Seven arrested in online prostitution sting

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Investigators with the Harris County Sheriff's Office Vice Unit made several arrests yesterday during an undercover prostitution sting in north Harris County.

The operation focused on suspects soliciting sex online. Female undercover deputies advertised as escorts on the internet and arranged for solicitors to meet them at a prearranged location off of I-45 North and FM 1960, officials said.

Once suspects arrived and made an agreement with the undercover deputies to receive sexual services in exchange for money, they were arrested.

The operation resulted in the arrest of seven males. All of the following have been charged for prostitution: Eric Lucero, 43; Jose Dubon, 42; Richard Wayne Learn, 65; Richard Anthony Thompson, 51; Joseph Francis Andolino, 59; Dean Andrew Starke, 52; and Michael Allen Barth, 50.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office will continue to conduct similar reverse prostitution operations targeting not only those who solicit sex but those who sell sex as well.

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FBI arrests seven people, including president, connected to Riverside General Hospital

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Law enforcement sources tell Eyewitness News the FBI has arrested seven people connected to a local hospital.

A federal strike force has charged 91 people in seven different cities. All of them are in the medical industry and they're all accused of Medicare fraud schemes.

We watched 12 six people involved in that health care fraud crackdown appear in federal court Thursday afternoon. Seven of them have ties to one of the city's oldest hospitals, in Houston's Third Ward, and the most prominent is the facility's own president.

Riverside General Hospital has had its fair share of problems lately, even some "difficult times" as its president, Earnest Gibson III, puts it on the hospital's website. But perhaps there's no time more scandalous a time than now.

Riverside General's at the center of a nationwide health care fraud investigation.

"Charges have been brought against 91 defendants, including doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals for their alleged participation in fraud schemes involving nearly $430 million in false billings," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said.

In Houston, investigators allege Gibson, his son, Earnest IV, William Bullock and five others linked to the hospital and its satellite offices were part of an elaborate Medicare scheme involving programs connected to the treatment of mental illness.

They're accused of money laundering, submitting false claims to the government for services that weren't needed and bribing Medicare beneficiaries with cigarettes and food.

"It's a shame, it's injustice to this community. That's what it is," Gibson told us.

"Are you guilty of Medicare fraud?" we asked.

"Absolutely 1,000 percent no," he replied.

"Why would they charge you then?"

"Because this is crazy accusation."

Court documents allege Riverside General's director and co-conspirators submitted approximately $158 million in fraudulent claims between 2005 and 2012.

"Such activity not only siphon precious taxpayer resources, drive up health care costs and jeopardize the strength of the Medicare program, it also disproportionately victimizes the most vulnerable members of our society, including the elderly, disabled and impoverished Americans," Holder said.

The judge has set the Gibson's bond at $75,000. Also as part of their bond condition, the judge requested that all the defendants get jobs not related in the health care field. But Gibson's attorney Catherine Baen says her client has helmed Riverside General Hospital for three decades and they will fight that stipulation.

"There was an investigation done on this long ago, an internal investigation I believe, and it showed no wrong doing and Mr. Gibson is not guilty," Baen said.

Many of the defendants will return to court next week for a hearing, though for long time community activists like Pastor James Nash, they are hoping the historic hospital survives.

"That hospital is an icon, and in that community it's very much needed," Nash said.

A spokesperson for Riverside told us, "The hospital is waiting on legal counsel at this time. We do support Mr. Gibson and his leadership for 30-plus years."

All the defendants are scheduled for another hearing in a week.

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Seven more cases of West Nile virus in city of Houston; one more in Ft. Bend Co.

West Nile virus cases continue to rise in the Houston area.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There are several more human cases of West Nile virus in the Houston area.

The city of Houston Monday afternoon reported seven new human case of the virus. That brings the total in the city to 38 with three deaths.

Here are the latest cases:
32. 55-74 year old Male in southwest Houston 33. 25-34 year old Male in southeast Houston 34. 25-34 year old Male in southwest Houston 35. 85-94 year old Female in southeast Houston 36. 85-94 year old Male in southwest Houston 37. 25-34 year old Female in southeast Houston 38. 35-44 year old Female in northwest Houston

Harris County has 16 cases. Fort Bend County reported a seventh overall case. The latest is a 45-54 year old man who lives in Sugar Land.

Texas is having its worst ever outbreak of West Nile virus with 47 deaths, which is about half of all the West Nile deaths in the country this year.

Overall, at least 63 human cases have been confirmed across the ABC13 viewing area with four deaths.

As for other counties in our area as of last Friday, Montgomery County has reported four cases with no deaths. Wharton County has had one case with one death. Liberty County has had one case with zero deaths. Galveston County, Brazoria County and Waller County have all had zero cases thus far.

This year the Centers for Disease Control is reporting a record number of deaths and infections linked to West Nile. There have been human cases in 44 states, but the virus has hit Texas the hardest with more than a thousand infections and at least 40 deaths.

Mosquito-proof your property

HCPHES continues to encourage residents to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats around their property. Remove or empty all outside containers that may hold water such as flowerpots, tires and toys. Bird baths and pet water bowls should be changed at least twice a week. Clean out gutters and make sure windows and doors have proper screening. Do not "feed" the storm drains. Sweep up lawn clippings, leaves and tree limbs from sidewalks and driveways and dispose of them properly.

Prevent mosquito breeding in boats Cover your boat and store it in a covered place. Drain any standing water and make sure the bilge pump is working.Turn over canoes, kayaks and small boats to store upside down.

Personal protection

Historically, in Harris County, July through September is the peak timeframe for disease transmission to humans. To reduce the likelihood of being bitten by mosquitoes, practice personal protective measures. When outdoors, use an insect repellent containing the active ingredient DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 and apply as directed on the label. If possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

For additional information and/or maps of West Nile Virus activity in Harris County, visit www.hcphes.org.

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Seven arrested in string of bank robberies

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The seventh and final suspect involved in the October robberies of two banks in the northwest sector of Fort Bend County was arrested on a warrant last week.

Fort Bend County Sheriff's deputies, along with US Marshals, arrested Karrmyne Laron Barros, 31, in Houston. He is charged with aggravated robbery and is being held in the Fort Bend County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Barros is the seventh suspect involved in the aggravated robberies of two banks, which occurred within a week's time in early October.

On October 3, the Capital One Bank located in the 23900 block of Westheimer Parkway was robbed by three subjects.

On Thursday, October 6, the second aggravated robbery was conducted by four subjects who hit the IBC Bank in the 10500 block of State Highway 6 South at West Bellfort.

By Tuesday, October 11, Fort Bend County Sheriff's detectives had identified at least two of the suspects in these robberies -- Ashley Ann Jackson, 23, and Johnathan Charles Simmons, 22. By Thursday, October 13, Simmons had been arrested and another suspect, Darius Broussard, 17, had been identified.

"On some of these arrests, we received tips from the Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers hotline, and on the rest, it was good hard work by our detectives," said Captain James Burger of the Sheriff"s Office Criminal Investigation Division.

On Friday, Oct. 14, Jackson surrendered at the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. A warrant for Broussard was sent to Lafayette, Louisiana, and the local police agency arrested him there.

"Our warrants division did an outstanding job of rounding up the remaining suspects who played a role in these two robberies," Burger said.

Along with Simmons, Jackson and Barros, Amyillia Bruno, Dominique Blakley and Broussard were arrested. Farouk Odariko, 24, is being held in the Harris County Jail on a parole violation. He faces two counts of aggravated robbery in Fort Bend County.

Simmons, Bruno and Jackson were identified as the subjects who entered the Capital One Bank on Oct. 3. Broussard joined those three in robbing the IBC Bank on Oct. 6.

Odariko, 24, was identified as a driver in both cases, and Blakley, 17, and Barros also drove vehicles in the second robbery. All suspects are from the Houston area.

Jackson and Bruno face two counts of aggravated robbery with $100,000 bonds on each count.

Simmons faces the two aggravated robbery charges with the same bond amounts, but he also has a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, which has an additional $50,000 bond. He also faces a parole violation.

Broussard has a $100,000 bond on one aggravated robbery charge, while Barros has a $50,000 bond on one aggravated robbery charge.

Blakley, 21, had a bond of $25,000 on one count of aggravated robbery. He posted bail on Dec. 16.

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