Theft Crimes

October 13, 2009

SEATTLE: Fugitive Brags on Facebook and Gets Busted!!

One of the first pieces of advice that I give to new clients is to take down any social networking profiles that they may have (if they tend to use these accounts, like Facebook or MySpace, to talk about or post evidence of their criminal activity).

Another recent story out of Seattle reaffirms this advice. To read the complete story, check out this link to the original CBS News.com story.

Maxi Sopo was living the dream of a fugitive abroad, kicking back on the beaches of Cancun during the day and partying in the clubs at night. Then, Maxi Sopo did two (2) things that are NEVER a good idea to do when you are hiding from law enforcement. First, Sopo started posting Facebook messages about how much fun he was having. He then accepted a “Friend Request” from a former Justice Department official.Because of these poor decisions, Maxi Sopo, a 26-year-old native of Cameroon, is now in a Mexico City jail awaiting extradition back to the United States to await his trial on Federal charges of Bank Fraud.

Even in the hold-nothing-back world of social networking, where police search Facebook photos for evidence of underage drinking and watch YouTube videos to identify riot suspects, it’s rare that a fugitive helps authorities this much (see Maxi Sopo’s Facebook profile below).Prosecutors say he masterminded the Bank Fraud scheme with Edward Asatoorians, who was convicted by a Federal jury in Seattle last week. Testimony at trial indicated the pair persuaded young co-conspirators to lie about their income to obtain loans for fabricated auto purchases, and then used the money to prop up Asatoorians’ business and to take an expensive trip to Las Vegas.
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October 3, 2009

DETROIT: Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Stealing Car on First Date

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

How do you know when a “first date” has gone really bad?

A Detriot man was sentenced last month to at least two (2) years in state prison for stealing a woman’s car after skipping out on the check during a first date. Terrance McCoy, 24, was sentenced in Oakland County, Michigan to two (2) to ten (10) years in prison for one of the classier moves that I’ve seen in awhile.McCoy pleaded “no contest” on September 18th to Grand Theft Motor Vehicle. As in Florida, a “no contest” plea does not admit guilty, but simply states that you believe it is in your best interest to resolve the case without going to trial.

Police say that McCoy dined with a twenty-seven (27) year-old companion on April 24th in Ferndale, Michigan. The woman told the police that McCoy said he forgot his wallet in her car and needed her keys to retrieve it. After that, McCoy took off in her car.

Defense attorney Terri Antisdale stated that McCoy is a “very nice man who made a bad decision.” Really? Do you think so?
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October 2, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG: Handgun Stolen From State Rep. Peter Nehr (R), Tarpon Springs, Found in Felon’s Waistband

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

A laser-sighted 9mm Glock Firearm, which was stolen several months ago from a Tarpon Springs State Representative, was recovered in the waistband of a convicted felon yesterday during a traffic stop in St. Pete, Florida. For more information on this odd story, check out today’s St. Pete Times for more details.So far, this is what the Tarpon Springs Police Department knows: State Representative Peter Nehr’s 9mm Glock handgun (with an extended magazine) was stolen from his car on May 13, 2009.

4 1/2 months later, Elvis Leon Weaver, 20, of 3800 12th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, was wanted by law enforcement for several outstanding warrants (for previously committed offenses) when a “tipster” told police where they could find him. Soon thereafter, an unmarked police car conducted a traffic stop on a 2009 Chevy Impala, which Weaver was driving on 34th Street South in St. Pete. During this traffic stop, law enforcement found Drugs in the car and the gun in Weaver’s waistband. The serial number on the gun matched the one that was reported stolen, months earlier, by Nehr.

Ultimately, Weaver was arrested on charges of Dealing in Stolen Property, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, Failure to Appear and three (3) counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance. After being booked into the Pinellas County Jail, Weaver posted a $24,663 bond and is back on the streets (this time without Representative Nehr’s firearm).
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September 30, 2009

DADE CITY: Man Arrested for Selling Illegal Satellite TV Boxes

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

Eddy G. Reyes, 37, was arrested Monday for scamming a woman out of $2,500 for a TV box that he promised would give her “Free Satellite Television for Life.” For the complete story, check out the Pasco section of Wednesday’s St. Pete Times.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office authorities say that Reyes operated a business called Dreamlinc which offered customers free satellite TV for a one-time fee. His arrest report indicates that Reyes sold devices that had software “designed to be used for defrauding satellite service providers with unauthorized reception of their services.”According to Kevin Doll, spokesman for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, “if anyone offers to sell you one of these satellite boxes for free TV for life, its a lie.” Bottom line, according to Doll, is that “its stealing.” Other potential victims are encouraged to call the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 844-7711.Reyes, who lives in Dade City, has been charged with Grand Theft, Fraudulently Intercepting Communications Services without Authorization and Fraudulently Advertising the Sale of Interception Devices. He is currently in the Land O’ Lakes jail with a $1,800 bond.
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September 22, 2009

SAFETY HARBOR: Former Finance Director Gets Jail Time

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

One year after being arrested for stealing approximately $128,000 from the City of Safety Harbor, while serving as their finance director, JoAnne Ryan was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Thane Covert to one year in the Pinellas County Jail. However, six months of her time will be spent on “work release,” formerly known as the “Day Reporting” program.Ryan, who accepted the State’s plea deal, was convicted of Second Degree Grand Theft. As part of her sentence, Ryan will be placed on 15 years of probation and will be ordered to pay $128,000 in restitution. She already paid about $58,000 in restitution, up front, in an effort to mitigate the damage that she caused.

At her sentencing hearing, Judge Covert stated, “You are a good person, but you made some very serious mistakes you knew were wrong. You should never hold a position of trust in the future.” For the complete story, check out today’s St. Petersburg Times article.

As part of a very well prepared defense, Dr. Walter Afield, a neuropsychiatrist, testified that Ryan suffered from a condition known as “chemo brain,” following her treatment for breast cancer, which affects memory, concentration and focus. Afield also told the Court that Ryan had major depression and was suicidal.

While this case does not qualify for entrance into this blog’s “Celebrity Justice” column, it certainly begs the following questions: Are all Defendants treated equal? Does it help to have an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney on your side? And would she have gotten this same sentence had she been represented by the Office of the Public Defender?
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September 16, 2009

PINELLAS COUNTY: Counterfeit Money Order Scam Busted

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

Yesterday, a Safety Harbor man was arrested on various charges stemming from his involvement in a counterfeit money order scam. Raul Francisco Zelaya, 50, was arrested for Scheming to Defraud a financial institution, Communications Fraud and Possession of Counterfeit Checks. For the complete story, check out today’s Tampa Bay Online article.On Tuesday, when investigators finally arrested Zelaya, he had an additional 243 counterfeit money orders valued at over $230,000. Zelaya is believed to have obtained these checks from a known online check-cashing scam. These type of scams typically appear online as “work from home” job opportunities and can be posted on websites or appear in spam e-mail.This is not the first time that this Zelaya character has been involved in this type of activity. According to the Clearwater Police Department, Zelaya previously took part in a similar scam that was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
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September 6, 2009

CLEARWATER: 20-Year Old Pinellas County Jail Inmate / Blogger

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

An interesting story in today’s St. Pete Times highlights the life, or lack thereof, of Teddy Braden, the former gang member turned blogger that blogs from the Pinellas County Jail.

Braden, who is in the Pinellas County Jail on Drug Charges, blogs with the help of his mother — who takes his notes and letters and posts them online at: teeninjail.blogspot.comBraden, who was arrested for the first time at age 13, has a Juvenile record consisting of various Drug Charges and a Residential Burglary. As an adult, he has been locked up for doing drugs, selling drugs, Grand Theft, Burglary and now Drug Trafficking.

In one of Braden’s blog posts he states that “One of my biggest regrets is joining a gang.” The quote sits below a picture of Braden, wearing a red t-shirt, hat and bandana, while throwing up a “B” (a noted gang hand sign for the Bloods). However, something about this photo tells me that Braden would not survive, on the streets, for very long.
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August 18, 2009

Prominent Tampa Surgeon, Who Hid Bullet Found During Surgery, Gets Probation

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

Welcome to the odd world of random crime committed in the Tampa Bay area. As they say on “Law & Order,” here’s another story that has been “ripped from the headlines.” You just can’t make this stuff up.

Yesterday, the Chief of Tampa General Hospital’s trauma center pleaded “no contest” to two (2) misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to two (2) years of probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. For the complete story, check out the full St. Petersburg Times article.

Documents which were released yesterday shed some light on this unusual crime. On April 21, 2009, Dr. Sergio Alvarez, a first year resident in the plastic surgery department of the University of South Florida, was assisting Dr. David J. Ciesla during a surgery when they located a bullet on top of the man’s liver. About an hour into the surgery, Dr. Ciesla was relieved by another doctor. However, prior to leaving the operating room, Dr. Ciesla reached into the fugitive’s body and removed the bullet. According to Dr. Alvarez, Dr. Ciesla stated “this is what we do with bullets” before placing the bullet inside the rubber glove on his right hand.

Unfortunately for Dr. Ciesla, two (2) agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were sitting inside the operating room waiting to take the bullets into evidence. However, when questioned by the FDLE agents, Dr. Ciesla stated that the bullets were still stuck in the patient’s body.

Dr. Ciesla eventually returned his souvenir, one week later, after being confronted by University officials. For his part, Dr. Ciesla was charged by the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office with Providing False Information to Law Enforcement and Obstructing or Opposing an Officer without Violence.

Yesterday, County Court Judge Cheryl Thomas “withheld adjudication,” meaning Dr. Ciesla will not receive a conviction on his record (assuming he completes the terms of his probation successfully). He will also be eligible for an Early Termination of Probation, after serving one full year of probation, if all of his terms and conditions have been met.
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August 13, 2009

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White Has Created an Online List of Fugitive Deadbeat Parents

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

After a recent case in which fugitive deadbeat David Earley lived under the radar of law enforcement in New Port Richey for a year and a half, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has created a searchable database to bring these deadbeat fugitives to justice. For more information on this story, please click on the orange link for the full Tampa Tribune article.

Early has fallen behind on his child support to the tune of $385,000. Florida law makes it a Third Degree Felony to have more than $5,000 in back-due child support AND to avoid making payments despite the present “ability to pay.”

The Blake & Dorsten, P.A. In Clearwater has handled numerous cases involving back-pay for Child Support. Most often, we see this issue arise once a client fails to pay his/her child support and the State of Florida suspends that person’s driver’s license in the State of Florida. Many times, the client doesn’t even know that his/her driver’s license has been suspended.

When dealing with this type of matter, experience counts.

For a classic “Deadbeat Dad” video courtesy of the Maury Show, see below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaVnkZqjacM

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August 5, 2009

Crime Still Climbing in St. Petersburg

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

A recent story in the St. Petersburg Times has indicated that crime is on the rise in the City of St. Petersburg, Florida. According to the latest numbers, Burglary
and Theft Crimes are rapidly increasing.

For the full story, click here:

Police Chief Chuck Harmon has suggested that the rapid rise in crime is due to many factors including the current economic crisis, rising unemployment and home foreclosures.

While Property Crimes like Auto Theft are on the rise, most Crimes of Violence are down this year. Robbery is down 12 percent this year and the number of Homicides have been cut in half.These statistics have lead to a steady increase in business for the Blake & Dorsten, P.A. in Clearwater. Criminal Attorney Nicholas J. Dorsten, of the Blake & Dorsten, P.A., handles all criminal matters arising in the City of St. Petersburg and throughout the Tampa Bay area.
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