Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 8-19-16 Online Edition

Features
Jury Convicts Man In $569,000
His Past Inspires
A federal jury has found a Tampa man guilty in stolen government funds and mail. Although a sentencing date has not been set yet, he is fac- ing a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.
According to officials the jury found Darius Vashon Tolbert, 38, guilty of receipt of stolen government prop- erty and possession of stolen mail.
During the trial, evidence presented showed that Tol- bert purchased approxi- mately $569,000 in stolen Social Security benefit checks between April and July 2012. The checks be- longed to more than 400 beneficiaries, and were all designated for recipients who live in Pinellas County.
However, the checks were allegedly stolen by Stacy
For Children
Stolen Checks Case
Educator To Fight
DARIUS VASHON TOLBERT
... Found guilty in $569,000 Social Security scam
Darnell Mitchell, 47, a for- mer mail handler working at the St. Petersburg Processing and Distribution Center. Mitchell was indicted in March 2016 and is awaiting trial.
The checks were part of a
STACY DARNELL MITCHELL
... Mail handler arrested in March 2016
larger theft of more than $2 million in checks by the same mail handler.
The checks Tolbert bought were later cashed at a money services business in Live Oak, Florida, officials said.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
After reflecting on his early life, Donell Under- due, Jr., decided he would serve as an advocate for chil- dren. When the opportunity presented itself for him to be- come an employee of the Hillsborough County School District, he didn’t hesitate.
Underdue has no prob- lem talking about his past. His life began in the inner city in New Jersey. “I was running the streets and didn’t do well in school. It was a tough life.”
In an effort to give him a better life, his parents moved
DONELL UNDERDUE, JR. Superintendent Area 4, Hillsborough County School District
to rural Lewisburg, North Carolina. Still, the die had been cast and Underdue re- members staying in trouble.
He attributes it to no one taking the time to build a positive relationship with him or offer him encourage- ment. He had no direction until a custodian pointed him in the right direction.
Now, Underdue is on a mission to offer something that he didn’t have. His goal is to offer both help and hope to the children of Hillsbor- ough County.
He knows it is not some- thing that happens overnight because the key to success in- volves several factors. “You have to build a relationship with the students and the parents.
“We have to eliminate at- titude gaps to close achieve- ment gaps; build instructional leadership; and create a positive culture and climate for all stakeholders,” he said.
As the Area 4 Superin- tendent, Underdue will re- place Henry “Shake” Washington, who will re- tire next year. “He has really assisted me with the transi- tion,” Underdue, who came to Tampa from Chicago said.
He believes in not just preparing the children for the next grade, but preparing them for life, which makes him a strong believer in the CLASS theory of success. CLASS is an acronym for College and career; Leader- ship; Adaptation, Strategic Thinkers and Standards of Learning.
A divorcee, Underdue, 48, is the father of 3 children and 2 grandchildren. He loves to cook, entertain, and recently acquired a love of boating.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2016