Officer Troy Young Arrested in Case of Missing Lotto Winner

Ten months ago, Abraham Shakespeare simply vanished, along with all of his money: $12 million he won in the Florida Lottery.

"We fear he's died a sinister death with sinister motives," said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd.

Now investigators have arrested a fellow law enforcement officer.

Troy Young, a 20-year veteran of the Lakeland Police Department, is accused of selling confidential information about Shakespeare to a woman who is now considered a person of interest in the case.

"He's a very well-liked guy. He's a personable guy, well-liked by fellow officers and well-liked by people in the community," said Lakeland Police spokesman Jack Gillen.

Detectives say Officer Young sold the information to 37 year old Dee Dee Moore. Investigators say they met through a mutual friend, and that she claimed she was writing a book about the millionaire.

They say she paid the officer $200 and a plane ticket to run tag numbers and searches through law enforcement databases.

"For very little amount of money and Troy's bad judgment, Dee Dee Moore ruined his career in her overall confidence scheme," said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd.

The sheriff calls Moore a con artist who befriended Shakespeare and Officer Young -- a law enforcement veteran whose record was spotless, until now.

"Troy Young may not have known her ultimate sinister motive. But he knows as a police officer, it is illegal to run tag numbers and provide that data our of the confidential systems to the public," Judd said.

Young is charged with unlawful compensation, a 2nd degree felony; and misuse of confidential information, a misdemeanor.

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Two Deputies Accused of Extorting Hush Money

A Broward County judge granted bail this afternoon to one of two deputies accused of extorting hush money from a Fort Lauderdale marijuana grower.

Fausto "TJ" Tejero, 34, was arrested Oct. 9 on charges of extortion, attempted bribery, armed burglary and unlawful compensation.

Armed burglary is a no-bail offense, but prosecutor Tim Donnelly advised the judge today that the state would not be filing that charge, said Tejero's defense attorney, Mike Dutko.

Judge John Hurley granted Tejero $75,000 bail and ordered that he wear an electronic ankle monitor, Dutko said.

Also charged in the cash-for-silence scheme is Deputy Manuel Silva, 40. He has been held without bail since his Oct. 2 arrest.

According to a search warrant, the deputies promised to protect the pot grower in exchange for $15,000.

Silva proposed the arrangement after seeing five marijuana plants at Orlando Gutierrez's home in Fort Lauderdale, the warrant states. Tejero is accused of acting as Silva's accomplice.

Gutierrez reported the deputies to the Broward County Sheriff's Office, which provided the cash and set up a sting operation to record the transaction.

"I've spoken at length with my client and in the end I think he'll be vindicated of all these charges, but we're not there yet," Dutko said. "Although the bond is high, it is justifiable and appropriate under the circumstances."

Tejero's family is working with a bondsman to try to post the bail, Dutko said.

Corrections Officer Michael Craven Accused of Protecting Inmate in Exchange for Tires

A former state corrections officer has been arrested and accused of protecting an inmate at his prison in exchange for four tires.

Michael L. Craven was a sergeant at Marion Correctional Institution north of Ocala. He is charged with unlawful compensation for official behavior.

Officials say an inmate's father purchased four tires in June and gave them to Craven in exchange for protecting his son while in jail.

Craven was released from the Marion County jail after posting a $5,000 bond.

Deputy Fausto Tejero Charged with Extorting Money

A Florida sheriff's deputy accused of extorting money from marijuana growers had an accomplice on the force, the Broward County sheriff says.

Deputy Fausto "T.J." Tejero has joined Deputy Manuel Silva in being charged with demanding money from the residents of an alleged drug-growing house near Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to ignore the operation, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday.

Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said last week when Silva was arrested and charged with extortion, attempted bribery, burglary and unlawful compensation that investigators weren't done.

"I repeat that we will leave no stone unturned when there's evidence that a BSO employee has committed a crime," Lamberti said in a release. "Unethical or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated on my watch."

The newspaper said Tejero is the fifth deputy to be arrested this year. He was twice honored as the Sheriff's Department employee of the month, in May 2006 and February 2007. The Sun-Sentinel also said Tejero was also a minor league baseball player from 1990 to 2000.
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