The NCAA said Wednesday it has been investigating the relationship between a convicted Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro and the University of Miami for five months.

NCAA investigators visited the University of Miami campus Monday looking into claims by Hurricanes’ booster Nevin Shapiro that more than a dozen former or current football players received gifts and services from the convicted Ponzi schemer and convicted felon. Shapiro allegedly provided cash, goods, bounties for injuring opposing players, prostitutes, assorted favors and on one occasion, an abortion a woman that was impregnated by a University of Miami football player, and even purchased a yacht on which sex parties with prostitutes were held.

Shapiro’s relationship with the Hurricanes’ program dates back about a decade, with some of the alleged incidents allegedly occurring in the past four years — within the NCAA’s statute of limitations regarding violations.

Nevin Shapiro, 42, was sentenced in June by a New Jersey federal judge to 20 years in prison for his role in an investment fraud scheme involving $930. He pleaded guilty to charges related to running a multistate Ponzi scheme that prosecutors say left more than 60 investors in Florida, Indiana and New Jersey with nearly $100 million in losses.

Shapiro is currently serving time at United States Penitentiary, Atlanta (inmate #61311-050) at the same prison as Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff.

Tampa police have arrested an expelled student after thwarting what they deemed a potentially “catastrophic” plot to set off a bomb at his former high school and cause mass casualties, authorities said Wednesday.

Tampa police arrested Jared Cano, 17, Tuesday after they found bomb-making materials, marijuana-growing equipment and a “manifesto” in his room outlining plans to set off explosive devices at Freedom High School.

Jared Cano, 17, who has a criminal history, including a charge of gun theft, and was expelled from school more than one year ago; desired to cause more casualties than happened at Columbine, according to the journal.

Tampa police found shrapnel, timing and fusing devices, a fuel source, and a journal with suspect’s statements in his apartment at 15501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd where he lived with his mother.

View Larger Map

Justin W. Honeycutt, 30, was killed while working Saturday on the Star Flyer ride at the Magical Midway, 7001 International Drive in Orlando. The ride was not operating for guests when Honeycutt climbed the ride that rises over 230 feet into the air. The ride moved and apparently a counterweight struck the maintenance worker and knocked him toward the ground. His safety harness stopped him from hitting the ground, but he dangled about 50 feet above the ground.

Orange County Fire Rescue was recovered from the position after a 45-minute operation. He was pronounced dead with severe traumatic injuries to his body. It is unknown if the strike of the counterweight caused the fatal injuries or the sudden stop after a fall in the safety harness.

Videos from guests from prior visits to Magical Midway …

Few of operations of Star Flyer from the ground.

POV video showing view from inside the ride chair, which travels up to 54 mph.

Magical Midway info from eHow.

See also …
magicalmidway.com

A group of activist hackers known as ‘Anonymous’ has threatened to take down a different Orlando city-related website each day, beginning with Orlandofloridaguide.com, a website that is not owned by the city of Orlando. The website is an independent directory of Orlando promoting information for locals and vacation travelers, with information on attractions, nightclubs, sport and restaurants. The website was checked on Tuesday about 9:35 a.m. and took more than two minutes to load — apparently under attack.

According to press releases to media outlets, the attacks are justified as retaliation for repeated arrests of members of a non-profit group called Food Not Bombs, who have, without a permit, been feeding homeless and needy people in a park. Photos of arrests were published on the foodnotbombs.net website.

On June 20, 2011 the group was alleged to be involved in taking down the Orlando, Florida Chamber of Commerce website, and inserting a message into the Univerversal Orlando Resort related to boycotting Orlando.

The group is alleged to be involved in attacks against Westboro Baptist Church, threats against Sony, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on the website of the Spanish Police on June 12, 2011, Internet attacks against about 100 websites in Malaysia, and several other attacks worldwide.

The group is also possibly related to Operation Payback — a coordinated, decentralized group of attacks on opponents of internet piracy originating from the website 4chan. Operation Payback started as retaliation to DDoS attacks on torrent sites; piracy proponents then decided to launch DDoS attacks on piracy opponents. Later the attacks were focused on major pro-copyright and anti-piracy organizations, law firms, and individuals.

See also …
foodnotbombs.net

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Payback

Senator Marco Rubio penned an op-ed in Thursday’s Miami Herald called “Why We Must Save Medicare.” In this video, Senator Rubio details that op-ed further and elaborates on his goals for the program.

“Medicare is going bankrupt, and anyone who says its not is simply lying. Medicare will broke in as little as nine years,” Senator Mark Rubio.

Marco Antonio Rubio is the junior United States Senator from Florida and member of the Republican Party. He was born in Miami, Florida. He lived in Las Vegas for about six year, and has lived in Miami since 1985.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s police are investigating bump and rob crime from Palm Beach Gardens to Delray Beach. Drivers have been robbed after a dark-colored Jeep SUV bumped another car from behind and then offenders shot or robbed victims. Victims are distracted while checking for damage from the intentional crash.

The type of crime has been reported during May 2011 at the following locations:

Military Trail near Atlantic Avenue, Delray (May 18, 2011)

Churchill ROad near Olive Avenue (May 18, 2011)

4400 block of Cherry Road, Palm Beach(May 12, 2011)

Lyons Road and Hypoluxo Road, Palm Beach (May 12, 2011)

Citizens with information about any of the crimes are urged to call Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at (800)-458-TIPS (8477).

See Palm Beach Post News for more …
Drivers in West Palm, Delray shot in ‘bump and rob’ attacks