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Fake TECO Bill Collector Sentenced To Prison

Hillsborough Co. Sherriff's Office

Ronald Favorite

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 10, 2009

A man that investigators say used fake Tampa Electric Co. identification to get Hillsborough County residents to pay him their bills has been sentenced to five years in prison, according to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay.

Ronald Anthony Favorite went to three University Area homes between Dec. 17 and 31 and pretended to be a TECO employee performing an audit, Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay spokeswoman Lisa Haber said. Favorite claimed there were problems with bills, explained the customer owed less than the bill stated and told the customer to pay the bill in cash to him, Haber said.

Hillsborough deputies arrested Favorite on Jan. 7 at 13542 N. Florida Ave. Favorite, 28, was charged with three counts of organized fraud involving less than $20,000. He also was charged with violating probation.

Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Ronald N. Ficarrotta sentenced Favorite last week to five years in Florida State Prison, a Crime Stoppers news release states today.

TECO spokesman Rick Morera said in January that his agency had learned through investigators and customers that anywhere from 12 to 24 customers living in Central or North Tampa may have been victims of Favorite.

Favorite was collecting money from customers at their homes, which is something Tampa Electric employees don't do, Morera said.

Deputies were able to find Favorite thanks to two tips called in from citizens, Haber said.

Crime Stoppers had offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to Favorite's arrest. The two tipsters were slated to receive $200 each for their help in catching him.

"This case is just another example of how Crime Stoppers brings the community, law enforcement, and the media together in a positive way to solve, and in some cases, prevent crime in the community," today's Crime Stoppers news release states.

Favorite's probation for organized fraud involving less than $20,000, which began in December, was slated to end in December 2010. That incident also involved him claiming to be a TECO employee and performing a fake audit, Haber said.

The Hillsborough County Jail Web site lists his occupation as software technician.

Click on www.crimestopperstb.com for more information on Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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