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Con-Turned-Tipster Forgoes Reward

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 30, 2008

An unnamed prison inmate who gave key testimony that led to a conviction in a Manatee County murder - all $3,000 of it - to local charities in the name of the homicide victim.

The unprecedented act of charity has caught Manatee County officials by surprise.

"He is the first person, inmate or non-inmate, who has asked for the reward money to be specifically donated to somebody," Manatee County Crime Stoppers Executive Director Frank Brunner said Sunday.

The conviction stemmed from cold case playing cards that were distributed in the prison system last fall, he said. About 100,000 decks of cards that contained information about serious unsolved crimes were doled out in penitentiaries across the state.

It wasn't long before the inmate stepped forward and implicated Brian Curry in the 2004 homicide of his girlfriend, Ingrid Lugo. The inmate, who said he heard Curry describe his involvement in the homicide while in jail, provided information that not only led to Curry's arrest but to his conviction at a murder trial this spring, Brunner said. Curry is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, prison records show.

Initially, the cooperating inmate provided the information anonymously through the Crime Stoppers program, which preserves the anonymity of tipsters, Brunner said. Eventually, the inmate stepped forward and provided on-the-record testimony. He would have gotten the reward money either way.

When he was offered the cash, he initially refused, Brunner said.

"He was eligible for the reward, but he said, 'I'm not interested in any reward,'" Brunner said. "We said, 'It is your money,' and he said, 'It's an unwritten rule we have in prison. You don't do violence against women and children. I am coming forward because it's the right thing to do.'"

The money sat in the Crime Stoppers account until just recently, Brunner said. The detective who worked the case called to say he had talked to the inmate and that he had changed his mind.

Brunner thought the inmate wanted to cash the check for himself. But the detective told Brunner the inmate wanted to donate the money to local charities, on behalf of the victim.

The inmate, who is serving time on drug convictions, is set for release this fall, Brunner said. As a result of his testifying in court, he was transferred to another prison for his own protection. He would not identify the inmate nor would he say where the inmate is being housed.

The reward was divided into three donations of $1,000 made to Hope Family Services, an agency that assists victims of domestic abuse and battery; the Manatee Boy Scouts; and the Manatee Girl Scouts.

The inmate's generosity didn't go unnoticed.

In a prepared statement, Steve Rowland, president of the Manatee Crime Stoppers and the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, said, "There is nothing that could replace the tragic taking of Ms. Lugo's life in the hearts of her family and friends. However, we hope they can take comfort in the good resulting from the donations these worthy organizations have received. It is fitting to honor her memory by making the donations in her name."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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