***Update On 08/28/09 Sixth and Final Suspect Arrested In Phase Two Of Operation Check-Mate***
Operation Check-Mate Nabs Five More Suspects In Phase Two (For Further Detail See Press Release 08-290, 08-321, & 09-126)
Release Number: 09-202
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Economic Crimes Unit
U.S. Marshals Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force, Middle District, Tampa
Statewide Prosecutor’s Office
United States Postal Inspector’s Service
Florida Department Of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Tampa Police Department
Len Lenard Cotney (Arrested)
DOB: 11/27/1970
Address: 8700 North 50th Street, Building 13, Apartment 1302, Tampa
Arrested for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering
Kendall Joseph Bartholomew, Jr. (Arrested)
DOB: 02/12/1976
Address: 14330 58 St. North, Apartment 1201, Clearwater
Arrested for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering
Donald Lawrence Merrick (Arrested)
DOB: 01/23/1965
Address: 3163 Bloomingdale Villas Court, Brandon
Arrested for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering
Robert Cutler, Sr. (Arrested)
DOB: 11/13/1949
Address:
Arrested for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering
Sophia Renee Stephens (Arrested)
DOB: 02/17/1982
Address: 1204 East 99 Avenue, Apartment B, Tampa
Arrested for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering
What: Operations Check-Mate has nabbed five additional suspects in its investigation into “counterfeit check cashing rings,” This effort is phase two of arrests in this operation. The U.S. Marshals Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force, Middle District, Tampa along with deputies executed the arrest warrants on the suspects during the morning hours of August 26. Phase three to follow.
The investigation began in January 2007. The investigation determined that the rings had been operating in Florida since the early 1990s and are believed responsible for millions of dollars in financial losses to Florida banks.
Where: The suspects were arrested at various locations in Hillsborough County and in the city of Tampa.
When: The suspects were arrested beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2009.
How/Why: ***Update on 08/28/09***
Update Begins:
Detectives say the sixth and final suspect in phase two of Operation Check-Mate has been arrested. The suspect is identified as:
Eugene Tavaris Johnson
DOB: 09/19/1979
Address: 1719 E. Giddens Road, Tampa
Johnson was arrested on Thursday, August 27, 2009 in Hillsborough County. He was arrested for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
***End of Update
Operations Check-Mate has nabbed five additional suspects in its investigation into “counterfeit check cashing rings.” For further information see Press Release numbers 08-290, 09-321, and 09-126.
The U.S. Marshals Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force, Middle District, Tampa along with deputies executed the arrest warrants on the suspects during the morning hours of August 26, 2009.
The suspects as listed above were arrested between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and about 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at various locations in Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa.
The suspects were arrested for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
The suspects were transported to the Hillsborough County Jail in Tampa and will eventually be transferred to the Pinellas County Jail.
Three other suspects, also included in this second phase of arrests, who had been previously arrested on other unrelated charges, are:
Harold Thomas Thomas (DOB 06/10/1978) – Hillsborough County Jail
Robert Cutler Jr. (DOB 02/1/1972) – Department of Corrections (DOC)
Nikita Lynette Adkins (DOB 12/13/1976) - DOC
The investigation began in January 2007. The investigation determined that the rings had been operating in Florida since the early 1990s and are believed responsible for millions of dollars in financial losses to Florida banks.
Detectives say phase three of arrests to follow.
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