TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shut down a complex criminal enterprise using the dark web and cryptocurrency to commit identity theft and launder money. An Orlando teen led the complex cybercrime operation. The lead defendant, Justin Vassell, used cryptocurrency to buy bundles of stolen personal information to open credit card accounts and purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise.
The Florida Attorney General’s Office and FDLE today announced the arrest of Justin Vassell, Jacqueline Vassell, Shannon Vassell, Marc Williams, Deonte Benejan and Lawrence Dority for the criminal enterprise that illicitly purchased more than $350,000 worth of merchandise, including ammunition and firearm parts. The group then sold the items to pawn shops around the Orlando area to obtain cash. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning the U.S. Department of Justice against a politically-motivated investigation of Florida’s immigrant relocation program. In a letter to the DOJ, Attorney General Moody states that there is no legal basis for California’s request for the DOJ to investigate the program. Attorney General Moody’s letter responds to a request by the California Governor and Attorney General to the DOJ to investigate Florida and defends the state’s actions to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities on a volunteer basis. The letter also points out that California’s request is a political stunt and not a legal request, as California’s letter does not identify any violation of federal statute, judicial decision or law.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “California’s letter requesting that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate Florida is a ridiculous political stunt. Our voluntary immigration relocation program is lawful, and California’s request fails to identify any violation of federal law. As an Attorney General who leads hundreds of highly-qualified lawyers and has led dozens of legal challenges against this administration, it is jarring that California is not competent enough to articulate even a minimal legal basis for its request. I thought California loved to tout its commitment to illegal immigrants, but now its governor does not want more immigrants in California, claiming that more of them could break his state—how ironic.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today is National Lottery Day, and Attorney General Ashley Moody is releasing a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about sweepstakes scams. Lottery scams often begin when a scammer calls or sends messages to targets, often seniors, claiming the target won a prize. The scammer will then request service fees or financial information from the target stating that this is necessary for the winnings to be transferred.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Receiving a message that you have won a large cash prize can be exciting, but it’s also likely a scam. If you receive one of these messages, be suspicious, do some research and never open any links included in the message. For more tips to avoid lottery scams, check out our latest Consumer Alert.” Continue reading
Join us for special events and programs exclusively for Ocala adults ages 50 and older. From walking clubs to learning a new crafting skill, we have plenty of opportunities to get involved. See City of Ocala website for more.
Year Round Programs
Artistic Touch Crafts- $5 per session
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place | 1821 NW 21st Ave.
Year round | First and Third Tuesday of the month | 10 AM – Noon
Get crafty with these fun DIY workshops to renew and discover your artistic abilities! Every session we will work on a new craft project for you to take home to display. You bring the creative spirit; we’ll bring the supplies. Registration required for each session.
Footloose Line Dancing – FREE
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place | 1821 NW 21st Ave.
Starting Jan. 17 | Tuesdays | 11 AM – NOON
Come join us for an hour of dancing fun. This class is for anyone who loves to dance, whether you are experienced, or new to the dance floor. You will learn the basic steps of many soul and line dances while getting a workout at the same time.
Ocala Recreation and Parks offers a variety of sports, programs, activities and events for kids! Whether your three-year-old wants to Start Smart with playing soccer or you are looking for after school programs, there are plenty of options for kids of all ages in Ocala!
T-Ball
Start Smart T-Ball League | Ages 5 – 6
Mondays & Wednesdays | Sept. 4 – Oct. 18 | 6 – 7 PM
Jervey Gantt Park | 2200 SE 36th Av.
$65/person
Little Batter Up! We’ll help your mini 5-6 year old athlete get started on their athletic journey. This program will help participants develop their talents and learn sportsmanship in a safe and encouraging environment.
Basketball
Skills and Drillz | Ages 6 – 8
Aug. 9 – 30 | Wednesdays | 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place | 1821 NW 21st Ave.
$20 per person
Help your mini athlete gain a competitive advantage while participating in youth sports. Kids will compete in fun and exciting drills designed to sharpen hand, foot and eye coordination.
FOUR CORNERS 1ST SATURDAY FOOD TRUCK
August 5, 2023 @ 5:00 PM
Four Corners 1st Saturday Food Truck
Cagan Crossings
600 Cagan Oaks Dr, Clermont
Contact Sandy Farnsworth at 352-617-8788 or email sandyfcdp@gmail.com.
https://www.EventsbySG.com
Band, crafters, food trucks, bounce house, and more! Bring the family and join us for a fun evening.
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QUARTERLY BIRD & BUTTERFLY SURVEY
August 5, 2023 @ 7:30 AM
Quarterly Bird & Butterfly Survey
Lake May Reserve
36300 County Road 44A, Eustis
Contact Gallus Quigley at 352-253-4950 or email parksandtrails@lakecountyfl.gov.
https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/parks-and-trails
Assist park staff with surveying the birds & butterflies of Lake County’s conservation lands.
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(NAPSI)—Lady Gaga has been living with a silent disease—migraine—for most of her life, having been diagnosed when she was 14 years old. Her migraine attacks were so severe, she was often bedridden for days. She couldn’t read or keep lights on and would have to be alone in a quiet room for hours, or sometimes even days, until the pain subsided. Lady Gaga continued to experience migraine attacks into adulthood and the disease has impacted all aspects of her life.
“By the time I was 25, I was dealing with other medical conditions along with my migraine. The combination of pain from migraines and managing these other conditions had become so difficult that I was barely functional. And the migraines were now much more present. The hardest part about dealing with this change in my life is that it was now not once a month that I was getting migraines, but much more frequently.” Continue reading
(NAPSI)—For most people, a college education can lead to a better life, but for one group of students at a unique institution, it can lead to saving lives.
EMS Education
At Texas State Technical College (TSTC), the Emergency Medical Services program has taken training students to a new level with the introduction of the first complete ambulance simulator in North America.
Echo Healthcare delivered to TSTC’s Abilene campus a Ford F350 ambulance that was converted from a road-operating vehicle to a full-size simulator.
Coby Meyer, Echo Healthcare’s chief operating officer, explained the reason: “When it comes to Continue reading
(NAPSI)—One of the greatest joys—but potentially biggest challenges—for many grandparents is time spent with the grandkids. Whether yours are toddlers or teens, keeping them entertained requires a level of fitness that might include everything from lifting a child to chasing them at the playground to competing in a round of golf. For grandparents seeking an enriching and active experience with their grandkids, it’s important to engage in everyday fitness routines that can help:
- maintain muscle mass,
- preserve cardiovascular health,
- fortify flexibility, and
- bolster balance.
Functional fitness training can help with these goals.
What is Functional Fitness? Continue reading
The Problem
Safety recalls can pose the risk of severe injury to passengers, so vehicle owners and operators should regularly check to see if any recent recalls affect their vehicle. An example of a recent announcement that consumers should be aware of is the urgent Stop-Drive Advisory issued in July to owners and custodians of model-year 2003 Ram 1500/2500/3500 pickups who have not replaced their recalled Takata air bags.
There are an estimated 29,000 unrepaired 2003 Ram pickups still on U.S. roads today and the vehicle’s manufacturer, FCA US LLC, is urging the owners and custodians of these vehicles to immediately stop driving them and contact a local authorized dealer to determine their recall status. Continue reading
