Palm Beach County
ACTOR CONVICTED
Adonis Losada, 49, an actor who has performed on the wildly popular Univision show Sábado Gigante, was convicted on 66 charges related to child pornography. Losada represented himself during his seven-day trial in which the services of a translator were used. Jurors took less than an hour to convict him on 33 counts of transmitting child pornography and 33 counts of possessing the material. He faces between 44 and 330 years in prison.
BUSTED AGAIN
Nichola Perrelli, 43, of Boca Raton, who is separated from his wife, allegedly confronted a man who was with her at a Delray Beach restaurant, although she had a restraining order against him. According to the police report, Perrelli threatened the man and officers were called to the scene. While they were checking into the incident, they found an outstanding warrant for Perrilli’s arrest for allegedly passing a bad check. He was arrested and is facing a new charge of stalking his wife because of the restraining order.
MAN KILLED
Anesson Joseph 28, of Lake Worth was shot by police after he was spotted running naked in the street and growling. He allegedly beat an elderly man, then chased down another man and his 10-year-old son. The police report said he bit the second man in the face and lunged at a sheriff’s deputy, who shot him in response. Joseph died at a hospital. His bizarre behavior has mystified friends and family members. They said he was fine just hours earlier and that he had no history of violence or strange behavior. Authorities are conducting toxicology tests to determine whether any drugs were in his system.
Broward County
MISSING MAN
Ryan Uhre, 23, a former Florida State University student, was reported missing. He was last seen at a Tallahassee grill on Feb. 2, the night of the Super Bowl, where he purchased food and left alone. His cell phone was turned on briefly in Pompano Beach and police believe he or at least his cell phone may be in Broward County. The authorities are asking anyone with information about Uhre to call Broward Crimes stoppers at 954-493-8477.
COMPANY MERGER
Coral Springs-based Boca Life Sciences, whose products are sold under the Boca Pharmacal label, has cleared Federal Trade Commission regulations for a merger with Endo Health Solutions of Pennsylvania. Both are generic drug manufacturers. It is unclear if Boca Life Sciences will continue its operations in Coral Springs.
SCAMMERS CONVICTED
Darryl Burke and Vicki Garland, both 50, were convicted on four counts each of
bank and wire fraud and conspiracy. A jury found they operated a $15 million bank fraud conspiracy involving property and mortgages. They used fake names and fraudulent documents to buy more than 20 properties which they rented to low-income tenants in order to receive Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidies. They also falsely claimed they were military veterans to avoid paying property taxes. They lived in a waterfront home, drove expensive cars and had court-side tickets to Miami Heat games, while collecting food stamps. They are facing up to 30 years in prison at their April 18 sentencing.
Miami-Dade County
ALIVE AGAIN
The historic Lyric Theater, which is actually Miami’s oldest entertainment venue, has been remodeled and revived. The Overtown landmark was built in 1913 by Geder Walker, a black entrepreneur. In its heyday, it hosted top black celebrities such as singers Duke Ellington and Aretha Franklin and poet Langston Hughes. Now it has undergone a complete renovation.
SHOOTING AMBUSH
Two people were killed and a third remained hospitalized after an apparent ambush and drive-by shooting. The attack happened in the 700 block of Biscayne River Drive, north of 153rd Street and east of Interstate 95. Police said the victims were sitting in a car when two other cars blocked them in; shots were fired and the cars sped off. The driver of the car which was shot up drove a short distance to a shopping plaza for help. Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471-8477.
Monroe County
FERRO SENTENCED
Nicholas Ferro, 27, of Hollywood was sentenced to 28 years in prison after being convicted of stabbing 23-year-old Marquese Butler to death in 2009. Butler was a popular Key West athlete. He was involved in a brawl in which Ferro pulled out a knife and stabbed him to death. Ferro’s family owns the popular Nick’s Bar and Grill in Hollywood. He and a group of friends from Broward County were partying in Key West when one of them bumped into a group from Key West outside a bar. An argument followed and escalated into a brawl. Ferro pulled out a knife and stabbed Butler in his stomach. Ferro said he acted in self-defense while trying to save his friend Jorge Averoff from a beating by Butler’s friends. Prosecutors argued that Butler was not involved in the brawl and was in fact attempting to break up the fight.
PASTOR SHORTAGE
The Marathon City Council recently approved a new policy limiting prayers at city meetings and functions to members of the clergy. It also restricts them from using certain terms and phrases. The move followed a request from resident Bruce Schmitt, a member of the Church of the Living Dead. Now Christian pastors are not responding to invitations to deliver the invocation at city meetings.
STABBING ARREST
Ramon Sanchez, 27, of Big Coppitt Key is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, obstruction of justice, domestic battery and burglary. He is accused of stabbing Yunior Carrazana, 30, of Sugarloaf Key out of jealousy. Police said he went to the home of his former girlfriend Dayanet Portal, 22, with whom he has a child. Once there, he found her with Carrazana, whom he allegedly stabbed multiple times and then beat Portal, before fleeing. Sanchez was found sitting in his truck, along with a bloody knife. Carrazana was reported to be in critical condition.
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