**TIPS is the first-of-its-kind, statewide crime-reporting phone number—which means anyone can report crime from anywhere in the state just by dialing **TIPS (8477) from a cellphone.
Law enforcement cannot fight crime alone; it is the responsibility of every law-abiding citizen in this state. Through this partnership, stickers with information on the crime-stopping program will be displayed in approximately 7,000 gas stations and convenience stores across the state. My office will continue to engage Florida citizens to enlist their help and support of law enforcement, so together we can fight back against violent criminals that prey on our communities.
In addition to these latest efforts to promote community involvement in building safer neighborhoods, my office partnered with FACS earlier this year to almost double the reward money for anonymous tips that lead to an arrest in murder cases. Now, tipsters could receive up to $9,500 for information on homicides.
I’m urging anyone who may have information about an unsolved crime in Florida to please call **TIPS or to use the new Florida Crime Stoppers app.
You can remain anonymous and if the information you provide helps law enforcement make an arrest, you may be eligible for a monetary reward worth potentially thousands of dollars.
By helping us solve cases and fight crime, we can build a Stronger, Safer Florida.
In The News
Attorney General Moody announces partnership with 7K convenience stores to help increase crime tips, WTSP 10 Tampa Bay
AG Moody, Sheriff Chronister announce new crime prevention efforts in Tampa, WFLA Tampa
Florida AG urges FCC to move up deadline ending illegal robocalls, The Capitolist
Fines, 5 years in prison possible for those using fake COVID-19 vaccination cards, WFLA Tampa
Beware of Back-to-School scams, Hometown News Brevard
Protecting Floridians
Member of Sibling Drug Trafficking Duo Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 25-year sentence for Dilcia Mojica Phipps, a member of a sibling drug trafficking duo. Phipps, along with brother Hector Mojica Phipps, sold and distributed heroin and fentanyl throughout Central Florida. Dilcia will serve five years of probation after the 25-year prison sentence.
Fentanyl is a highly lethal opioid. According to the Medical Examiner’s Interim Statewide Report for 2020, for the first time since 2013, drugs—specifically fentanyl—were found in more bodies of deceased persons than alcohol, with the data pointing to the majority of fentanyl occurrences being illicitly obtained. This sign of an increase in the illicit drug supply throughout Florida shows how fentanyl exacerbates the opioid crisis. Nearly 21 people in Florida die each day from opioid abuse.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “The battle to end the opioid crisis often spills into the courtroom, where we work to put those trafficking illicit opioids like fentanyl behind bars. It is so important that prosecutors across our state hold fentanyl traffickers accountable so that we may save the lives of countless Floridians. I’m pleased my Statewide Prosecutors secured this lengthy prison sentence for this drug trafficker—so she will no longer be able to sell poison and perpetuate the opioid crisis that kills 21 people each day in our state.”
Read MoreAttorney General Moody Takes Action to Shut Down Water Filter Company Falsely Promising to Treat Serious Medical Conditions
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office is taking legal action to shut down a Florida company selling drinking water systems with promises of unproven health benefits and using deceptive financing offers. Wellness Program Services, LLC d/b/a Trusii, operating out of Broward County, allegedly falsely claims that the use of its molecular hydrogen water machines could assist in ailments ranging from cancer, depression, diabetes, lupus, skin disorders and other chronic diseases. Many victims of the deceptive and unfair practices include seniors and consumers with health conditions.Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This company swindles consumers seeking to improve their health—many of whom are Florida seniors. Promising a product can cure a myriad of ailments is a scam as old as snake oil, and it’s downright shameful that this company would exploit consumers concerned about their health, especially during a pandemic. My office is taking legal action to hold the defendant accountable for its actions and protect Floridians from these false claims.” Read More
Three Arrested for Abuse and Neglect Resulting in Third-Degree Burns
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Groveland Police Department, announced the arrests of three Metro Orlando registered nurses for aggravated abuse and neglect of a disabled adult. Christina Hison, Linda Moore and Christopher Rodriguez Lozada are accused of causing third-degree burns to a disabled adult.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This trio was trusted to provide care to a patient suffering from a serious health condition. Instead of acting in the best interest of the patient, they disobeyed hospital policy and established medical procedure. Because of their actions, the patient suffered a new set of medical issues requiring multiple surgeries. Thanks to the work of my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and local law enforcement, these caregivers will be held accountable for their neglect and abuse. We will not tolerate abuse of our seniors in Florida.” Read More
Attorney General Moody Calls for Faster Implementation of Anti-Robocall Technology
Attorney General Ashley Moody urged the Federal Communications Commission to fight back against the recent scourge of illegal robocalls by moving up the deadline for smaller telephone companies to implement caller ID technology. Attorney General Moody is joined by a bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general in submitting comments to the FCC.Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Floridians have been bombarded with countless robocalls—many of them scams attempting to gather sensitive information for nefarious purposes. It will take an all-hands-on-deck approach to stop these annoying, often illegal calls and that is why I am joining my colleagues from across the country in asking the FCC to take swift, decisive action in moving up the compliance deadline.” Read More
Events
This week, Attorney General Ashley Moody held a news conference with Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and representatives from the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association and the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers in Tampa to announce a new partnership promoting community crime solving.
Attorney General Moody giving opening remarks at the Florida Association of Health Plans Meeting: Issues and Trends in the Age of COVID.
Award nominations for the 2021 Human Trafficking Summit are due Aug. 16. The summit will honor outstanding citizens for their efforts to end human trafficking in Florida. The four awards that will be presented at the summit include: Survivor Advocate of the Year, Community Advocate of the Year, Prosecutor of the Year and Law Enforcement Official of the Year. To complete and submit an award nomination, visit HumanTraffickingSummit.com/Award-Nomination-Information.
