Recent Blog Posts

The Tampa area, and Florida in general, is known worldwide for its beautiful waterways and boating activities. Sometimes, though, fun in the sun can get out of hand when boat operators take the wheel while intoxicated. According to the United States Coast Guard, alcohol use is one of the leading causes of boating accidents in […]

Florida has always been a hot spot in the nation’s ongoing opioid addiction crisis. Over 5,000 drug overdose deaths are reported in Florida each year, with about 70% of those deaths linked to opioids. Opioids include morphine, opium, oxycodone, heroin, codeine, fentanyl and other controlled substances that link with opioid receptors in the body’s nerve […]

“White collar crime” is part of everyday legal parlance but not everybody is sure what it includes, or where the term comes from. The phrase “White Collar Crime” was first coined in 1939 by Edwin Sutherland in a presentation on business-related crime. Sutherland, a sociologist by trade, addressed a distinction between traditional “blue collar crime” […]

“You have the right to remain silent.” Aside from being something you hear while watching a crime drama, these are words you probably never want to hear said to you. If law enforcement is uttering these words, it is often with handcuffs jingling beside them and flashing lights in the background. The well-known “Miranda Rights” […]

Drug crimes have long been a priority for law enforcement agencies in Florida, given the state’s high population, booming tourism industry, and proximity to drug trafficking routes. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports over 130,000 drug-related arrests each year in Florida, about 18,000 of those in the Tampa area alone. These offenses range from […]

“Embezzlement” is a loaded term that can cover a variety of illegal acts. These cases usually make the news when an employee steals money from an employer, or a business owner steals from their own company or associates. Florida sees approximately 1,000 embezzlement arrests annually, with many of those occurring in the Tampa Bay area. […]

Money laundering refers to the crime of knowingly engaging in a financial transaction or property transfer using the proceeds of illegal activity, with the result being that money, property, or proceeds from a crime are converted to assets that are otherwise lawfully acquired. Under Florida’s Money Laundering Act, a conviction for money laundering requires proof […]

In March 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency financial assistance to individuals and businesses suffering economic effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most well-known relief programs under the CARES Act were the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), offering forgivable federal loans for payroll costs, mortgage interest, […]

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program under the CARES act has benefitted many, but has also invited scrutiny of certain business practices and loan applications. A recent uptick in federal prosecution for CARES Act fraud may have some business owners wondering about their potential liability, even if they have done nothing wrong.  What is a […]

When COVID-19 restrictions sent shockwaves through businesses across Florida and the rest of the U.S., the Federal Government acted by establishing the Paycheck Protection Program, among other measures. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a loan program established within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act to help small businesses keep their […]