Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 4-15-22

Crime
More Victims Of Masseuse Charged With Sexual Battery Come Forward
Subway Shooting Suspect Frank R. James In Custody
Two additional victims have come forward since Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested an unlicensed masseuse last week. At the time of his arrest, 68-year-old Jose Garcia was charged with sexually batter- ing at least one client. Garcia has been charged with an ad- ditional count of sexual bat- tery, battery, and 3 counts of operating a massage parlor without a license.
On March 29, 2022, a woman suffering from back pain contacted Garcia about receiving a massage. After agreeing to a price for his serv- ices as a masseuse, the victim drove to his home in Ruskin, where he operated. He pro- ceeded to sexually batter the victim during the massage. Garcia, who only speaks
JOSE GARCIA
Spanish, admitted the crime to HCSO detectives.
He is facing four counts of sexual battery. More charges could be forthcoming.
Detectives did not find ev- idence that Garcia is a li- censed masseuse. Garcia claimed that he received his training in Mexico. It’s be- lieved that he has provided massage services for at least 12 years and has run his business
through word of mouth out of his home. Most, if not all, of his clients speak only Spanish.
“This is a man, who took advantage of people who came to him seeking help for their ailments,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
“Our fear now, is that there are more victims out there who may not speak Eng- lish or know they can come forward to report these crimes. Thanks to our diverse group of talented, caring, and bilingual deputies, we are here to help them seek the justice they deserve.”
Detectives are asking any- one who feels they have been victimized by Garcia to please contact the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200. Spanish oper- ators are available.
The man wanted for al- legedly donning a gas mask, releasing a smoke bomb and opening fire on a crowded Brooklyn subway Tuesday morning has been taken into custody.
Authorities said 62-year- old Frank R. James was spotted by bystanders in the area of St. Mark's Place and First Avenue in the East Vil- lage Wednesday.
Police were alerted to his presence by pictures on social media that showed him basi- cally wandering around the area.
Precinct officers engaged him and took him into cus- tody, without incident, at 1:42 p.m. He was brought to the 9th Precinct. James will be charged under a federal statute that prohibits terrorist and other violent attacks in mass
FRANK JAMES
transit system. The federal government will also charge him with crossing state lines
He will face life in prison if convicted in the attack, which left at least 29 people shot or otherwise injured.
Witnesses said the lone gunman was seen mumbling to himself while wearing a re- flective vest before putting on the gas mask and removing a canister from his bag that then filled the car with smoke. He then began shooting.
National Crime
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