A South Florida couple was arrested 200 miles from the Canadian border in Maine earlier this year, accused of a particular type of fraud that has affected many people in Miami and the South Florida area. While on vacation, the couple had enjoyed themselves by spending money on meals and shopping sprees to stores like Best Buy, Sears, and Walgreens. The only problem was that they were spending money that didn't belong to them. This South Florida couple was using stolen credit and debit cards that were cloned elsewhere in June 2016.
6 Ways You Can be Arrested at a Tailgate
Football season is just around the corner, and that means that fans from all over the country will be filling stadiums and stadium parking lots every Saturday and Sunday (and some Thursdays and Mondays) all Fall. There will be lots of cheering, grilling, and beer drinking along with the other traditions of the gridiron. But with all that school spirit comes a lot of emotion and sometimes bad decisions. When you hit the tailgate parties this fall, make sure you use good sense and don't wind up getting arrested for one of these six offenses.
State Department May Revoke Passport if Taxes Not Paid
If you owe money to the IRS and enjoy using your passport to travel outside of the U.S., you should pay close attention to this information.
The IRS is issuing notices to individuals who are seriously delinquent with their taxes urging them to pay up or they will be reported to the State Department. The State Department then has the authority to deny a passport application, refuse to renew or revoke a passport entirely.
This is all due to the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which was signed into law in December of 2015. The FAST Act requires the IRS to notify the State Department of taxpayers that the IRS has deemed as owing a delinquent tax debt. FAST Act then requires the State Department to deny that individual his or her passport.
Recent Case Highlights Importance of Probable Cause
An unfortunate situation that happened recently in a Central Florida home for the disabled has left one man dead and another man benefitting from the requirement of probable cause when filing criminal charges.
William James Lamson, a severely autistic patient at the Carlton Palms Educational Center in Central Florida, had a history of aggression and acting out against staff members and himself. In one recent incident, he quarreled with staff member, Justin Maynor, and later he was found dead. The autopsy states that the cause of death was "traumatic asphyxia," but employees at the facility claimed that he banged his head against the wall to his death.
Several South Floridians Involved in International Email Scam
Everyone knows that it's hard to start your own business and make money as an entrepreneur early on in your career. So, you can understand how there may be some suspicions when one 21-year-old in South Florida had $1,651,699 in her bank account within one month of starting her business. Unfortunately, this new entrepreneur will likely have to look for a new job in prison.
Historical Phone Location Data Will Need a Warrant, Says Supreme Court
With technological advances placing everyone's data within easy reach, privacy concerns are undoubtedly high on the list of worries of many individuals. This is especially the case when considering location data for criminal cases. If someone is involved with a crime, how easy is it for police to access a phone that can provide them with the location information of the accused, perhaps placing them at or near the scene of a crime?
A recent landmark Supreme Court ruling may make it a little harder for law enforcement to overstep boundaries into someone's personal data in a criminal case, citing the Fourth Amendment as the reason.
Miami Beach Realtor Facing Up to 30 Years in Prison for Extortion
A years-long feud that had all the "Miami Beach" qualities of fancy mansions, large sums of money, and lots of drama ended recently with one man facing up to 30 years in prison for extortion. The drawn-out saga between real estate brokers, "The Jills" and rival broker Kevin Tomilson captured the attention of many in South Florida, when the details were revealed in a public court battle.
Avoid a DUI During the July 4th Holiday
The Fourth of July holiday week and weekend is always a busy time on the roads. Between traveling to see friends and family to heading out for fireworks and fun, this time of year usually means that people are in their cars and on the move. In fact, July 4th attracts a record number of Americans to the roads. Unfortunately, more vehicles on the road can mean more danger for drivers. According to an article in Forbes, America's Independence Day happens to be one of the deadliest holidays of the year for car accidents.
Victims of Wrongful Incarceration May Receive Compensation Based on Florida Act
In the criminal courts of this country, we say that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. Many times this means that a jury of the defendant's peers finds the evidence against him or her to overwhelmingly suggest guilt. However, there are still times when the jury is wrong, and an innocent man is found guilty of a crime he did not commit.
Kidnapping as a Crime in the State of Florida
How would you feel if you discovered that the only mother you had ever known was actually your kidnapper? This unfortunate situation happened to one young woman who was abducted from a Jacksonville hospital when she was merely hours old in 1998.
Eighteen years later in 2016, Kamiyah Mobley found out the truth about the woman she called "mama" and who she thought was her mother her whole life. Gloria Williams was not only not her biological mother, but the woman was a kidnapper who had posed as a hospital nurse and stolen Kamiyah from her mother's arms after she was born and then fled with the child across state lines from Florida to South Carolina.
