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<p> A jury reached a verdict Thursday in the trial of a man accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from two women who thought they had won his heart.</p><p> Paul Francois, whom investigators have called the "Sweetheart Swindler," was arrested in August 2009, accused of stealing nearly $400,000 from Rose Marie Anglade and Sheila Brissault. </p><p> The jury in Francois' trial was given the case Thursday afternoon. Shortly after 6 p.m., they had reached a verdict.</p><p> The jury found Francois guilty of all charges against him. Francois was charged with one count of organized scheme to defraud and two counts of grand theft. </p><p> The two women, who did not know about each other at the time, said they each met Francois, who romanced them and planned to marry each of them. After opening joint bank accounts with Francois, the women said he stole all of their money.</p><p> Defense attorneys argued that Francois was in love with each woman, and that the women handed over their money freely.</p><p> Angalde and Brissault each testified during Francois' trial.</p><p> "I would like to have all my money back," Brissault said. "I think he's a coward. He's a criminal. He's a heartless man."</p><p> "I don't deserve what he did to me," Anglade said. "I don't deserve it."</p><p> Each of the grand theft charges alone carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.</p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:39:58 GMT
<p> With tax season under way, thousands of South Floridians are learning criminals have gotten to their Internal Revenue Service refunds by stealing their identities. </p><p> "I went to file my taxes, and I was told somebody used my name already," said Linda Gage, who was one of hundreds in line at Miami's IRS office recently looking for help. </p><p> Joan Miles, another victim in line at the IRS office in Plantation, said she had no idea her identity had been stolen until she filed for her tax refund and was told it was already claimed.</p><p> "Nobody has ever stolen my bag," said Miles. "Nobody has ever stolen anything from me." </p><p> Identities have become so lucrative, federal agents recently busted low-level employees at a Social Security office who they said were selling identifying information on the side to cyber-criminals. </p><p> Thanks to quick tax return programs like those in storefronts and online, anyone with basic identifying information like name, occupation and date of birth can file a tax return and have it sent to any address, usually a mailbox at a vacant property the criminal can access. They can also load the refund on a cash or debit card. </p><p> Miami and Tampa are two of the hottest cities for identity theft crimes, according to investigators.</p><p> Click here for information from the IRS on what to do if you are the victim of identity theft.</p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:00:14 GMT
<p> One of two cyclists injured in a hit-and-run crash on the Rickenbacker Causeway on Wednesday morning has died, Miami police said. </p><p> Police said Thursday that Aaron Cohen has died.</p><p> According to investigators, the hit-and-run suspect, Michele Traverso, 25, turned himself in to police early Thursday morning.</p><p> He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and driving with a suspended license.</p><p> Enda Welsh and Cohen were struck by a vehicle as they rode their bicycles on the Causeway at about 6 a.m. Wednesday. Police said the driver drove away, leaving Welsh and Cohen injured in the road.</p><p> Welsh fractured his ankle in the accident, but Cohen had more serious injuries. He suffered severe head trauma, and he died at Jackson Memorial Hospital.</p><p> Cohen's wife said he was an avid cyclist. He has two children, 3-year-old Lilly and 1-year-old Aiden.</p><p> Cohen's father, Stephen Cohen, spoke to Local 10 News about his son. </p><p> "We were a family all the time. His cousins, his aunts, his uncles -- everybody loved him. Everybody loves him. He is just special," Stephen Cohen said. </p><p> Carlos Rodriguez, who participated in a running club called Team FTC with Cohen, said members of the team and others planned to hold a silent run Thursday evening in Cohen's honor. He said the runners will meet at the Miami Seaquarium at 8 p.m. Thursday and run to the bridge and back.</p><p> Traverso appeared in Miami-Dade bond court Thursday afternoon. His bond was set at $10,000.</p><p> "My client feels horrible about what happened," said Traverso's attorney.</p><p> Traverso also has to go back before a judge to face a previous cocaine possession charge.</p><p> Additional charges against Traverso are pending. </p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:19:40 GMT
<p> Hall of Fame catcher and original Florida Marlins television analyst Gary Carter died on Thursday at the age of 57.</p><p> Carter was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last May.</p><p> An 11-time All-Star with the Montreal Expos, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, Carter was also the Marlins color commentator from the team's inaugural season in 1993 through 1996.</p><p> Carter's bottom-of-the-10th single in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series helped the Mets mount a charge against the Boston Red Sox and eventually beat them.</p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:23:23 GMT
<p> A Miami Gardens school has been cited after a 5-year-old student was found wandering the streets. </p><p> Miami Gardens police said a good Samaritan found a 5-year-old boy walking alone near Seventh Avenue and 183rd Street. The person used a cellphone in the child's pocket to call the last phone number on it, which reached the child's mother, police said. </p><p> The boy's mother arrived and picked up the child, police said. </p><p> Police said the boy had wandered away from Norland Seventh Adventist Child Development Center. Staff members told police they did not report that that child was missing because the school's license was expired and they did not want to get into trouble, Miami Gardens police said.</p><p> The school was cited with several violations, according to investigators.</p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:09:11 GMT
<p> The Broward Sheriff's Office is searching for a man they believe stole two motorcycles from a Deerfield Beach dealership Saturday. </p><p> According to a police report, the owner of Riva Yamaha Motorsports at 4371 N. Dixie Highway realized Monday that a 2007 Yamaha U-Star 649cc was missing when someone at his other store let him know someone wanted to buy it. </p><p> The owner reviewed surveillance video from Saturday and realized that a man was seen stealing keys from inside the office of his store, investigators said. BSO said the man took a motorcycle that was parked in front of the business. </p><p> BSO said the store owner later realized that the man had stolen a second motorcycle, as well.</p><p> Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).</p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:10:56 GMT
<p> A man accused of bringing a gun into the Broward County Courthouse collapsed in court Thursday morning just after the jury convicted him.</p><p> Marin Stroia appeared in court Thursday morning, more than a year after police said he entered the Broward County Courthouse through the exit doors, pulled a gun and threatened to kill himself. </p><p> There was more drama in the courthouse Thursday moments after the clerk polled the jury and Stroia was found guilty of armed trespassing and reckless display of a firearm. Stroia pulled an aspirin bottle from his pocket and drank the clear liquid inside, which he told a deputy was poison, and then collapsed on the courtroom floor. </p><p> Bailiffs cleared the courtroom and the hallway as Stroia was carted out on a gurney on his way to Broward Medical Center. He was in good condition Thursday afternoon. </p><p> The Broward Sheriff's Office said later Thursday that Stroia drank water, not poison. He was medically cleared and taken to jail.</p><p> Investigators said Stroia's anger over his divorce proceedings prompted the January 2011 incident in which he was charged. Judge Joel Lazarus heard the commotion that day and put his life on the line, convincing Stroia not to pull the trigger. </p><p> "He said, 'I only have one bullet in the gun.' I said, 'I don't want that bullet in me,'" Lazarus said. </p><p> Stroia faces a year in prison on one charge, and five years on the other, but he has not yet been sentenced.</p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:42:03 GMT
<p> Broward College is calling itself "veteran-friendly," attracting those vets who want to take advantage of the post-9-11 G.I. Bill benefits. </p><p> College administrators are saying vets are helping other vets through the system.</p><p> "It's a great school. I love this school. It did so much for me," said Army veteran Luis Torres. </p><p> He’s making the transition from Army paratrooper and improvised explosive device hunter to student, working toward degrees in accounting and criminal justice from Broward College. The G.I. Bill is paying his way. </p><p> "You get free tuition. You get to go to school for free, and you get to get paid for going to school, and you don't have to worry about books," Torres said.</p><p> Torres said there are many forms to fill out and plenty of deadlines to meet. He helps other vets do that and maximize their education benefits. </p><p> One of those veterans is Kris Ishmael, who spent nine years in the Army. </p><p> ”They've been extremely helpful from start to finish. The minute I walked in, when Luis told me he was in the military as well, it just made the process a lot easier," said Ishmael.</p><p> Broward College’s policy is to wait for fee payment from the Veterans Administration and not make vets pay out of pocket.</p><p> Sandra Viloria would like to return to the Army as a chaplain, and is grateful for the opportunity. </p><p> "A college education is very important for anybody. It opens a lot of doors and makes things easier for anyone, especially if you want to go out there and look for a career," said Viloria.</p><p> Currently, Broward College has 639 student-veterans enrolled for this term.</p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:40:39 GMT
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Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:33:23 GMT
<p> Hundreds of boats and multimillion-dollar yachts dropped anchor at the Miami Beach Convention Center Thursday for the Miami International Boat Show. </p><p> "There is such a huge audience here with people coming from 80 countries and all 50 states," said Cathy Rick-Joule, of the Miami International Boat Show. </p><p> PHOTOS: Miami International Boat Show</p><p> Visitors can check out the latest gizmos and gadgets, come face to face with a real shark and meet the stars from "Sharkmen" on National Geographic. </p><p> "Florida's been great," said expedition leader Chris Fischer. "You've seen shark population rise here. They are teeming in the waters and a healthy ocean is full, full of sharks." </p><p> Visitors can also see an engine from the inside and learn how it works. </p><p> The event showcases an affordability tent, where visitors can pick up a boat for a great deal. </p><p> "I think people sometimes can't imagine that it is really affordable, that it can be financed for less than $250 a month," said Rick-Joule. </p><p> The show, a one-stop shop for boaters, kicks off Thursday and ends Monday. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Monday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It's being held at the Miami Beach Convention Center at 1901 Convention Center Dr.</p>
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:21:59 GMT
These people have absolutely no problem turning their bodies into pin-cushions... but you may have a problem looking at them. Don't say you weren't warned.
Published: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:39:37 GMT
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