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Even from jail, Latin King gets the word out

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 22, 2006

Jail inmates don't get Internet privileges. But Michael Victor Lugo, a Latin Kings gang member incarcerated on a charge of conspiracy to engage in racketeering, found a creative way to join the blogosphere. Lugo has been writing letters from jail to his brother, who then posts them on a blog titled "Cell of Confinement," prosecutor Christine Brown said in court Tuesday. Brown said Lugo is using http:// cellofconfinement.blogspot.com to communicate with gang members outside the jail. But the 10 postings since July don't delve into much other than his stress and frustration with being in jail. A sample from the most recent entry, posted in October: "The only thing I ask now is for the Lord to forgive my sins so he may hear my voice as I pray for my family, friends and even those who seek my downfall and destruction. I pray for them the most. It is hard, yet I do it."

Contractor jailed in $500,000 theft

Police say Frank V. Medlin, a contractor for Diversified Construction Contractors Inc., stole close to $500,000 from South Tampa homeowners. Medlin, 42, of 1904 Curry Road was arrested at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to engage in racketeering, jail records show. He was released from the Hillsborough County jail later in the day after posting $15,000 bail, records show. Medlin took money from several homeowners, promising to pay subcontractors and suppliers, said Detective Jim Bartoszak. Instead, he kept the funds, causing the subcontractors and suppliers to accuse the homeowners of failing to pay their bills, Bartoszak said.

4 youths charged in car theft, chase

Four teenagers were arrested Tuesday afternoon after stealing a car, fleeing from deputies and crashing into two other cars, the Sheriff's Office said. Kevin Jackson, 19, faces one count each of grand theft auto, aggravated fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest without violence and two counts of leaving the scene of a crash. Three of his passengers - 19-year-old Marquis McKenzie, 16-year-old Reginald Thompson, and 15-year-old Ernest Jenkins - each face a charge of grand theft auto. Jackson tried to flee again while being treated at Northside Hospital later on Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office said. He was captured 15 minutes after he got out of custody.

[Last modified November 22, 2006, 00:27:10]