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Plea Deal In Dirty Bomb Case

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI

esilvestrini@tampatrib.com

Published: January 17, 2009

TAMPA - A man at the center of a case that began with a plan to sell a radioactive, dirty bomb component has agreed to plead guilty to a federal drug charge.

Christopher Benbow, 64, was sentenced in 2007 to life in prison, but had his drug conviction overturned by a federal appeals court. He was scheduled to go on trial again later this month.

The case "began like something out of a James Bond novel" and "morphed into an international drug conspiracy sting," said the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

In December 2003, Benbow, a British national who was living in Estonia, approached a friend in Miami he thought had ties to the U.S. government, according to evidence in Benbow's first trial and Benbow's plea agreement.
Benbow said he knew some Russians who were trying to sell three canisters of strontium 90, a radioactive isotope that can be used to make a "dirty bomb," court records show.

What followed included a December 2003 meeting in Tampa in which Benbow asked for $250 million for each canister, saying he wanted to get the substance off the world market and make a profit in the process, records show.
Benbow didn't know it, but the men he met with were government informants. They negotiated a deal to buy the isotope paying with drugs instead of money.

The meeting was captured on video by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The charge Benbow has agreed to plead guilty to, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. But he could receive a lower sentence under the terms of his plea agreement.

Accused Prostitutes Said They Came For Super Bowl

Two women arrested Friday on prostitution charges claimed to have come to town for the Super Bowl to make extra money, and one even claimed to work at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Nevada, Tampa police say. Police, however, say both women have local addresses.

Marissa Smith, 26, and Karen Tyborowski, 38, were both charged with prostitution; Smith also was charged with cocaine possession.

Smith and Tyborowski remain in Orient Road Jail. Tyborowski's bail is set at $500; Smith's is set at $2,250.

Collision Sends SUV Crashing Into Mobile Home

A woman in her mobile home got a huge surprise Friday morning when she heard a crash, looked out her window and saw a Ford Expedition headed straight at her.

Two sport utility vehicles had collided at the intersection of Waters Avenue and Ashley Street at 11:45 a.m., Tampa Fire Rescue workers said. The Expedition left the road and crashed into the single-wide mobile home in the Trailer Inn Court, authorities said.

Kelly Caffrey told investigators she tried to move out of the way, but the impact of the SUV into the mobile home sent her flying across her living room, injuring her leg. The crash moved the mobile home by as much as 2 feet. Tampa Fire Rescue did not have a damage estimate.

The drivers and passengers in the two vehicles were not hurt, fire officials said.

21-Year-Old Charged With Leaving Accident Scene

BRANDON - A 21-year-old waitress was arrested Friday morning, charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury and failing to render aid.

Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies arrested Candice Elaine Oliver, 2219 Krista Lane, Brandon, shortly before 4 a.m. She was released at 9:30 a.m. after posting $2,250 bail, records show. An arrest affidavit said Oliver was driving south on Kings Avenue about 1:47 a.m. and struck a 61-year-old pedestrian.

A staff report

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