Tax Service Employee Pleads; Will Testify Against Boss
July 19, 2011
A woman who was employed at an Atmore tax preparation business has pleaded guilty to federal charges and has agreed to cooperate with authorities in the investigation into the company’s owner.
Federal authorities raided Preyear’s Tax and Check Cashing Services in 2010. Latina Locke, who worked at the business from 2009 to 2010,was indicted in late June 2011 on one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. She pleaded guility and faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
But she’s expected to receive a lighter sentence in exchange for helping in the investigation and prosecution of her former boss, Alice Mobley.
According to court documents, Mobley instructed Locke to create false dependents on tax forms in order to claim exemptions and tax breaks. The plea agreement states Locke would use a Post-it Note and write down the number of dependents the client wanted to purchase and attach it to the tax form. Once in Mobley’s hands, she would add the dependents before filing the form with the IRS, according to the plea deal.
Mobley was due to plead guilty last month to a 99-count federal indictment, but she changed her mind and decided to go to trial.
Mobley faces a long list of charges, including preparing and filing false tax returns, mortgage fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and filing false tax returns. Mobley’s charges stem from alleged false tax returns filed from 2007 to 2009 through her business Preyear Tax and Check Cashing, LLC, located in Monroeville and its offices in Atmore and Thomasville.
Federal agents raided Mobley’s Preyear’s Tax & Check Cashing, LLC on Ridgely Street in Atmore and other locations in March, 2010. Federal court documents show that FBI and IRS agents seized over $300,000, boxes of tax documents, computers, vehicles and even a stuffed teddy bear when they raided the businesses and Mobley’s Monroeville home.
Mobley’s scheme filed tax returns claiming some $68 million in tax refunds, largely for Earned Income Credit and other tax credits, according to the Department of Justice. Mobley would falsely claim various dependent credits, either charged her clients an extra fee for the using the false dependents or pocketing the extra funds herself.
Mobley also “split” dependents, using the identity of some children on one return to obtain Earned Income Credit, and on other returns to obtain Child Credit and Dependent Care Credit. Mobley’s firm also prepared returns which claimed business tax deductions for business which did not exist and farm tax deductions for clients who did not have farms, the DOJ said.
Mobley was also charged with mortgage fraud and wire fraud in connection with fraud in regards to applications she made for mortgages to CitiBank and Wells Fargo.
Pictured above: A federal agent enters Preyear’s Tax & Check Cashing, LLC in Atmore March 4, 2010. Pictured inset: Agents search a vehicle at the business. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Man Convicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges
July 19, 2011
A Santa Rosa man faces up to 20 years in prison after being convicted on child abuse charges.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Monday that Frank Andre Mosley was convicted by a Santa Rosa County jury of lewd and lascivious molestation and aggravated stalking of a child.
In March 2007, Mosley, age 51, had met the victim while he was looking for a mobile home to rent. He began to follow the 13-year old girl and attempted to pursue a relationship with her, according to testimony.
On one occasion, Mosley tried to lure the girl into his car by offering to buy her a cell phone and to give her money. While the girl and several of her friends were swimming at the river, Mosley showed up, stripped to his underwear and went into the water where he grabbed the victim’s buttocks, according to court records. The girl reported what Mosley had been doing after receiving a letter from him in which Mosley repeatedly referred to her as “baby” and said he only had eyes for her. Mosley was arrested following an investigation by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 16, 2011 before Circuit Judge David Rimmer. Mosley faces 20 years in prison for the crimes, including a 15 year minimum mandatory sentence as a prison releasee reoffender on count one and a five year minimum mandatory sentence on the second count.
NHS NJROTC Students Attend Camp (With Gallery)
July 19, 2011
About 90 high school students took part in a Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps basic leadership camp last week at Pensacola Naval Air Station.
The cadets from Northview, Pine Forest, Escambia and Washington high schools took part in daily instruction in academics, basic drills and physical training. The cadets also had daily room and personnel inspections, and they toured aviation training facilities and attended a Blue Angels practice.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The week ended with a graduation ceremony for 89 cadets Saturday at the Naval Aviation Museum.
Northview NJROTC cadets that attended, and the awards they received, were:
- Kasie Braun – 2nd place sit-ups, 5th place push-ups, 3rd place Individual Unarmed Knockout drill competition
- Dylan Cartwright
- Dakota Craft
- Zacarra Davis — 2nd place 1 mile run/ 1st place room inspection
- Casey Godwin
- Alanna Johnson
- Aaron Rausch –4th place room inspection
- Willie Owens — 1st place Individual Unarmed Knockout drill competition
- Johnny Robbins — 2nd place Academics
- Ashley Simpkins
- Victoria Wright — 2nd place Individual Unarmed Knockout drill competition
In addition, graduate assistants, who aided instructors and cadets at the camp, were presented the Cadet Achievement ribbon for their outstanding performance in leading the junior cadets. Graduate assistants from Northview that were honored were Arron McCants and Jonathon Moretz.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Old Time Fiddler’s Convention Winners Announced
July 19, 2011
Almost $2,000 in cash and prizes was awarded Saturday during the 32nd South Alabama Annual Old Time Fiddler’s Convention in Atmore.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Atmore Rotary Club’s Academic All-Star scholarship program that annually recognizes students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy.
Adam Purvis walked away with the title of Best Fiddler and $1,000. Other winners were:
Vocal Band
- The Rail
- The Dennis’
- Seminole String Band
String Band
- The Rail
- Seminole String Band
- Frontier Bluegrass
Dobro
- Steve Crain
- Tracy Slay
- Robert Bell
Banjo
- Winky Hicks
- Caleb Dennis
- Tracy Slay
Guitar
- James Adkins
- Winky Hicks
- Scott Slay
Mandolin
- Scott Slay
- Sidney Abston
- Amanda Kolb
Fiddle
- Adam Purvis
- Calep “Sparky” Lewis
- Garrett Youngblood
Molino Man In Critical Condition Following Wreck
July 18, 2011
A Molino man was left in critical condition following a single vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Molino.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Bennie E. Finlay, 56, ran off the road and struck a brick mailbox about 1:30 p.m. on Crabtree Church Road near Solari Farm Road. Finlay was transported to a Pensacola hospital by LifeFlight. A medical problem contributed to the crash, according to the FHP. There were no passengers in Finlay’s 2003 Chrysler van.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Burn Ban Lifted in Escambia And Santa Rosa
July 18, 2011
The bun ban has been lifted in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties after recent rain.
Residents in both counties can now burn when following these outdoor burning guidelines:
- It is illegal to burn household garbage (including paper products), treated lumber, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, paint, and aerosol containers.
- Dry (not green) vegetative debris such as grass clippings, pine straw, leaves, tree limbs and shrub trimmings can be legally burned between 8 a.m. and one hour before sunset if it is in a pile not larger than 8 ft diameter and located on the property where the debris originated and is:
- not closer than 25 ft to a wooded area or the owner’s residence;
- not closer than 50 ft from a paved public road;
- and not closer than 150 ft from other occupied buildings.
- Burning material in a pile larger than 8 ft. diameter, or burning any area of land, requires an authorization from the Florida Division of Forestry, and is subject to additional restrictions.
For more information on burning safely, visit the Department of Forestry’s web site at http://www.fl-dof.com/, or call the Division of Forestry at (850) 957-6145.
Vacationing Couple Returns To Find They’ve Been Ripped Off
July 18, 2011
A Molino couple returned from vacation recently to find out the 18-year old they trusted to watch their house had, instead, allegedly ripped them off.
Nicholas Allen Jones, age 18 of Molino, is facing a felony count of grand theft and eight felony counts of dealing in stolen property.
A Molino couple told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that Jones was watching their property and collecting their mail while they were on a two-week vacation. When the couple returned home, the wife noticed her iPod was gone. After checking the house, she found the couple was missing $7,080 worth of jewelry.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, there was no sign of forced entry, and the wife said Jones was the only person with key to the house.
Deputies were able to determine that many of the items were pawned at The Gold Xchange, Elite Jewelers and Kernel Enterprises in Pensacola. When asked why he took the items and pawned them, Jones told deputies “I don’t know”, according to the arrest report.
Jones was released from the Escambia County Jail on $19,500 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on August 4.
Reward Now At $3,000 In Pregnant Cow Strangulation Case
July 18, 2011
The reward has been increased again in the Memorial Day strangulation of a pregnant cow in Enon, with two groups now offering a total of $3,000.
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the cow’s death. The Junior Humane Society is now offering an additional $500 reward.
“This is an example of depraved indifference to the suffering of living creatures,”” said Frankie Van Horn Harris, director of the Junior Humane Society. “If the person is not apprehended, he may decide to mutilate a child next time.”
The owner of the pet Jersey cow found the animal dead in a pasture just behind his house on Highway 97-A Memorial Day morning as he checked on his animals. Thin twine — often called grass string – had been tied several times around the cow’s neck and had apparently strangled the animal as it was dragged through the pasture. The cow was found on its side, with its head upside down and its horns pushed several inches into the dirt.
Authorities suspect the death could have results from a prank gone wrong since school was about to end and the cow’s owner is a school bus driver.
“Viciously killing a pregnant cow for an apparent prank is an inexcusably cruel crime and anyone who would do that can be capable of hurting people, too,” said Jennifer Hobgood, Florida state director for The Humane Society of the United States. “We hope our reward helps bring justice in this horrible case.”
For more photos, click here. (Warning: Some readers may find the photos disturbing.)
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Frank Way at (850) 256-6196.
Pictured: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigator photographs a pregnant cow that was apparently strangled to death in Enon. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Century To Begin Budget Process
July 18, 2011
The Town of Century is about to begin budget talks, and that is not such a bad thing this year.
““It looks better this year than it has in the last several years,” Robert Hudson, the town’s accountant, said. He said that expenses this year have been under what was expected while revenues have been a bit higher.
After department heads review their budgets, they will present their budget requests to the town council during a special workshop on August 5 at 2 p.m.
Century current 2010-2011 fiscal year budget is $3,337,231. The ad volorem tax was raised last year, from .823 mils the previous year to .9048 mils. The new millage rate was estimated to generate $30,000 for the town during the 2010-2011 budget year, compared to $26,000 in the previous fiscal year.
Century’s new 2011-2012 budget year begins October 1.
Gas Prices Rising Again
July 18, 2011
Florida gas prices are up about 15 cent on average during the past 10 days, with the Pensacola metro average at $3.65 on Sunday. AAA attributes the jump to U.S. oil stockpiles dropping much less than expected earlier this month and a rise in the national unemployment level.
Pictured above: A gallon of regular unleaded was $3.62 over the weekend at this station in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.