Miami Criminal Attorney Blog

Several South Florida defendants are facing federal fraud charges in Miami as part of a raid targeting Medicare scams that cost the government more than $250 million and led to criminal charges against 94 people, the Associated Press reported.

As our Miami criminal defense lawyers have reported here on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog, federal authorities contend that health care fraud has replaced drug trafficking as the most profitable crime in South Florida. Nationwide, Medicare fraud is a $60 billion crime. Yet, even as the government emphasizes more arrests and prosecutions, just three field inspectors are assigned to all of South Florida. The result can be legitimate doctors, pain clinics and home-health distributors that are unfairly targeted. And fraud can cause havoc for patients as well, when claims are denied because similar services have already been paid as a result of fraud.

In fact, being victimized by Medicare fraud shares many similar characteristics with being victimized by identity theft. Meanwhile, doctors or legitimate business owners who are unfairly targeted as a result of fraud investigations face ruined reputations and the real risk of significant federal prison time.

From kickbacks in the backroom of a Brooklyn clinic, to claims for HIV treatment in Miami that never occurred, to one professional patient with nearly 4,000 false Medicare claims, authorities announced the arrests as a result of a massive investigation. Arrests were made in Miami, New York City, Detroit, Houston and Baton Rouge.

Ninety-four people, including several doctors and nurses, were arrested. While the alleged scams reportedly total $251 million, authorities noted that is just a small portion of the $60 to $90 billion in health care fraud absorbed by taxpayers each year.

For the first time, federal officials have the power to stop paying providers suspected of submitting fraudulent claims, thanks the President Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Continue reading "Miami Medicare fraud charges can harm patients, taxpayers, reputable doctors and clinics" »

A 29-year-old Miami man is facing criminal charges in connection with a South Florida mortgage fraud scheme that reportedly bilked banks of more than $7 million, the South Florida Business Journal reported.

Our Miami criminal defense lawyers continue to report on the large number of mortgage fraud charges being filed since the real estate market collapsed. Banks that made highly questionable loans are now seeking criminal charges against customers who may have been less than honest about income or other factors disclosed on loan applications. In some of these cases, clients who have been victimized by the economic downturn are now facing criminal charges.

In this case, the defendant is facing federal criminal charges in Miami, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making false statements on loan applications to Bank of American and JP Morgan Chase.

The charges were filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. The properties involved are in Miami Beach, Lake Worth and Wellington.

The government accuses the defendant of conspiring with others to submit falsified loan applications and using straw buyers to take part in the scheme. Each count carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Authorities say he submitted loan applications that contained false information about an applicant's income, assets and intentions to live in the homes.

The alleged fraud resulted in more than $7 million of losses at several banks.

Continue reading "Miami federal charges allege real estate scam resulted in $7 million in bank losses" »

A 56-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of DUI manslaughter in Miami for a fatal drunk driving accident that left two Maryland tourists dead, the Miami Herald reported.

Authorities say the defendant was driving on a suspended license as the result of a previous DUI conviction in Broward County. A Miami defense lawyer should always be called to defend a motorist facing a drunk driving charge, particularly in cases where a serious or fatal accident is involved. Keeping a drunk driving conviction off your record can have a drastic impact on the potential penalties for being charged with a subsequent offense. Additionally, in cases where an accident is involved, a defense attorney will work to defend you against the DUI allegation while investigating the cause of the accident. If it can be proven that you were not responsible for the accident, or that you were not driving while impaired, a reduction or dismissal of the charges may result.

In this case, the crash happened in February 2009 and killed a pair of retired school teachers from Maryland. The defendant, Thomas Cypress, who is the brother of former Miccosukee Indian Chairman Billy Cypress, was behind the wheel of his truck on Tamiami Trail when he swerved into oncoming traffic, the New Times reported.

Police reported finding a case of beer in the cab of the truck. The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office agreed to a plea agreement in which Cypress will serve 12 years in prison and 10 years of probation upon his release. His license was permanently revoked and he was ordered to pay $142,000 in restitution to the couple's surviving two children.

The New Times reports that Cypress has two previous arrests for DUI. He received probation in 1997 while a DUI charge in 2004 was dismissed.

Continue reading "Miami DUI defense lawyers should always represent motorists charged in the wake of a serious or fatal accident" »

Thirteen South Florida residents face federal criminal charges in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme in Broward and Palm Beach Counties, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

A federal criminal defense attorney in Miami will take a hard look at this case and conduct a thorough review of the allegations. Federal conspiracy charges can be particularly challenging because they don't even require that a crime be committed -- only that a defendant intended or planned to engage in an illegal activity. This makes it a favorite of federal prosecutors. Obstruction of justice is also alleged and this charge is frequently lodged against a defendant who refused to cooperate with investigators and/or testify against co-defendants. A defendant has that right and a Miami defense lawyer experienced in fighting federal charges can frequently seek to have such charges dismissed.

The defendants, who range in age for 21 to 42, reside primarily in the Plantation, Florida area. The indictment was unsealed at the Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale and comes after an investigation by state and federal officials, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Service. They are charged with one count of conspiracy, 11 counts of mail fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud, and eight counts of making false statements to a government agency. Two defendants are charged with obstructing justice.

Mail fraud and wire fraud charges are also favorites of law enforcement because they carry substantial penalties when it can be proven that a defendant used the postal system or other forms of communication in connection with a crime. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The indictment alleges the defendants purchased properties in Broward and Palm Beach counties by submitting false or fraudulent documents to mortgage lenders in order to obtain loans. More than $16 million was obtained. Authorities accuse the defendants of using false leases and bank account balances, as well as inflated income or salary levels in order to qualify for loans.

Two attorneys are also accused of handling the closings of the fraudulent property transactions. Several mortgage brokers were also indicted.

These cases are becoming commonplace in South Florida. While we don't have all the facts of this particular case, putting attorneys, mortgage brokers and real estate agents under federal criminal indictment for routine work conducted as a part of their profession is an aggressive reach on the part of law enforcement. Many of these cases are no different than a majority of transactions conducted during the real estate boom, when loans were freely awarded with little or no documentation and agents and attorneys were handling dozens of cases each month. Hiring an aggressive Miami defense lawyer experienced in defending clients against real estate fraud or mortgage fraud is the best court of action to protect your rights, your reputation and your financial well-being.

Continue reading "Thirteen face federal mail fraud charges in connection with mortgage fraud scheme in Broward and Palm Beach counties" »

Ten people were arrested on Friday on charges alleging their involvement in a mortgage fraud and identity theft ring in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the Miami Herald reported.

Our Miami mortgage fraud defense lawyers have reported extensively on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog about the high number of fraud cases in South Florida. One raid last month netted almost 100 defendants charged with mortgage fraud and real estate fraud. Having given loans to anyone with a pulse during the boom years, the banks are now crying foul and seeking criminal charges in the face of a record number of soured loans. Many of these defendants are guilty of nothing more than getting caught up in the unprecedented real estate bust. They have suffered heavy financial losses and are now finding themselves under criminal indictment. Hiring an experienced and aggressive Miami criminal defense lawyer to deal with charges involving mortgage fraud or real estate fraud is essential to protecting your rights.

This case is different in that the defendant's allegedly stole people's identities and used them to purchase properties. We have written here about the challenges victims of identity theft face in restoring their reputation. In such extreme examples, where mortgages were issued in a person's name, an experienced financial crimes attorney will need to assist a victim in straightening out their financial affairs.

The ring is accused of committing about $8 million in fraud involving about 25 properties. The alleged fraud began in 2006. Charges against those involved include racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, grand theft and title insurance fraud.

"This is not new here in South Florida, unfortunately,"said Special Agent in Charge Amos Rojas Jr. with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The arrests come after a four-year investigation by the FDLE's Miami office, CBS4 reported.

The defendants are accused of a scheme to steal the identities of people in New Jersey and Florida. Their identities were then provided to phony property buyers, who used the information to obtain mortgages and buy properties. Authorities contend that the defendants then flipped the properties and pocketed the profit, usually without any attempt to make mortgage payments to the bank.

Continue reading "Ten arrested on South Florida mortgage fraud charges for alleged scheme in Miami-Dade and Broward counties" »

The U.S. Justice Department has announced the arrests of nearly 500 people in a nationwide crackdown on mortgage scams, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Hiring a Miami mortgage fraud attorney is critical to protecting your rights as a homeowner or as a defendant suspected of participating in a mortgage fraud scam. As we reported recently on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog, Florida leads the nation in mortgage fraud cases. As homeowners struggle to retain ownership of their property, they may fall victim to scams. Meanwhile, the aggressive tactics of law enforcement are leading to more and more arrests of agents, brokers and others who are accused of mortgage fraud. In many cases, they may be guilty of nothing more than being victimized by the unprecedented downturn in the real estate market.

In this latest announcement, federal authorities announced they have seized or recovered more than $200 million in the last three months, through a broad range of civil and criminal actions. More than $2.3 billion in losses have been identified through hundreds of mortgage fraud cases. Among those targeted was a case of mortgage fraud in Miami in which two people were charged with obtaining $4.4 million in fraudulent mortgages. The government claims the pair advertised their services to Haitian-Americans, offering to help with immigration and government-housing programs. Instead, they are accused of using the personal information of the victims to apply for mortgages.

Nearly 1 in 5 of the arrests occurred in South Florida -- where 86 were arrested for mortgage fraud, the Miami Herald reported. Dubbed "Operation Stolen Dreams," the defendants are accused of obtaining $76 million in fraudulent loans. Those arrested include mortgage and real estate brokers, loan and title processors, straw buyers and a pair of title attorneys.

More arrests are expected, according to Amos Rojas Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Miami operations center. "This is a serious crime that has heavily affected many communities and families in South Florida," Rojas said. "We are vigorously combating this issue and will continue to investigate and arrest those criminals who engage in this crime."

Continue reading "Nearly 100 arrested in South Florida during massive nationwide raid targeting mortgage fraud" »

A Miami man is facing federal fraud charges in connection with a South Florida computer crimes case involving stolen credit card information, according to the Attorney General's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

Our Miami computer crimes attorneys continue to report the large number of charges involving computer crimes in South Florida. As we reported on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog, federal investigators estimate that nearly one-third of the nation's computer crimes originate in Florida.

In this case, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to traffic in unauthorized credit card numbers and to possess unauthorized credit card numbers with intent to defraud; trafficking in unauthorized credit card numbers; and fraudulent possession of equipment to make credit cards. The indictment alleges that the crimes occurred from November 2007 to May 2009 and involved purchasing credit card information that has been stolen and fraudulently obtained through the Internet. He allegedly resold the information to others, who used it to make fraudulent purchases. He is also accused of manufacturing cards using the stolen information. Authorities claim he purchased 26,669 credit card numbers over the course of the scheme.

Identity theft is a serious problem and finding that your credit card information or other personal data has been stolen can be devastating. Victims can spend years trying to clear their credit and restore their reputation. Consulting a Miami identity theft attorney can protect your rights. Computers have made identity theft, forgery and other crimes easier than ever, while making it extremely difficult for a victim to thoroughly shed themselves of the damage identity theft and credit-card fraud can do to their reputation and financial well-being.

In most cases, a consumer's obligation to pay debt is limited in cases where fraud is blamed for erroneous charges. However, strict reporting requirements and other legal requirements apply and failure to properly report fraud can expose a victim to enormous liability. Additionally, credit card companies are not always forthcoming in making victims aware of their rights and their limited liability in such cases.

Our attorneys have the knowledge and experienced necessary to defend clients against allegations of computer fraud or credit card fraud. And we put that knowledge to work in helping victims restore their digital reputation when a scam threatens to ruin their credit and leave them with thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges.

Continue reading "Miami credit card fraud could signal thousands have been victimized by identity theft in South Florida" »

A U.S. Supreme Court opinion could impact a number of real estate fraud convictions in South Florida, including a high-profile case out of Fort Myers that captivated Southwest Floridians for most of the last year.

As our Miami real estate fraud attorneys continue to report on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog, authorities are in zealous pursuit of mortgage brokers, politicians, police officers and others accused of mortgage or real estate fraud in South Florida. The "honest services" law has been one of the primary vehicles of prosecution.

The News-Press reports that the court decision narrows the scope of the "honest services" law and criticized it as vague and ripe for abuse, saying that it subjected defendants to prosecution for minor transgressions and mistakes in the business and political world. The law has been used to convict a number of Florida mortgage brokers, politicians and others accused of fraud, including Samir Cabrera, who worked as a real estate broker in Fort Myers and Miami until being convicted of money laundering and wire fraud. He is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was also convicted based on honest services law.

There has been no bigger news in the Fort Myers/Naples area than the case of Cabrera, who managed a bar before hooking up with commercial real estate tycoon Frank D'Alessandro. Cabrera's wife, Jessica Stilwell, was the NBC-2 anchor. Her father, was manager of Lee County. Both were forced to resign their positions after Cabrera was charged of selling two tracts of land without disclosing he was part owner. He made $2.8 million on the deal. County Manager Don Stilwell denied any knowledge of wrongdoing. He had invested hundreds of thousands of dollars with his son-in-law. A county investigation cleared him of wrongdoing for failure to disclose his ownership to county commissioners. The longest-serving manager in county history, Stilwell, 70, was ultimately forced to resign for sending racy e-mails on his work computer.

This picture, taken by the Marco News, shows Cabrera and wife Jessica Stilwell leaving the Fort Myers courthouse during the lengthy trial.

Meanwhile, D'Alessandro, whose company was also being sued for marketing rental homes as investments for the wealthy, disappeared while kayaking off the New Jersey coast. Speculation was rampant that he was on the run until authorities found his body several days later.

Cabrera was convicted in October and is currently serving time in a Pensacola prison. His case is pending before the 11th District Court of Appeals. "We believe this is a very favorable ruling for Mr. Cabrera, and we intent to argue that in the appeal," said Federal Public Defender Russell Rosenthal.

The opinion, authored by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, said prosecutors may still continue to seek honest services fraud convictions in cases where the defendant accepts bribes or kickbacks.

Continue reading "Honest Services decision could impact cases involving Miami mortgage fraud, investment fraud, political wrongdoing" »

Eight current or former law enforcement officers have been indicted on charges in connection with mortgage fraud in Broward County, the Miami Herald reported.

It is the second time in recent months that law enforcement officers have been accused of mortgage fraud in South Florida. As our Miami fraud lawyers reported recently on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog, a former Cape Coral police officer, who is the son of the current police chief, was accused of money laundering and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud in connection with a real estate fraud scheme.

In this case, a network of Broward County attorneys, law enforcement officers and mortgage brokers are accused of falsifying numerous documents to obtain $16.5 million in loans. The money was used to buy property during the real estate boom. Authorities say the scheme was masterminded by a former Plantation police officer, who recruited five other current and former police officers from that city, as well as a Lauderhill officer and an FBI agent. They allegedly acted as buyers who pledged to purchase and live in 38 condos and homes in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

As our Miami real estate lawyers continue to report, fraud prosecutions are reaching record levels in South Florida. Having loaned money to anyone with a pulse, with little or no effort to verify income or other information on an application, the banks are now crying foul amid plummeting property values and thousands of mortgage foreclosures in South Florida. In some of these cases, defendants are guilty of nothing more than being caught up in the unprecedented collapse of the real estate market, or of making bad investments. Hiring aggressive and experienced legal representation will be critical to protecting their rights.

The defendants in this case were arrested Wednesday and accused of submitting false income records, job descriptions, bank statements and loan applications to scam lenders in South Florida from 2004 to 2007. Their goal, according to the indictment, was to rent the properties and then sell them for a profit. Several attorneys are accused of falsely representing the source of the down payments. Two other mortgage brokers and a processor were also charged.

In all, 13 defendants were charged, include eight current or former law enforcement officers. One of the defendants is an FBI agent. The investigation began in 2007 after the Plantation Police Department began to suspect several of its officers might be involved in mortgage fraud and requested an investigation through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Continue reading "Law enforcement officers among those accused of mortgage fraud in Broward County" »

The arrest this week of a computer hacker in California demonstrates how dangerous and complex the online world has become. As we recently reported on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog, nearly one-third of all computer crimes in the United States originate in Florida.

For victims of computer crime in South Florida or those charged with cyber crimes in Miami, hiring an experienced Miami computer crimes lawyer is critical to protecting your rights. The location of the criminal makes little difference and the victims can live anywhere in the world.

In this case, the victim is accused of infecting more than 100 computers and using them to extort sexually explicit videos from women and teenage girls. The 31-year-old illegal immigrant was living in Santa Ana and was proficient in multiple computer languages, including Java and C++. The Associated Press reports he found victims on peer-to-peer networks, in which computer users share files and communications pathways. He disguised malicious computer code as popular songs and used it to infiltrate the computers of those who downloaded the files. Once infected, the code passed from computer to computer via instant messages.

The defendant then gained access to the computers of numerous victims in search of explicit images. In some cases he hacked e-mail accounts and posed as boyfriends seeking the photos. Most alarmingly, the FBI reports he was even able to turn on the webcams of some computers and record his own illicit images of unsuspecting victims. Authorities allege he then contacted the victims and threatened to distribute the images unless the woman and teenage girls made additional pornographic videos and sent them to him.

He was arrested this week after an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thus far faces a federal extortion charge, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 2 years in prison. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have indicated they will take him into custody as an illegal alien once the case concludes. For now he has been released from jail on his own recognizance and ordered to remain under house arrest -- with no access to a computer.

The Associated Press reports that authorities believe he infected more than 100 computers, resulting in about 230 identified victims, including at least 44 underage girls. Investigators said most of the identified victims live in the Southern California area but acknowledged that victims could live anywhere in the United States or even reside outside the country.

Continue reading "Illegal immigrant accused of high-tech cyber crime provides cautionary tale about the dangers of computer crime in South Florida" »

A Miami exporter has pleaded guilty to federal charges of bank fraud, according to the South Florida Business Journal.

The 47-year-old owner of a Miami-based exporting company was convicted of defrauding the Export-Import bank of the United States out of more than $24 million. Federal prosecutors alleged that he was part of a ring that submitted false information to the bank to obtain loans between April 2003 and May 2009. These cases have become even more common since the economic downturn as authorities aggressively pursue those accused of falsifying loan documents to obtain credit during the boom years. Hiring a federal defense lawyer in Miami is critical to defending yourself against allegations of bank or investment fraud.

The Export-Import bank is the official export credit agency of the United States and issues loan insurance to U.S. banks on behalf of foreign companies for the purpose of purchasing U.S. goods. The defendant and co-conspirators apparently used a smaller amount of loan proceeds to purchase U.S. goods for foreign buyers than the amount they represented to the bank. He gave some of the remaining proceeds to borrowers in cash, commingled loan proceeds with personal money and transferred loan proceeds to other bank accounts controlled by co-conspirators, according to the plea agreement. In all, his company kept about $2.5 million of the borrowed money and he took about $170,000 for his own personal use.

He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine at his Sept. 13 sentencing. He has agreed to pay more than $2.7 million in forfeiture and to pay more than $12.5 million in restitution.

In April, a 55-year-old man pleaded guilty to charges that he conspired to defraud the bank out of $854,000 after receiving a loan based on false representations.

Continue reading "Miami defendant accused of federal bank fraud charges in import-export scam" »

The U.S. Justice Department has announced the arrests of nearly 500 people in a nationwide crackdown on mortgage scams, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Hiring a Miami mortgage fraud attorney is critical to protecting your rights as a homeowner or as a defendant suspected of participating in a mortgage fraud scam. As we reported recently on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog, Florida leads the nation in mortgage fraud cases. As homeowners struggle to retain ownership of their property, they may fall victim to scams. Meanwhile, the aggressive tactics of law enforcement are leading to more and more arrests of agents, brokers and others who are accused of mortgage fraud. In many cases, they may be guilty of nothing more than being victimized by the unprecedented downturn in the real estate market.

In this latest raid, federal authorities announced they have seized or recovered more than $200 million in the last three months, through a broad range of civil and criminal actions. More than $2.3 billion in losses have been identified through hundreds of mortgage fraud cases. Among those targeted was a case of mortgage fraud in Miami in which two people were charged with obtaining $4.4 million in fraudulent mortgages. The government claims the pair advertised their services to Haitian-Americans, offering to help with immigration and government-housing programs. Instead, they are accused of using the personal information of the victims to apply for mortgages.

Nearly 1 in 5 of the arrests occurred in South Florida -- where 86 were arrested for mortgage fraud, the Miami Herald reported. Dubbed "Operation Stolen Dreams," the defendants are accused of obtaining $76 million in fraudulent loans. Those arrested include mortgage and real estate brokers, loan and title processors, straw buyers and a pair of title attorneys.

More arrests are expected, according to Amos Rojas Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Miami operations center. "This is a serious crime that has heavily affected many communities and families in South Florida," Rojas said. "We are vigorously combating this issue and will continue to investigate and arrest those criminals who engage in this crime."

Continue reading "Nearly 100 arrested in South Florida during massive nationwide raid targeting mortgage fraud" »

Charges have been dropped in the cases of five of eight public officials arrested in a high-profile Miami fraud investigation, the Herald reported.

The unraveling of the cases put together by a Miami police corruption squad illustrates the importance of hiring an experienced and aggressive Miami defense attorney when facing white collar crimes like corruption or fraud charges. This case is a prime example of why defendants need to vigorously defend themselves against unproven allegations made by law enforcement.

Most recently, charges were dropped against a former deputy director of the city's General Services Administration after an assistant state attorney admitted the case lacked proper documentation and could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The arrests began to unravel as soon as the were announced; that same day, the state attorney's office questioned four of them and subsequently announced its displeasure that the arrests were publicized.

At the time of the arrests, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado hailed the news as the beginning of an end to public corruption.

"Today is the beginning of the end of the culture of corruption in the city of Miami. This is not another scandal. This is not another black eye for the city of Miami. This is something that we had to do," Regalado said as quoted by Channel 10. "This is something that we promised the people of Miami, to look into the wrongdoing in all the departments of the city of Miami and to rectify those issues that were done wrong in the past."

Last month, prosecutors announced they would not pursue fraud charges against four employees of nonprofit agencies, who were accused of shaking down undercover detectives and a confidential informant. The accused were employed by programs that assisted accused or convicted criminals attend court hearings and comply with court-ordered community service hours.

Continue reading "Miami public corruption cases deteriorates as prosecutors continue to drop charges" »

Bail has been set at $1 million for a Hialeah jeweler accused of federal criminal charges in Miami in connection with a $40 million ponzi scheme. The 39-year-old man surrendered to authorities and appeared before a U.S. magistrate, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Authorities allege he operated an investment scam that victimized 35 individuals, the Miami Herald reported.

As we continue to report on our Miami Criminal Attorney Blog,ponzi scams and investment schemes are surfacing throughout South Florida and across the nation. In many cases, the downturn in the economy helped uncover the scams as plummeting property values and stock portfolios resulted in exposure. But, as authorities have grown more aggressive in prosecuting alleged investment scams, an increasing number of defendants are being unfairly targeted for making bad real estate or stock investments.

In this case, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleges that the defendant offered investors "no risk" loan agreements that promised annual returns to 18 to 120 percent. Investors thought the money was being used in his jewelry business or going to provide financing for pawnshops. Investigators allege he used fake diamonds to convince some investors that their money was safe.

In addition to six counts of securities fraud, the SEC has filed a lawsuit accusing him of breaking federal security laws. Authorities say he used the money on a $3.2 million home, $1 million of jewelry and lavish vacations.

As our Miami criminal defense lawyers have reported, a number of recent high-profile fraud cases have led to criminal charges in South Florida:

-The owner of a Miami computer company has been implicated in an investment fraud ring out of New York City. Click here for details.
-A man was sentenced to 50 years in prison in connection with a South Florida investment fraud scheme.
-Two Miami-area residents were sentenced to prison in connection with a $10 million South Florida real estate fraud scheme.
-A man was arrested on Florida computer fraud charges in connection with a mystery shopper scam.

Continue reading "South Florida investment fraud scams abound; jeweler accused of $40 million Ponzi scheme" »

Miami fraud charges have been filed against a high-ranking administrator in the Miami-Dade school system, the Herald reported.

The woman is accused of taking public funds meant for disabled children and using the money to pay for her children's tuition at a private school in Broward. These kinds of cases frequently involve someone who has little or no experience in the criminal justice system. Too often, they believe their best chance is to cooperate with authorities. However, it is important to remember that the authorities are charged with collecting evidence against you. That is their job. Hiring a Miami defense attorney experienced in protecting clients against fraud allegations is the best course of action.

In this case, the woman is charged with taking $19,000 in John McKay scholarship money. The money is provided by the state to help with the costs of private schools for children with disabilities. Broward County court records indicate the woman is accused of using the money to pay for her son and daughter's tuition at a private school in Broward County. Authorities allege she falsified information on the applications, including the extent of her children's disabilities, forged signatures and ask school employees to doctor records.

The Herald reports that the woman's husband was on the short list to be considered for district superintendent several years ago and that they make $225,000 a year. She was able to qualify her daughter for $11,356 in scholarship funds, while her son qualified for $7,791. Authorities say that she took a check to the school when the investigation started, and asked that her daughter be removed from the scholarship program and that records be destroyed.

She has been released from jail on $5,000 bail and faces felony charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. Her attorney said she would plead not guilty.

NBC Miami reported that the defendant was an instructional supervisor for exceptional student education and had access to the inner workings of the state-funded scholarship program.

Continue reading "School employee facing Miami fraud charges in connection with special-need scholarships" »