Recent Blog Posts
Five Ways to Wipe the Slate Clean in Florida
A criminal record is the equivalent of a brand, at least in many cases. The problem is widespread. Seventy-eight million Americans have at least one criminal conviction on their permanent records. These individuals aren’t the only people who pay for these records, mostly in terms of lost opportunities. Criminal convictions cost the economy over… Read More »
Who Was That Masked Man?
Authorities are looking for a 30-ish man who allegedly tried to rob a Publix supermarket in Loxahatchee in October 2025. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) said the suspect, who was wearing a facemask, entered the Publix located on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road in Loxahatchee. According to the PBSO, the man handed a… Read More »
What Qualifies as Drug Trafficking in Florida?
Americans’ attitude about drug trafficking is changing, despite persistently high drug overdose rates. As recently as 2018, most people believed drugs were a serious problem. By 2024, that percentage had declined significantly. The changing face of drug trafficking may have something to do with the decline. Today, most “drug traffickers” are over-prescribing doctors, friends… Read More »
What is the Most Common Drug in DUI?
Marijuana is the most common drug in Florida DUIs. This drug is legal to possess in some parts of the Tampa Bay area. But it’s illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana or “any substance controlled under Chapter 893, when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired.” A chemical… Read More »
What is a Federal Assault Charge?
Assault on federal property, like all other federal crimes, is a serious offense under U.S. law. It involves committing an act of violence or threatening behavior against a person or entity on property owned, operated, or controlled by the federal government. Assault penalties in federal court are much more severe. Assault with injury, which… Read More »
What are the Three Major Types of Cases in Juvenile Court?
Many people believe the state automatically expunges juvenile criminal convictions when the former defendant turns 21. Although expungement is usually available and, in many cases, easy to obtain, it’s not automatic. Frequently, the negative collateral consequences of a juvenile conviction blindside former defendants. Young adults often forget about events that occurred seven or eight… Read More »
Kinds of Immigration Fraud
Since 2024, the federal government has cracked down hard on immigration crime. Most of the high-profile action centers on current residents with legal issues. The crackdown on immigration fraud has been quieter but may be more impactful. Residents with legal issues technically did something wrong. Potential immigration fraud crackdowns often target individuals who did… Read More »
Authorities Track Down Hit-and-Run Suspect in Mexico
Nineteen years after the accident, a Cuban national living in Mexico may finally stand trial for allegedly striking and killing a 40-year-old woman and fleeing the scene. At a preliminary hearing, a judge denied bail for the 52-year-old suspect. “She has been on the run for 19 years,” Miami Police Commander Joaquin Freire told… Read More »
How Do Federal Plea Bargains Work?
To put it mildly, the plea bargaining process in federal court has changed significantly in recent years. For many years, U.S. attorneys and defense lawyers wheeled and dealt behind closed doors, and judges practically rubber-stamped their plea bargain agreements. The Federal Sentencing Act ended this practice. Under this law, negotiating a plea bargain was… Read More »
Easy Ways to Clean Criminal Records in Florida
The direct consequences of a criminal conviction are, to put it mildly, horrible. But even the longest jail sentence or probation term eventually ends. Collateral consequences are a different story. These consequences linger long after the cell doors open. Furthermore, many defendants aren’t fully prepared to face these consequences. A criminal charge doesn’t inevitably… Read More »