Page 51 - Florida Sentinel 2-5-21

Crime
Mother Seeks Help To Solve Man’s Murder
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
As many in the Tampa Bay Area are preparing for Super Bowl LV, one Tampa mother is preparing to bury her son. He was fatally wounded while in the Columbus Court Apart- ments, where he lived with his girlfriend and three children.
The fatal shooting took place on January 21st, in the 2800 block of Satellite Court in the Columbus Court Apart- ment Complex. When officers arrived at the location they
discovered 23-year-old Zavon Gundy had been shot. Ms. Felecia Jackson said her son died at the scene.
Ms. Jackson said other people were outside at the time of the shooting. “I don’t understand why no one is say- ing anything. There were other people outside when it hap- pened. My son didn’t deserve to die like that.
“I am asking anyone with information to please come forward. This doesn’t make sense to me. Anyone who knows anything should speak
ZAVON GUNDY
up,” she said.
A Tampa native, Gundy
attended the local schools of
Hillsborough County and earned his diploma in the job corps. He was a Chef by trade, but was not working because of COVID-19, his mother said.
Ms. Jackson further said that the apartment complex has armed security, but she has been told that there have been shootings in the complex for at least the last 3 weeks. Yet, it seems like no one is doing anything about what is going on in the complex.
He enjoyed spending time with his family, music, basket- ball, cracking jokes, and rap-
ping, his mother said.
A funeral service for
Gundy will take place on Sat- urday. Harmon’s Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.
Detectives with the Tampa Police Department are contin- uing to investigate the murder and they are also asking any- one with information to come forward. Anyone with infor- mation about the murder is asked to contact Crime Stop- pers of Tampa Bay at 1-800- 873-TIPS or online at www.crimestopperstb.com.
Eleven Charged In COVID-19 Fraud Case
Eleven people were ar- rested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office last week fol- lowing an investigation of sus- picious aid applications. The investigation focused on fraudulent activity to deprive money from Polk CARES, a county program started under the Federal CARES Act, which assists residents struggling to pay for rent, utilities, and other housing costs, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To be eligible for the assis- tance, several criteria must be met, one of which is that ap- plicants had to provide a letter from their employer which de- tailed how the employee lost their job or had their hours cut due to the pandemic. Those who qualified for assistance would then receive a one-time payment of $2,000.00.
During the application process, numerous suspected fraudulent applications were set aside and turned over to the PCSO.
The applications were scrutinized and it was deter- mined that a number of the employer letters were forged. Companies and people whose signatures appeared on suspi- cious letters were contacted and the letters were confirmed to be fraudulently created and used. Among those arrested were grocery store employees, restaurant managers, a para educator, and a Licensed Prac- tical Nurse. Some of the sus- pects were already receiving some form of government as- sistance. Nine of the eleven arrested were employed and/or did not have their hours reduced due to COVID- 19.
ployed as a CNA at a nursing home.
Saget Genoret, 33, of Lakeland, turned himself in to
police. He was charged with scheme to defraud, grand theft, and criminal use of per- sonal ID.
BRITTANY EBONY ERMANNE CAPERS CHANEY HENRY
Those taken into custody were:
Brittany Capers, 27, of Lakeland —- charged with ob- taining property by fraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal ID. Capers was receiving unemployment ben- efits at the time of her arrest.
Ebony Chaney, 34, of Lake Wales —- charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, obtaining property by fraud, grand theft, and cheating/gross fraud. Chaney was receiving food stamps at the time of her arrest.
Ermanne Henry, 43, of Lakeland —- charged with ob- taining property by fraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal ID.
Mervin Suttle, 36, of Bartow —- charged with ob- taining property by fraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal ID. Suttle was re- ceiving food stamps and un- employment at the time of his arrest.
Patricia Taylor, 38, of Lakeland —- charged with ob- taining property by fraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal ID. She was em- ployed as an LPN at a nursing home.
Phyllis Tirado, 49, of Lake Wales —- charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, obtaining property by fraud, and cheating/gross fraud. Tirado did not receive any money, but provided a fraudu- lent document to an employee.
Takila McBurrows, 36, of Lake Wales —- charged with obtaining property by fraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal ID. McBurrows was receiving food stamps at the time of her arrest. She told deputies that she works as a para-educator.
Tashai Newman, 43, of Winter Haven —- charged with obtaining property by fraud, grand theft, and crimi- nal use of personal ID. New- man was receiving food stamps at the time of her ar- rest.
Derrick Dawsey, 50, of Lake Wales —- charged with obtaining property by fraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal ID.
Dominique Frasier, 36, of Lakeland —- charged with obtaining property by fraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal ID. Frasier was receiving food stamps at the time of her arrest. She was em-
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