Local News Now

Co-defendant's guilty plea to filing a false statement accepted by court

Photo for Headline Surfer® / James Sotolongo and Ramara Garrett and his longtime live-in girlfriend, Ramara Garrett, parents of a 9-month-old baby, are among four defendants accused of mortgage fraud involving seven homes in Volusia County valued at $13 million, according to a federal grand jury indictment. The other two accused are Christopher Mencis and Stephanie Musselwhite, shown in the inset.

ORLANDO -- A federal judge rejected -- at least for the time being -- a guilty plea for James Fidel Sotolongo that would have capped his prison sentence at five years in a deal negotiated with the U.S. Attorney's Office that had him copping to only one of 13 counts in a grand jury indictment.

News-Journal has not reported on defense motion against it 4 days ago & has ignored internet newspaper's inquiries as to merit of accusation

Headline Surfer® inset photo /

DAYTONA BEACH -- One of the remaining defendants about to go to trial in the alleged Volusia mortgage fraud case has asked a federal judge to consider polling jurors individually or even consideration for a change of venue a because of incessant coverage in the Daytona Beach News-Journal that her attorney asserts has crossed the line with "inflammatory and adverse articles published in print and on the Internet."

DAYTONA BEACH -- This Super Bowl Sunday already is a day stacking up with lots of news. The two most significant news developments are an "open letter" to Gov. Scott on pervasive corruption in Volusia County government involving Councilwoman Deborah Denys in the removal of Palmer Wilson from the SEV ad authority and an exclusive interview with Ramara Garrett and Jim Sotolongo. They are the principals in Waverly Media who are accused of mortgage fraud in federal court.

By Dr. L. DURHAM

DAYTONA BEACH -- Professional sports fans today, at least in the wake of the recent comments made by Seattle Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman, seem to be cut from a very different mold from fans back in the 1960s and '70s.

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Waverly Media park bench ads like this one at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Dunlawton Avenue in Port Orange, dot the landscape in Volusia County.

DAYTONA BEACH -- No matter where you drive along the major roadways in the county, invariably you are going to see more than a few of those eye-catching park bench ads.

Such is the successful advertising medium of Waverly Media, which literally has hundreds of benches dotting the landscape that is home to the world's most famous beach, the Daytona 500 and Florida's first 24/7 internet newspaper, HeadlineSurfer.com.

Photo forHeadline Surfer® / This dolphin was being cared for with wet towels and buckets of water after it washed ashore on Ormond Beach.

ORMOND BEACH -- A dolphin that washed ashore in early November was rescued by SeaWorld in Orlando, beach officials said.

Ormond Beach resident John Meade was among the first beach-goers to come across the dolphin earlier in the day "tumbling and tossing with the surf."

Ormond Beach resident John Meade was among the first beach-goers to come across the dolphin earlier in the day "tumbling and tossing with the surf."