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News: Man accused of purchasing 500 illegal exotic roaches online |
By Walter Pacheco, Orlando Sentinel
5:39 PM EST, January 28, 2011
The online purchase of 500 illegal exotic roaches, coveted as gourmet reptile food because of their soft shells and high protein content, sent an Orlando man to jail on felony charges.
Agents with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Derek Alan Rader forged a permit to make it appear as if he could legally purchase the creepy crawlers, known as Blaptica dubia, a native of South and Central America.
While the roaches are a tasty and nutritious treat for many reptile pets, state entomologists consider them an invasive insect in Florida.
The banned bugs, also called the Guyana Orange Spotted Cockroach, is a species "capable of causing harm to Florida's delicate ecological system," said Greg Hodges, bureau chief of entomology at the state's Division of Plant Industry.
Officials on Wednesday detained Rader on an arrest warrant and booked him into the Orange County Jail.
He is charged with forgery of a public record certificate, fraud and introduction of pests affecting plant life.
He left jail after paying $2,500 bail.
Rader did not immediately return calls to the Orlando Sentinel.
Court records show Rader in October contacted an insect and reptile enthusiast in California by e-mail, requesting 500 of the banned insects.
The person agreed to sell the insects but waited until Rader forwarded a copy of his permit.
Rader sent the seller a receipt for the payment and a copy of his permit, which showed he was allowed to purchase the insects.
The seller tried to confirm the accuracy of the permit with state officials in Florida but sent the insects before getting a response.
The seller mailed Rader the bugs to a post office box in Orlando.
Investigators said Rader altered his expired permit to show he could buy the banned bugs in Florida.
Most states do not allow importation of these roaches. State agriculture administrator Michael Thomas said some researchers, such as those in zoos who can keep invasive species in a locked container, a restricted facility or under quarantine, might be allowed to purchase the bugs.
An online search of insect vendors shows 500 roaches sell for about $100.
It is unclear why Rader purchased the bugs. However, when detectives rummaged through his garbage looking for evidence, they found 1,500 fliers showing he ran a website named FlyCulture.com.
That website is no longer active.
Walter Pacheco can be reached at wpacheco@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-6262.
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News: Soldier proposes to wrong woman |
Overcome by emotion he then says: "Dont ever forget I love you with all my heart and I was going to ask you - don't answer, obviously you can't answer - but will you marry me?"
He then speaks of his sadness at losing a friend in a roadside
"I can't wait until you give birth to my baby, my little soldier," he says. "I will do everything in my heart and I will try my hardest to fight to protect you.
"I ve got to go back out there now. I love you with all my heart, don't ever forget that. I love you, alright Samantha, I love you. Bye bye."
Mrs Potts has made the above message public in the hope it finds its way to the mystery Samantha.
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Jan 27, 2011 Debbie Dawson
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News: Smugglers with "medieval catapult" nabbed at border |
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News: Boy, 9, has Disney World trip ruined after US immigration rules him a threat |
Civil servants Kathy and Edward Francis planned to surprise their grandson Micah Strachan with the holiday of a lifetime to Florida in February.
They were only going to tell Micah about it when they took him to the airport on February 19 for the flight to the US.
They had already spent more than £1,500 on plane tickets and had been organising the trip for months.
But this week US Embassy officials denied the schoolboy a visa to enter the US.
They said there was a risk he would not leave the US at the end of his holiday and refused his application under Section 214 (b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Micah was born in Britain and has lived in Middlesex all his life with his mum Claudia Lewis.
He holds a South African passport because his grandparents Kathy and Edward, who have lived and worked in Britain since 1990, only got him a South African passport.
A letter from Micah's primary school was included in his visa application confirming he attended the school.
But the US Embassy's rejection letter to Micah said: "Because you either did not demonstrate strong ties outside the United States or were not able to demonstrate that your intended activities in the US would be consistent with the visa status, you are ineligible."
His grandmother Kathy, from Brixton, South London, said: "It was going to be a total surprise. He would have loved it.
"We feel so deflated by the whole experience.
"I want to know why he would be deprived of the holiday of a lifetime.
"It's crazy to think that he wouldn't leave the country. This is causing severe stress on the family. I am going to fight this."
Tessa Jowell, Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, said: "I was very concerned to learn about the situation facing my constituents and of course understand the distress the decision has caused.
"I have asked the American authorities to look again at this and very much hope they will feel able to reconsider their decision."
Meanwhile, the family have written to US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to ask for an explanation of the decision.
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News: ASU student pummels would-be robber |
When the man asked for Botsios' laptop, however, the first-year law student drew the line.
"I was like, 'Dude, no -- please, no!" Botsios said. "I have all my case notes…that's four months of work!"
At that point, the law student wrestled the bat away and began punching Saucedo, Botsios said.
Police said they took Saucedo to the hospital for stitches before they arrested him on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping. Other than a bruised knuckle and a few scratches, Botsios was unharmed.
Janet Botsios, Botsios' mother, said she took the first flight from Texas as soon as she heard what happened.
"I'm like putting my face in my hands, and I just couldn't believe it," she said. "I was like, 'Oh my God.' I'm so glad he watched all those police shows his whole life … He knew how to take care of himself … I'm very, very, very proud of him."
Alex Botsios said he learned one lesson from the incident: don't leave windows open.
Otherwise, he said he is happy that his laptop is unharmed.
