In a blatant anti-Semitism attack on a Miami Beach synagogue, a man lit some wood pallets on fire resulting in a intense fire contained to the garage of the building. Officials say if they arrived minutes later, it could have ripped through the main area of the building. Not more…
14 individuals of the Winter Garden-based Westside gang were apprehended recently in a gang arrest initiative created by local law enforcement in the Central Florida area drug unit. This particular gang was responsible for millions of dollars in value of drugs being shipped into the Central Florida area for over…
Yvette Scott Patterson appeared in court recently in connections with a mortgage fraud operation. She fled the country to Jamaica, trying to avoid being detained. Her business front used fraudulent bank statement, fake employment verifications, stolen drivers licenses and other false documents in order to secure loans for the homes…
Numerous drug growing houses were targeted in Polk County. Officials say these marijuana-cultivating houses are a problem for the community for a multitude of reasons. One obvious reason is the fact that they are growing points and primary centers where drugs enter the market. Secondly, the guns and cash usually…
Dennis A. Bell, Jr., 28, has been charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine from Florida to London. He will face up to 30 years in prison, six years of supervised release, a maximum fine of $2 million and a required payment of $100 at the close of the proceedings. By…
After an incident at a middle school in Florida where a 13 year old was raped, critics and lawyers say the laws have been softened regarding bullying. The Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act requires schools in Florida to establish concrete policies to discourage bullying in person and…
Angelo Mozilo is in hot water with mortgage fraud charges and civil lawsuits in 4 states, Florida included. Mozilo’s Countrywide Financial is just one of the many mortgage brokerages under fire for profiting and conductive illegal activity during the recently devastating boom and bust. Last July, Bank of America, for…
Attorney Behr’s mortgage fraud prosecutions series continues with the following EXCERPT: 18 U.S.C. § 2314 Transportation of stolen goods, securities, moneys, fraudulent State tax stamps, or articles used in counterfeiting Under this statute, a person who enables assists or intends to enable property with a value of $5,000.00 or more…
In an unprecedented law suit ruling, Mary Taylor Christensen has been ordered by the courts to pay $6.2 million to the family of the victims in her drunk driving hit-and-run incident. In 2005, Christensen drank too much, took painkillers, hopped behind the wheel and ended up slamming into a car…
South Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog is proud to present the next installment of Attorney Behr’s mortgage fraud prosecutions series: 18 U.S.C. §1956 Laundering of monetary instruments & 18 U.S.C. §1957 Engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity Both statutes essentially have the same purpose of…