(Dallas)Joey Torma

[androd]

Orange County Jail booking mugs -- updated daily

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Home > News > Orlando Breaking News
Joseph W. Torma (Lake County Sheriff's Office / May 7, 2009)


TAVARES - Lake authorities are holding a man they say preyed on consumers across the state by telling them he was a Walmart employee and offering them low-priced "overstock" television sets.

Investigators said Joseph W. Torma scammed victims by meeting them in restaurants and other social settings, identifying himself as a Walmart employee and offering them great deals on TV sets due to an overstock at his particular store.

Torma would later meet the individuals at a Walmart location, accept about $300 in cash and tell them to wait for him at a store entrance, according to an affidavit provided by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

"The defendant would tell the victim to wait at one door, then enter the store and leave through another door without ever making contact with the victim again," the affidavit states.



The investigation found that Torma "consistently used the same method to attract, bait and scam his victims in nearly every incident."

Many victims described Torma as having bad teeth.

Torma, 60, is listed as homeless and charged with organized fraud, according to Lake County Jail records.

Law enforcement agencies reported a man fitting Torma's description using the same methods in Largo, Pinellas County, Brevard County, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, West Melbourne, Sumter County, Sebastian, Lake City and Lake County.

Lake County Sheriff's Office spokesman John Herrell said Torma turned himself into the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and he was later transported to Lake based on an arrest warrant issued there.

Ultimately, Herrell said, the statewide prosectors office will handle the case.

Rod.<------- Joey's still alive. a link below if you want to see a pic.

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Last edited by androd : Today at 01:08 PM.

[CaliRed]

wow, nothing like having them have to mention you have bad teeth.

that link did not work... maybe this one will

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-walmart-imposter-050709,0,3548414.story

[CaliRed]

he apparently made the Florida's Most Wanted list too....includes another picture

http://myfloridalegal.com/MostWant.nsf/Fugitives/703B07C89EFE221B852575AD004A8F8A

[Artie Bodendorfer]

wow, nothing like having them have to mention you have bad teeth.

that link did not work... maybe this one will

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-walmart-imposter-050709,0,3548414.story Ask Freddy About Garr and his teeth.

[androd]

he apparently made the Florida's Most Wanted list too....includes another picture

http://myfloridalegal.com/MostWant.nsf/Fugitives/703B07C89EFE221B852575AD004A8F8A

CaliRed; Thanks for the links.
Rod.<-----If you didn't know Joey, count yourself lucky.

[CaliRed]

Orange County Jail booking mugs -- updated daily

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Home > News > Orlando Breaking News
Joseph W. Torma (Lake County Sheriff's Office / May 7, 2009)


TAVARES - Lake authorities are holding a man they say preyed on consumers across the state by telling them he was a Walmart employee and offering them low-priced "overstock" television sets.

Investigators said Joseph W. Torma scammed victims by meeting them in restaurants and other social settings, identifying himself as a Walmart employee and offering them great deals on TV sets due to an overstock at his particular store.


Rod, any stories you can share about him?

[androd]

Rod, any stories you can share about him?

Played real good pool as a young man, but quickly fell under the spell of older conmen and quit playing much. He's very likeable and will steal a hot stove without gloves. I can't remember how much he got me for, but it was more than chump change and more than once. He once went to work for a guy who was a sports bettor and hooked him up with a bookie who paid great odds. The guy and his friends ( dangerous folks) lost a lot of cash to this bookie and when they finally won, Joey disappered, of course their was no bookie as Joey was turning the bets in for them. A few years later I ran into Joey at a friends bar, Joey was betting him the sports, but putting up. I told Joey "give me my money or bloody my nose" He said do you know how many people I've screwed around and how many times I've had my ass kicked ? I said no, he said I don't either, but I've gotten pretty tough. I laughed so hard I was over being mad at him. He ended up betting my friend without putting up and he stiffed him also, although I'd warned my friend. He was an informant for the law and got some pool players busted for transporting weed. I next saw him in my same friends bar (different location) he'd gained about 50 lbs. my friend said aren't you Joey, he said my name is George. When I left the bar a customer was parked in the back waiting for Joey to come back with some electronics. Long wait.
Rod.<----only scratched the surface

[Blackjack]

I saw this story on our local news a few days ago, accompanied by Joey giving an Oscar award winning interview from the jail, complete with tears. If I can find the video online, I'll post the link here.

[Fatboy]

this is pathetic, honestly if your gonna do something and risk a beef-at least make some $$$. $300 LOL,

[fred bentivegna]

I'm sure Grady will agree with me, Joey was a wonderful human being and a credit to the pool community.

the Beard

[Blackjack]

I found the interview that they did with him from the Volusia County Jail -

Joey Torma - aka "Plasma Pat" (http://www.wftv.com/news/19401715/detail.html)

During the tearful interview, he makes sure to point out that his victims were just as much at fault. Ummmmm... yeah.

[hemicudas]

I found the interview that they did with him from the Volusia County Jail -

Joey Torma - aka "Plasma Pat" (http://www.wftv.com/news/19401715/detail.html)

During the tearful interview, he makes sure to point out that his victims were just as much at fault. Ummmmm... yeah.

Thanks a lot for posting that, Dave. Hope you are doing well.

[Grady]

Jack Taylor, I believe, has a few good bones in his body. Joey,though, is pure evil. 99% of career criminals are the lowest form of life that exists. I can't hire an ex-con because some of them kill their benefactors. I wanted to take in a family from Katrina but couldn't risk having my family attacked.
Ok, I mention Jack because when Freddie do our top ten list of worst pool players as human beings, I don't have Jack in the top five. Sorry, Jack. I make it a tie for the top three with "Dallas Joey", "Detroit Whitey" and Pancho.

[SJDinPHX]

Jack Taylor, I believe, has a few good bones in his body. Joey,though, is pure evil. 99% of career criminals are the lowest form of life that exists. I can't hire an ex-con because some of them kill their benefactors. I wanted to take in a family from Katrina but couldn't risk having my family attacked.
Ok, I mention Jack because when Freddie do our top ten list of worst pool players as human beings, I don't have Jack in the top five. Sorry, Jack. I make it a tie for the top three with "Dallas Joey", "Detroit Whitey" and Pancho.

Right on Grady, Joey was a "career criminal", Detroit Whitey was a career a**hole, and had virtually ZERO redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Someday, if I can modify it for a public forum, I will tell you what I saw him do, first hand, to Canadien Pete and myself.

Check the dictionary under "biggest sleazeball p***k", of all time" and there will be a picture of Eddie Beauchene.

Dick

[fred bentivegna]

Right on Grady, Joey was a "career criminal", Detroit Whitey was a career a**hole, and had virtually ZERO redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Someday, if I can modify it for a public forum, I will tell you what I saw him do, first hand, to Canadien Pete and myself.

Check the dictionary under "biggest sleazeball p***k", of all time" and there will be a picture of Eddie Beauchene.

Dick

Pete moved to Bensingers after his tour with Whitey. We could never get him to open up about Whitey. Whitey himself told me a few tales, but it was hard to believe anything that he said. Please inform me by email or PM, I will exchange a story Whitey told me that I just couldnt believe.

the Beard

[SJDinPHX]

Pete moved to Bensingers after his tour with Whitey. We could never get him to open up about Whitey. Whitey himself told me a few tales, but it was hard to believe anything that he said. Please inform me by email or PM, I will exchange a story Whitey told me that I just couldnt believe.

the Beard

Freddy,

It's a long, intricate war story and at my 3 WPM typing speed, it would take me about a week to put it in a PM.
I have your phone # and some day next week (before noon Chi-time) I'll give you a call and we can swap tales. I have free LD.
By the way, I liked Pete, he was a good kid. Too good to run with Whitey. Unlike RA, rather than put a simple "bite" on you, Whitey's first thought was...How can I f**k this person out of their cash. And that included mother, brother,sister !!!

Dick <---Thinks he may have heard every "unbelievable" Whitey story ever told. I was around him (not by choice) WAY TOO MUCH, back in the day.

PS. Is Pete still around...anywhere ?

[fred bentivegna]

Freddy,

It's a long, intricate war story and at my 3 WPM typing speed, it would take me about a week to put it in a PM.
I have your phone # and some day next week (before noon Chi-time) I'll give you a call and we can swap tales. I have free LD.
By the way, I liked Pete, he was a good kid. Too good to run with Whitey. Unlike RA, rather than put a simple "bite" on you, Whitey's first thought was...How can I f**k this person out of their cash. And that included mother, brother,sister !!!

Dick <---Thinks he may have heard every "unbelievable" Whitey story ever told. I was around him (not by choice) WAY TOO MUCH, back in the day.

PS. Is Pete still around...anywhere ?


Pete hung around Bensingers for years and then went back to Canada and disappeared. I dont think he is still breathing. Whitey ruined Pete. Pete spent his time high and drunk. He had plenty of pool ability.

the Beard

[stevelomako]

Pete moved to Bensingers after his tour with Whitey. We could never get him to open up about Whitey. Whitey himself told me a few tales, but it was hard to believe anything that he said. Please inform me by email or PM, I will exchange a story Whitey told me that I just couldnt believe.

the Beard

Would you believe anything about....Whitey, dogs and peanut butter??

[Fatboy]

I found the interview that they did with him from the Volusia County Jail -

Joey Torma - aka "Plasma Pat" (http://www.wftv.com/news/19401715/detail.html)

During the tearful interview, he makes sure to point out that his victims were just as much at fault. Ummmmm... yeah.


"Buyers are liars" is a term in boiler rooms(telemarketing scam joints). And what he said is correct 75% of the "Buyers" dont care if what they recieve is stolen from the collection plate from a church-just as long as they get what they want, where it comes from or who it harms makes no difference.


On that note do you really think Steve Wynn cares if you go lose your house payment, car payment etc at one of his craps tables, and if you win do you care if he has to lay-off his loyal employee's?


When I was a scammer-and I was, I will never deny it, I'm not proud of it. But when I was I had alot of my friends look down at me, yet they never refused $$$ I would give them for their kids college funds, I would open up trust accounts for their new borns college $$$, since I never had kids and lots of $$$ I did this for alot of friends, ill gotten gains were fine with them as long as they wernt the theif and I was. Funny how that works.


That dosent make it ok though

[stevelomako]

"Buyers are liars" is a term in boiler rooms(telemarketing scam joints). And what he said is correct 75% of the "Buyers" dont care if what they recieve is stolen from the collection plate from a church-just as long as they get what they want, where it comes from or who it harms makes no difference.


On that note do you really think Steve Wynn cares if you go lose your house payment, car payment etc at one of his craps tables, and if you win do you care if he has to lay-off his loyal employee's?


When I was a scammer-and I was, I will never deny it, I'm not proud of it. But when I was I had alot of my friends look down at me, yet they never refused $$$ I would give them for their kids college funds, I would open up trust accounts for their new borns college $$$, since I never had kids and lots of $$$ I did this for alot of friends, ill gotten gains were fine with them as long as they wernt the theif and I was. Funny how that works.


That dosent make it ok though

What's nice is, the same people you help...will look the other way when YOU need it. It's like the more morals some people have, the worse they are about taking from you.

That's why I like the friends I got, some of them might not be much but they aint never changed.

[fred bentivegna]

Would you believe anything about....Whitey, dogs and peanut butter??


I have a good spaghetti sauce Whitey story. I'll let the imaginations run wild.

the Beard

Personally, I was totally in awe of Whitey. The psychological term is probably, sociopathic egregious fascination.