Recent Blog Posts

Why Variable Interest Entities Draw Federal Attention Variable interest entities, or VIEs, are complex corporate structures often employed by companies to raise capital or list shares on foreign exchanges, thereby bypassing certain restrictions. While these arrangements are sometimes legitimate, they have increasingly come under scrutiny from U.S. regulators and federal prosecutors. Authorities claim that VIEs […]

Federal prosecutors devote increasing resources to investigating cross-border money laundering involving international criminal networks and hostile nations. While these cases often begin with a focus on organized crime, they frequently expand to include banks, payment processors, compliance officers, and clients, many of whom may not realize they are in legal jeopardy until it is too […]

Why Complex Money Laundering Cases Draw Federal Scrutiny Money laundering is not always a straightforward crime. In complex cases, funds are transferred through multiple accounts across jurisdictions and often via international networks to conceal their origin. Federal authorities devote significant resources to investigating these cases because they frequently overlap with drug trafficking, organized crime, and […]

Businesses and professionals operating in highly regulated industries such as healthcare, government contracting, and public programs face a complex web of compliance requirements. While many violations of these rules are civil, there is a growing trend toward criminal prosecution when the government believes fraud, waste, or abuse has occurred. The line between regulatory noncompliance and […]

Trade and customs fraud has become a top enforcement priority for federal prosecutors, especially as global supply chains become increasingly complex and U.S. tariff policies evolve. Federal agencies tasked with identifying false declarations, undervalued goods, misclassification of imports, and tariff evasion are scrutinizing businesses and individuals involved in international commerce more closely. While many trade […]

Criminal Exposure Under the FDCA and Controlled Substances Act: Defending Against Allegations of Manufacturing or Distributing Dangerous Substances Federal authorities have significantly intensified their efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals and companies involved in the illicit manufacturing or distribution of hazardous substances. These efforts frequently focus on violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic […]

Being arrested for drug possession in Florida can be a frightening and overwhelming experience. Whether it is a small amount of marijuana or a more serious charge involving controlled substances like cocaine, heroin, or prescription drugs, a possession arrest can have serious consequences. At Trombley & Hanes, our Tampa criminal defense attorneys have decades of […]

If you are pulled over for suspected drunk driving in Tampa and asked to take a breath test, how you respond can have immediate and long-term consequences. Refusing a breath test might seem like a way to avoid incriminating yourself. Still, in Florida, that decision carries its penalties, whether or not you are ultimately convicted […]

Few terms carry as much weight or as much misunderstanding in financial crime investigations as “Ponzi scheme.” When an investment goes wrong and investors lose money, federal authorities may begin investigating whether the failure was more than just a poor financial outcome. For financial professionals and business owners in Florida, being accused of running a […]

Money laundering charges are among the most serious federal offenses a financial professional in Florida can face. These allegations often involve complex financial transactions, multi-agency investigations, and the possibility of long prison sentences. At Trombley & Hanes in Tampa, our Hillsborough County criminal defense attorneys include former federal and state prosecutors who understand precisely how […]