Page 29 - Florida Sentinel 11-3-17

Crime
‘Car Hopping’ Charges End With Arrest Of Four Teenagers
Man Takes $2,889 Bracelet From Jewelry Store
Last Gang Member Gets More Than 4 Years For Fraud, ID Theft
DEMEKO WELLS
TERRANCE COBB 5 years, 1 month
MAURICE LEWIS 5 years, 1 month
DONTAE WILLIAMS
5 years, 10 months
BRANDON LEWIS 5 years, 1 month
DAVON SMITH 5 years, 5 months
JEWELRY THEFT SUSPECT
Police are currently search- ing for a man who took a bracelet from a jewelry store and ran. The theft took place at the Five Star Jewelry Store, 2200 E. Fowler Avenue, lo- cated inside University Square Mall.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the man entered the store shortly after 11 a.m., on Octo- ber 20th. He asked to try on a man’s 10K gold bracelet. The clerk fastened the bracelet on his wrist as he stood in front of the counter.
The man appeared to in- spect the lock on the bracelet and then suddenly ran from the store on foot. The bracelet is valued at $2,889.67, police said.
The man is described as being about 5’6”, weighing about 180 pounds and with a medium build. He had a dark complexion, a full beard and mustache, and long, black dreadlocks.
Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to con- tact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestopperstb.com.
ELIAS CORBEN VALDEZ, JR. MILLER
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested four teenagers in connection with a series of car burglaries. They are facing multiple charges.
According to police, be- tween October 18th and Octo- ber 29th, several vehicles were broken into in the Riverview and Gibsonton area. During that time period, the vehicles entered were left unlocked and valuables were in plain sight, police said.
During the incidents, the four juveniles walked through residential areas and at- tempted to open car doors. Once inside, they reportedly took a range of items. If the keys were left in the vehicles, they also took the car. Police refer to the act as “car hop- ping.”
Police said “car hopping” is a big problem because peo- ple leave their cars unlocked with valuables plainly in view. In many instances, firearms and other valuables have been reported stolen.
Detectives believe five cars were stolen by the teenagers, including one from Pinellas County; three firearms were taken from unlocked cars; and numerous vehicles were en- tered. However, less than 10 of the owners filed police re- ports, police said.
Three of teenagers are 16- years-old. They have been
JACOB DAVID ROMAN BUSTOS
identified as Elias Valdez, Jr., of Wimauma; Jacob Roman, of Apollo Beach; and David Bustos, of Apollo Beach.
Roman was charged with 1 count of burglary of a vehi-
cle.
Bustos was charged with
1 count of burglary of a vehi- cle and 1 count of grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Both Roman and Bustos turned 16 on October 17th.
Valdez was charged with 7 counts of burglary of a vehi- cle, 2 counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle, 2 counts grand theft of a firearm, 3 counts grand theft 3rd degree, 2 counts of armed burglary of a vehicle, 2 counts of being a minor in possession of a firearm, and 3 counts of petit theft. He also had several war- rants for his arrest on other charges.
Corben Miller, 17, of Riverview was charged with 4 counts of burglary of a vehi- cle, 1 count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, 2 counts of armed burglary of a vehicle, 2 counts of grand theft of a firearm, 1 count of grand theft, 3rd degree, 2 counts of being a minor in possession of a firearm, and 2 counts of petit theft. This is Miller’s third arrest for similar of- fenses since June 2017, police said.
On Tuesday, a U. S. Dis- trict Judge sentenced a 22- year-old Tampa man to more than 4 years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to conspir- acy to commit credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft on July 19, 2017.
Demeko Wells is the last of 6 defendants charged as members or affiliates of the “Manche Boy Mafia,” or “MBM.” Judge Susan Bucklew sentenced him to 4 years and 9 months in prison.
Wells and his co-defen- dant, Maurice Lewis, were held responsible for more than $350,000 in intended or attempted purchases with counterfeit credit cards and stolen account information.
The other members or af- filiates of “MBM” who have been sentenced are: Mau- rice Lewis, 5 years, 1 month; Brandon Lewis, 5 years, 1 month; Terrance Cobb, 5 years, 1 month; Dontae Williams, 5 years, 10 months; and Davon Smith, 5 years, 5 months.
All of them were charged with engaging in a conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft.
According to court docu-
ments and statements made in court, from at least Janu- ary 2015, through November 2016, gang members and other individuals affiliated in some way with the “Manche Boy Mafia” or “MBM” or- ganization conspired to com- mit credit card fraud and identity theft in the Tampa Bay Area.
Investigators learned the individuals had purchased stolen credit and debit card account numbers, and stolen reloadable gift cards online from various sites.
They used a machine to emboss the stolen account numbers and their own names onto the front of these altered gift cards.
Once the cards were al- tered, the men used these counterfeit cards to buy other gift cards or merchandise. They then would either keep the items or sold them for cash.
Investigators determined that these individuals had en- gaged in hundreds of success- ful transactions with counterfeit credit cards, and had possessed and used thou- sands of stolen account num- bers from individuals across the United States.
UNCLE SANDY SAYS
When I was young 33, 38, 59, 62 I thought that money was the most impor- tant thing in life; 3, 14, 16, 19 now that I am old 6, 11, 50, 55 I know that it is. 43, 48, 58, 64.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 23-A