MORE MORTGAGE FRAUD CONVICTIONS IN SOUTH FLORIDA The United States Attorney for South Florida announced mortgage fraud convictions of Vincent Artuso and John Artuso. Both were sentenced to 108 months of prison. Restitution of $5,814,000.00 was ordered. Both were convicted of mortgage fraud and RICO as well as money laundering.…
Florida Federal Criminal Cases: Mortgage Fraud The US Attorney for the Middle District of Florida convicted and sentenced Brian Albritton to tens years for mortgage fraud. The allegations are that staring in 2004 he participated in a mortgage rescue operation for homeowners at risk of foreclosure. The allegations are a…
FEDERAL SENTENCING NEWS Our friends at the US Supreme Court have taken a refreshing step towards the rule of law by pulling back out-of-control federal sentences. The Supreme Court ruled that a federal appeals court cannot enhance a sentence unless asked to by the prosecutor. Although it seems wrong it…
FLORIDA DUI LAWS The DUI punishments in Florida have been increased. Starting October 2008 fines are doubled for first DUI convictions to $500. A maximum of $1000 fine can be imposed on a first DUI conviction in Fort Lauderdale, South Florida, Broward, Miami and West Palm Beach. In Florida a…
South Florida, Fort Lauderdale and Miami , have become a hotbed of prosecution for mortgage fraud. The US Attorney, Broward, Miami and Palm Beach State Attorneys (prosecutors) and the Florida Attorney Generals Office of the Statewide Prosecutor have filed several dozen criminal prosecutions in Fort Lauderdale and Miami in both…
In Florida DUI cases a blood alcohol reading from a breath-test device allows the prosecutor to tell the jury that the defendant is presumed intoxicated. The breath-test machines, usually an Intoxilizer (brand) were upheld again by a Florida court. The over 200 DUI cases in South Florida, Broward and Dade…
All my loyal blog readers have a chance to let me know what to do about the law. Vote by emailing me at ralph@ralphbehr.com A YES vote means: yes: the jury should hear from the judge about the penalty (jail sentence) if they convict a defendant. A NO vote means:…
The FBI announced that violent crime dipped nationwide in calendar year 2007. Robbery, murder, armed drug trafficking, manslaughter remain among the most “popular” crimes for prosecutors in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. The report states that two years of increases in murders, robberies and other kinds violent crimes in…
The US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach) arrested Magile Cruz. Cruz is alleged to have participated in $24,000,000 of allegedly fraudulent mortgages. There has been a lot of political pressure on prosecutors in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach to arrest and…
SECURITIES LAW VIOLATIONS IN FLORIDA Criminal defense attorneys who are familiar with securities law prosecutions, and white collar crime are often certified Arbitrators for the National Association of Security Dealers (The NASD). Knowing securities law is essential if a lawyer is defending someone for a white collar crime, money laundering…