I-TEAM: Customer of Jacksonville contractor angry, calling plea deal a โslap on the wristโ
A former Jacksonville contractor at the center of a three-year News4Jax I-TEAM investigation โ who at one time faced 20 felony charges of forgery, fraud, and grand theft -- has now been sentenced on a single misdemeanor charge after reaching a plea deal.
I-TEAM: Court documents confirm problems still not fixed at mice-infested complex
New information following about a monthslong investigation into an embattled apartment community in Northwest Jacksonville where the News4Jax I-TEAM found a mice infestation in April of this year: Court documents confirm the problems still have not been fixed.
I-TEAM: Adult game rooms operating underground in Jacksonville
Itโs been nearly two years since Jacksonville shut down adult game rooms, also known as internet cafes. But the News4Jax I-TEAM has learned some are operating underground, and now one Jacksonville City Council member is looking to try to make them legal.
Surfside condoโs board had a duty to act on engineering firmโs findings, attorney says
In the days after a high-rise condo tower in Surfside collapsed, killing at least 10 people and leaving dozens of others missing, the town has released new documents showing that engineers knew about structural deficiencies at the Champlain Towers South Condominium years ago.
Jacksonville councilwoman wants tenants in mice-infested apartments moved
Jacksonville City Councilwoman JuโCoby Pittman on Wednesday morning sent a letter to the property management company that oversees Hilltop Village Apartments requesting that all tenants living in buildings infested with rodents be moved and given hotel vouchers while Cambridge Management works to rid the 14 apartment buildings of rodents and correct other code violations.
Women held captive, sold as sex slaves in Jacksonville
The details are disturbing and these are just a few allegations of sex trade from open cases in Jacksonville. Itโs actually creating more damage.โTara Madison is a sex trafficking survivor who now works to prevent future cases. โA large number of the sex trafficking victims that we have been working over the last 10 years, unfortunately, they are deceased,โ Goodman said. If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. ResourcesFBI Human Trafficking Task Force: https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/human-traffickingRecognizing the signs of human trafficking: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs
2 Jacksonville health care facilities involved in massive ransomware attack
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Hospitals are on high alert as federal authorities confirm theyโre investigating โcredible threatsโ from Russian hackers trying to steal patient data and lock up health care systems. A recent attack, which affected Universal Health Services, showed the vulnerability. โCybercriminal operators encrypt the systems and data hospitals depend on in the digital age,โ a prominent health care executive with first-hand knowledge of the hack told the News4Jax I-TEAM . These recent attacks by Russian speaking outfits appear more likely to have the goal of disruption to our nationโs critical health care infrastructure.โโWe should be concerned as health care people. The HCI Group, based in Jacksonville, is a global health care information technology consulting company that works with hospitals' electronic medical records.
I-TEAM: Inmate claims coronavirus โspreadingโ fast at Duval County jail
A Sheriffโs Office spokesperson said the agency is following all guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the jail. Nationwide, the number of prisoners who test positive for COVID-19 is 5.5 times higher than the general population, according to CNN. โMy roommate tested positive for coronavirus and they moved him out of here. Duval County jail population Total number of inmates 2,162 Inmates positive for COVID-19 436 โPrecautionaryโ inmates 1,292A source inside the jail tells the I-TEAM that inmates who test positive for coronavirus are being placed in fourth floor dormitories. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Sheriffโs Office acknowledged that those who test positive or show symptoms are being quarantined.
JEA fires 9 former executives. But they will still get paid for 20 weeks
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ In his first major move since taking charge of JEA, interim Chief Executive Officer Paul McElroy placed the majority of the utilityโs leadership team on paid administrative leave last month. On Monday, JEA confirmed that nine executives were terminated without cause, according to JEA. The executives will receive 20 weeks of compensation and health benefits, JEA said. โJEA is focused on moving forward with building back the trust of the community, its customers and employees,โ JEA said. โIndividually or collectively, real or perceived, you have been complicit or implicitly involved with or simply a direct beneficiary of the (Invitation to Negotiate) or Performance Unit Plan,โ McElroy said in part.
JEA interim CEO places 8 executives on leave
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ In his first major move since taking charge of JEA, interim Chief Executive Officer Paul McElroy has placed the majority of the utilityโs leadership team on paid administrative leave. โIndividually or collectively, real or perceived, you have been complicit or implicitly involved with or simply a direct beneficiary of the (Invitation to Negotiate) or Performance Unit Plan,โ McElroy said in part. The shakeup comes as JEA faces intense scrutiny from the Department of Justice and a City Council special committee. In April, the boardโs replacements voted unanimously to remove interim CEO Melissa Dykes, a longtime executive who served as chief operating officer during Zahnโs stint running JEA. As part of the same move, seven individuals will join the utilityโs senior leadership team on a temporary basis:Stephen Datz, Interim Chief Information OfficerBruce Dugan, Interim Chief Communication OfficerRicky Erixton, Interim General Manager, Electric SystemsAngie Hiers, Interim Chief Human Resource OfficerAlan McElroy (no relation), Interim Chief Supply Chain OfficerHai Vu, Interim General Manager, Water/Wastewater SystemsWayne Young, Chief Environmental OfficerMcElroy announced last month that Hiers, along with two others, would be temporary additions to his leadership staff.
Day cares close without notice, under investigation
Some local parents are scrambling to find child care after two daycares abruptly closed their doors without notice. News4Jax I-TEAM investigator Kelly Wiley has been asking he Department of Children... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Documents show Navy lieutenant lied on background checks
Fan Yang and his wife Yang Yang are scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday. The I-TEAM found documents showing the U.S. citizen lied repeatedly to his naval commanders and on government background checks. Documents show Fan Yang lied again to get a gun for Songtao, claiming it was a personal weapon for Yang Yang, even though he later had it engraved with Songtao's initials. Records show Fan Yang joined the Navy in 2005, was discharged in 2007, went back to school and reenlisted in 2012. The I-TEAM contacted three officials within the Navy today to inquire about background checks done on Fan Yang.
I-TEAM: Nassau County hiring managers were aware of firefighter's past
A Nassau County firefighter who was arrested this month in Clay County and charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and armed robbery has resigned from Nassau County Fire-Rescue, the News4Jax I-TEAM has learned. The I-TEAM obtained Brian Bausch's personnel file, which included personnel documents from St. Johns County that were given to Nassau County hiring managers when they were making the consideration to hire Bausch. According to more than 120 pages of personnel documents, Nassau County officials were fully aware of Bauschs past when they chose to hire him two years ago. RELATED: Attempted robbery at hotel leads to firefighter's arrest, deputies say |Hotel arrest wasn't firefighter's 1st brush with law enforcement, I-TEAM learnsNassau County hiring managers also had possession of a 2016 St. Johns County pre-termination notice that was in Bauschs St. Johns County personnel file. His eight-year career with St. Johns County Fire-Rescue came to an end.
I-TEAM: Hotel arrest wasn't firefighter's 1st brush with law enforcement
The arrest last week of a Nassau County firefighter accused of attempted armed robbery and putting several people in fear at a Clay County hotel wasn't his first encounter with law enforcement, the News4Jax I-TEAM learned. RELATED: Attempted robbery at hotel leads to firefighter's arrest, deputies sayClay County deputies eventually arrested Bausch, 41, at gunpoint outside McCormicks door. At the time of his 2016 arrest, Bausch was an eight-year veteran firefighter with St. Johns County Fire-Rescue. The Nassau County human resources office told the I-TEAM that it did conduct a background check on Bausch. A chief with Nassau County Fire-Rescue told News4Jax that Bausch has been employed with the agency for just over two years.
City cleans up of pile of garbage at apartment complex, but issues remain
A pile of garbage could be seen Tuesday in the middle of the Majestic Plaza apartment complex, near a playground. But early Wednesday morning, the City of Jacksonville Solid Waste Division cleaned up the garbage, according to code enforcement. "This still would have been out if the news hadn't came," Felicia Nelson, who lives at Majestic Plaza, said Wednesday. The I-TEAM uncovered there are at still least 34 open and active code enforcement investigations into Majestic Plaza. The I-TEAM asked Mosier how Majestic Plaza compared to other cases he's seen in apartment complexes.
I-TEAM: Trash piling up at apartment complex cited with violations
But News4Jax I-TEAM uncovered more safety violations at Majestic Plaza. According to the City of Jacksonville, Code Enforcement went out Friday to inspect Majestic Plaza and the property was cited with multiple violations. "You can smell it over here," said Michael Drayton, who lives across the street from Majestic Plaza. As the I-TEAM walked the property Tuesday, there were broken windows, broken air-conditioning units and trash scattered everywhere. We havent had hot water since before last year," said Majestic Plaza resident Liz Sims, who has a 6-year-old and another child on the way.
Hundreds of charges dropped after death of teen who smoked synthetic drug
Gregory Burris, Lauri Burris and Ronald Brown Jr. each face up to five years in prison if convicted of selling cannabinoids out of Smoker's Video. Gregory and Lauri Burris owned Smoker's Video and Brown Jr. was the manager. Brown Jr. was facing a manslaughter charge in Purdy's death, which was dropped. No one else's child and parent should have to go through this," she told News4Jax after the raids. Purdy's mother told News4Jax on Tuesday that she's been to every court hearing over the past three years.
I-TEAM: 1 taken to hospital after elevator 'failed' at senior community
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - An elevator malfunction at a high-rise senior community in downtown Jacksonville sent one person to a hospital, the News4Jax I-TEAM has learned. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said the elevator at Centennial Towers "failed" June 26 while three tenants were on it. "Just went down ... went to the second floor," said Otis Bess, who lived in Centennial Towers. Thomas Davidson needs an elevator to get down from his 14th-floor apartment at Centennial Towers. According to Davison, the elevators at Centennial Towers break down frequently.
I-TEAM: Why JTA bus drivers get back behind wheel despite violations
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The News4Jax I-TEAM is learning more about the process keeping city bus drivers behind the wheel despite safety violations. The News4Jax I-TEAM found a JTA bus operator who was hired back after a grievance hearing. According to JTA, the driver's union appealed her firing again and she was still employed with the JTA. Silney is the operator involved in a crash where Jeanie Rozar was entangled, run over and killed by a JTA bus. The I-TEAM found the same supervisor was involved in hiring back both of the bus drivers.
I-TEAM: Police had prior calls to home where 9-year-old boy was shot
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The News4Jax I-TEAM has obtained previous calls for service that were made by police to a Jacksonville foster home where on Monday, a 9-year-old boy was shot in the head. The I-TEAM wanted to find out who oversees Jacksonville foster homes and how much they get paid. It's still unclear is how the gun got into the home where the child was shot. The mother of the injured 9-year-old said she wasnt aware of any guns being in the house. A police report said her son was shot while she went to a store.