Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 12-8-15 Edition

Features
Elderly Man Goes
To Prison For Taking $174,336 In Fraud Case
A 62-year-0ld Tampa man was sentenced to prison last week. He pleaded guilty to the charges in September.
U. S. District Judge Steven D. Merry- day sentenced Moises Linares Pantaleon, to 5 years and 5 months in federal prison. He was also court ordered to pay $174,336.22 in restitution to the victims.
According to court documents, between 2012 and 2014, Panteleon used stolen credit and debit card account numbers to manufac- ture counterfeit credit cards. He then used the counterfeit credit cards at various retailers throughout Hillsborough, Hernando, and Pasco Counties.
Officials said he was captured on surveil- lance cameras purchasing items with the coun- terfeit cards more than 40 times.
Investigators learned about the scam in April 2013, after several Tyndall Federal Credit Union members fell victims to the scheme.
On December 20, 2013, federal agents ex- ecuted a search warrant at Panteleon’s home. Among the items seized by the agents were 25 gift cards, a counterfeit driver’s li- cense, 6 counterfeit credit cards, and a thumb drive containing 15 unauthorized card num-
MOISES LINARES PANTALEON
bers.
Agents also seized software used to create
the forged documents, a square credit card reader, and approximately $2,045 in cash.
Tampa Police Chief Makes Instagram Debut
CHIEF ERIC WARD ... Debuts on Instagram
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For several years, individu- als have complained about not being connected with the younger generation. In keep- ing with that complaint, Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward has devised a plan to connect with that generation.
On Tuesday, December 8th, Chief Ward will become the first Tampa Police Chief to spend the day on Instagram. He is taking over the Tampa Police Department’s official Instagram Page.
In doing so, Chief Ward said he is sharing his day in the life of a police chief with the younger generation. “I feel this is important because it gives the community an inside l0ok at what my officers and I are doing to keep the city safe, while still giving a glimpse at who I am as a person and what I hope to accomplish as Chief.”
Chief Ward will begin his morning on Instagram and will post various photographs through the day while he is out
in the community.
In this age of computers
and the Internet, many adoles- cents, pre-teenagers and young adults spend a great deal of time on such social media sites as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. In fact, a Pew Research study shows that more than half of the In- stagram subscribers are be- tween the ages of 18 and 29 years. This is an important de- mographic for those reaching out to the younger generation as well as law enforcement.
“This is the age range that we’re working to build and strengthen relationships with in hopes that they will get in- volved in the safety of their neighborhoods and maybe even decide to become Tampa Police officers,” Chief Ward said.
Anyone with online access can go behind the scenes with Chief Ward by simply visit- ing Instagram.com/Tampa PD.
Instagram subscribers can follow his moves the entire day using #ChiefOnIG
FYI
TECO Using Low-Flying Helicopters To Do Routine Checks
Tampa Electric is warning people not to be alarmed if they see low-flying helicopters hovering around transmission lines this week. The patrols are part of the utility’s ongoing inspection of transmission equipment.
The company said work began December 1st and will continue for about a week during daylight hours. Work also may occur on the weekend. A helicopter will hovers for a short time about 30 to 40 feet above the lines as workers use infrared technology to in- spect equipment.
The project started in Polk County and expands into Tampa, Dade City, Ruskin and Riverview in coming days. Inspections will take place along urban and rural rights of way, some within view of roads and neighborhoods.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3