Page 19 - Florida Sentinel 12-22-15 Edition

Crime
Foreclosure Scam Artist Gets 3-Year Prison Sentence
Suspect In 2009 Sexual Assault Arrested
RODRECIUS HAMILTON
Winter Haven Police report that a career criminal is back in jail after a DNA match in a 2009 sexual assault led to his arrest.
On December 14th, detec- tives received confirmation that DNA matching 43-year-old Rodrecius Hamilton was found in a rape kit that detec- tives resubmitted for further analysis in June.
Police said when they inter- viewed Hamilton, he denied assaulting the victim and could not explain his DNA on the vic- tim.
The assault occurred Decem- ber 4, 2009 and involved a woman who was walking home from the Winter Haven Recre- ational and Cultural Center to her home. She was walking in the area of 1625 Unity Way when she said a man began fol- lowing her, police said.
The man reportedly began yelling and calling out to her, but she continued to walk in an attempt to get away from him, police said.
The victim told police the man caught up to her and pulled her hair from the back and made her fall to the ground. He reportedly pinned her arms underneath his knees and unbuttoned her pants. As she was pinned to the ground, the man allegedly sexually as- saulted her and tried to kiss her while yelling that she was a whore and a bitch.
The victim told police for un- known reasons, the man let her get up and she was able to grab her clothes and run while call- ing 9-1-1. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the victim with several fresh wounds.
The victim was transported to a hospital where a sexual as- sault kit was completed.
Person Of Interest Sought In Teen’s Murder
A 44-year-old man was sent to federal prison earlier this week. He was charged with bankruptcy fraud and making false statements during a bankruptcy proceeding.
David W. Griffin, of Lutz appeared before U. S. District Judge James D. Whitte- more on Tuesday and was sentenced him to three years in prison.
According to court docu- ments, Griffin operated a foreclosure rescue scheme through his companies, Bay2Bay Area Holding, LLC and Business Development Consultants, LLC.
The scheme was to obtain quitclaim or warranty deeds from distressed homeowners facing foreclosure. Griffin then made false promises to rescue their homes by al- legedly negotiating with credi- tors, renting the properties back to the homeowners to ob- tain rental income, and falsely promising that the homeown- ers could repurchase the prop- erties from him, officials said.
To maximize his rental in- come, Griffin also prevented creditors and guarantors, in- cluding the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fan- nie Mae”) and the Federal Housing Administration, from pursuing lawful foreclosure and eviction actions against homeowners who had de- faulted on their mortgages.
DAVID GRIFFIN
This was accomplished by fil- ing, and causing to be filed, fraudulent bankruptcies in the names of the homeowners without their knowledge or consent.
Griffin also lied under oath in sworn testimony before the Office of the United States Trustee.
Griffin testified under oath that he had no knowledge of a bankruptcy petition filed in the name of his company, Bay2Bay Area Holding Group. In fact, Griffin prepared the petition and directed another individual to sign and file the petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Mid- dle District of Florida.
Griffin has agreed to make full restitution to the Clerk for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. The losses are approx- imately $25,125.
DREW ALLEN REED .....being sought as a person of interest.
St. Petersburg Police are ask- ing for help in locating a person of interest in a shooting death Thursday.
The shooting occurred in the 1800 block of 16th Street, South at 12:41 a. m. During a search of the area, officers found 17-year-old Tyler Lord dead in an alley.
Police said Lord lived two houses down from where his body was found.
Family members reportedly told police they don’t know why Lord was in the alley in the
TYLER LORD .....found shot to death in an alley close to his home.
middle of the night. Detectives were not able to
gather much evidence from the alley, but they did get help in identifying a person of interest in the shooting death.
Authorities are searching for 27-year-old Drew Allen Reed. Police believe Reed was al- legedly at the scene of the shooting and had a gun at the time. They also reported that Reed owns a 2010 Mazda 3S Hatchback.
Anyone with information is asked to call (727) 893-7780.
Three Men Charged With Beating Store Clerk
Victim Kicks Would-Be Purse Snatcher In Groin
An elderly woman pre- vented her purse from being stolen on Monday. She report- edly kicked her would-be as- sailant in the groin.
According to Sarasota Sher- iff’s Office, the 73-year-old vic- tim had her purse tucked under her arm while shopping at a Dollar Tree.
An unidentified man ap- proached the woman and tried to snatch her purse. The woman held on to her purse and then kicked the man in the groin. The suspect fled the scene, but was arrested by deputies a few blocks away. Police arrested 53-year-old Darerol Lowery and charged him with robbery by
ROBERT V. SMITH, IV
The Sarasota Police Depart- ment reports that officers have arrested three men caught on camera beating a store clerk.
On November 12th at 9 p. m., police responded to the Exxon/Mobile Station, 2525 North Tamiami Trail, on a re- port of a battery. When they ar- rived, the clerk told officers four male suspects tried to pur- chase a cigar, but were unable to provide identification, so the clerk denied the purchase. The suspects argued with the clerk and left the store.
Police said the suspects re- turned a short time later and confronted the clerk while he was taking garbage to the dumpster outside the store. A verbal dispute started and one of the suspects punched the clerk in the face several times. The clerk tried to protect him- self and wrestled one of the suspects to the ground. The re- maining three suspects joined the physical altercation and punched and kicked the clerk
WILLIE JARE VEGAS
DAREROL LOWERY
snatching. There was also an active warrant for his arrest on the charge of voyeurism.
ZAIRREON L. MILTON
several times.
Police have arrested and
charged three of the four men involved in the altercation.
Charged with battery or simple battery are Robert V. Smith, IV, 22; Willie Jare Vegas, 26; and Zairreon Milton, 22. The fourth indi- vidual seen on camera was identified by detectives, but not charged. He is listed as a wit- ness in the investigation.
Uncle Sandy Says...
Christmas, my child, 12, 19, 30, 32 is love in action. 22, 24, 35, 40 Every time we love, 1, 49, 52, 55 every time we give, it's Christmas. 3, 9, 15, 60
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