Recent Blog Posts
Supreme Court Decision Pauses the Death Penalty in Florida
A recent decision by the United States Supreme Court put Florida legislators on a fast track to fix the state’s current death penalty procedures. As reported in The New York Times, the Court ruled that judges were given too much power to make death penalty determinations, in violation of the Sixth Amendment. Writing for… Read More »
Florida’s Carjacking Laws
A Florida mom made national headlines recently after the video of an attempted carjacking went viral. As reported by ABC News, the woman was pumping gas at a local station around 10:00 PM. Her two young children were in the back seat of the car. Surveillance cameras captured the event as one armed individual… Read More »
News-making Health Care Fraud Cases
Florida ranks high among states for incidents of health care fraud. In response to the constantly increasing number of cases and convictions, federal agencies placed the nation’s first Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Miami to investigate suspected illegal activities and bring charges in state and/or federal court. Agency efforts have resulted in thousands of… Read More »
What Higher Domestic Violence Prosecutions Mean to the Accused
The holidays include a lot of wonderful events and feelings. However, they also come with some negativity, including a significant increase in domestic violence cases. As reported in the Orlando Sentinel, Florida prosecutors are trying more misdemeanor domestic violence cases than ever before. For example, prosecutors in Orange-Osceola County handled almost 300 more of… Read More »
Defining Self Defense
A highly publicized death penalty case is headed to the Florida Supreme Court, with both sides asking the court to reverse portions of the trial judge’s decision. According to reports, the case stems from a 2008 incident where the defendant allegedly asserts that he was attacked by two men and killed them both in… Read More »
The Changing Face of Gang Activity
According to recent reports, gang activity is changing significantly. What was once dominated by street crimes and drug offenses is now characterized by credit card fraud and Western Union scams. Florida leads the country in identity theft complaints, and law enforcement agents attribute a substantial percentage of these crimes to gang activities. As reported… Read More »
Understanding Florida’s Hit and Run Laws
The wanted suspect in a recent hit and run accident case was reportedly located in an unexpected manner. As reported by FOX News, the incident occurred when a driver struck another car, resulting in significant front-end damage to the vehicle. Law enforcement learned the identity of their suspect when her car’s emergency response system… Read More »
The Value of Mitigation
A federal judge in Florida recently sentenced a prominent area accountant to more than six years in prison after she was found guilty of running a tax fraud scheme. According to a report in the Sun Sentinel, the 61-year-old woman was highly esteemed within the area’s Jamaican community, where she offered her services as… Read More »
Common Holiday Crimes
Shoplifting In a season where you are inundated with enticements to spend, spend and spend some more, many people bow to the pressure by shoplifting from area stores. The rate of arrests for this offense increase significantly in the weeks leading up to Christmas. In Florida, retail theft includes: Carrying away merchandise from the… Read More »
Nine Arrests in an Alleged Crime Ring
What started as a fuel theft investigation turned into a variety of charges for numerous suspects in the Miami area. According to a report by NBC Miami, seven men and two women recently appeared in court on accusations of involvement in an expansive crime ring. Details of the Investigation The investigation started more than… Read More »
Untested Rape Kits Could Lead to Wrongful Convictions
Thousands of untested rape kits sit in local police department storage rooms across the nation. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, more than 10,900 of those kits are sitting in Florida law enforcement agency evidence rooms. As reported by Florida Today, about a third of those kits “should have been submitted” for… Read More »
Defending Solicitation of a Minor Charges
A recent sting operation in Okaloosa County resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals on charges stemming from allegations that they were soliciting minors for sex. According to the Navarre Press, the investigation was undertaken by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force, members of the North Florida… Read More »
Defending a Wrongful Domestic Violence Accusation
The national media is focusing on a Florida judge who recently jailed a woman for failing to appear at a criminal trial against her husband. According to reports by ABC News, the husband’s charges stem from a domestic violence accusation that he choked his wife and threatened her with a kitchen knife as she… Read More »
The Federal Charge of Bank Robbery
Bank robberies are a common occurrence in the media outlets of South Florida. Each week, a new report appears about a bank hold-up and the search for suspects. While these incidents may conjure up thoughts of movie scenes and old gangster films, a bank robbery charge is a serious offense carrying significant penalties. Some… Read More »
The Far Reach of a Contributing to Delinquency Charge
If you were recently arrested for allegedly shoplifting or driving under the influence with a child present, you may have been surprised to also receive a charge for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Most assume that this offense directly relates to the physical or sexual abuse of a child, but the broad… Read More »
Florida Lawmakers Cracking Down on Prostitution and Revenge Porn
Florida residents now have 27 new laws in effect to regulate a wide variety of violations, including prostitution and the relatively new offense of revenge porn. Lawmakers passed these statutes in May of 2015, but they are just now taking effect. Prostitution Under the new Florida law, the classification for solicitation of a prostitute… Read More »
Deciphering Access Device Fraud
A little known statute is making news in Florida. Two men were recently sentenced to almost two years in prison and another faces charges for the same offense. The Palm Beach Post is reporting about two men who were recently convicted of access device fraud and given a jail sentence. The court convicted the… Read More »
Defending a Tax Fraud Case
Florida is known for many things, from its beaches to its warm climate, but now the sunshine state can add tax fraud leader to the list. According to an IRS Criminal Investigation Task Force, tax fraud in Tampa alone is costing the United States Treasury Department more than $5 billion each year. One police… Read More »
Defending an Attorney Grievance Proceeding
Florida lawyers have a new tool in their quest to attract and secure new clients. As reported by the Miami New Times, the The Florida Bar recently decided to allow lawyers to text potential clients. The practice was formerly banned, but the organization changed its stance as “an adaptation to reality” as reportedly explained… Read More »
Twenty-One Suspects Facing Charges after a Child Sex Sting
A recent undercover sting operation resulted in the arrest of 21 Florida men on charges of obscene communication and unlawful use of a communication device. As reported by News 4 Jacksonville, Operation Panther was undertaken by several agencies, including the Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the Florida Bureau of Investigations…. Read More »
