August 26, 2010 (Press-News.org) Federal prosecutors in Florida recently announced charges against six Miami-Dade men who are accused of using false information to obtain financing for several marijuana grow houses in St. Lucie, Palm Beach and Loxahatchee. The defendants face an array of counts, including conspiracy, mail fraud, drug crimes and laundering drug-related money through the purchase of the homes.
According to a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) press release, the indictments arise from a lengthy investigation involving marijuana grow operations in numerous homes in Port St. Lucie that began in 2006. Several of the homes were owned by one of the defendants, who has yet to be apprehended on these 2006 drug charges. Several were released on bond pending trial. This case reveals the broad reach of federal prosecutors and law enforcement, and the wide net that such investigations can cast to name defendants and identify potential witnesses.
Financial crimes have begun to receive increased focus due to Operation Stolen Dreams, an initiative launched by the U.S. Government's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. In this case, the defendants are accused of submitting loan applications to mortgage lenders that contained falsified W2 forms, bank statements, verifications of deposit, pay stubs and employment verifications. A complex variety of federal statutes, case law and trial procedure will be involved in the resolution of these cases.
Preparing a Strong Criminal Defense
From simple possession to federal drug trafficking charges -- whether individuals already face allegations of criminal activity or they have begun to feel the heat of an investigation -- a criminal trial attorney can help them understand their rights and assess their options for a smart and prudent legal defense. DEA and FBI agents, state and local investigators, and federal and state prosecutors have tremendous resources at their disposal. By taking quick action, people accused or suspected of crimes can explore a variety of strategies for protecting their freedom, including discussion and negotiation with authorities before charges are filed.
Article provided by Williams & Wiseman, P.A.
Visit us at www.floridadefenselaw.com
Mortgage Fraud Charges Arise From Federal Drug Trafficking Investigation
In a case that speaks to recent aggressive federal law enforcement efforts, drug trafficking investigations lead to mortgage fraud charges.
2010-08-26
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Bankruptcy Can Stop Foreclosure
2010-08-26
With the economy in crisis, the jobless rate hovering near 10 percent and the housing market collapse of a few years ago, many people find themselves in a situation where they cannot afford mortgage payments, but yet cannot sell their house. Sadly, many in this situation are facing foreclosure.
While the situation may seem helpless and losing the house in foreclosure may seem inevitable, Chapter 13 bankruptcy may provide a realistic opportunity for many to save their homes.
Foreclosure Statistics
According to realtytrac.com, in July, there were 66 new foreclosure ...
Establishing Legal Paternity in Florida
2010-08-26
R&B singer Brian McKnight recently made headlines in Florida with an unusual public battle over child support for a teenage boy. Miriam Lee took the singer to court, alleging that he was the father of her 14-year-old son. When McKnight failed to respond to her claims, the judge ordered McKnight to pay more than $340,000 in past due child support payments.
Facing such substantial payments, McKnight chose to respond. Claiming that he was not, in fact, the boy's father, he submitted to a paternity test. When the results were returned, it was clear that McKnight could not ...
Citation Rates Among Denver Bus Drivers Are Anyone's Guess
2010-08-26
Traffic citations are not a perfect reflection of a driver's ability to navigate the roads safely. Many routinely flout traffic laws without getting caught, while others who might seem unlucky get ticketed every time they forget a turn signal or hover above the speed limit.
However, when such statistics are taken in the aggregate for a group of drivers, the results might seem at least a reasonable proxy for safe driving habits. The traffic laws are in place to ensure safety; when these laws are routinely violated, drivers are likely not traveling safely.
Accordingly, ...
California Dog Attacks Draw Attention to Dangerous Breeds
2010-08-26
Recent attacks by dogs on humans in California -- both frightening, one fatal -- underscore the importance of owner control of dangerous breeds. Both maulings involved pit bulls, and the second also involved a boxer-mastiff mix. These incidents show that aggressive dogs can do severe and sudden damage with their sharp teeth, powerful necks and tenacious jaws.
In early July, three visitors to Golden Gate Park were attacked by two apparently stray dogs, a male pit bull and a mixed-breed female mastiff. A 71-year-old woman suffered severe bite wounds, and the pit bull bit ...
California Law Protects Some Homeowners in Foreclosure or Short Sales
2010-08-26
California has been among the states hardest hit by declining real estate values. Many homeowners now find themselves "underwater," or owing more on their home than it is worth. According to a recent report from research firm First American Home CoreLogic, 37.4 percent of California home mortgages are underwater. In such cases, if homeowners cannot make their payments and the home is foreclosed, or if they are forced into a "short sale" whereby they sell the home for significantly less than the amount of their mortgage, many wonder how they can possibly pay back the bank. ...
Deadly Utah Truck Accident Takes the Lives of Pennsylvania Travelers
2010-08-26
The lives of a couple from suburban Pittsburgh ended abruptly at the beginning of a three-week vacation as they drove to Las Vegas in mid-July to look for a retirement home. Russell and Emelda Welsh were pronounced dead on the scene on I-15 near Pintura after the trailer of an oncoming semi struck their Kia SUV head on. State troopers responding to the motor vehicle accident determined that a distracted truck driver swerved toward oncoming traffic to avoid rear-ending vehicles after failing to notice a slow down where each direction of I-15 narrowed to one lane due to a ...
Teen Distracted Drivers: Does Raising Awareness Make Them Safer?
2010-08-26
The hazards of distracted driving are well known across the country. Cell phone use and texting while driving receive plenty of well deserved attention, but everything from eating to changing radio stations or talking with a carload of friends can distract a driver's focus from the road ahead and lead to serious injuries or a fatal motor vehicle accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that as many as 6,000 highway deaths each year result from distracted driving. A recent survey shows that teens are increasingly aware of the increased risks ...
Mediating the Aftermath of the BP Oil Spill
2010-08-26
The Deepwater Horizon oil well beneath the Gulf of Mexico may now be securely capped, and the potential for further environmental and economic damage may have diminished. But the process of resolving civil claims for anyone whose livelihood was harmed by the disaster has just begun.
Attorney Kenneth Feinberg was recently appointed by President Obama to administer the $20 billion fund established by BP to provide compensation for fishermen, resort owners, boat operators and other parties who sustained damages due to the millions of barrels of crude oil that spewed into ...
Disabled Workers Still Face Discrimination in the Workplace
2010-08-26
In the 20 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed, the world has advanced enormously in accommodating people with mental or physical impairments. Buildings are more accessible; offering automatic doors, wheelchair ramps and added room for maneuvering. Many businesses now offer lower countertops and employers have installed higher desks to assist disabled persons. The implementation of handicapped parking places today make it easier for disabled people to get in and out of public or commercial structures.
Unfortunately, oftentimes the physical ...
Impact of McDonald on Wisconsin Gun Laws
2010-08-26
The Supreme Court of the United States recently addressed the question of whether the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is applicable to the States. In McDonald v. Chicago, the Court answered affirmatively, ruling that the protection applies to the states under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.
In McDonald, the Court assessed the constitutionality of a city-wide ban on private ownership of handguns. The Court previously held, in District of Columbia v. Heller, that the Second Amendment protects the right to possess a handgun in the home for the ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Plastic in the soil, but not as we know it: Biodegradable microplastics rewire carbon storage in farm fields
Yeast proteins reveal the secrets of drought resistance
Psychiatry, primary care, and OB/GYN subspecialties hit hardest by physician attrition
New Canadian study reveals where HIV hides in different parts of the body
Lidocaine poisonings rise despite overall drop in local anesthetic toxicity
Politics follow you on the road
Scientists blaze new path to fighting viral diseases
The mouse eye as a window to spotting systemic disease
AI and the Future of Cancer Research and Cancer Care to headline October 24 gathering of global oncology leaders at the National Press Club: NFCR Global Summit to feature top scientists, entrepreneurs
FDA clears UCLA heart tissue regeneration drug AD-NP1 for clinical trials
Exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol for Alzheimer's
We need a solar sail probe to detect space tornadoes earlier, more accurately, U-M researchers say
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): Disease risk but not remission status determines transplant outcomes – new ASAP long-term results
Sperm microRNAs: Key regulators of the paternal transmission of exercise capacity
Seeing double: Clever images open doors for brain research
Inhaler-related greenhouse gas emissions in the US
UCLA Health study finds inhalers for asthma and COPD drive significant greenhouse gas emissions
A surgical handover system for patient physiology and safety
Cardiovascular health changes in young adults and risk of later-life cardiovascular disease
Nurse workload and missed nursing care in neonatal intensive care units
How to solve the remote work stalemate – dissertation offers tools for successful hybrid work
Chip-based phonon splitter brings hybrid quantum networks closer to reality
Texas Children’s researchers create groundbreaking tool to improve accuracy of genetic testing
Milken Institute, Ann Theodore Foundation announce more than $2.5 million in new funding for sarcoidosis research and launch new call for proposals
Boston University professor to receive 2025 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award
Pusan National University researchers reveal how forest soil properties influence arsenic mobility and toxicity in soil organisms
Korea University researchers find sweet taste cells resist nerve damage through c-Kit protein
HealthFORCE, AAPA, and West Health release “Aging Well with AI” – first in a two part series on AI and the healthcare workforce
The real reasons Endurance sank — study finds Shackleton knew of ship’s shortcomings
Marine heatwaves have hidden impacts on ocean food webs and carbon cycling
[Press-News.org] Mortgage Fraud Charges Arise From Federal Drug Trafficking InvestigationIn a case that speaks to recent aggressive federal law enforcement efforts, drug trafficking investigations lead to mortgage fraud charges.