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Crime

Man found guilty of drug dealing, faces life sentence

Tampa, Florida -- A federal jury found a Tampa, with a history of drug dealing, guilty for again conspiring to deal drugs in Hillsborough County.

The U.S. State Attorney's Office says Eugene Davis was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine.

Trial evidence and testimony revealed Davis engaged in a year-long conspiracy with others to distribute hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and crack cocaine in the county.

Fifth Third Bank bomb threat cleared

Tampa, Florida -- Tampa Police say the bomb threat regarding the corporate office of the Fifth Third Bank at 201 East Kennedy Boulevard was cleared by bomb sniffing K-9s.

Police say a man called 911 around 11:14 a.m. and said there was a bomb outside the bank at 201 E. Kennedy Boulevard. Authorities evacuated the bank's building while bomb technicians and K-9s searched the branch office.

It was cleared just before 1 p.m. and employees have returned to work.

The situation, they say, never impacted operations at 100 North Tampa.

"Bank Bag Bandit" sentenced to 27 years in prison

Tampa, Florida -- A Palm Harbor man, also known as the "Bank Bag Bandit" who committed five armed bank robberies in three counties, was sentenced Monday to 27 years in federal prison in connection with the crimes.

As part of sentence, the United States Attorney's Office says David Dwindell was ordered to forfeit over $13,700, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense and to pay over $38,000 in restitution which is the amount stolen from the banks.

Detectives see spike in new credit card machine skimmers

Tampa, Florida -- Tampa Police say for several years they've seen skimmers on credit card machines, but recently, detectives have seen a spike in key logging devices on computers on business credit card machines.

Detectives say these logging devices look similar to a flash drive that captures all customer credit card information, and many business owners don't even notice they've been breached as criminals insert the device without them knowing.

Crime down in Hillsborough County

Crime down in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County, Florida -- The Hillsborough County Sheriff's office has released that crime in Hillsborough County is down 53.2% since 2007. 

For the sixth straight year, deputies have reduced overall crime in Hillsborough County. With a population in unincorporated Hillsborough County of more than 800,000 residents, the number of victims of  crimes was also reduced from 21,617 in 2011 to 20,072 in 2012. This violent crime rate is the lowest since recording started in 1985.

Local man accused of terrorism fit to stand trial

TAMPA, Florida (AP) - A court-appointed psychologist has concluded a Tampa Bay area terrorism suspect named Sami Osmakac is competent to stand trial.

The Tampa Tribune reports that U.S. Magistrate Anthony Porcelli ordered the competency review and during a hearing Thursday, said that a psychologist determined Osmakac is competent.

Gas station robberies plague 2 counties

Pasco County, Florida -- Pasco County Sheriff's deputies are investigating two armed robberies Wednesday morning.

Authorities say the first robbery occurred at the 7-Eleven in the 23000 block of SR 54 in Land O' Lakes. Around 2 a.m., two black men with hoodies and masks reportedly threatened a clerk and left with an undisclosed amount of money.