Software Engineer Gets Federal Prison For Stealing Fishing Spot Info From Escambia County Company
June 26, 2020
A software engineer from Alabama has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing trade secrets from an Escambia County company and then trying to extort more information from the company’s owners.
Timothy J. Smith, 43, of Mobile, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in United States District Court in Pensacola on charges of theft of trade secrets and interstate extortionate communications.
Strikeline, the victim in the case, is a Pensacola based company that uses commercial side scan sonar equipment to locate fishing reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and sells the coordinates using an interactive map on their website. StrikeLines also provides public coordinates for free to those interested in finding valuable spots to fish in the Gulf.
The evidence showed that between April and November 2018, Smith obtained private information valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars from the local company by using sophisticated cyber techniques in order to gain the trade secrets and decrypt information of the company from its website.
After hearing how Smith stole private sonar coordinates of reefs, the jury received testimony and exhibits showing how Smith then tried to extort the two owners of StrikeLines for more valuable information. During this entire time, the victims did not know Smith’s identity or why he was trying to harm them.
Federal and state law enforcement were able to trace all the criminal acts back to Smith in Mobile where he committed the cyber theft against the Pensacola company.
At sentencing, United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers announced that she thought Smith’s acts were based upon “spite” and “arrogance.” In addition to his term of imprisonment, Judge Rodgers sentenced Smith to a one-year term of supervision once released from custody. Smith was also ordered to forfeit all the electronic devices he utilized to commit his crimes.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes very seriously cyber crimes of all kinds, ranging from protecting our national security to the secrets of private companies,” said U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe. “In our increasingly online society, cyber security is vital to all of us as we conduct Internet transactions and conversations so that we can be confident our identities and personal information are protected. Our office is pleased that the jury held the defendant to account for victimizing a small local business.”
“This is the first time we’ve investigated a case like this and it most likely won’t be the last,” said FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “I applaud our FDLE agents and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for always working to stay at the forefront of technology and one step ahead of the bad guys.”
This case resulted from an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the FBI, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg prosecuted the case.
UPDATE: Gunfire Hits House In Molino; Not Believed To Be Deliberate
June 25, 2020
A house in Molino was hit by gunfire Thursday night, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office does not believe it was a deliberate act.
Deputies responded to a shots fired call on Weeping Willow Court shortly before 7 p.m.
“No one was ever located after interviewing surrounding residents,” Sgt. Melanie Peterson, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, said as deputies were leaving the area. ”ECSO has no reason to believe the shots were deliberate.”
Peterson confirmed that the house was hit “by a couple of rounds”. She said it was possibly someone target practicing or shooting in a nearby wooded area. She said deputies could heard the shots after their arrival.
No one was hit by the gunfire, and there were no injuries reported.
Weeping Willow Court runs north off Highway 196 and parallel to Highway 29. As a result, numerous deputies were also along Highway 29, shutting down the outside southbound lane.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Santa Rosa COVID-19 Cases Surge By 132
June 25, 2020
The number of Escambia County and Santa Rosa County COVID-19 cases surged by 132 in the Thursday report from the Florida Department of Health.
Escambia County cases increased by 92 to 1,404. The numbers were up by 64 in Pensacola, eight in Cantonment, one in Century and one in Walnut Hill. Santa Rosa cases were up by 40 to 411. Data on the number of test results returned was not immediately available to determine if increased testing may have led to the positive spike in Thursday’s report.
Of the 42 deaths in Escambia County, 33 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been nine deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 114,018 cases including 111,724 Florida residents. There have been 13,775 hospitalizations* and 3,327 deaths. The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 1,404 (+92 since Wednesday)
- Pensacola — 992
- Cantonment — 81
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid — 2
- Walnut Hill — 2
- Molino – 16
- Century — 10
- Perdido Key – 1
- Hospitalizations: 82*
- Deaths — 43
- Male — 442
- Female — 610
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 411 (+40 since Wednesday)
- Milton — 211
- Navarre — 66
- Gulf Breeze — 61
- Pace — 34
- Jay — 5
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 27*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 228
- Female — 137
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 98
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 114,018
- Florida residents — 111,724
- Deaths — 3,327
- Hospitalizations — 13,775
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
Kitchen Fire Damages Cantonment Home
June 25, 2020
A kitchen fire damaged a home in Cantonment Thursday morning.
Smoke could be seen coming from the attack and roofline of the home in the 100 block of Mintz Lane across from the former Champion Golf Course.
There were no reported injuries in the fire just before 9 a.m.. The kitchen area and the attic above were damaged.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Molino Tax Collector Office Closed Due To COVID-19 Exposure
June 25, 2020
The Escambia County Tax Collector Office is Molino was temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford told NorthEscambia.com that the employees were last exposed Friday, June 19 to a person who has tested positive for the virus.
“All employees were referred for testing, and we closed as a precaution. None of the employees sent for testing are showing symptoms at six days out,” Lunsford said.
The office was deep cleaned. He said employees will be returning to work as they can, but that is being complicated by the fact that some of those employees cannot put their kids back in daycare until they receive a negative test result.
Lunsford said he is working with the health department and their contact tracing staff to determine if any member of the public that visited the building last Friday should be contacted.
“We are taking all precautions,” he said.
Lunsford the drive-thru window in Molino reopened on Friday, June 26.
While the office is closed to the public, tax collector staff will use the building as a call center to test the agency’s ability to operate away from their normal downtown location.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector Molino office. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
More Staff Members Test Positive For COVID-19 At Century Prison; Nearly 150 Inmates Placed In Medical Quarantine
June 25, 2020
Two more staff members at the Century Correctional Institution have tested positive for COVID-19, and a portion of the Century Correctional Institution inmate population has been placed into medical quarantine.
There have now been a total of three staff members that have tested positive for the virus at Century Correctional; the first was reported in late March.
One inmate was moved into medical isolation because he is suspected or presenting symptoms of an infectious illness, according to the Florida Department of Corrections, and COVID-19 test results are pending.
An additional 144 inmates are in medical quarantine as a result.
Large numbers of CCI inmates have periodically been placed in medical quarantine for short periods of time during the pandemic. Inmates in medical quarantine are monitored by health services staff and receive temperature checks twice a day for signs of fever. If an inmate begins experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19, FDC will place the inmate in medical isolation and a COVID-19 test will be administered.
FDC reported that there have been five negative COVID-19 tests at Century CI.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
ECSO Asks For Help Finding Missing Runaway Juvenile From Century
June 25, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a missing runaway juvenile from Century.
Taniyah Paige, 14, was last seen June 23 in the 100 block of Henry Street in Century.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Photo courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Approves $500 Million For Teacher Pay Raises
June 25, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed legislation to give Florida teachers a raise.
Approximately 100,000 teachers will benefit from $400 million to be invested to raise the minimum base pay for full-time classroom teachers, and $100 million will raise the salaries of Florida’s veteran teachers and other instructional personnel. This historic increase puts Florida among the best states in the nation for minimum teacher pay in an effort to alleviate a teacher shortage.
Florida will move from 26th into the top five for minimum teacher salaries. It does not apply to support staff or substitute teachers.
The plan will also replace the Best and Brightest bonus program as it provides $100 million in extra pay for teachers making already making more than the set minimum. The Florida Legislature will also have to address pay raises annually under the proposal.
“COVID-19 has interrupted our students’ and teachers’ academic year in unprecedented ways,” said DeSantis. “Our teachers stepped up and found ways to keep our students learning and engaged these last few months to ensure students continued to receive the best education in the nation. They taught classes virtually; they made sure lesson materials were delivered; they committed to their students. Great teachers are what our students need as they re-enter the classroom in the fall, and that’s why this remained a major priority in our budget. Florida was previously 26th in the nation for teacher pay and this announcement puts us in the top five, an over 20 spot jump in one year that reflects an historic investment in teacher compensation.”
DeSantis is expected to trim somewhere between several hundred million to $1 billion from the budget due to COVID-19 shortfalls, including some of his own funding priorities.
Who Benefits:
- Step 1: Full-time classroom teachers (s. 1012.01(2)(a), F.S.) plus certified pre-K teachers funded in the FEFP (not including substitute teachers)
- Step 2: Group from Step 1 who did not receive an increase or increase was less than 2%, and other full-time instructional personnel (not including substitute teachers) (s. 1012.01(2)(b)-(d), F.S.)
How Funds Are Distributed
- These funds must be used solely to increase teacher salaries and no collective bargaining agreement can alter this requirement.
- Step 1: Requires school districts and charters to use $400 million to increase the salaries of all full-time school instructional classroom teachers to at least $47,500 or the maximum amount achievable based on the district’s allocation.
- Step 2: Requires school districts and charters to use $100 million to provide salary increases of the group from Step 1 who did not receive an increase or received an increase of less than 2%, and other full-time instructional personnel.
Pictured: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that will give Florida teachers a raise on Wednesday at Mater Academy Charter School in Hialeah Gardens. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Law Provides Heat Stroke Protections For Florida Student Athletes
June 25, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a bill that will require schools to do more to protect student athletes from heat strokes.
Known as the “Zachary Martin Act”, the bill requires health illness training and life saving equipment like AEDs for all schools that are members of the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Zachary Martin died in July 2017, after he suffered a heat stroke following summer high school football practice in South Florida heat. His mother, Laurie Giordano spent two years lobbying Florida lawmakers and the FHSAA for the protections.
The law goes into effect on July 1 requiring public schools to have a tub or other container that is full of cold water on the sidelines at all practices and games. Defibrillators will be required, and school personnel will be required to learn how to recognize heat illnesses including heat strokes and take immediate life saving actions.
Pictured: Washington at Tate, October 2019. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Council On Aging Seeks Volunteers For Expanded Meals On Wheels Program
June 25, 2020
In the past two weeks, Council on Aging of West Florida has enrolled more than 300 people in its pandemic-related Meals on Wheels expanded program. Now, the agency has a need for additional volunteers to deliver the hundreds of additional meals per week.
RELATED: Restaurants Partner With Meals On Wheels To Feed Seniors For Free
The onboarding process for new volunteers is quick and easy. First, a background check is performed on the prospective driver followed by an orientation and training so that expectations, procedures and rules can be fully outlined. Afterwards, the volunteer selects on which days and for how long he or she would like to deliver meals, then a route is provided along with meals, and they are sent on their way.
Council on Aging currently boasts nearly 500 volunteers throughout the agency, but as anxiety surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic continues, many have understandably temporarily suspended their volunteer status. Still, seniors are more in need of reliable nutrition than ever, and the agency provides personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves to all drivers.
“We certainly foresaw this level of need when we announced the expanded meals program,” said Council on Aging president/CEO John B. Clark. “However, as demand continues to grow, we predict an increased need for volunteers during this time. We and our clients would certainly be grateful for any help the community can provide—even just an hour or so a month.”
Those interested in volunteering should call Council on Aging volunteer manager Will Wirth at (850) 266-2518.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.