Recent Blog Posts
Police Discover Cocaine Disguised as Car Batteries, Florida Man Charged With Possession With Intent to Distribute
On April 14th, 2020, the Miami Herald reported on the story of a significant drug bust on a cargo vessel in the Miami River. What initially appeared to be two pallets stacked with car batteries were later discovered to be powder cocaine. After an investigation, state and federal agents arrested a man named Juan… Read More »
How to Get Bail Reduced in Florida
Bail is money that a defendant puts up in exchange for their release. The court “holds” the bail to confirm that the defendant will attend all of their hearings. If you cannot pay the full amount needed, you may secure release through bond. As explained by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, bond is a third… 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 »
Four Things Immigrants Need to Know When Facing Criminal Charges
Being arrested and charged with a criminal offense is always stressful, scary, and confusing. For immigrants and other non-citizens, there may be even more on the line. Indeed, a criminal charge could have very serious consequences for you and your family—potentially even leading to a denial of citizenship rights or removal from the country…. Read More »
I Was Arrested for Drunk Driving in Miami: Will I Lose My Driver’s License?
Drunk driving is a serious criminal offense. A conviction on a DUI charge could lead to significant financial penalties and even jail time. It will also lead to the suspension of your driver’s license. Of course, a conviction is not the same thing as an arrest. Every person deserves their day in court and… Read More »
Teenager Arrested Months After Deadly DUI Accident in Miami Dade County
According to reporting from WPLG Local 10, Christopher Mejias, an 18-year-old from Miami, was arrested in connection with a 2019 drunk driving accident that killed a 17-year-old. The student who was killed in the wreck was a passenger in the vehicle. Another 17-year-old in the backseat sustained significant injuries in the crash. Based on… 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 »
What Should I Do If I Was Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence in South Florida?
Domestic violence is a very serious criminal offense. Under Florida law (Florida Statutes § 741.28), battery against a family member or a household member could lead to jail time. While there is no doubt that domestic abuse is a real problem, it is also true that false accusations can happen. If you were falsely… Read More »
Federal Authorities Have Charged a Florida Doctor in $26 Million Health Care Insurance Fraud Case
According to reporting from ABC News, Moses degraft-Johnson, a Florida doctor, has been arrested and charged with health care fraud for allegedly billing Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance companies for more than $26 million in phony services. He pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health… 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 »
Police in Florida Find a “Bag Full of Drugs” in a Car and Arrest Two People on Trafficking Charges
According to the Miami Herald’s reporting, deputies from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office recently pulled over a vehicle that was allegedly speeding on Interstate 10 in North Florida. Within the vehicle, officers discovered a tote bag that was labelled “Bag Full of Drugs”—the bag was eventually searched and police found the following banned… Read More »
Federal Authorities Arrest Man Linked to Four Bank Robberies in Southeast Florida
According to reporting from 7 News Miami, Erick Capilla, a 27-year-old man, was taken into custody by FBI agents in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Capilla is accused of robbing at least four banks in Miami-Dade County earlier this month. Authorities believe that he was responsible for a robbery in Doral, a second robbery in Miami… 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 Dolphins Running Back Arrested on Domestic Battery Charges, Released By Team
According to reporting from NBC News, former Miami Dolphins running back Mark Walton has been arrested on domestic violence charges in Broward County, Florida. Prosecutors believe that Mr. Walton struck a pregnant woman following a dispute. He was booked into a county jail on aggravated battery charges—and he has since been ordered by a… Read More »
Miami Beach Waiter Arrested, Charged With Credit Card Fraud
According to reporting from WSVN 7 News, Luis Flores, a former waiter in Miami Beach, has been arrested on credit card fraud charges. The Miami Beach Police Department believes that Mr. Flores stole customer credit card information from at least two different people while he was working at the News Cafe restaurant. The two… Read More »
Miami Professor Who Wrote Book on Organized Crime Charged With Money Laundering
On November 18th, 2019, the Miami Herald reported that Bruce Bagley, a University of Miami professor who is nationally known for his work on organized crime, has been arrested on money laundering charges. Recognized as one of the leading experts on money laundering, Mr. Bagley is accused of helping a corrupt foreign national launder… Read More »
South Florida High School Principal Arrested After an Alleged Domestic Battery Incident
According to reporting from CBS 4 Miami, Richard Jean, the principal of Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School, has been arrested on domestic battery charges. The incident, which occurred off-campus, involved an unidentified male. The alleged victim signed a sworn affidavit stating that Mr. Jean picked him up and threw him to the ground… Read More »
