Two Home Invasion Robbers Get 45 Year Prison Sentence
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BULLETIN Serving Immokalee, Ave Maria and Eastern Collier County Vol. 52 No. 14 Thursday, April 4, 2019 Two Home Invasion Robbers get 45 year prison sentence Two Immokalee men were sentenced to task force was made up of representatives 45 years in prison Wednesday for their roles from CCSO, Naples Police Department, Mar- in a string of violent home-invasion robber- co Island Police Department, Florida Depart- ies in Collier County and the City of Naples, ment of Law Enforcement and the FBI. while a third suspect is heading to trial. Through the investigation, the task force At a hearing in Collier County Circuit determined that nine robberies were inter- Court, Henry Adam “Ricky” Contreras, 53, related and committed by a criminal enter- and his son Johnathan Contreras, 32, both prise that included Perez, Bower, Johnathan pleaded guilty to dozens of felony charges Contreras and Ricky Contreras and that the brought forth by the Attorney General’s Of- group engaged in a pattern of racketeering fice of Statewide Prosecutor. activity from Dec. 10, 2013, through May 12, Circuit Judge Joseph G. Foster accepted 2014. their pleas and sentenced each to 45 years in The suspects operated during the eve- prison as part of a plea bargain agreement. ning hours targeting upscale homes where The agreement calls for the pair to serve no forced entry was required. They were their 45-year sentences concurrent, or at the armed with guns, wore dark clothing and same time, to the 25-year sentences they gloves and covered their heads with masks. received last year for their roles in separate They entered the homes, bound their vic- home invasions in Orange County. tims, disabled cell and house phones and They could have faced life in prison had made off with jewelry and cash. In many of they been convicted at trial. Co-defendant Andres Perez, 49, passed the incidents, they stole the victims’ vehicles on the same plea and will stand trial instead. to leave the communities. Perez is scheduled to return to court April 18 Task force members linked the suspects at which time a trial date could be set. to the crimes after conducting interviews A fourth defendant, Frank Bower, who and analyzing evidence, including cell was not involved in any of the Collier cases, phone data, bank records, pawn transac- had previously struck a plea deal that will tion receipts, jail phone calls, security video, send him to prison for 25 years. Together Pe- and shoe impressions found at the scenes rez, Bower, Johnathan Contreras and Ricky of some of the robberies. For example, the Contreras faced 113 felonies ranging from investigation found the suspects pawned Submitted photo/Fred N. Thomas, Jr. home invasion robbery to kidnapping and numerous pieces of stolen jewelry and Pictured from left to right - Immokalee Fire Chief, Micheal Choate, Corporal Patti from racketeering to dealing in stolen prop- watches at a Miami pawn shop in exchange Calderon, ICOC VP, Congressman Mario De Balart and Cherryle Thomas Recep- erty. for tens of thousands of dollars. Google tionist for the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce. In spring 2014 Collier County Sheriff Kev- Earth searches of some of the communities in Rambosk directed the creation of a mul- where the robberies had taken place were tijurisdictional task force to investigate as also discovered on some of the suspects’ similarities in home invasions emerged. The cell phones. Braden Clinic unveiling event By Fred N. Thomas, Jr. new hospital beds were beautiful and very Special to the Immokalee Bulletin functional. The hospital Vendor showcase was held Ave Maria Development and the Braden from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with speakers Clinic announce a Healthcare Technology and announcements from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 Showcase and Micro-Hospital Innovation p.m. Center Unveiling Event was held on Monday, Collier County Commissioner for District March 18,2019 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5, Bill McDaniel opened up the presentation in the Ave Maria Town Center. The event of speakers. was free and open to the public and fea- Immokalee Fire Chief was first, then Con- tured announcements on the new Braden gressman Mario De Balart. Dr. Beau Braden Hospital as well as a Healthcare Technology gave his thanks to the many persons and his Showcase including the following partners staff for their help in making his dream came of the new Braden Hospital: Hill-Rom, As- true. pen Surgical, Trump Medical, Arthrex, Inc., The event was well attended. All the Liko, Witt Rock, Nurse Call, Welch-Allyn, residents of Immokalee, Ave Maria and sur- and Philips Health Care. rounding areas can’t wait for the New 25 The Vendor with all different kinds of bed hospital of which 15 beds will be for Ricky Contreras Johnathan Contreras Andres Perez hospital equipment was mind blowing. The new mothers. 2 Immokalee Bulletin April 4, 2019 Submitted photo The panelists at the Collier County Public School’s Virtual Symposium. Students First - CCPS holds symposium at IMS By Jennifer L. Kupiec different ways parents could positively im- solvable. There are several great books avail- Specialist, Communications & Community pact social and emotional learning during able that present common behaviors we see Engagement Collier County Public Schools out-of-school time, as well as how to help in kids in ways that are relatable and that of- children develop the skills, knowledge, and fer alternative ways of managing emotions On Tuesday, April 2, Collier County Public attitudes needed to be successful in school, Schools (CCPS) held a Virtual Symposium or negotiating with friends. work, and life. For those who were unable to attend the on Building Grit and Strengthening Resil- A video was also shared which demon- ience in Children. Immokalee Middle School strated how books can help teach kids how Symposium, a Resource Guide and replay of opened its doors and welcomed parents and to deal with complex emotions and give the event will be available on the district’s community members interested in attend- kids tools to navigate through difficult expe- website (www.collierschools.com). We im- ing the virtual presentation. riences in life. Books can make an emotion, plore you to visit and see all the ways you Six panelists, including Immokalee High problem, or situation that is abstract to your can help your child become successful in School principal Clara Calderon, discussed child, concrete, real, and most importantly, life. Valerie’s House awarded Community Impact Grant Valerie’s House, a not-for-profit organiza- tion devoted to helping children and fami- lies work through grief following the death of a loved one, announced today New York Life has awarded the organization a $20,000 Community Impact Grant. The grant will support ongoing programs at Valerie’s House, including support groups for more grieving children, their parents, families and other caregivers from Lee, Col- lier, Charlotte and Hendry counties. “We are grateful for New York Life’s in- vestment in Valerie’s House, which will change many lives for the better,” said An- gela Melvin, CEO and founder of Valerie’s House. “With the Community Impact Grant from New York Life, we are now better able to continue providing grief support groups and programs at no cost to the families we Submitted photo serve.” The grant will also help as Valerie’s New York Life Agent, Donna Caruso (l), CLU, ChFC, and Peter Lovley (r), Part- House expands its services to meet the con- ner, New York Life’s South Florida General Office, present a $20,000 Community tinuing need for grief support in Southwest Impact Grant check from the company to Angela Melvin, CEO and founder of Florida. Valerie’s House, in support of the grief groups the nonprofit provides for chil- “I’m proud to work for a company that dren and families in Southwest Florida. encourages its agents and employees to devote their time, energy and talents to nership will have a lasting impact helping experience helping her clients plan for finan- support the needs and priorities of their lo- Valerie’s House provide the emotional sup- cial security, drew her to join Valerie’s House cal community,” said Donna Caruso, CLU port that is positively life changing for these as a founding board member in 2016. She ChFC, Financial Services Professional, New young children.” currently serves as vice-chair on the execu- York Life’s South Florida General Office for Caruso’s personal experience with family tive board, and supported the organization over 29 years. “We are pleased that our part- loss and grief, along with her professional for the grant application. April 4, 2019 Immokalee Bulletin 3 Celebrate National Library Week Seminole Casino Hotel to Host At its March 26, 2019, meeting the Col- April 9, 9:15-10:15 a.m. - South Regional lier County Board of County Commissioners Library - Meditation proclaimed National Library Week in Collier April 9, 10:00-10:30 a.m. - Immokalee Hiring Event on April 16 County, April 7 through April 13. The Col- Branch Library - Story Time with the Collier lier County Public Library will join libraries IMMOKALEE – Seminole Casino Hotel sissippi Stud, Blackjack Switch and Spanish County Tooth Fairy across the county in celebrating the many Immokalee will host a hiring event Tues- 21. Dining options include the award-win- ways libraries build strong communities. Li- April 9, 10:30-11:00 a.m. - Golden Gate day, April 16 from 8-11 p.m. in the EE-TO- ning 1st Street Deli, Asian fusion restaurant braries provide critical resources, programs Branch Library - Family Story Time LEET-KE Grill.