Ex-Tampa Police Employee Indicted on Federal Charges

A former Tampa Police Department community service officer has been indicted on a number of federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III announced the unsealing of an indictment against Tonia Bright on Tuesday. That indictment charges Bright with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of obtaining information from a protected computer and four counts of aggravated identity theft. The charges stem from Bright’s alleged involvement in a stolen identity refund fraud scheme.

Bright, the indictment states, worked for TPD in the District 3 substation. She was charged with taking reports that did not require a sworn officer to handle. In this capacity, she had the ability to access local, state and federal law enforcement databases. Federal prosecutors allege Bright used the databases, including the National Crime Information Center, to access the personally identifiable information of others. In turn, prosecutors say, she handed over the stolen information to others who would use it to commit crimes.

Tampa resident Rita Girven is named in the indictment as one of the people Bright allegedly handed information over to. Girven has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. She is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 20.

Authorities say once Bright obtained victims’ identifying information, Girven and others used the details to file phony income tax returns. The returns were then deposited onto reloadable debit cards so the cash could be accessed.

Bright faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge alone.

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