Two stole patient info, going to prison

Two former Department of Health employees were sentenced to federal prison for stealing private information on thousands of patients that was used to a commit multimillion-dollar tax fraud.

The investigation into Shanterica Smith and Gerald Williams began after an Orange County detective found a handwritten list of about 150 Social Security numbers and names. A woman linked to the list told detectives the names were used to commit tax fraud, and agents later found roughly 3,000 identity-theft victims. About 2,200 of those people were in the Health Department’s record system.

Smith and Williams, who did not know each other while working at the Orange County Health Department, each said in their plea agreements that they were paid to steal patient information and give the data to other people. Prosecutors said roughly $3.9 million in fraudulent tax returns were filed using the stolen information. Williams was sentenced to 41⁄ years in prison. Smith was sentenced to five years in prison.

Owners upset after pet cat euthanized

While the owners of Sophie were searching for her, the lost cat already had been euthanized at Orange County Animal Services. “It’s very upsetting,” grieving owner Lisa Storey said Tuesday. “I feel like they didn’t even give her a chance.”

Animal Services’ policy is supposed to keep stray animals for at least three working days. However, a veterinarian may euthanize animals to prevent pain and suffering, according to county rules

Sophie, who had no identification, was brought into Animal Services on Feb. 20 by a resident who had been feeding her for two days after finding her on the street, officials said.

The cat was “extremely emaciated” and “lethargic” and was put to sleep, Animal Services spokeswoman Diane Summers said.

Storey, 51, and her family put up fliers after Sophie sneaked out Feb. 17, hoping to find her.

She said she went to Animal Services on Feb. 21 and 22, but workers told her they hadn’t seen her cat.

Sophie was a tabby-Persian who weighed about 51⁄ pounds and was on medication for thyroid disease. She was about 12 years old, Storey said.

“It’s not right for somebody’s cat to be put to sleep for no reason — although in the vet’s eyes there were [reasons],” she said.

Gardener’s plants? Marijuana, cops say

A gardener and his cousin grew 190 marijuana plants, worth about $600,000, in a home in Palm Bay, according to police.

The plants were 6 to 8 feet tall, according t o spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez, and yielded about 150 pounds of high-quality pot that could sell for $4,000 per pound.

Police searched the house on Valentine’s Day.

Records show they found and “secured” two men at the home, Rene De La Rosa Cruz and Carlos Hernandez.

Police found cannabis plants in four rooms of the home.

The house had been “extensively altered” for the grow operation, including framing to separate rooms and a way to bypass electricity coming into the building to conceal power consumption.

Police listed De La Rosa Cruz’s occupation as “gardener.”

Bill: Require drug tests for lawmakers

Pointing to a need to make sure public officials are sober when they make policy decisions, a House Republican filed a bill this week that would require drug testing for elected officeholders and judges.

The bill (HB 1435), filed by Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, comes after controversies and legal battles about attempts to require drug testing of state employees and recipients of public assistance.

Eagle’s proposal calls for testing of people elected to federal, state and local offices, along with Florida Supreme Court justices, appeals- court judges and local judges.

Officials who refuse to take the tests would be required to resign.

Positive results would be sent to the state Commission on Ethics, which would refer public officials to employee-assistance programs.