Thursday, September 4

Author: Houston Stringer

Three Florida men sentenced in $15M tax fraud scheme
29Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Florida

Three Florida men sentenced in $15M tax fraud scheme

WASHINGTON (Aug. 28, 2025) – Three Florida men have been sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a multi-year tax fraud scheme that caused up to $15 million in losses to the United States. According to court documents and statements made in court, Jonathan Carillo was sentenced to 121 months in prison, Franklin Carter Jr. to 84 months, and Diandre T. Mentor to 36 months. From 2016 to 2020, Carter and Carillo owned and operated Neighborhood Advance Tax (NAT), a tax preparation business with a dozen offices across Florida, where fraudulent deductions were fabricated to inflate client refunds. Mentor, who managed NAT’s Orlando office from 2018 to 2019, also participated. The defendants held training sessions to teach employees how to prepare false returns and later launched ad...
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Driver arrested after crashing into bushes and gate, fleeing scene
29Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Driver arrested after crashing into bushes and gate, fleeing scene

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – A woman was arrested after crashing through bushes, striking an iron gate, and leaving the scene without giving information. Photo Courtesy of Pct. 4 The crash occurred around 9:15 a.m. on August 27, 2025, in the 21200 block of Emerald Mist Parkway. According to Constable Mark Herman, deputies with his office quickly located the suspect vehicle nearby and identified the driver as Francis Parras-Cook. Photo Courtesy of Pct. 4 Parras-Cook was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail, charged with Failure to Stop and Give Information, a Class B Misdemeanor. Her bond was set at $100 out of County Court 1. If you have any information, you are urged to contact the Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 4 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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Frisco mother arrested after infant dies in hot car
29Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Frisco mother arrested after infant dies in hot car

FRISCO, TX – The Frisco Police Department has arrested a Dallas woman in connection with the death of her infant left in a hot vehicle earlier this month. On August 16, 2025, Plano Police notified Frisco Police of a possible infant death that occurred within Frisco city limits. Officers and detectives responded to Medical City Plano, where they learned the child’s mother, 27-year-old Vanessa Esquivel, had arrived for work in the 3200 block of Preston Road around 2 p.m. that day. According to investigators, Esquivel intentionally left her 15-month-old child inside a vehicle without working air conditioning for more than two hours, while outside temperatures exceeded 95 degrees. The child later died from the heat exposure. Frisco detectives determined probable cause existed to c...
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NTSB: Steering control failure blamed for Houston Ship Channel collision
28Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

NTSB: Steering control failure blamed for Houston Ship Channel collision

WASHINGTON (Aug. 28, 2025) – A steering control system component failure on a multi-purpose carrier caused a collision with a bulk carrier in the Houston Ship Channel, according to a report released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Photo Courtesy of NTSB The incident occurred on Aug. 25, 2023, when the multi-purpose carrier BBC Africa lost steering as it was departing the channel and struck the moored bulk carrier Common Faith. No injuries or pollution were reported, but vessel damages were estimated at $1.1 million. Investigators found that the BBC Africa’s steering was operating properly during pre-departure tests and while under port bridge wing control. Problems occurred when control was transferred to the bridge’s center helm, causing the rudder to...
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Man charged after deadly shooting game inside Harris County home
28Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Man charged after deadly shooting game inside Harris County home

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Two men reportedly took turns shooting at each other with a rifle while wearing a Kevlar helmet inside a residential home, an act that left one man dead and the other facing a murder charge. Deputies with Precinct 4 Constable’s Office responded on August 17 to the 23700 block of Pennington Hills Drive. They found 34-year-old Aaron Prout, originally from the United Kingdom and residing in Harris County, with a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Investigators identified the homeowner as Sean Odonnell, born October 22, 1987. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, what was initially reported as a possible suicide did not add up. A follow-up investigation revealed the circumstances leading ...
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James Brown charged with murder after victim found lying in street with multiple stab wounds
28Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Houston

James Brown charged with murder after victim found lying in street with multiple stab wounds

HOUSTON, TX – Charges have been filed against a suspect in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man earlier this month in northeast Houston. https://youtu.be/QhODQtQJm8U The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on August 12 in the 4500 block of Pickfair Street. Houston police officers responded to a report of a male lying in the roadway. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced the victim, identified as Joshua Hampton, 36, deceased at the scene. He had suffered multiple stab wounds. According to the HPD Homicide Division, nearby residents did not report hearing or seeing any disturbance before the victim was found. A person of interest came forward during the investigation but was questioned and released. Further investigation identified James Brown, 50, as the suspect. On...
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Two deputies struck by suspected impaired driver, Life Flight called to North Sam Houston Tollway
28Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Two deputies struck by suspected impaired driver, Life Flight called to North Sam Houston Tollway

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Two deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s Office are in surgery after being struck by a suspected impaired driver on the North Sam Houston Tollway. Photo Courtesy of Pct. 4 According to officials, the deputies are being treated for serious leg, hip, and head injuries. The injured male Corporal has served Precinct 4 for more than four years, and the injured female Deputy has served the community for more than two years. Both deputies were performing their duties to protect and serve when the crash occurred. Constable Mark Herman also asked the community to keep the deputies and their families in their thoughts and prayers during this time.
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Suspect arrested for third DWI after fleeing crash on Northwest Freeway
28Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Suspect arrested for third DWI after fleeing crash on Northwest Freeway

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – A suspect was arrested after fleeing the scene of a crash in the 27100 block of the Northwest Freeway late Monday night. Photo Courtesy of Pct. 4 According to Constable Mark Herman’s Office, Deputy Stubblefield located the suspect, who was transported to a hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Harris County Jail. The individual is charged with Felony DWI – 3rd Offense. Officials noted that this arrest is not related to the crash involving injured deputies from the Constable’s Office.
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Constable Herman announces multi-agency Labor Day DWI initiative
28Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Constable Herman announces multi-agency Labor Day DWI initiative

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – As families prepare to celebrate the Labor Day holiday weekend, Constable Mark Herman’s Office announced that patrols will be increased across Precinct 4 as part of a multi-agency initiative with Precinct 1 and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Photo Courtesy of Pct. 4 The goal of the operation is to identify and remove intoxicated and reckless drivers from the roadways and prevent serious accidents caused by impaired driving and excessive speed. This zero-tolerance enforcement period will be in effect from Friday, August 29, through Monday, September 1, 2025. “Labor Day weekend is always one of the busiest travel times of the year,” said Constable Herman. “Our deputies will be out in full force to keep our citizens and their families safe. We ask every...
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Driver rescued after crashing into light pole, tree and rolling over in Harris County
28Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Driver rescued after crashing into light pole, tree and rolling over in Harris County

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s Office responded to a major crash in the 20800 block of Cumberland Ridge Drive at Ochre Park Lane. Photo Courtesy of Pct. 4 A white Nissan Pathfinder struck a light pole and a tree before rolling over. The female driver was pinned inside but was conscious and breathing when emergency crews arrived. Cy-Fair EMS rescued the driver and transported her to a local hospital. The westbound lanes in the area remain shut down at this time. More information will follow if it becomes available.
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