Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 8-1-17

Local
4-Year-Old Who Accidentally Shot Himself, Dies
Two Men Killed In Separate Traffic
Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck By Vehicle
This is the home where Ashton Gooding accidentally shot him- self after finding loaded gun.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated two fatal traffic accidents last week. Both acci- dents occurred in Hillsbor- ough County.
According to a spokesman for the department, the first accident took place on State Road 574 and Lakewood Drive. Officers responded to the scene shortly before 2 p.m., Wednesday.
Their investigation revealed Damien Tehran Avery, 38, of Gibsonton, was driving a 2004 International truck, traveling eastbound on State Road 574. Sheldon Frank Evans, 74, of Tampa, was driving a powered scooter westbound in the marked crosswalk near the intersec- tion.
Avery attempted to make a right turn onto southbound Lakewood Drive and failed to yield the right-of-way to Evans. The right front of the truck struck the scooter. Evans was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
Avery was not injured and charges are pending as the in- vestigation continues.
The second fatal accident took place Thursday night on U. S. 301 at Valencia Grande Avenue. The accident was re- ported at 10:18 p.m.
Investigators learned that James F. Flood, 69, of Wimauma, was driving a 2014 Acura MDX southbound on U. S. 301 in the left lane. Flood attempted to turn left onto Va- lencia Grande Avenue and col- lided with a 2016 Harley Davidson FXDB Motorcycle, driven by 30-year-old Al- fonso Q. Rodriguez, of Wimauma.
Rodriguez was traveling northbound on U. S. 301 when Flood’s vehicle turned into his path of travel. Rodriguez died at the scene.
Flood nor his passenger, 71-year-old Diana Flood, were not injured.
The investigation into the accident is continuing and charges are pending.
Tax Fraud Charge Gets Man 3-Year Sentence
Accidents
A 61-year-old man has died. He was struck by a vehi- cle owned by the City of St. Petersburg Friday morning.
According to police, Larry Barron, of St. Petersburg, was at the intersection of 1st Avenue, South and 8th Street, when he was struck while
crossing the street. Barron was transported to a local hospital, where he was listed in serious, but stable condi- tion.
However, his condition worsened and he died as a re- sult of his injuries. The inves- tigation is continuing.
Shortly before 6 p.m., Sunday emergency person- nel responded to 1020 E. Hanna Avenue, in reference to an injured child. The child was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he died.
Detectives with the Tampa Police Department responded to the location and learned that the child, identified as Ashton Good- ing, had found a loaded
firearm in the home and dis- charged it. Ashton would have celebrated his 5th birthday on August 31st.
Detectives are currently conferring with the Hills- borough County State At- torney’s Office to determine if any charges will be filed in the case.
No additional informa- tion was available at press time.
A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to prison in connection with a fraudulent federal income tax scheme. The Court also entered a money judgment for $129,854.17, which is consid- ered the amount of money he received filing fraudulent fed- eral income tax returns.
U. S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr., sen- tenced Moses Wilcox, of Tampa, to serve 3 years and four months in prison. Wilcox pleaded guilty to conspiracy and theft of gov- ernment funds on February 27, 2017.
According to court docu- ments, the conspiracy in- volved filing false income tax returns in the names of other people. Some of the victims were deceased. After receiv- ing the income tax refunds in various amounts, the Internal Revenue Service deposited refunds in accounts that Wilcox and others had estab- lished at local financial insti- tutions in their own names.
As a result, the Internal Revenue Service issued $389,479.07 in fraudulent re- funds. In addition, the con- spirators attempted to obtain an additional $562,791.29 that the IRS was able to block before payment was made.
Officials began their in- vestigation of Wilcox while going through records of cash withdrawals at local casinos and ATMs by individuals who used debit cards loaded with fraudulent tax refunds.
In the case with Wilcox, bank records showed that various people opened ac- counts at H & R Block Bank or other institutions before
MOSES WILCOX
they began filing the tax re- fund forms.
Officials said within a day of the deposit of the refunds, the money was withdrawn at the Hard Rock Casino.
Most of the victims whose names and information used were deceased.
Officials said Wilcox opened an account in his own name on March 5, 2012. The account became the destina- tion for a large number of tax refunds which were the result of false tax claims.
Investigators said the de- fendants went to the casino because they could make larger withdrawals than at a bank or ATM.
Wilcox initially denied knowing anything about the money. However, he was shown withdrawals slips bearing his signature. He was also shown a picture of him- self taken from Facebook in early 2012. The photograph showed Wilcox sitting in what appears to be the back- seat of a car, holding a large pile of money in his lap. He admitted that was him in the photograph, officials said.
20-Year-Old Man Facing First-Degree Murder Charge
A 20-year-old man was ar- rested Thursday and is facing a first-degree murder charge. The murder stems from the death of another man.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, Angel Edwin Romero- Rivera, of Tampa, was taken into custody last Thursday. In addition to the first-degree murder charge, he is also fac- ing violation of probation charges for aggravated bat- tery with the intent to harm, 2 counts of false imprison- ment, possession of heroin, and two counts of petit theft. Romero-Rivera was trans- ported to the Hillsborough County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
Romero-Rivera was ar- rested in connection with the death of 19-year-old Geo- vany Edwin Milla- Murillo. Milla Murillo’s body was discovered around 1:30 p.m., on July 25th, in a
ANGEL EDWIN ROMERO-RIVERA
... Charged with first-degree
murder
vacant lot at the intersection of E. 131st Avenue and N. Tal- iaferro Avenue.
Officials said Milla Murillo’s death was attrib- uted to at least one gunshot wound to the upper body. The motive for the murder was domestic related.
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