
From your son, Johnny B. Watson, and family. Missing you always!
A computer virus scam has resulted in two arrested and the recovery of $67,000. The scam operated nationally and targeted the elderly.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the anonymous tip was re- ceived last Thursday. The caller stated that elderly vic- tims were sending cash money to Tampa. The money was re- portedly paid to remove a virus
National
Famed model, restaurateur and lifestyle guru Barbara 'B.' Smith has died aged 70 after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Smith died 'peacefully' in hospice care at home in Long Is- land, New York, on Saturday night, her husband Dan Gasby announced in a Facebook post.
'It is with great sadness that my daughter Dana and I an- nounce the passing of my wife, Barbara Elaine Smith,' Gasby wrote.
'Thank you to all the friends and fans who supported B. and our family during her journey. Thank you to everyone for re- specting our privacy during this agonizing time.
CARLTON THOMAS
DONTAVIUS OAKLEY
from the victim’s computer. One victim in New Jersey sent cash via FedEx to an ad- dress in Tampa. The address was that of the suspect. The victim realized it was a scam and contacted police in New
Jersey.
The Hillsborough County
Sheriff’s Office was contacted and detectives were able to in- tercept the victim’s package containing the money.
Detectives also intercepted several other packages being mailed to Dontavius Oakley, the suspect in the case.
Those packages also con- tained cash and had been mailed from Hillsborough County and from victims in California, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas.
Undercover officers later identified the packages to the Rodeway Motel, 6510 U. S. Highway 301, and left them in the lobby. They then con- ducted surveillance on Oak- ley.
Oakley, 35, and another suspect, Carlton Thomas, 50, left the motel and drove away from the area. Deputies conducted a traffic stop and both men were arrested.
Oakley is facing charges of organized fraud, grand theft, and violation of probation.
Thomas is being held on an out-of-state warrant from New Jersey. He also had a counterfeit driver’s license, po- lice said.
Detectives said the 7 pack- ages they recovered contained $67,000 in cash. They are at- tempting to identify at least 8 other victims.
If anyone has been con- tacted by Dontavius Oakley, who is also known as Don Pazious, or Carlton Thomas in order to resolve a computer virus or other fraud are urged to contact the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice at (813) 247-6200.
Lifestyle Guru B. Smith Dies Aged 70 After Battle With Alzheimer's
DEATH LISTING
AIKENS FUNERAL
HOME
Ms. Antiquenette Glover, Tampa
Mrs. Brownie Mae Herbin, Tampa
Mr. Jerome Merritt, Tampa
Mr. Eddie Smith, Jr., Tampa
Mr. Herman Williams, Tampa
Mrs. Patrica Williams, Tampa
CHANDLER’S FUNERAL HOME
Mrs. Joyce Vidal-Knox, Tampa
GUDES FUNERAL HOME
Mr. Carl E. Norton, Jr., Tampa
Mr. Anthony Lee Wooten, Tampa
HARMON FUNERAL HOME
Mr. Felix A Bennett, Tampa
Mr. Johnnie Leon McClary, The Villages
Mr. Jarvis J. Jenkins, Tampa
INTEGRITY FUNERAL CHAPEL
Ms. Johnnie Mae Jones, Tampa
RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME
Mr. Lloyd J. Brown, Tampa
Ms. Shantell Burnett, Tampa
Mrs. Barbara Jean Dean, formerly of Bran- don, Florida
Mother Mary A. Dun- bar, Tampa
Deaconess Loretha Gi- lley-Washington, Homo- sassa, Florid
Mrs. Sandra Riley, Tampa
Mrs. Aaron Betty Shaw-Lolley, Tampa
Ms. Irene West, Tem- ple Terrace, Florida
WILSON FUNERAL HOME
Ms. Olive Alexander, Tampa
James Finlayson, Tampa
Ms. Thatanya LaVonna Garvin, Riverview, Florida Ms. Gladys Owens,
Tampa
BARBARA 'B.' SMITH
'Heaven is shining even brighter now that it is graced with B.'s dazzling and unforget- table smile.'
Smith was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2013 after she began suffering from frequent bouts of forgetfulness.
Gasby, Smith's husband of 28 years, cared for her at their East Hampton home up until her death, with help from his daugh- ter Dana and his girlfriend Alex Lerner, whom he began dating after his wife's Alzheimer's diag- nosis.
PAGE 16 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020