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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2008

TAMPA BAY AREA

Crispers Chief Charged

An interim chief executive officer of the Crispers restaurant chain has been charged with federal crimes in connection with a scheme to steal from the company.

David C. Haas, 45, of East Hanover, N.J., was interim CEO of Lakeland-based Crispers in 2007. Publix Super Markets, which owns Crispers, had hired Haas to examine Publix's investment in Crispers. It later installed him as interim CEO.

According to U.S. Attorney's Office documents, Haas directed Crispers employees to transfer more than $403,000 of Crispers money into his personal bank accounts in New Jersey, telling employees that the payments were for company business. Haas is charged with and has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Port Adds Cargo Service

In late July, Peruvian Amazon Line plans to add cargo service every 60 days between the Port of Tampa and Houston; Tampico, Mexico; Cartagena and Liticia, Colombia; Manaos, Brazil; and Iquitos, Peru.

STATE

More Riding Tri-Rail

High gas prices are pushing Tri-Rail ridership to a record high in South Florida, said the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which runs the commuter trains from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.

Officials say more than 370,000 passengers rode the system last month, the highest ridership recorded in a single month since service began in 1989.

NATION

Lehman Denies Move

Lehman Bros. Holdings on Tuesday denied that it was forced to tap the Federal Reserve's discount window to stave off cash problems and maintains that its books remain liquid.

The nation's fourth-biggest investment bank was battered Tuesday - its stock fell $3.22, or 9.5 percent, during regular trading - amid reports it needs to raise up to $4 billion of capital because of steep losses due to the ongoing credit crisis. The securities firm is set to report its first loss this month since splitting off from American Express in 1994.

Carrier Plans Increases

Carrier Corp. says it will raise prices on its heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment in North America as much as 6 percent by mid-July because of higher commodity costs.

ENERGY

Oil Falls; Gas Up Slightly

Light, sweet crude oil for July delivery fell $3.45, to $124.31 a barrel, in New York trading Tuesday. Retail gas prices rose to a record near $3.98 a gallon.

A staff and wire report

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