Man accused of collecting fromTECO customers in jail

TAMPA -- A man who deputies say was scamming Tampa Electric Company customers is behind bars today.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and TECO started getting calls from customers saying a man with a TECO badge came to their door claiming he could lower their bills with a simple audit, said Rick Morera, a spokesman for the electric company.

"He asked them for a cash up front payment and unfortunately some customers believed him," Morera said.

The company estimates somewhere between 12 and 24 people were victims of the scam all in the north and central Tampa areas.

Deputies arrested Ronald Anthony Favorite, 28, Wednesday and charged him with four counts of organized fraud less than $20,000.

Favorite has been arrested seven times in Hillsborough County in the past five years. The charges have ranged from drug possession to driving under the influence to fraud. With each arrest his race has jumped from black to white to asian in county arrest records, and he's been listed as a pipe fitter, a department of transportation employee, a laborer and a software technician in the past five years.

Morera said customers should contact law enforcement if anyone comes their door asking for money.
"We do not ask for any cash for services at people's homes, "he said. "So that she be a red flag."

Also, TECO employees have picture identification issued by the company.
"If someone says their with us ask to see their ID," Morera said.

Favorite is being held at Orient Road Jail without bail.

--Robbyn Mitchell, Times staff writer