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Section 924(c) of Title 18 of the United States Code is the federal statute that criminalizes using or possession of a firearm in the course of drug trafficking or some other violent crime in Florida. The statute provides for extremely harsh penalties, often imposing sentences that are far more s...

Money laundering occurs when money earned through illegal activities is put through a series of activities to hide its source of origin. For example, if a Florida drug dealer earns thousands in the sale of illicit drugs, he will not deposit that large amount of money in the bank at one time. If h...

A white-collar crime that is often overlooked in Florida is bank fraud. While you might think that there is an abundance of security at these financial institutions, there are situations that occur that lead to large amounts of money being taken or sent to other accounts. Forging documents Among ...

Identity theft is a charge in Florida that requires a solid defense. It's a type of fraud-related white-collar crime that involves the use of another person's information. There are different types of identity theft charges that a person can face. Understanding identity theft Identity theft is a ...

Programs such as Social Security and Medicare provide billions of dollars to residents in Florida throughout the country each year. They help the elderly, poor, and disabled stay out of further poverty and allow them to live with dignity. But as large government programs, they are also vulnerable...

Data loss is a serious problem that can impact individuals and businesses in Florida. It can happen in a variety of ways. Understanding data loss Data loss refers to important files on a computer being compromised. One of the biggest examples of this issue is a data breach. In 2017, many people's...

Taxpayers who transact business in cryptocurrency must report their virtual earnings to the IRS and pay federal taxes on that income.  While buying digital currency won't prompt a tax bill, converting it to cash, trading for another coin or using it for purchases may trigger levies.  Non-payment ...

The Southern District of Florida's (FLSD) U.S. Attorney's Office has been selected to head one of three COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams nationally. In recent weeks alone, FLSD has charged 23 COVID-19 relief fraud cases, with scheme amounts totaling over $150 million. In total, the South Florida...

Medicare is a government program that was established to help seniors and disabled individuals in Florida and the rest of the country afford healthcare. Unfortunately, it doesn't cater to all seniors and disabled individuals. The government has placed strict rules and guidelines on individuals th...

The Department of Justice is changing the ways federal prosecutors will handle white collar criminal cases, putting a greater emphasis on individual executives who commit fraud and changing the incentive structure for companies negotiating with the government over cases of corporate wrongdoing, a...

In Florida, one major concern for defendants in a federal criminal trial is the bond and ball system. It plays an important role in determining how and when a person can stay at home instead of jail when awaiting trial and what conditions may apply. Bonds A bond is a contract that specifies that ...

Using someone's credit card without authorization could leave someone in serious legal trouble. Credit cards are an individual's personal property, and the accounts are not meant to be used without permission. Thankfully, many cards have security features to protect the account holder from theft....

Securities fraud is a white-collar crime that occurs in Florida and throughout the country. Being arrested for this offense can shake up anyone's life. It's important to know what securities fraud is and how it's committed. What is securities fraud? Securities fraud is a white-collar crime that o...

Wire fraud is one of the most common federal charges in the U.S. This is largely because this offense is so easy to commit that you may not realize you are doing so. The “wire” is any form of telecommunication. This can be over the phone or via fax, text message, radio, TV, or social media. It ca...

Many people don't wish to speak to a telemarketer, but some will find a sales pitch too good to turn down. Unfortunately, they might not realize that some telemarketers do not represent a legitimate company or offer. Instead, the person calling intends to deceive a Florida victim out of his or he...

A well-known Palm Beach art dealer whose Worth Avenue gallery was raided by at least a dozen federal agents in December has been indicted on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in connection with an alleged scheme to sell forged high-end artwork. The indictment alleges that he ...

Although Florida residents face no state income tax requirements, they still may have federal obligations to file and pay. Not everyone knows the IRS's rules and procedures for enforcing tax compliance or contacting taxpayers, so the average person might fall victim to common scams. Knowing how s...

401(k)s are more vulnerable to cyber theft than ever, as cases of cyber crimes against these accounts continue to occur in increasing numbers. This may have a significant impact on any retirement accounts you have. Fortunately, there are ways of protecting your accounts in Florida. Why are 401(k)...

Federal prosecutors in South Florida have filed a third superseding indictment in a widespread prescription drug fraud scheme, bringing the total number of defendants charged in this case to 15.  The indicted scheme allegedly involved the distribution of adulterated and misbranded cancer, HIV, ps...

A South Florida man awaiting trial for allegedly submitting more than $4 million in fraudulent health-care claims was detained on a jet ski as he tried to escape to Cuba, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. U.S. Coast Guard officers found the man on a broken-down jet ski ...

Crypto Fraud As cryptocurrencies continue to grow in market cap and influence, cryptocurrency (“crypto”) fraud has become more common.  Along with the increase in crypto fraud, federal prosecutions are on the rise. There are different ways crypto fraud can be prosecuted by the Department of Justi...

Last week in federal district court in Fort Pierce, a South Florida caretaker admitted that she committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft when she used the private financial information of two seniors in her care to steal the couple's money. The defendant worked as a caretaker for the Br...

If you're an entrepreneur, businessman or government official in Florida, skipping a few corners may look inviting to get ahead financially. Unfortunately, if this process involves taking illegal actions, you risk getting accused of committing a white-collar crime. Embezzlement and money launderi...

Florida residents arrested for certain types of white-collar crimes should take the charges against them seriously. It's important to get help and recognize the differences between bribery and gratuity. What is bribery? Bribery is a white-collar crime that is committed when a person offers someth...

There are different types of cryptocurrency; the most commonly traded, including bitcoin, is digital money that is not backed by any government. It exists on a decentralized network of computers based on technology called blockchain and protected by unbreakable codes. Initially, bitcoin and other...