Escambia Man Gets 40 Months For Trying To Sell Equipment To Iran
January 25, 2020
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for conspiring with foreign nationals to ship technology to Iran.
James P. Meharg, 59, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to sell and export power generating equipment to a recipient in Iran as well as making false statements on export documents and international money laundering. Meharg, CEO and president of Turbine Resources International, LLC, located in Pensacola, conspired with citizens of the United Kingdom and Iran to export a large turbine and parts from the United States to an Iranian recipient, in violation of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations as well as federal criminal law.
According to the indictment, Meharg, a citizen of the United States, conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, to violate the embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States, for delivery to an end user in Iran. On April 25, 2018, the indictment alleges, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of $124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, at least one of which was routed through a company in Dubai.
Meharg, a local U.S. citizen, admitted that he conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, to violate the Iranian embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States, for delivery to an end user in Iran. Evidence revealed that on April 25, 2018, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of $124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, which were routed through a company in the United Arab Emirates. In total, Meharg received approximately $250,000 in funds laundered through foreign accounts as payment for having the turbine sent to Iran. Law enforcement authorities, however, were able to seize the turbine before its transatlantic journey to the end user in Iran. That end user, a conspirator in Iran, is linked to an Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemical company. Meharg also admitted to falsifying documents used to export items from the Pensacola area.
“Exporting technology to Iran is prohibited for a very good reason, and this defendant chose to put his own self-interest above the national security needs of the United States of America,” Keefe said. “This case should send a clear signal that the United States cannot and will not look the other way when one of its citizens endangers the safety of our nation and its people.”
Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg, who is a National Security Cyber Specialist, is prosecuting the case following a joint investigation by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Woman Arrested At Holman Prison With Gun, Narcotics In Her Vehicle
January 25, 2020
The Alabama Department of Corrections reports a woman was arrested with a gun and narcotics in her vehicle outside Holman Prison in Atmore.
On Saturday, January 18, at approximately 12:50 p.m., a narcotic-detection canine alerted to a vehicle on property at Holman. After a search, an ADOC investigator discovered marijuana and a handgun in the vehicle.
The driver, identified as Amelia Allen, 43, of Moundville, Alabama, was on prison property to visit an inmate. The ADOC investigator who completed the search placed Allen into custody and charged her with second-degree possession of marijuana.
“My department is fully committed to eliminating the presence of illegal contraband throughout our facilities,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. “Addressing this nationwide challenge in our state’s facilities is a crucial step to providing a safe, rehabilitative environment. We will continue to take this commitment seriously through regular contraband raids as well as heightened security to ensure illegal paraphernalia does not enter our facilities from external parties.”
Funeral Services Announced For Former Longtime Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings
January 25, 2020
Funeral services have been announced for former longtime Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings, 75. He passed away January 20 while on vacation in Georgia.
Visitation will be held Sunday night, January 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the Brewton First United Methodist Church. A celebration of life service will be held Monday, January 27 at 1 p.m. at the Brewton First United Methodist Church.
Family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Greater Brewton Foundation C/O Stephanie Walker, P.O. Box 87, Brewton, Alabama 36426, or donations made to Drexell and Honeybees.
Jennings served as Brewton’s mayor from 1998 to 2012, and also worked as a local pharmacist.
Jennings is former president of the Alabama League of Municipalities where he continued to work with the League and the Municipal Workers Compensation Fund as a staff member of Millennium Risk Managers.
He is survived by his wife Susan, five children and numerous other relatives and friends
Your Caller Id Says It’s Gulf Power. But It’s Probably A Scam.
January 25, 2020
Gulf Power, the Better Business Bureau and law enforcement are warning area residents about scammers claiming to be from Gulf Power and demanding money.
As NorthEscambia.com reported Wednesday, Gulf Power is legitimately in the process of updating their payment system, and scammers are taking advantage of that situation. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said the scammers are contacting Gulf Power customers advising they need to pay a balance on their account before their electricity is turned off. Some have been advised to pay with gift cards or other “odd” methods of payment.
“We never threaten to cut your power immediately, or require payment using a prepaid card,” Gulf Power posted on social media. Gulf Power will never ask for money when they visit a residence, and Gulf Power representatives carry badges with picture identification with the company name and logo.
According to the BBB, the scammers are spoofing Gulf Power’s actual customer service number on caller ID. The BBB is advising don’t answer the call, and don’t call back any phone number they may leave on a voicemail.
Gulf Power customers can call the utility directly at (800) 225-5797 with any questions or concerns about their account.
Northview Girls Weightlifting Places At Districts, Advances To Regionals
January 25, 2020
Northview High School’s girls weightlifting team placed at districts Friday at Baker. They advance to the regional meet on January 31, also at Baker.
Team members are (pictured, L-R) De’janique Lowery, Jayla Barron, Caitlin Gibbon, Elianna Morales, Naudia Carach and Taylor McMinn.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Person Killed In W Street Crash; Century Man, Pensacola Woman Critical
January 24, 2020
One person was killed in a crash Thursday afternoon on W Street at Marcus Pointe Boulevard.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 36-year old Ava Stoudemire of Pensacola attempted to turn her Toyota van onto Marcus Pointe Boulevard. She failed to negotiate the turn and collided with a semi-truck and then rotated into a box truck, both of which were traveling south on North W Street.
Stoudemire and the front seat passenger, 34-year old Gregory Matthews of Century, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. The rear passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene. The male’s identity has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
The drivers of the trucks were not injured.
The FHP investigation is continuing.
One Killed In Four Vehicle Wreck North Of Atmore
January 24, 2020
One person was killed in a four vehicle crash north of Atmore Thursday evening.
About 5:45 p.m., Alabama State Troopers responded to the crash on Highway 21 near Ross Road.
Troopers said Warren Demetrick Stallworth, 39, of Monroeville, was traveling south when his 2019 Acura TLX collided head-on with a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by Spencer Rogers, 36, of Atmore.
Also involved in the crash was a 2015 Chevrolet Impala driven by Sherry Ann Dale, 60, of Frisco City and a 2008 Dodge Ram driven by Sharon Banks, 53, of Monroeville.
Rogers, Dale, Banks, and two others were transported for treatment of injuries.
Stallworth, who was not using a seat belt, was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Additional details have not been released as troopers continue to investigate.
Molino Man Charged With Battery Of Family Members, Fleeing From Deputies
January 24, 2020
A Molino man is facing multiple charges for the alleged battery of two family members before fleeing from pursuing deputies.
Aquinas DeMarcus Brown, 58, was charged with two counts of battery second or subsequent offense, felony fleeing, resisting an officer without violence, failure to register a motor vehicle and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
The victim met Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies near her home and stated that her husband of 28 years walked in “extremely intoxicated and high on drugs”, according to an arrest report. He allegedly pushed her and began punching the son in an altercation that resulted in the destruction of several household items.
As deputies headed toward the home, they were passed by Brown in a 2006 Lincoln LS. Deputies turned around and activated their lights, but Brown refused to stop. With lights and sirens, deputies followed Brown south on Highway 95A from Richardson Road, to Welcome Road and to the home of relative on Welcome Circle. The total length of the pursuit was 3.4 miles.
Brown refused to comply with verbal commands and would not exit his vehicle, the report states, and he was extremely angry with slurred speech. Brown was “assisted out of his vehicle and onto the ground”, according to the arrest report.
Brown was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $16,750 bond.
Ensley Woman Charged With Murder Of 16-Year Old
January 24, 2020
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says they have located Andrew Nathaniel Manning. He is no longer wanted for questioning in the case.
An Ensley woman is facing a long list of charges in connection for shooting death of a 16-year old.
Kristian Nealy Ard, 18, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, grand theft of a firearm, possession of cocaine with the intent to sell, manufacture and/or deliver, possession of a hallucinogen with the intent to sell, manufacture and/or deliver (three counts), possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, manufacture and/or deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, giving false information to law enforcement, evidence tampering (three counts), and contributing to the delinquency and/or dependency of a minor.
Deputies responded to a shooting in the 9700 block of Grace Drive on December 18 where the the 16-year old was found shot. The victim was pronounced deceased on December 28 after he was removed from life support at Sacred Heart Hospital.
The ECSO executed a search warrant at the home and multiple items were recovered including ammunition and bloody Clorox wipes that were found in the trash. Crime scene techs noted that several bloodstains at the scene had smear marks indicating an attempt to clean part of the scene. In Ard’s car, the ECSO recovered ammunition, narcotics, drug paraphernalia, counterfeit money and a stolen pistol the ECSO says was used in the shooting.
Ard remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $680,000.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Century To Use Local Option Sales Tax Funds For Debt Service, Including Past Due Loan Payments
January 24, 2020
The Town of Century will use Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds to help with their debt service — including past due loan payments — and free up cash for other uses.
The LOST provides discretionary funding for local governments in Escambia County for infrastructure projects that have a life longer than five years.
For example, Escambia County has used LOST funds for law enforcement, fire and public safety facilities and equipment, transportation and drainage improvements, infrastructure projects, public facilities,recreation and natural resources, jail and court facilities, Growth Management Act mandates, capital equipment community services, and economic development projects. The Escambia County School District has used LOST funds to fund the construction of new schools (such as the new Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill), renovations, additions to existing schools, land acquisition and improvements, and school technology. In the past, Century’s use of LOST funds has including street paving.
Century currently has just under a $1 million in available LOST funds, according to accountant Robert Hudson. The town council approved his request to use LOST funds as follows:
- $96,249 total for three loan payments, including two past due, for a 2014 gas line relocation project
- between $95,000 and $98,000 for water bond debt service
- about $25,000 in payments to the state revolving loan fund for the water department
“How did we get behind like that?” council member Luis Gomez asked about the past due gas project loan payments.
“Gas has no money,” Hudson responded.
Hudson said the town collects about $250,000 in LOST monies annually.
In the 2014 gas line project, natural gas pipes were relocated to the east and west sides of North Century Boulevard eliminating the need to install individual service lines under the road to service natural gas customers.
Pictured: A 2014 gas line relocation project begins in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
