Lawmakers Look To Curb Unemployment Fraud
February 3, 2016
A House panel on Monday unanimously approved a measure aimed at cracking down on unemployment fraud based on identity theft — a practice lawmakers say is spiraling out of control.
In fact, House Economic Development & Tourism Chairman Frank Artiles said he’d been the victim of such a crime himself.
“I actually had my ID stolen, and we had unemployment benefits that were sent to the state (to establish a claim) under my name,” the Miami Republican said. “This is rampant throughout the nation, as well as in the state of Florida.”
Artiles’ subcommittee approved the measure (HB 1017), filed by Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud, who said it would save millions of dollars for Florida taxpayers.
“Over the years, (the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity) has begun receiving reports that criminals were turning to unemployment insurance — in our state called reemployment assistance — as a new front for identity theft-based fraud,” La Rosa told the panel.
The bill says “identity theft is especially problematic in this state, which the Federal Trade Commission reports has the highest per capita rate of identity theft in the nation.”
A special unit within the Department of Economic Opportunity has detected and prevented more than 146,000 fraudulent claims totaling $603 million since its inception in 2014, according to the agency.
Department Executive Director Cissy Proctor said the attempted fraud is a threat to people who need unemployment benefits — and to those who pay for them.
“We’re seeing an incredible amount of identity-theft crime coming into the system, and we are focused, through our anti-fraud measures, to keep those criminals out and to keep the trust fund healthy, to make sure the money is there for those that are eligible for the benefits,” she told The News Service of Florida on Friday. “Also, it keeps (unemployment) taxes low for businesses across the state that pay the money that goes into the trust fund.”
La Rosa’s bill takes several steps to beef up enforcement and penalties for cyber-crimes centered on public-benefits fraud.
It would give the Department of Economic Opportunity access to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ database of driver’s licenses — including photos and signatures — to validate claims for reemployment assistance.
It would increase penalties for people who fraudulently apply for unemployment benefits. The penalties would go from one year to five years for a first offense and would be 10 years for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third offense.
Also, the bill would amend the definition of “racketeering activity” to include unemployment-benefits fraud under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt (RICO) Organization Act.
Monday was the first time the department-backed bill has been heard in committee. La Rosa removed parts of the bill that sought to allow the department to hire sworn law-enforcement officers and recover overpayments by garnishing wages.
“The department will continue to seek criminal investigators in its budget and will continue to build cases statewide with local law enforcement,” La Rosa said.
Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, thanked La Rosa for the changes, saying he’d had concerns about “sworn law enforcement officers working for a department where that had never been done before.”
A Senate version of the bill (SB 1216), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, has been sent to four committees.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Tate High Hosting Souper Bowl And Student Gallery Night
February 3, 2016
The Tate High School Art Department is hosting a Student Gallery Night and Souper Bowl Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in the Art Building. Students will be selling their own art work as well as hand-crafted ceramic bowls and soup or chili. All proceeds from the sale of the bowls and food will benefit their ceramics classes, with 10 percent going to the Manna Food Bank.
The cost is $10 to purchase a handmade bowl plus food and drink, or $5 to purchase just food and drink. The public is invited to join in and support the arts at Tate High School.
Pictured above and below: Some of the bowls available during the Souper Bowl event at Tate High School. Pictured bottom: Some of the student art pieces that will be for sale. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged In Fiery DUI Crash
February 3, 2016
An Escambia County woman has been charged in connection with a fiery DUI crash on North Davis Highway.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 53-year old Kathryn Pearson on Pensacola was traveling northbound on North Davis Highway near the intersection of Copter Road when she failed to slow or stop and eared-ended a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix stopped at a traffic signal early Tuesday morning.
The Grand Prix, driven by 31-year old Dawn Willis, was knocked off the roadway and caught fire. Willis and three passengers — 27 year old Janay Matthews, 15-year old Celeste Waldroup and 13-year old Joseph Moorer were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Pearson was under the influence of an unknown drug and fled the scene to West Florida Hospital, according to the FHP. Pearson was charged with DUI with serious bodily injuries, leaving the scene of a crash involving injuries and careless driving.
Pictured: A car burst to flames following an DUI crash early Tuesday morning. Volunteer and career firefighters from the Ferry Pass Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were on scene in just minutes and quickly able to extinguish the fire. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Dollar General Robbed At Gunpoint
February 3, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect in the armed robbery of Dollar General Store on Nine Mile Road Monday night.
The Dollar General at 100 East Nine Mile Road was robbed at gunpoint just before 10 p.m. The suspect pointed a gun at the clerk and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The clerk was not injured.
The suspect was described only as tall, wearing all dark clothes and having a covered face. K-9 units were called to the scene and conducted an unsuccessful search for the suspect.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: It was business as usual Tuesday at the Dollar General at 100 East Nine Mile Road, hours after the store was robbed at gunpoint Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Highway 97 Crash
February 2, 2016
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash on Highway 97 just south of Pine Forest Road Tuesday afternoon. The cause of the 4:20 p.m. accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
An Early Spring? North Escambia Weather Ducks Miss Shadow
February 2, 2016
On this Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil, the world famous groundhog, did not see his shadow and predicted an early spring. Our local weather guys, the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks, also missed their shadow Tuesday morning and predicted an early spring from Walnut Hill, FL.
Forklore says that if the groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, it means six more weeks of winter. We did not have a groundhog handy for a photo, but we did have the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks.
For those that might be a little unsure as to the weather ducks’ ability, we offer the two photographs below showing the weather ducks predicting six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day 2010 and 10 days later with their snowman in Atmore.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Change Begins For Landline Phone Users In Walnut Hill, Bratt, Molino
February 2, 2016
Frontier Communications landline users in Walnut Hill, Bratt and Molino can begin using a new dialing method that will become mandatory in two months.
The new dialing procedure requires Molino and Walnut Hill callers to dial all local calls using 10 digits ( the area code plus the regular telephone number). Previously, these numbers were dialed using seven digits.
For example, when calling Northview High School, customers in the 327 and 587 phone exchanges previously dialed 327-6681, but with the change will now dial (850) 327-6681.
Beginning now, customers in Molino and Walnut Hill can start using the new 10-digit dialing procedure whenever they place a call from the 850 area code. However, during a two-month transitional phase, dialing just seven digits will continue to successfully complete customers’ calls.
As of April 1, the new 10-digit dialing procedure will be required. After this date, any calls placed without using the new 10-digit dialing procedure will not be completed, and a recording will instruct customers to hang up and dial again.
Frontier reminds customers to reprogram all services and automatic dialing equipment that are set to dial a seven-digit number to include the area code after February 1. Examples include life-safety systems or medical devices, PBXs, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems/gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call-forwarding settings and voicemail services.
Customers should also check their websites, business stationery, advertising materials, personal and business checks, contact information and personal/pet identification tags to ensure that the area code is included.
The change is due to the addition of a new telephone exchange number in McCullough, AL, and Pensacola that is owned by Cingular Wireless.
Century Looks To Escambia County For Community Redevelopment Area Help
February 2, 2016
The Century Town Council decided Monday night to hold off on forming a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) until they can find out how much of the necessary paperwork might be done with the help of Escambia County.
Upon declaration of an area as blighted, the CRA works to improve conditions. As property tax values rise, most of the increase is funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements. An estimate provide by Escambia County showed Century might, in a best case scenario, receive about $5,300 in tax funds for the first year of a CRA that included a full maximum 80 percent of the town. The money can roll over year to year, up a 40-year life for a CRA.
Council member Ann Brooks said Monday night that she is in favor of a CRA, but express concerns that legal fees, paperwork and staff costs could significantly decrease, or even exceed, the available funds of a young CRA.
Monday night, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry expressed a willingness for Escambia County to help Century navigate and complete the CRA process. The county has a CRA staff on the payroll.
The council directed Mayor Freddie McCall to contact Barry and see how much help Century might receive from the county.
There are currently nine other redevelopment districts in Escambia County — Atwood, Barrancas, Brownsville, Cantonment, Englewood, Ensley, Oakfield, Palafox and Warrington — and three within the City of Pensacola.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Top Five Candidates Named For Escambia Teacher Of The Year
February 2, 2016
The Escambia County School District’s top five candidates for 2017 Teacher of the Year award have been selected. They are
- Tim Deloge – Escambia High School – Tech Ed (Engineering)
- Caroline Gray – Tate High School – Economics
- Melissa Harold – Beulah Elementary School – Fourth Grade
- Allison Hartzog – Montclair Elementary School – Kindergarten
- Kristy Imhof – Ransom Middle School – Language Arts (7th grade)
Each finalist will be visited and observed by the selection committee before the final choice is made. The winner will be honored at the 2016 Golden Apple Dinner on February 25.
Four Charged In Circle K Robberies
February 2, 2016
Four people have been arrested in connection with Circle K robberies in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The Pensacola incident occurred around 1 a.m. Saturday at the Circle K, 3013 E. Cervantes St. Two employees and a customer were in the store when the suspects, who were wearing masks, entered the business. One of the suspects was holding what looked like a wrench.
One of the suspects grabbed the female customer’s purse and she began struggling with him. The other two suspects then approached the two employees and demanded money. After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, some cigarillos and the woman’s purse, the suspects fled the business.
Pensacola Police arrested the following individuals:
- D’Andre Jones, 19, of Pensacola was harged with armed robbery, robbery by sudden snatching and petit theft.
- Brendan McClendon, 18, of Jay was charged with armed robbery and falsely identifying himself to a law enforcement officer.
- Ian Garland, 18, of Pace was charged with armed robbery.
Just before 4 a.m. Saturday, a Circle K at 5661 Quintette Road in Pace also was robbed. A short time later a Santa Rosa deputy saw and stopped a vehicle matching the description of one used by the suspects and found all three inside the truck. The trio and a female in the vehicle, 18-year old Cynthia Selena Rogers, also have been charged in Santa Rosa County.
Santa Rosa County deputies charged McClendon with aggravated battery, armed robbery and giving law enforcement false identification. Jones, Garland and Rogers were charged as accessories to armed robbery.
Pensacola Police Detective Shannan Briarton said additional charges are pending on the suspects.
Pictured below: The robbery of the Circle K on Quintette Road in Pace. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
