Category Archives: White Collar Crime
Mother And Daughter Duo In Lake County, FL Charged With Insurance Fraud
A mother/daughter duo are now facing a number of different counts of criminal insurance fraud in Central Florida. According to a report from Click Orlando, Jessica Chechile and Heather Steverson are facing a collective 200+ counts of insurance fraud related to a scheme that they have been running for at least eight months. Here,… Read More »
Owners Of Florida Roofing Business Charges In Large Fraud Scheme
In February, the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the indictment of Travis Morgan Slaughter and Tripp Charles Slaughter, brothers from North Florida. Mr. Slaughter and Mr. Slaughter owned and operated a roofing business called Great White Construction, Inc. They are accused of a number of different fraud charges,… Read More »
South Florida Woman Pleads Guilty In Relation To Multi-Million COVID-19 Fraud Scam
According to a report from Fox News, a South Florida woman has pleaded guilty in relation to a multi-million dollar COVID-19 related financial fraud scheme. Danielle Miller, 32, reportedly bragged about her crimes on social media. Here, our Orlando white collar defense lawyer provides a comprehensive detail of the allegations, the charges, and the… Read More »
Federal Prosecutors In Florida Announce More COVID-19 Fraud Charges
On January 17th, 2023, the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Middle District of Florida provided a comprehensive update on its effort to combat COVID-19 related fraud. Several new criminal charges were filed against defendants in the region in December of 2022. In this article, our Orlando white collar criminal defense lawyer discusses some… Read More »
Pastor And Son In Florida Arrested In Connection With Alleged $8 Million Covid-19 Fraud
According to a report from NBC News, a Florida pastor and his son have been arrested and charged with serious criminal offenses in connection with an alleged $8 million COVID-19-related fraud scheme. Evan Edwards and Josh Edwards—both of Central Florida—allegedly defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). It is alleged to be one of the… Read More »
How Is White Collar Crime Defined In Florida?
Federal and state law enforcement agencies are cracking down on white collar criminal offenses. These are some of the most complex, technical criminal charges. This raises an important question: What is the definition of a white collar crime? In Florida, there is actually a specific statutory definition of the term. Within this article, our… Read More »
Criminal Charges Filed In Nearly Two Dozen COVID-19 Fraud Cases In Florida
On September 15th, 2022, the U.S. Attorneys’ Office for the Southern District of Florida published a press release confirming that the 23 separate COVID-19 related criminal fraud charges have been filed in the region in recent weeks. Altogether, the fraud schemes are valued at more than $150 million. Prosecutors are cracking down on COVID-19… Read More »
An Overview Of The Most Common Tax Fraud Charges In Florida
Authorities are cracking down on tax fraud. Last year, NPR published a story on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its preparations to ramp up enforcement of tax evasion. Earlier this month, congress passed a bill that approved additional funding for tax enforcement—particularly focused on high income earners. Tax fraud can lead to very… Read More »
How Medicare And Medicaid Billing Fraud Can Lead To Serious Criminal Consequences
When you hear about criminal fraud, you might think of elaborate Ponzi schemes or large corporations engaged in complex plots. But perhaps the most commonly prosecuted type of fraud in the United States involved medical bills. Specifically, Medicare and Medicaid billing fraud. As you probably know, Medicare and Medicaid are government-run health insurance programs…. Read More »
Can You “Plead The Fifth” In A Civil Lawsuit?
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that no person “shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” Most people understand the concept of “pleading the Fifth.” It means you do not have to answer any questions that may be used as evidence against you in a… Read More »
What Is A “Bill Of Particulars” In A Federal Criminal Case?
In any criminal prosecution, the defendant has the right to know the specific charges against them. This typically comes in the form of an information or indictment. An information is a charging document filed by the prosecutor spelling out the basis for the defendant’s arrest and charge. An indictment is similar, but it is… Read More »
Federal Government Continues Crackdown On COVID-19 Fraud
The federal government has been cracking down on people suspected of committing fraud related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, federal prosecutors are targeting individuals and businesses that allegedly obtained federal relief funds using fraudulent tactics. Many of these cases center on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a program created by Congress to provide… Read More »
Can You Be Ordered To Pay Your Victim’s Legal Fees If You Are Convicted Of A Crime?
Although the prospect of jail time is often what concerns a criminal suspect the most, prison is not the only form of punishment that may follow from a guilty verdict. In cases where there was a victim, the sentencing court may also order a convicted defendant to make restitution. Florida law states restitution is… Read More »
How Lying To Your Car Insurance Company Can Lead To Felony Charges
Filing a false insurance claim is a crime in Florida. Indeed, insurance fraud is considered a felony. This means that if caught and convicted, a defendant could face decades in prison. Florida Appeals Court Revives Insurance Fraud Prosecution A recent decision from a Florida appeals court, State v. Delprete, provided an important clarification as… Read More »
Federal Prosecutors Charge Florida Court With Wrongfully Obtaining COVID-19 Relief Funds
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress authorized unprecedented forms of economic relief to help struggling individuals and businesses stay afloat. Under the CARES Act, passed by Congress in March 2020, eligible small businesses could apply for “forgivable loans” to cover payroll and other authorized expenses. This is known as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)…. Read More »
Florida Liquor Store Owner Faces Jail Time For Concealing Cash Receipts From IRS
It is not uncommon for people to fall behind on their taxes or inadvertently miss a filing deadline. These are not crimes as such. But if the government believes that you have “willfully” attempted to “evade or defeat any tax” that you lawfully owe, you can be prosecuted–and if convicted, you could face up… Read More »
Supreme Court Holds Lawfully Accessing A Computer Database For An “Improper Purpose” Is Not A Crime
Computer hacking has been a known problem since the advent of computers themselves. When a person improperly gains access to a computer system, they violate federal law, specifically the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) of 1986. The CFAA also makes it a crime to “exceed[] authorized access” to a computer system. In other… Read More »
What Constitutes “Wire Fraud” Under Federal Law
White collar criminal charges can do more than affect your public reputation and career. If convicted, you can receive serious prison time, especially if you are tried in federal court. And one of the most common federal white collar crimes is wire fraud. Wire fraud basically refers to the use of any method of… Read More »
Do the Police Need a Warrant to Search Your Business Website?
The Fourth Amendment protects you against non-consensual and warrantless searches by the government. For instance, a police officer normally cannot search your car for potential contraband–such as illegal drugs–unless you give consent or a judge issues a search warrant based on a finding of probable cause. Similar rules apply to your house or other… Read More »
How Does Restitution Work in a Florida Criminal Case?
If you are convicted of a crime in Florida, you may be required to pay restitution to your victims. This is separate from any jail time or probation you may be required to serve. Florida law separately permits the judge to order restitution for any “damage or loss caused directly or indirectly by the… Read More »
How Paying Your Tax Bill with a Bad Check Can Land You in Serious Trouble
It is not unusual for people to fall behind in paying their taxes. But there is a difference between an honest person who is simply unable to pay and someone who intentionally tries to avoid paying. The government can–and will–prosecute people in the latter group. Fortunately, there are ways to resolve tax disputes before… Read More »
What Is PPP Loan Fraud?
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is part of the CARES Act, a piece of emergency legislation enacted to protect working people and small businesses from economic disaster during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. All businesses with 500 employees or fewer were eligible to apply for PPP loans to cover payroll and other… Read More »
The Arbitrary, Unfair Nature of White-Collar Criminal Prosecutions in The US
The US still doesn’t truly have one definition of “white-collar crime.” While the FBI defines the term as being synonymous with the full range of fraud crimes characterized by concealment, deceit, or violation, and committed by government professionals and businesses, still, this does not reconcile whether, for example, toxic dumping or using a counterfeit… Read More »
US Department of Justice Updates Prosecutor Guidance On Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs in Criminal Investigations of White Collar Crimes
In June, the US Department of Justice released an updated Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, which is used at the time of a white-collar offense, as well as at the time of a charging decision, by prosecutors in conducting an investigation of a company and in deciding whether to bring chargers or negotiate a… Read More »
The Department Of Justice Cracks Down on Trade Secret Theft
While most trade secret disputes have traditionally been handled through civil litigation, knowingly stealing or receiving a stolen trade secret is actually a federal crime under the Economic Espionage Act, and prosecution of trade secret misappropriation is reportedly on the rise. Specifically, there are a number of recent criminal trade secret investigations and prosecutions… Read More »
