A vacationer in The Villages has been sentenced after her arrest earlier this year in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.
Carissa Marie Fratus, 35, of Johnston, R.I., saw her Florida vacation knocked off course when she was arrested in the wee hours of Feb. 19 on charges of driving while license suspended, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug equipment and providing a false name to law enforcement.
While free on $4,500 bond, Fratus forged ahead with her Florida fun in the sun with a trip to Universal in Orlando, before returning to Rhode Island.
Last week in Sumter County Court, Fratus pleaded guilty to the charges against her. She has been placed on probation for three years and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
Fratus on the night of Feb. 18 posted photos when she dined with family at a restaurant at Brownwood Paddock Square. The photos elicited comments like “so jealous” and “party animals” from her friends.
Fratus’ black Kia was pulled over a few hours later at the Burnsed Recreation Center after she was caught traveling at 48 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone on Morse Boulevard, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Fratus claimed she did not have her driver’s license with her and provided the name and Social Security number of another woman. A K-9 unit arrived on the scene and the dog alerted on the vehicle, indicating the likely presence of drugs.
A search turned up a purse that contained Fratus’ Rhode Island driver’s license. She told deputies she had not given them the license because she knew it was suspended. A check confirmed it has been suspended since 2017. The search also turned up a vape pen that contained a dark oil that tested positive for THC.
