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Bollea Granted Money For Divorce Attorneys

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON sthompson@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2008

CLEARWATER - Linda Bollea will get an additional $400,000 to pay her attorneys in her divorce from famed former wrestler Hulk Hogan.

The money will come from Hogan's frozen assets, which total $7 million.

Attorneys for Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, agreed to the withdrawal on the condition Linda Bollea doesn't spend any of the money on anything other than her legal expenses.

Hogan's attorneys have been highly critical of Bollea's spending habits in court. On Thursday, they said she paid a hairdresser $3,000 and a friend $4,000 to take pictures of her with her dogs, even though the friend is not a professional photographer.

Initially, Bollea was given $1.5 million after she filed for divorce in November 2007, but that amount has dwindled to $186,000, which includes two of the $40,000-a-month payments she has received in temporary alimony, her attorneys say.

Her lawyers and accountants thus far have received more than $850,000, attorneys revealed in court Thursday.

Portions Of Lois Ave. Closed Until Monday

TAMPA - The northbound lanes of Lois Avenue are closed at North A Street as city workers repair a water main.

Repairs are expected to be completed by Monday evening, if weather cooperates.

Northbound traffic on Lois will be detoured west on Kennedy Boulevard to Hubert Avenue, north on Hubert to North B Street and east on North B back to Lois.

The water department has barricades and signs in place to direct traffic.

Pasco Woman Dies In Palm Harbor Crash

A Pasco County woman was killed when her motorcycle was struck by an elderly driver pulling onto U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor on Wednesday night, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Gustave Harder, 89, of Palm Harbor, pulled out of 32615 U.S. 19 N. at 10:05 p.m. and struck the motorcycle, which had the right of way, spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in a news release.

The driver, 42-year-old Michael A. Gizzi of Brandon, and his passenger, 42-year-old Kim M. Roberts of Land O' Lakes, were ejected.

Roberts was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital, where she died of her injuries. She was wearing a half-shell-style helmet, Gaskins said.
Gizzi was in critical condition at Bayfront Medical Center.

Harder, who was driving a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, was not injured in the crash, Gaskins said. Charges were pending, he said.

The northbound lanes of U.S. 19 were closed for about two hours while troopers investigated the crash.

Animal Hoarder Won't Give Them Up

The owner of animals seized from a Lithia property Wednesday doesn't appear willing to surrender ownership, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said Thursday.

Until the animals are signed over to Animal Services, they cannot be available for adoption, she said.

Four dead dogs were found by Animal Services when authorities went to remove more than 80 animals from the property Wednesday after an anonymous tipster said the creatures were living in deplorable conditions.

More than 80 dogs, cats and exotic birds were found in what authorities described as a "dungeon" at 1306 Pelote Cemetery Road in Lithia, Ryan said. One of the four dead dogs discovered was possibly pregnant, she said.

South Americans Extradited To Tampa

TAMPA - Three more men have been arrested and extradited to the United States in an ongoing Tampa-based investigation that targets Colombian drug smugglers.

Carlos Perlaza-Mosquera, 59, of Colombia, and Peruvian nationals Gustavo Temoche-Pingo, 46, and William Abad-Saavedra, 35, made their initial court appearances in Tampa on Thursday morning.

The trio face federal drug charges that carry a minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, prosecutors say.

From 2005 through 2007, the three men were involved in organizing boats to smuggle tons of cocaine in the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to court documents. The organization built and launched go-fast boats carrying the cocaine destined for the United States, prosecutors say.

The three men also were linked to a fleet of boats out of Peru that provided fuel and provisions to the go-fast boats, prosecutors said.

The FBI, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and five other local and federal agencies participated in the investigation, dubbed Operation Panama Express.

Ex-Con Pleads Guilty To 2nd Bank Robbery

TAMPA - A 29-year-old man pleaded guilty Wednesday to bank robbery charges and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Cornelius Bryant was indicted July 30. According to testimony and evidence presented at the trial, Bryan entered the Mid-Florida Federal Credit Union, 1551 E. Gary Road, Lakeland, on June 23 and demanded money from the teller.

Prosecutors say Bryant left the bank with $1,650 in cash. At the time of the robbery, Bryant was serving a term of federal supervised release for a 2002 bank robbery conviction, prosecutors say.

Bryant's sentencing hearing is set for 9 a.m. Feb. 27 before U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara.

A staff report

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