Florida

Man stabbed in Homosassa disturbance

Citrus County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating a stabbing that occurred early Monday morning in Homosassa following a disturbance between individuals near Fishbowl Drive and Halls River Road. Authorities responded…

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Colombian Man Sentenced for Cocaine Trafficking Scandal That Let Cartels Know Where Navy Ships Were

Colombian Man Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

**Tampa, FL** – A U.S. District Court sentenced Cesar Augusto Romero Caballero of Colombia to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Judge James Moody Jr. issued the sentence on Wednesday, following Romero Caballero’s guilty plea on April 8.

Court documents revealed that Romero Caballero, formerly of the Colombian Navy, recruited active-duty navy members to plant GPS tracking devices on vessels. This enabled Transnational Criminal Organizations to navigate cocaine-laden ships around Colombian Navy patrols en route to the United States.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi remarked on the significance of the case, emphasizing its importance to the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat drug trafficking. Special Agent Deanne L. Reuter acknowledged the teamwork and dedication involved in bringing this case to a close.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative supported the prosecution. This initiative promotes collaboration among multiple agencies to address major drug trafficking operations.

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New York Federal Jury Convicts Florida Man of Mail Fraud

Federal Jury Convicts Florida Man of Mail Fraud

**Central Islip, NY** – A federal jury in Central Islip, New York, has found Phillip Priolo, 61, a resident of Hallandale Beach, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and four counts of mail fraud. Priolo was charged in November 2021 for running a mass mailing fraud scheme that defrauded thousands, mostly elderly individuals, by promising them false prizes.

During the trial, evidence demonstrated that from March 2015 to December 2016, Priolo and his partners mailed millions of misleading prize notices. These notices falsely claimed recipients had been chosen for a significant cash prize, contingent upon paying a fee. Instead of the promised reward, payees received nothing, confirming that the mailings were mass-produced and not personalized.

Both the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service emphasized their commitment to protecting elderly citizens from such fraudulent schemes. Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth acknowledged the thorough investigation by the Postal Inspection Service, and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen stressed the vulnerability of older demographics to financial exploitation.

Priolo will face sentencing later this year before U.S. District Judge Nusrat Jahan Choudh

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