Page 34 - Florida Sentinel 12-2-16 Online Edition

Crime
$10,000 Reward Offered In Theft From Gun Store
After 4 Years On The Run:
Man Convicted Of Tax Fraud Gets 7 Years In Prison
A 35-year-old man was sen- tenced to serve prison time for his role in committing tax fraud and using stolen identi- ties. He was also court ordered to pay $320,703.84 in losses to the U. S. Treasury Depart- ment.
Earlier this week, U. S. Dis- trict Judge Steven D. Mer- ryday sentenced Daniel White, of Winter Haven to serve 7 years in federal prison.
According to court docu- ments, between May and Oc- tober of 2011, White used stolen personal identity infor- mation belonging to at least 39 victims to file fraudulent federal income tax returns. At least 24 of the names used
DANIEL WHITE
... Sentenced to 7 years on tax fraud charges
were deceased at the time their information was submit-
ted.
White then directed the
Internal Revenue Service to electronically deposit the re- funds into a bank account that he controlled.
Officials said if all of the re- fund requests had been suc- cessful, White would have received $737,588.
He was originally found guilty of the charges in August 2012. However, before he could be sentenced, he left the area. Officials said law en- forcement found him hiding in an air conditioning return duct at a home in Polk County in July 2016.
Early Monday morning, a group of unidentified individ- uals broke into a Tampa gun store. The suspects fled the scene with more than 40 guns. Law enforcement is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the ar- rest and conviction of those re- sponsible for the burglary. The reward is being offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Tampa Arms Company, a Tampa-based fed- eral firearms licensee. It was by ATF and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
Ms. Mary Harmon Salter, Public Information Officer for ATF said, “We are appealing to the public, we have a great concern for the firearms that were stolen and are now unaccounted for. We believe someone out there has information about this inci- dent and we encourage them to come forward.
“Our special agents and in- vestigators work hard every- day to remove firearms from the hands of those who should
not have them. We are aggres- sively and actively working all leads in this case,” she said.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the burglary took place at 2:48 a.m., after the suspects drove an SUV into the front glass window of the Tampa Arms Company, 4023 W. Waters Avenue.
At least 10 suspects were in- volved in the burglary. Once inside the business, they re- portedly removed approxi- mately 40 firearms and fled the scene.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and ATF are participating in this ongoing investigation.
Callers may also provide in- formation to ATF by contact- ing the ATF at (800) ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867) or the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247- 8200.
Callers can also remain anonymous and send informa- tion to ATF via the mobile app www.reportit.com, using the Tampa Field Division as the location.
Elderly Man Convicted Of Manslaughter Released On Bond
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Monday afternoon, Trevor Dooley appeared in court for a hearing. He was re- questing bail pending the out- come of his appeal in his conviction for manslaughter.
Two days later, Judge Thomas Barber granted Dooley’s request in a seven- page document. He also said that Dooley, formerly of Val- rico, must abide by all condi- tions required by the bondsman, cannot have any contact with the victim’s fam- ily, and is restricted to Her- nando County unless attending court appearances, among others.
After taking the matter into consideration, Hillsb0rough County Judge Thomas Bar- ber released Dooley on a $100,000 bond.
In the written statement, Judge Barber said, “...The Court notes that Florida law regarding post-conviction re- lease on bond is more favor- able for convicted Defendants than the minimum required by the State and Federal Con- stitutions, and more generous for Defendants than the laws applicable in federal criminal cases.
TREVOR DOOLEY ... Released on Bail
“While this Court may pre- fer that Florida law were more restrictive on this issue, the Court is not free to disregard it, or the orders entered by previous judges in this case addressing this very issue.
“Consequently, Defendant shall be released from custody pending the outcome of his latest appeal...”
On September 26, 2010, then 69-year-old Dooley be- came engaged in an argument with his neighbor, David James. The men quarreled over a teenager skateboarding on the basketball court in the Valrico neighborhood.
Dooley, who lived across the street from the park, al- legedly went home, armed himself, and returned to the park. The quarrel between the two men continued.
Dooley alleged that he was attempting to walk away when 41-year-old James grabbed him and the two began to tus- sle. Dooley claimed he fired the gun in shelf-defense.
He was arrested two days after the incident although he claimed defense under the newly instituted Stand Your Ground Law.
He was convicted of manslaughter in January 2013 and filed an appeal. After his appeal was denied, Dooley surrendered in November 2014 and served two years in prison. He was originally sen- tenced to 8 years in prison and 10 years of supervision.
He was recently granted a new trial by the Second Dis- trict Court of Appeal earlier this year after a state prosecu- tor admitted to making an error in the jury instructions.
However, the state with- drew its concession of making the error and granted Dooley a new appeal.
Dooley, who is now 75, ap- peared in court in a wheel- chair.
UNCLE SANDY SAYS...
Nothing can escape 52, 53 a clinched fist, 11, 13, but nothing can enter it either 9, 10.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 23-A