Law enforcement officials in South Florida are increasing their efforts to put “Johns” behind bars with their anti-prostitution campaigns. In Palm Beach County, FL undercover Palm Beach County Sheriff Deputies are walking South Dixie Highway, in the area of Lake-Worth, FL to apprehend individuals who are looking to pay for sex. In South Miami, FL the Dade County Sheriff’s Office is using reverse stings to catch individuals trying to solicit prostitutes from internet websites like Backpage.com and Craigslist.com. Sources close to the prostitution sting being conducted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Lake-Worth, FL indicate that undercover female officers walking South Dixie Highway, posing as working girls, have netted well over 30 arrest per day of would be Johns. The South Miami operation is also netting tens of arrest per day as individuals are login onto popular computer websites looking to score an “escort.” These website surfing Johns […] Undercover Prostitution Stings in South Florida
Law enforcement officials in South Florida are increasing their efforts to put “Johns” behind bars with their anti-prostitution campaigns. In Palm Beach County, FL undercover Palm Beach County Sheriff Deputies are walking South Dixie Highway, in the area of Lake-Worth, FL to apprehend individuals who are looking to pay for sex. In South Miami, FL the Dade County Sheriff’s Office is using reverse stings to catch individuals trying to solicit prostitutes from internet websites like Backpage.com and Craigslist.com. Sources close to the prostitution sting being conducted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Lake-Worth, FL indicate that undercover female officers walking South Dixie Highway, posing as working girls, have netted well over 30 arrest per day of would be Johns. The South Miami operation is also netting tens of arrest per day as individuals are login onto popular computer websites looking to score an “escort.” These website surfing Johns […] Petit Theft or Larceny Charges in Florida
Petit theft or larceny in Florida occurs when a person: (1) knowingly obtaining or using, or endeavoring to obtain or use; (2) the property of another; (3) with intent to either temporarily or permanently deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property; (4) with the value of the property being $300.00 or less. F.S.A. § 812.014(1) (a), (3) (a). See also J.B. v. State, No. 4D12-1156, 2014 WL 837006 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. Mar. 5, 2014). Basically, Petit theft or larceny occurs when someone takes the property of another without the permission of that person with the value being $300.00 or less. In Florida, petit theft occurs mostly in the form of shop lifting from box stores. Box stores are those locations like Wal-Mart, Target, Publix Shopping Center, CVS and Walgreens Pharmacies, and many of the large stores within the malls and […] Prosecutorial Misconduct in the Florida Criminal Justice System
Florida Gun Laws explained in Norman v. State
The 4th District Court of Appeals just answered the following issue regarding firearms in Florida: Whether or not Florida’s Constitution allows an individual the right to keep and bear arms; which includes the ability to openly carry a gun outside the home for self-defense without the need for a permit? The Appellate Court reasoned that a Florida citizen does not have a right to openly carry a firearm outside the home for self-defense without a permit. Understanding the Right to keep and Bear Arms under Florida law must first begin with the Florida Constitution, which differs greatly from the United States Constitutional Right to Bear Arms. The Florida Constitution states: “The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law.” The Florida […] Hit and Run Penalties After The Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act
Recently making news in Palm Beach County, FL has been the increase in “hit and run” news stories. Because of the increase in hit and run cases throughout Palm Beach County, FL; the Florida Department of Highway Patrol is pushing a new campaign to educate drivers on the seriousness of hit and run criminal cases. Florida Highway Patrol has announced, in many local news conferences, that the new law regarding hit and run drivers, carries new stiffer sentences. As a matter of fact, if a hit and run driver kills someone in a crash and is later found guilty or pleads guilty to the hit and run causing death, the hit and run driver now faces a minimum mandatory prison sentence of four (4) years behind bars. Florida’s new law regarding leaving the scene of an accident under Fl. Gen. Stat. 316.027 named “The Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act” has […]
Posted in Traffic Crime
Tagged Arron Cohen Life Protection Act, hit and run, leaving the scene of the accident
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Honey Oil Manufacturing Arrests in Florida
South Florida law enforcement officers have been very busy, along with South Florida firefighting departments, because of “honey oil” production. Honey oil or butane honey oil “BHO” is a concentrated improvised form of Hash Oil. Hash oil, including honey oil, is derived from marijuana, also known as cannabis. Honey oil is a concentrated form of tetrahydrocannadin “THC” or the active ingredient found in marijuana. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana that provides the user with the “high” after consumption. Honey oil production is a specific type of hash oil that is produced through the use of Butane. Butane is a very flammable and explosive ingredient used in honey oil production. Butane is being suspected by many Law Enforcement Officers as the cause of many recent fires and explosions throughout South Florida communities. Honey oil production uses butane, when the oil maker fills the “extractor tube,” typically a 1’ long […]
Posted in Drug Crime
Tagged hash oil production, honey oil, honey oil labs, marijuana, thc
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4th Amendment Violations And Your Rights
The United States Supreme Court Has Now Allowed 4th Amendment Violations to occur because Law Enforcement Officers are Ignorant of the Law. If you do not believe that the government, including the U.S. Supreme Court, is at odds with your freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution, then just read Heien v. North Carolina, 135 S. Ct. 530, (December 15, 2014). For the first time in the history of American Jurisprudence, the United States Supreme Court has authorized law enforcement officers to stop you in your vehicle, interrogate you, search you and arrest you because the police officers are “dumb!” The 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution has been reduced to ignorance of the law, through the recent Heien holding. The facts of Heien in a nutshell are: Sgt. Matt Darisse was employed with the Surry County Sheriff’s Department, North Carolina. As all police officers do, the deputy sheriff began […] Receiving a Subpoena from the SEC
As a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer, located in West Palm Beach, FL; I am asked to review facts regarding white collar crimes on a regular basis. South Florida is froth with White Collar criminals, like Bernie Madoff and Scott Rothstein, as all remember when both of their criminal cases made worldwide news. But what about innocent individuals, who find themselves in trouble because of dumb mistakes regarding business associates or business partnerships. Should we treat those people the same under the law? The answer to the question is NO! Federal laws do treat different wrongs, with different punishments. Recently, the Law Office of Andrew D. Stine has been representing individuals involved with a financial scam labeled JCS Enterprises Services, Inc. (“JCS”), T.B.T.I. Inc. (“TBTI”), and My Gee Bo, Inc. (“Gee Bo”). This scam originates in the United States District Court For The Southern District of Florida. On April 7, 2014, […]
Posted in Criminal Defense, White Collar Crime
Tagged SEC, subpoena, white collar crime
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What Happens After a DUI Stop in Palm Beach?
As a DUI defense lawyer in West Palm Beach, FL defending those arrested and accused of driving under the influence for over a decade, I am constantly reminded of the two most important pieces of evidence that law enforcement officers use against a driver accused of DUI. In a DUI case, the two most important pieces of evidence are: (i) the field sobriety test video and (ii) whether or not the driver provide a breath, blood or urine sample. Those two pieces of evidence, must be thoroughly examined and carefully reviewed by a trained eye and ear, who understands the rules, regulations, and laws regarding the admissibility of the tests and the significances of whether or not the test are inculpatory towards the suspected dui driver. The field sobriety test of a suspected DUI driver, in a DUI stop, are more than likely videotaped by the stopping officers dash or bumper […]
Posted in DUI / Drunk Driving
Tagged BAT, breath alcohol testing, DUI stop, field sobriety test, FST
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Domestic Battery Arrests in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, FL has seen a rise in Domestic Battery arrests over the past few months. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has a must arrest policy, when dealing with domestic battery calls. If you or someone in your home calls 911 and request a deputy sheriff because of a domestic situation, in Palm Beach County, you can bet someone is going to jail after law enforcement officers arrive at the location of the call. This policy of must arrest on domestic battery situations dates back to 1990’s or to the Lita McClinton Sullivan murder. Domestic battery in Florida is easily defined as: (1) actually and intentionally touching or striking another person against their will; (2) with both the alleged defendant and victim being from the same family or household. The statute and case law defines family or household member to mean spouse, former spouse, persons related by blood […]