A South Florida tax preparer was sentenced today to two years in prison for perpetrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain over 100 COVID-19 relief loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). According to court documents, Leonel Rivero, 35, of Miami, owned a tax-preparation business and submitted approximately 118 fraudulent PPPContinue Reading
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit will decide all qualified lawsuits challenging the Biden administration’s private employer vaccine mandate issued via the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as determined by a random lottery required by federal law that the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation held Tuesday.Continue Reading
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is now challenging Ron DeSantis in 2022 and is making headlines for her stance and statements against oil drilling. This week Fried wrote to leaders of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service (NPS) urging rejection of TrendContinue Reading
On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Tampa area gained the most private sector jobs of all metro areas in the state adding 84,600 new private-sector jobs over the year, a 7.2% increase. Tampa’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.9% in September, down from 6.0% reported in September 2020. TheContinue Reading
The Eighth Judicial Circuit Court has granted a temporary injunction that prevents the city of Gainesville from forcing government employees to get the COVID shots. A lawsuit was filed by Jeff Childers Law, LLC, on behalf of many employees and contractors against Gainesville on August 26 after city officials imposed a shot mandate. TheContinue Reading
In the era of COVID misinformation, a group called DEFEND THE SCIENCE is circulating a press release attacking Governor Ron DeSantis and his appointment General Surgeon appointment Joseph Ladapo, for pushing “dangerous misinformation in the media, supported people taking poison to treat COVID-19, and called masks a ‘distraction’ to the position.”Continue Reading
Edgar Hurtado-Ramirez (52, Mexico) today pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder monetary instruments and engage in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Hurtado-Ramirez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Hurtado-RamirezContinue Reading
Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces the extradition of Glib Oleksandr Ivanov-Tolpintsev (28, Chernivtsi, Ukraine) in connection with charges of conspiracy, trafficking in unauthorized access devices, and trafficking in computer passwords. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in federal prison. The indictmentContinue Reading
U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced David Naylor (59, Spring Hill) to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Naylor to pay $730,561.73 in restitution and,Continue Reading
Repticon, a recognized leader in hosting reptile and exotic animal expos throughout the United States, is coming back to Tampa with an outstanding mixture of vendors and breeders. This family-oriented, fun-filled event offers guests the opportunity to learn about animals not normally seen in local pet stores. Breeder-vendors are alwaysContinue Reading
Gov. Ron DeSantis openly defied President Joe Biden’s attack on Florida on Wednesday, saying he would “stand in the way” of any federal COVID-19 restrictions that would hurt businesses, try to force shutdowns or just “single out” the Sunshine State. During a press conference in Panama City, DeSantis responded to aContinue Reading
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in July that drug overdose deaths rose by 30 percent across the country in 2020, setting a new national record. Of the more than 93,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S., nearly 7,600 came from Florida, according to provisional data released by theContinue Reading
U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Terrance Lee Hester Jr. (21, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for damaging or destroying by fire a building used in interstate commerce. The court also ordered Hester to pay restitution and to serve three years of supervised release following completion ofContinue Reading
Kimberly Fleer (27, Seffner) has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl to an individual, causing that individual’s death. Fleer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. According to the plea agreement, on November 2, 2019,Continue Reading
U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Gregory Thomas Garcia (35, Orange Park) to 16 years in federal prison for child sex trafficking. The court also ordered Garcia to forfeit a 2015 Ford Focus vehicle that he had used in committing the offense. After serving his term of imprisonment,Continue Reading
U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Lascelles Peter Francis, III (30, Daytona) to 15 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Francis had pleaded guilty on MarchContinue Reading
Adding politics to the perennial PBS favorite show Arthur may have contributed to its end as the show’s executive producer confirmed the show will end with the 25th seasson. “In the winter of 2022, the 25th and final season of Arthur will debut,” EP Carol Greenwald tells IGN via email. “Arthur will continue to beContinue Reading
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned unvaccinated Americans that the entire country could be locked down again as early as this fall if they don’t get their COVID vaccine. “These shots need to get in everybody’s arm as rapidly as possible, or we’re going to be back in a situationContinue Reading
The team at Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz, the grilled-cheese themed restaurant operated by Celebrity Chef Robert Hesse and restaurateur Chef Craig Munroe announced Thursday that they’re scheduled to host a job fair at their newest location in downtown St. Petersburg next week. The event is scheduled to be held on Thursday, JulyContinue Reading
Health officials in Hillsborough County is notifying the public of red tide blooms within Tampa Bay with health alerts being issued for Picnic Island and Davis Islands beaches. Caution signs have been placed at Ben T. Davis and Cypress Point due to the presence of red tide in the TampaContinue Reading
Opponents have been quick to sue and attack the Florida voting law. Below is the full press release from the SPLC as we highlight and fact check some points. FACT: Florida Senate Bill 90 limits use of drop boxes to a county’s early voting hours of operation, requires drop boxesContinue Reading
