Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Leesburg Woman Sentenced to Four Years for Stealing and Selling Patients’ Information
In October 2019, Stacey Hendricks of Leesburg was arrested for selling confidential patient information she illegally obtained in the context of her medical billing job. On three separate occasions in 2019, Hendricks sold a total of 20 images of patient records to undercover agents in Orange County. In January 2020, she pleaded guilty to… Read More »
NFL Player Pleads Not Guilty in South Florida Armed Robbery Case
As reported by 4 CBS Miami, DeAndre Baker of the NFL’s New York Giants was recently arrested on armed robbery charges in Broward County. Mr. Baker, who was a former high school football star in Miami, allegedly pulled a gun on and stole property from multiple men after a dispute arose at a party… Read More »
Woman Arrested After Refusing to Leave a Public Beach in Violation of a Miami-Dade County COVID-19 Order
According to a report from WPLG Local 10, Kimberly Falkenstine, a 33-year-old Miami woman, was arrested and charged with multiple criminal offenses for refusing to leave the beach at Lummus Park. Police allege that Ms. Falkenstine went on the beach in violation of a Miami Beach public safety order that closed the area in… Read More »
Supreme Court: Sixth Amendment Requires a Unanimous Jury Verdict for Serious Crimes
All defendants have a right to a fair trial. If you were charged with a crime, a fair trial is one in which a unanimous jury verdict is required for a conviction—at least as it pertains to serious crimes. On April 20th, 2020, the Supreme Court determined that the Sixth Amendment of the United… Read More »
Report: Miami Police Have Made At Least 16 Curfew Arrests
On March 26th, the City of Miami enacted a strict 10 PM curfew as part of its effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus). Under the local ordinance, residents are instructed to stay inside from 10 PM to 5 AM—unless their conduct falls under an exception. Failure to comply with this law… Read More »
Florida Pastor Arrested After Defying COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Order
In an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), state and local officials throughout the United States have issued a wide range of different legal orders—many of them temporarily closing down ‘non-essential businesses’, banning large gatherings, and requiring people to stay home or shelter in place. As of April 1st, 2020, Florida… Read More »
Supreme Court Decision Gives Individual State Prosecutors Additional Authority to Bring Criminal Charges Against Undocumented Immigrants
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the Supreme Court of the United States recently released a decision that, in effect, will give individual states additional legal authority to prosecute undocumented immigrants. On March 3rd, 2020, the nation’s top court released its opinion in the case of Kansas v. Garcia—deciding in favor… Read More »
Dozens Arrested in Joint Law Enforcement Operation in Miami-Dade County
According to reporting from NBC 6 South Florida, several dozen people have been arrested in a large “gang violence” and “gun violence” crackdown in Miami-Dade County. In a joint effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the operation—which is being called ‘Operation Triple Beam’—resulted in the arrest of more than 150 suspects… Read More »
Arrest Made in South Florida’s Decades Old “Pillowcase Rapist” Case
On January 20th, 2020, the Miami Herald reported that Robert Eugene Koehler, a 60-year-old Florida man, has been arrested on sexual battery charges. Investigators believe that Koehler is likely responsible for many other crimes. Indeed, they believe committed a spree of sexual assaults that took place across Southeastern Florida in the early and mid… Read More »
Driver Arrested in Deadly Miami Beach Hit-and-Run Accident
According to reporting from 7 News Miami, Ledisnier Pordomingo-Lopez, 35, has been arrested on felony criminal charges in relation to a fatal accident that occurred in the middle of the night last fall in Miami Beach. Prosecutors believe that Mr. Pordomino-Lopez was the driver responsible for a deadly hit-and-run crash that occurred on the… Read More »
Florida Truck Driver Arrested in 39-Year-Old Murder Case
According to reporting from NBC 6 South Florida, James Curtis Clanton, a truck driver, was arrested in Union County on murder charges. The arrest is in relation to a 1980 rape and homicide that happened in Douglas County, Colorado. Using a commercially available genealogy website, prosecutors were able to link Mr. Clanton’s DNA with… Read More »
Study: How the High Costs of Fines and Fees Burden Defendants and the Criminal Justice System
In November of 2019, the Brennan Center for Justice published the results of a new study that focused on how the high costs of being arrested unjustly burden the accused—especially middle and lower income defendants. Beyond that, the researchers found that in many jurisdictions, these fines actually burden the criminal justice system as a… Read More »
Miami-Dade County Drops Aggravated Assault Charges After a Security Video Exonerates an Innocent Man
According to reporting from CBS 4 Miami, aggravated assault charges have been dropped against a South Florida grandfather after a surveillance video was uncovered that exonerated him. Jorge Crusellas-Sotolongo, 52, was arrested on criminal assault charges in late September. He was detained for a day before the charges were eventually dropped. If Mr. Crusellas-Sotolongo… Read More »
Four Flight Attendants Arrested on Money Laundering Charges in Miami
According to reporting from NBC News, four flight attendants for American Airlines were detained and arrested on criminal charges at the Miami International Airport. The international based crew had just arrived on an overseas flight. Prosecutors are accusing them of money laundering and the unlawful smuggling of more than $20,000 into the United States…. Read More »
Alleged ‘Peeping Tom’ Arrested in Coral Gables, Florida—Charged With Voyeurism and Criminal Trespassing
According to reporting from CBS 4 Miami, a 31-year-old man named Yoel Diaz Hernandez, who was identified as an Uber driver, was recently arrested by the Coral Gables Police Department after allegedly peering into the bedroom of two residential homes. Mr. Hernandez, who was identified by two separate women, has been charged with two… Read More »
Criminal Mischief Charges in Florida: What You Need to Know
Criminal mischief — sometimes also referred to simply as ‘vandalism’ — is defined as the willful and malicious destruction of personal property or another person’s belongings. Depending on the extent of the damage, it can be charged as either a felony offense or misdemeanor offense in Florida. Here, our Miami defense lawyers provide an… Read More »
Supreme Court Preview: Can an Officer Assume a Registered Vehicle is Being Operated By Its Owner?
In October of 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to hear oral arguments in the case of Kansas v. Glover. Centered around whether or not a police officer had the right to stop and search a vehicle, this is one of the most important criminal procedure cases that the nation’s… Read More »
Arrest Warrants Issued for Four Former Nursing Home Employees — The Charges are Related to a Dozen 2017 Deaths
On September 13th, 2017, eight people died in an assisted living facility in Hollywood, Florida. Sadly, four more nursing home patients died in the following few weeks. The incident occurred days after Hurricane Irma hit the state of Florida — damaging the air conditioning system at the facility. Repairs were not immediate. While staff… Read More »
Supreme Court Strikes Down Overall Vague ‘Crime of Violence’ Law
According to reporting from The Washington Post, the Supreme Court of the United States has struck down a federal ‘Crime of Violence’ statute on the grounds that it is impermissibly vague. Writing the opinion for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch joined the Court’s four liberal leaning members to rule in favor of the defendant… Read More »
Miami Police Officer Arrested, Charged With Selling Stolen Automobiles
According to reporting from CBS Miami, Orestes Santiago Verdura — a Miami-Dade County police officer — was recently arrested and charged with participating in a scheme to sell stolen cars. Mr. Verdura and an co-conspirator were charged with: Conspiracy to Commit Organized Scheme to Defraud; and Organized Scheme to Defraud; and Dealing in Stolen… Read More »
