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Features
Woman Gets 11 Years For Fraud And ID Theft
Former County Commissioner To Run For District 6 Seat
A U. S. District judge sen- tenced a Tampa woman to more than 11 years in federal prison on Thursday. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on November 26, 2014.
Judge Charlene Honey- well sentenced to Ms. Eneshia Carlyle, of Tampa, to 11 years and 6 months in federal prison. As part of the sentence, the court also en- tered a forfeiture money judg- ment of $1,820,759 and an order of restitution in the same amount.
According to court docu- ments, Ms. Carlyle con- spired with others to use the stolen personal information of more than 7,000 individu- als to file false federal income
MS. ENESHIA CARLYLE
tax returns and open pre-paid debit cards.
Officials said beginning as early as 2011, and continuing through November 2013, Ms. Carlyle, her husband, James Cobb, and others filed false tax returns claim- ing approximately $5 million
in refunds.
During the execution of a
search warrant at the couple’s home, law enforcement offi- cers recovered lists and med- ical records containing the names, dates of birth, and So- cial Security numbers of more than 7,000 victims.
The search also recovered more than 300 pre-paid debit cards opened in the names of those victims, as well as doc- uments and computer files containing information on the filing of false tax returns.
Many of the victims had their identities stolen from healthcare facilities, including from the James A. Haley VA hospital; the Florida Hospital (formerly known as Univer- sity Community Hospital); ambulance services in Vir- ginia, Georgia, and Texas; a local medical billing com- pany; and court records. In addition, a number of de- ceased victims’ names were obtained from genealogy websites.
James Cobb previously pleaded guilty for his role in this scheme. On June 19, 2015, he was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison.
On Thursday, former Hills- borough County Commis- sioner Rev. Dr. Thomas Scott filed to run for a seat on the Commission. He will cam- paign for the Countywide Dis- trict 6, currently held by County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who must vacate the seat due to term limits.
Dr. Scott was elected to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commission- ers In November 1996. He served as the Chairman of the Board from November 1997 until November 1998. He was re-elected as Chairman for two additional terms in November 2002 and 2003.
After leaving the Board of County Commissioners due to term limits, Dr. Scott was
REV. DR. THOMAS SCOTT
elected to serve on the City Council in 2007.
Dr. Scott has served on numerous boards and com- mittees throughout Hillsbor- ough County. He is currently the Senior Pastor at the 34th Street Church Of God.
Police Warn Of Zero Tolerance For Holiday Weekend
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Since the beginning of the year, Tampa Police have in- vestigated more than 443 crimes involved gunfire. Some victims suffered minor in- juries while others died. How- ever, approximately 30 people have died as a result of gun vi- olence.
The victims primarily in- volved young men and teenagers. However, last weekend, as Tampa Police re- moved 213 revolvers, 125 pis- tols, 104 rifles, and 79 shotguns from the streets, the violence continued.
On the same day as the gun buy-back, two more people died, one including a 58-year- old grandmother who police said was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This weekend, residents throughout the country will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. Tampa Police Cap- tain Ron McMullen is send- ing a warning to those who choose to shoot guns instead of fireworks this weekend.
“We are going to have zero tolerance for violence. We are determined that this will be a safe weekend for everyone. We are going to be in place and in your face.”
Captain McMullen said it seems that rival groups are having some type of alterca- tion and that is affecting the rise in violence.
A spokesperson for the Tampa Police Department is concentrating on the areas where the violence has taken place in the past. More patrol units are in the communities and officers are being vigilant about ending the sudden rash of violence that has plagued the city during the last 6 months.
Police said although there is a spike in violent crimes, members of the community are not sharing information.
Police are encouraging anyone with information about any of the unsolved homicides to come forward.
Those providing tips can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1- 800-273-TIPS.
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A