Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 8-25-17

Features
Ex-Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty In Tax Fraud Case
University Area Families Asked To Attend Playground Design Meeting
On Wednesday, a former Tampa Police Sergeant pleaded guilty to committing tax fraud. The plea draws to a close that has lingered in the federal court system for nearly 5 years.
Mrs. LaJoyce Caldwell Houston, 51, of Riverview, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government prop- erty. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to the plea agreement, in 2011 and 2012,
while working at the Tampa Police Department, Mrs. Houston received goods, services, money orders, and cash that were obtained with debit cards tied to accounts that had been loaded with fraudulently obtained tax re- funds.
The fraudulent refunds deposited into the accounts totaled $284,490.41 and were the result of fraudu- lent federal income tax re- turns that had been filed by
LAJOYCE HOUSTON
Children living in the neighborhoods adjacent to USF soon will have a dream playground on which to frolic, thanks to the University Area Community Development Cor- poration (University Area CDC), KaBOOM! and other strategic partners.
The families in the neigh- borhood will design the play- ground themselves, beginning on Thursday, Aug. 31st. On thatdate,from4to5p.m.at the University Area Commu- nity Center, children will put crayon to paper to plan out
Rita Girven.
Ms. Girven is currently
serving a 12-year sentence in federal prison for her role in the scam. She was sen- tenced in 2015.
Investigators said Ms. Girven paid off Mrs. Houston’s Target credit card balance of $3,863.08 by making two in-store pay- ments. The payments were made using fraudulently obtained tax refunds. Mrs.
their dream playgrounds. From 5 to 7 p. m., adult resi- dents will form a planning committee and, inspired by the children’s ideas, select play- ground equipment and colors for the new custom play- ground.
Dinner will be provided for all those who participate. Chil- dren are invited to stay and enjoy a movie while parents at- tend the Adults’ Planning Meeting.
Attendees also will learn more about the KaBOOM! build process. On Friday, Nov.
Houston admitted to knowing the funds were stolen.
Mrs. Houston’s co- defendant and husband, former Tampa Police De- tective Eric Houston, pleaded guilty on March 31, 2017, to receiving stolen government property. He is scheduled to be sen- tenced on October 25, 2017.
Both are facing a maxi- mum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
10, volunteers from University Area CDC, Tampa Bay Rays and Bank of America will build the playground from start to finish. The project is in part- nership with KaBOOM! , the national nonprofit dedicated to giving kids the childhood they deserve by bringing play to those who need it most.
Residents who would like to attend the August 31st Chil- dren’s Design Session or Adults’ Planning Meeting are asked to RSVP by calling Rosie Jensing at 813.558.5212 ext. 315.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A