Recently, a prescription drug crime case has arisen in Florida. The case involves a 23-year-old man from Port Charlotte. The man has been accused of illegally selling prescription drugs.
]]> Allegedly, the man was caught through undercover drug buys. Undercover drug buys are one of the types of undercover operations police sometimes conduct in their drug crime enforcement efforts.According to authorities, on four separate occasions, the man sold prescription drugs to undercover officers. The four alleged sales reportedly occurred over a period of less than a month. Allegedly, three of the sales involved hydromorphone and the other involved oxycodone.
After the fourth alleged sale, the 23-year-old man was arrested. Multiple criminal charges have been brought against him. Included among the charges he is facing are charges of controlled substance possession, drug paraphernalia possession and sale/delivery of a controlled substance. The article on WINK's website which reported this story did not indicate what sentencing the man could face if he is convicted of the charges that have been brought against him. One wonders what will ultimately happen in this drug crimes case.
Source: WINK, "CCSO arrests man after 4 alleged undercover drug buys," May 14, 2013
]]>A person can be given serious punishments if he or she is convicted of mortgage-fraud-related charges. One type of punishment that is sometimes issued in mortgage fraud cases is a prison sentence. A prison sentence can have major impacts on a person's life.
]]> Thus, being accused of mortgage fraud can be a very serious allegation for an individual to face.Recently, a sentence was issued in a mortgage fraud case. The case involved a 54-year-old man from Florida. In the past, the man has served as an official in Hillsborough County.
The man was accused of having engaged in a mortgage fraud scheme. Allegedly, the man applied for two personal mortgages in connection to the purchase of some property in Tennessee and put false information on these applications. According to authorities, the man's alleged fraudulent conduct resulted in lenders getting defrauded out of nearly $1 million. Reportedly, this alleged mortgage fraud occurred in 2006.
Federal wire fraud charges were brought against the man in connection to the above allegations. In January, the man pled guilty to these charges.
Last week, the man was sentenced in federal court. He was given a prison sentence of a year and a day.
As this case shows, being accused of mortgage fraud can lead to a person facing serious consequences. Thus, if a person is accused of mortgage fraud, having a strong defense can be very important.
Source: Bay News 9, "Former Hillborough official sentenced to prison for mortgage fraud," May 7, 2013
]]>Adults who are convicted of homicide tend to face either a lifetime in prison or the death penalty, depending on the state where they're prosecuted. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled back in 2005 that the death penalty was unconstitutional for offenders under the age of 18. And last year, the high court decided that automatic life sentences without the possibility of parole violated the Eighth Amendment, which protects against cruel and unusual punishment.
]]> In the wake of that decision, Florida and other states have been struggling to decide how to handle pending and future juvenile homicide cases. One bill recently introduced by a Republican representative proposed mandatory sentencing hearings for juvenile offenders at which the court would be asked to consider factors such as the defendant's age, maturity and the potential for successful rehabilitation. A judge who decided a life sentence wasn't appropriate would still be bound by a mandatory minimum of 50 years, however, under that bill.Many opponents of the bill have argued that 50 years is still too long a sentence for a person who lacks the maturity of a full-grown adult, and that by the time a convicted teen is released as a senior citizen, there's little hope of a normal, productive life. A person institutionalized throughout adulthood would have very few resources for succeeding in life outside of prison walls.
What do you think is an appropriate way to handle teenagers convicted of homicide and other violent crimes? Are there alternatives that the courts and legislators have overlooked when it comes to sentencing these young offenders? Let us know what you think.
Source: The Miami Herald, "Bill on juvenile sentencing clears Senate panel," April 23, 2013
]]>Recently, a drug crimes case has come up in Florida. The case involves a man who is a police officer in Hialeah.
]]> Reportedly, last Saturday morning, police conducted a search of a Miami motel room the man was in. The WSVN article which reported this story did not have details regarding why police conducted this search. According to authorities, during this search, a crack pipe and a crack rock were found. Reportedly, these things were found under a mattress.Police then arrested the man. He has since been released on bond. He is facing multiple criminal charges. Included among the charges that have been brought against the man are charges of cocaine possession and drug paraphernalia possession.
The man claims that he was the victim of a set-up. Specifically, he claims he was set up by a pimp. According to the man, the pimp in question is the pimp of a woman that he fell in love with.
It will be interesting to see what ultimately happens in this case.
As this case illustrates, serious criminal charges can be brought against an individual if he or she is accused of having committed drug crimes. Drug crime cases can involve many complicated issues and a conviction on drug crime charges can be very impactful on a person. Thus, if an individual is facing drug charges, he or she may wish to consider seeking advice from a criminal defense attorney with experience in drug crime cases.
Source: WSVN, "Hialeah Police Sgt. busted with cocaine bails out of jail," April 29, 2013
]]>The case involves a 29-year-old woman. It has been alleged that the woman, through the company she ran, submitted numerous claims to Florida's Medicaid program for services that were never actually provided. According to authorities, the woman used a variety of different methods to obtain the information needed to make such claims, including offering Medicaid recipients gift cards to get them to give her their Medicaid information.
]]> Reportedly, authorities found out about this alleged Medicaid fraud through an investigation they conducted.There are a variety of different methods authorities use in their Medicaid fraud investigations. One method authorities sometimes use is analysis of Medicaid claims data. Thus, Medicaid claims data can play a major role in Medicaid fraud cases.
Recently, police arrested the 29-year-old woman in connection to her alleged fraudulent Medicaid billings. She reportedly is facing multiple charges, including charges of Medicaid-provider fraud and racketeering.
As this case illustrates, being accused of Medicaid fraud can lead to a person facing major criminal charges. If a person is convicted of Medicaid fraud charges, he or she can be given serious criminal punishments. Such punishments can have major impacts on a person's life.
Thus, if a person is accused of Medicaid fraud or other types of health care fraud, having a strong defense can be very important.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Woman stole from Medicaid, lived high life, records show," Amy Pavuk, April 26, 2013
]]>Recently, a marijuana crimes case has arisen in Florida. The case involves a young man who was a linebacker for the University of Miami.
]]> Reportedly, early last Friday morning, police found the man lying face down at the steps of a college dorm, sleeping. According to authorities, a bag of marijuana was sticking out of a pocket of the man's shorts and police spotted this bag during efforts to wake the man.Allegedly, when the man woke up, he began to physically resist the officers. According to authorities, during the altercation, police used a taser on the man.
The man was then placed under arrest. He has since been released on bail. He faces two criminal charges: a felony charge of cannabis possession and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence. Thus, this case shows how being accused of marijuana crimes can lead to a person facing serious criminal charges.
Being accused of having committed marijuana crimes can also have other significant impacts on an individual. This can be seen in what has happened in regards to the man's status with the University of Miami football team since his arrest. Since the incident, the man has been kicked off of the team. Reportedly, prior to the incident, the man had been suspended by the team twice.
Sources:
The Palm Beach Post, "Al Golden: Gabe Terry's days are done as a Miami Hurricane," Jorge Milian, April 25, 2013
The Palm Beach Post, "Police report: University of Miami linebacker Gabe Terry was passed out on dorm steps, Taser needed to subdue him," Jorge Milian, April 23, 2013
]]>Recently, a case has arisen in Florida involving an alleged staged accident. The case involves two 45-year-old men. The two were accused of having participated in an insurance fraud scheme and having each received payments of $2,000 for having played a role in the scheme.
]]> The scheme allegedly involved submitting fraudulent billings to insurers in connection to staged motor vehicle accidents. Reportedly, the two men's alleged involvement in the scheme consisted of staging a motor vehicle accident in West Palm Beach in August 2010 and allowing fraudulent billings to be submitted in connection to treatments for injuries they didn't actually suffer.Last Tuesday, police arrested the two men in connection to their alleged participation in the scheme. The two have since been released on bond. The two are facing charges of larceny and fraud.
As this case illustrates, serious criminal charges can be brought against an individual if he or she is accused of having been involved in a staged accident scheme. If a person is convicted of insurance fraud-related charges, he or she can be given impactful criminal punishments. Thus, if a person is accused of having been involved in a staged accident scheme, he or she may wish to consider seeking advice from a criminal defense attorney.
Source: The Sun Sentinel, "Two men accused of staging accident, defrauding insurance companies," Adam Sacasa, April 17, 2013
]]>Believe or not - Florida law permits law enforcement to identify sex offenders. One particular representative from the Sheriff's Department believes that the signs will help promote safety in communities. According to reports, the goal is to deter children from the homes of convicted sex offenders.
]]> However, it is important to note that Florida distinguishes between sex offenders and sexual predators. Sex offenders have been of a sex-related crime; however, sex predators are repeat violators or those that have abused children. The signs are applicable to sexual predators. In this particular case, the 18 men with signs in their yards have all been found guilty of one first-degree or multiple second-degree felony sex crimes.Florida carries many strict limitations for those that have been convicted of a sex crime. Already, offenders face serious stigmatization within their communities. Yet, is the Sheriff's Department taking measures too far? It is hard to say, but if offenders do want to reform, the chance of doing so may be difficult if they are marked with large red yard signs.
If you have been accused of a sex crime, you stand to lose a sense of independence. To ensure that your criminal justice rights are protected, you may want to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney in your area.
Source: The Inquisitr, "Sexual Predators In Florida Identified With Large Yard Signs," April 18, 2013
]]>Specifically, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is informing juveniles on the risks associated with drunk driving. In their efforts, law enforcement is using a mock drunk driving accident to instill fear into adolescents. According to reports, most parents are in support of FHP's efforts.
]]> However, with prom and graduation just around the corner, teens may succumb to the traditional rites of passage that are enforced by their classmates. There will be many celebratory parties this season, and many capricious 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds make poor legal decisions in such settings. While it is great to see FHP making an effort to reduce the mistakes of adolescents, stuff happens.It is illegal to drink in the state of Florida if one is not 21 or older. Moreover, if a person is under 18, he or she is not an adult. Therefore, a juvenile caught drinking in the state faces criminal consequences. Also, the repercussions of a sentence could compromise a teen's future.
If you are an underage teen or a parent of a child under 18 that has been accused of a crime, you should consider legal assistance. A qualified criminal law attorney can help address any juvenile criminal charges.
Source: WEAR ABC 3, "Crestview High School holds 'Mock DUI Crash,'" April 12, 2013
]]>The incident these charges arose from started with a traffic stop. On Wednesday, a car containing the 42-year-old man and the 42-year-old woman was travelling along I-75. Police then conducted a traffic stop on the car. According to authorities, they stopped the car because it had an illegal window tint.
]]> During the traffic stop, police searched the car. Police conducted the search after a drug dog that had been brought over to the car alerted to the presence of drugs. Reportedly, a bag of cocaine was found in the car during the search.As this shows, police will sometimes conduct vehicle searches in their drug crime enforcement and investigation efforts. Evidence found in such searches can play a major role in drug crime cases.
After police conducted the search, the 42-year-old man and the 42-year-old woman were placed under arrest.
According to authorities, when the 42-year-old man and the 42-year-old woman got out of the squad car after being brought to the Naples Jail Center, they left behind several bags of marijuana and a bag of cocaine.
One wonders what will ultimately happen in this drug crimes case.
As this case illustrates, being accused of having committed drug crimes can lead to an individual facing major charges. If a person is found guilty of drug charges, serious criminal punishments can be given to him or her. A drug crime conviction can also have other consequences. For example, a person's reputation and professional life can be significantly impacted by a drug crime conviction.
Thus, being accused of drug crimes can be a very serious allegation. Consequently, if an individual is facing drug crime accusations, having a strong defense can be integral.
Source: Naples Daily News, "Miami couple facing drug charges after traffic stop," April 18, 2013
]]>Serious criminal charges can be brought against an individual if he or she is accused of having committed identity theft. A person can face major criminal punishments if he or she is convicted of such charges. Thus, the stakes can be quite high in identity theft cases.
]]> Recently, a verdict was reached in an identity theft case from Florida. The case involves a 30-year-old woman from Miami.It was alleged that the woman obtained the identifying information (including the social security numbers) of several current and former Florida prisoners. The CBS Miami article which reported on this case did not give any details regarding how the woman allegedly obtained this information.
Allegedly, the woman then filed fraudulent tax returns using this identifying information.
It was alleged that the woman received thousands of dollars worth of tax refunds that she was not entitled to as a result of these alleged actions.
The woman faced charges of identity theft and access device fraud in connection to these allegations. A trial was held and a verdict was recently reached. The woman was convicted of the above-mentioned charges.
Generally, after a conviction, a sentencing hearing will be held to determine what sentence will be given to the convicted individual. The 30-year-old woman's sentencing hearing is scheduled to occur in June. One wonders what will happen in this hearing and what sentence the woman will be given.
Source: CBS Miami, "Miami Woman Convicted In Tax Fraud Scam," April 15, 2013
Our firm handles identity theft cases and a wide variety of other white collar crime cases.
]]>Last summer, during a solicitation of prostitution arrest, police took a DNA swab of the man. The DNA from the swab was then tested and compared to samples on file with the Combined DNA Index System. According to authorities, the DNA from the swab was found to be a match for DNA taken from a 2002 sexual attack.
]]> The attack occurred in September 2002. The victim of the attack was a woman. Reportedly, during the attack, the woman was robbed and raped.The 43-year-old man has now been arrested in connection to the 2002 attack. He reportedly faces charges of robbery and sexual battery.
As this case illustrates, DNA evidence can play a major role in sex crime cases.
Given how DNA evidence is portrayed in TV shows and movies, people may think that DNA evidence is infallible and that if there is DNA evidence against a defendant, that means that the defendant is for sure guilty. However, this is not the case. Errors can occur in DNA testing which can lead to results being incorrect. Examples of errors that can occur in connection to DNA testing include: sample errors, sample contamination, human error and machine errors.
Thus, in sex crime cases in which there is DNA evidence, it can be important to carefully investigate the details/documentation regarding how a DNA sample was taken, transported and tested to see if any potential errors occurred which could have impacted the results of the DNA testing.
Source: WKMG, "Man arrested in 2002 Daytona Beach rape," April 9, 2013
Our firm handles a wide variety of criminal defense matters, including sex crime cases. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Florida sex crimes page.
]]>Recently, a juvenile crime case has arisen in Florida that involves theft crime allegations. The case involves three 17-year-old individuals. These three juveniles have been accused of burglary.
]]> Allegedly, the juveniles would walk by houses in Boca Raton and knock on the front doors of these houses. According to authorities, the juveniles were doing this to determine if anyone was in the homes. It has been alleged that the juveniles then broke into some homes and stole items from them.The three juveniles were arrested in connection to these allegations. The juveniles reportedly face multiple charges. Included among the charges the juveniles are facing are charges of burglary, attempted burglary, grand theft and possession of stolen property. The article on the Sun Sentinel's website which reported this story did not mention what specific sentencing the three juvenile's could face if they are found guilty of the charges that have been brought against them.
As this case illustrates, a juvenile can face serious criminal charges if he or she is accused of having committed theft crimes.
Juvenile crime cases involving theft crime allegations can have many complicated aspects and what happens in such cases can be very impactful on a juvenile's life. Thus, if a juvenile is accused of having committed theft crimes, his or her parents/guardians may wish to consider seeking advice from a criminal defense attorney with experience in juvenile crime cases.
Source: The Sun Sentinel, "Boca police arrest three juveniles on multiple burglary charges," Adam Sacasa, April 4, 2013
]]>Reportedly, police conducted a two-month investigation into alleged drug dealing activity in an area in Fort Myers. This investigation led to police obtaining a warrant to search a home in Fort Myers. Police then searched the home. Reportedly, police found marijuana, powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and MDMA in this search.
]]> During this drug bust, police arrested the 41-year-old man and the 27-year-old man. The two men face charges of drug possession with the intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school and drug paraphernalia possession. The 41-year-old man also faces a charge of parole violation. The News-Press article which reported this story did not mention what specific sentencing the two could face if they are found guilty of the charges that have been brought against them.This case illustrates a couple of points worth noting. The first is that police will sometimes use investigation operations in their drug crime enforcement efforts. There are many different tools and methods that can be involved in such operations. In drug crime cases, it can be very important to look carefully at any investigation operations that were conducted by police in relation to the case, to ensure that police acted properly during such investigations and didn't engage in any conduct which violated an individual's rights.
The second point this case illustrates is that being accused of drug crimes can lead to a person facing major criminal charges. Thus, if a person is accused of drug crimes, having a strong defense can be very important.
Source: The News-Press, "Fort Myers drug seizure brings 2 arrests," March 30, 2013
]]>Recently, a check fraud case has arisen in Florida. The case involves a 40-year-old man from the Miami area. The man has been accused of having used phony checks to make purchases at two stores in Palm Beach County. Reportedly, these alleged check crimes occurred last April. Allegedly, the total amount of the purchases the man allegedly made with the phony checks was upwards of $8,500.
]]> In their investigation of this case, police presented a photo lineup to some of the workers of the two stores. The conducting of photo lineups is one of the methods police sometimes use to build up evidence regarding the identity of a crime's perpetrator. In a photo lineup, police present photos to a witness and ask the witness to point out which of the photos is a photo of the crime's perpetrator.Reportedly, during the photo lineups in this case, the store workers the lineups were presented to selected the photo of the 40-year-old man.
The 40-year-old man is facing charges of forgery, grand theft and organized fraud in connection to the alleged check fraud. One wonders what will ultimately happen in this case.
As this case illustrates, police sometimes use photo lineups in their fraud crime investigations. In cases in which photo lineups were conducted, it can be important to carefully look at how police acted during the lineups, to ensure that police didn't engage in any conduct which could have influenced which photo a witness chose.
Source: The Palm Beach Post, "Police said man passed fraudulent checks while purchasing generators," Toni-Ann Miller, March 22, 2013
Our firm handles a wide variety of criminal defense cases, including fraud cases.
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