Bradenton Man Held in Murder-for-Hire Scheme

A federal judge in Tampa has ordered John Nicholas Coors of Bradenton held without bail after Coors was arrested for his involvement in a murder-for-hire plan. The FBI initiated an investigation into Coors in March 2009, after Coors’ father contacted... [Read More]

Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Pasco Murder-for-Hire Scheme

Joseph Lee Musson of Hudson was sentenced this week to 25 years in federal prison in relation to a murder-for-hire scheme he was involved in last year. Musson pleaded guilty in January to three charges: using interstate commerce facilities in... [Read More]

Pinellas County Telemarketer Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud

Peter Porcelli, a former Pinellas County telemarketer, pleaded guilty last week in a Tampa federal courtroom to mail fraud. Porcelli is already serving 13 years in federal prison on fraud charges related to a credit card scheme. He now faces... [Read More]

North Port Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Oxycodone

Linda Kay Courtright of North Port pleaded guilty earlier this month in a Tampa federal court to distributing oxycodone, the use of which resulted in the 2009 death of Nicholas Block. Courtright faces a minimum mandatory term of 20 years... [Read More]

Prior DUI Offender Charged in Clearwater Traffic Death

Clearwater police went to a local bar on a tip looking for Brian Ferry earlier this week with a warrant for his arrest. Ferry had failed to appear at a court date for driving without a license. Officers say Ferry... [Read More]

Death Penalty Sought in Tampa Shooting

Prosecutors in Hillsborough County announced this week that they will seek the death penalty for Andre Watkins, who is accused of killing a 19-year-old woman and wounding two others in a Tampa shooting rampage in February. Watkins is charged with... [Read More]

Tampa Pharmacists Accused of Medicare Fraud

Five Tampa Bay-area pharmacists have been charged with defrauding the federal government and stealing from Medicaid, Medicare and Tricare, the military insurance program, by submitting fraudulent reimbursement requests for prescriptions never filled. Federal prosecutors allege Jatin Patel submitted false reimbursement... [Read More]