6-year term for staging car crashes

A man arrested in Jacksonville was sentenced to six years in prison for staging car crashes, then collecting insurance money from the fraudulent claims, the State Attorney's Office announced Monday.

Guillermo de la Vega, 50, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of knowingly participating in an intentional motor vehicle crash and two counts of false insurance claims, according to the State Attorney's Office.

Authorities began investigating fraudulent personal injury protection claims in 2011 that originated at a Arlington rehabilitation clinic. That clinic provided bogus treatment for nonexistent injuries. Once the clinic received the money, de la Vega paid those who participated in the fake car crashes, according to the State Attorney's Office.

Derek Gilliam MAN SHOT IN LEG AT APARTMENT COMPLEX

Shots fired at a Jacksonville apartment complex during an argument Sunday left one man wounded in the left leg, police said.

The man, who is in his 40s, was arguing with another man about 7 p.m. at the Beachwood Apartments at 2900 Beachwood Drive when the second man pulled a gun and fired several shots at the victim, who was hit once. Two vehicles were also hit by gunfire, police said.

Witnesses were not able to tell police if the suspect fled on foot or in a vehicle. The victim's bicycle remained at the scene when he was taken to a hospital. His injuries weren't critical.

Dana Treen CLAYFUGITIVE GANG MEMBER CAUGHT IN OAKLEAF

U.S. deputy marshals captured a fugitive gang member in OakLeaf Monday afternoon wanted out of San Bernardino, Calif., an agency spokesperson confirmed to Times-Union news partner First Coast News.

Deputy marshals and the Clay County Sheriff's Office closed in on the fugitive, identified as Felix Ortiz, near Cardinal Oaks Circle about noon after receiving a tip that he was in the area Sunday, authorities said.

Ortiz, who has suspected gang ties, was wanted for a parole violation stemming from drugs and weapons trafficking, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

It's not yet clear exactly how long Ortiz had been living near the neighborhood, which isn't far from Oakleaf Village Elementary, authorities said. A sheriff's spokesperson said no nearby schools were placed on lockdown.

First Coast News PUTNAMMAN KILLED BY CONTACT WITH DOWNED LINES

A 25-year-old man died Sunday after apparently coming in contact with downed power lines following a car crash in western Putnam County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A woman in the car was hospitalized with substantial injuries following the 4 a.m. crash on County Road 20A at Crocus Lane east of Hawthorne.

Robert W. Beall of Hawthorne was eastbound in his Toyota Scion, went off the road on a left curve and struck a power pole, snapping it over and draping power lines over the car, which overturned onto the driver's side after the impact. Beall apparently got out of the car and came in contact with the power lines. He was deceased at the scene and had electrocution-type injuries, the Highway Patrol said.

Hailey A. Roberts, 23, of Keystone Heights was trapped inside and rescued after the power was cut off so emergency workers could reach her, the FHP said.

Dana Treen BATTERY COMPLAINT LEADS TO POT BUST

A 54-year-old woman and her 22-year-old son were arrested Sunday on charges of producing marijuana after deputies responding to a battery complaint found marijuana growing at a home on West Tanner Road in Florahome, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.

Deborah Kaye Casner and Philip Ethan Young remain in the Putnam County jail on $1,000 bail each on the charges, according to jail records.

Deputies were sent to the home after Young complained that Casner's boyfriend had pulled him out of his wheelchair during an argument with his mother, then fled, the Sheriff's Office said. Young filed a battery complaint against the boyfriend, which has been sent to the State Attorney's Office for review.

While searching the woods around the house for the boyfriend, the mother and son yelled at deputies to stop looking, the Sheriff's Office said. About the same time, deputies smelled the odor of fresh marijuana and found a 4-foot marijuana plant growing in a tub and three more with plants whose leaves had been harvested and hidden with other foliage.

The mother and son told deputies that the plants were being grown for medicinal purposes.

Dan Scanlan FATAL CRASH PROBED BY HIGHWAY PATROL

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash on McMeekin Lake Lane in Putnam County, according to the agency's website.

The crash happened about 2 p.m. near Hawthorne.

Additional details weren't immediately available.

Derek Gilliam ST. JOHNSFATAL CRASH REPORTED IN AREA OF ELKTON

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident in the Elkton area of southwest St. Johns County.

The accident at Florida 206 and County Road 305 was reported shortly after 4 a.m., according to investigators.

No other details were immediately available.

Dana Treen