Miami Criminal Defense Lawyers Blog

Raul and Maria Ferrer were arrested in Miami-Dade, Florida along with 18 others after they were accused of committing insurance fraud by setting homes on fire. The defendants, who are believed to have been incarcerated at Miami-Dade County Jail, have been charged with a combination of insurance fraud, racketeering, arson, and grand theft, news sources indicate. It is not clear whether any of them has qualified for bail bond or retained a criminal defense lawyer.

According to news reports, seven of the arrested parties are believed to have orchestrated the scheme, while the remaining defendants allegedly participated by posing as renters. Aside from the Ferrers, 30-year-old Adrian Diaz, 22-year-old Beltis Cabrera, 45-year-old Camilo Cabrera Ramos, 41-year-old Lizbeth de la Nuez, and 51-year-old Alina Nunez were identified as leaders in the scheme. Nunez is a public adjuster, according to reports. The 11 defendants who allegedly posed as renters range in age from 29 to 87.

The alleged insurance scheme reportedly involved systematically setting fires in insured homes, then collecting the insurance payout. The defendants have been accused of repeating the same scheme over a period of five years, starting in 2007. The Miami-Dade State Attorney's office evidently reported that the investigation into the sting, dubbed "Operation Candlelight," revealed that the scheme netted a total of $1.4 million over the course of the five years. Each fire earned an average of $60,000, $50,000 of which went to the organizers. The rest allegedly went to the fake renters.

Sources indicate that each time, the organizers would instruct the renters to rent large houses in South Miami-Dade. The schemers allegedly filled the homes with used furniture, clothing and other household items to make it appear as though people were living there. These props, authorities say, were sometimes used over and over at different residences, even burned furniture and family photos. "They wouldn't even get new furniture. They'd take the same furniture they just filed the claim on, rent another house and put the same furniture that's already been destroyed into the next house. They didn't try to hide it at all," commented the Miami-Dade State Attorney.

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Robert Figueredo of Miami, Florida was arrested Monday after federal authorities accused him of attempting to commit insurance fraud by sinking a yacht, according to reports. Figueredo, 49, was arrested and charged with first-degree grand theft in connection to the allegations. He was reportedly subsequently booked into Miami-Dade County Jail. It is not clear whether Mr. Figureredo has retained a private criminal defense lawyer or qualified for bail bond.

News sources indicate that Figueredo, a boat captain, was arrested after an investigation by detectives from the Florida Department of Financial Services' Division of Insurance Fraud. The agency alleged that Figueredo had sunk the yacht on purpose in May of 2009. The yacht in question, an 80-foot vessel named 'Star One,' was reportedly worth $1.86 million.

News reports and a press release Florida's Chief Financial officer state that Figueredo is accused of insurance fraud, although he has reportedly been charged with grand theft. It is not entirely clear whether Figueredo had a valid insurance claim on the vessel or not. Star One was reported stolen from a dock behind a Key Biscayne home in on May 4, 2009. The ship had been found a day earlier off of the coast of the Bahamas, where it reportedly appeared to have been scuttled.

Authorities reportedly connected Figueredo to Star One's alleged theft after Figueredo's ex-girlfriend apparently stated that Figueredo had told her about sinking Star One. Another witness also came forward, testifying that Figueredo had been responsible for scuttling Star One off of the coast of the Bahamas. The witness, whose name and age were not identified in news reports, had access to a boat through his boss at the time of the incident, sources indicate. The witness purportedly alleged that Figueredo had told him that he was taking Star One to a potential buyer and that Figueredo offered him payment in exchange for following Star One from the Bahamas to Miami.

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Diego Tobias Matrait of Miami, Florida was arrested after federal authorities claimed that he had used peer-to-peer file sharing technology to distribute child pornography that he created in his basement, according to news reports. Matrait, 36, was arrested and charged with child pornography distribution and child pornography possession early this week, sources indicate. He was subsequently released on $200,000 bond. It is not clear whether Mr. Matrait has retained a private criminal defense lawyer.

According to news sources, Matrait is a professional photographer who has a studio in his Miami home, located on Southwest 13th Terrace. He reportedly owns a business called Photography by Diego that specializes in child photography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation evidently acquired a search warrant for Matrait's home after Matriat allegedly wired an undercover agent 10 pornographic images of children in various states of undress using a peer-to-peer file sharing program in February. Peer-to-peer file sharing programs are at the forefront of illegal downloading and file sharing, and law enforcement officials often track such files to scan for child pornography.

Reports indicate that federal agents seized one of Diego's computers and allegedly found approximately 50 videos of children undressing. There is no indication that the children were engaged in any sexual activity or that there was ever more than one person present in the videos. Matrait allegedly told officials during questioning that he had used a webcam connected to his computer to record the videos, which purportedly depicted children 12 years of age and under who were changing clothes during photo shoots with Matrait. The videos were allegedly recorded in a guest bedroom of Matrait's home. If convicted of the federal offenses as charged, Matrait could face up to 20 years in prison, sources indicate.

Matrait was not the only area resident arrested for alleged crimes concerning children lately. William D. Whitis of Lake Worth, Florida was reportedly arrested on Wednesday for allegedly getting into a physical altercation with his girlfriend and his girlfriend's 4-year-old son. Whitis, 40, was arrested on charges of domestic battery, resisting arrest, and child abuse, for which he remains incarcerated in lieu of paying $3,000 bail bond. It is not clear whether Whitis has retained a private criminal defense lawyer.

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23 Hallandale Beach, Florida protesters were arrested after they allegedly blocked the entrance to a casino, according to news reports. The protestors had been reacting to the recent firing of several of the casino's employees, which they believe was reciprocation for unionization. The arrests were reportedly made peacefully, but the names of the arrested parties have not been released to the public. It is not clear whether any of the defendants, who likely qualified for bail bond due to the minor nature of the charges, has retained a private criminal defense lawyer.

According to news reports, the protesters are believed to have included workers fired from Mardi Gras Casino, an establishment best known for greyhound racing. The casino is located on North Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach, Florida. 10 workers who were fired from the casino in November 2011 are claiming they were fired only after they went public with their union leadership committee positions.

If the allegations are true, Mardi Gras Casino could face legal repercussions. Florida law stipulates that "the right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor organization." Mardi Gras Casino has not confirmed or denied that the workers were let go due to their union positions, reports indicate.

The 10 workers are reportedly affiliated with UNITE HERE, a hospitality union for South Florida workers that represents approximately 5,400 employees. The fired employees say that they lost their jobs despite an agreement between the union and casino managers stipulating that workers were allowed to organize. "Today's action was important to show the casino management and all of the workers that we're going to keep fighting for the right to organize freely," one of the former workers is quoted as saying in connection to the protests. "When management starts going after workers, it creates a climate of fear... we want to lift that climate of fear."

Sources indicate that Mardi Gras casino and UNITE HERE are now set to begin proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board in connection to the allegations. Because of this, the casino did not release a comment on the protests, although they did reportedly state that several of their current workers were disturbed by union members and asked the casino to take action to prevent "unwanted visits." It is not clear whether the casino is facing legal action from any of the individuals affected in addition to the current case.

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Jobson Cenor of Miami, Florida was arrested after he allegedly aided in the commission of tax fraud, according to news sources. Cenor, 22, was apprehended and booked on federal fraud charges in North Carolina, where the U.S. Marine was stationed at Camp LeJeune. He will be purportedly be transferred to Miami shortly for prosecution. It is not clear whether Cenor will be eligible to receive bail bond, nor is it clear whether he has retained a private criminal defense lawyer to help him with the federal charges. Cenor's arrest is one of several recent Miami tax fraud arrests, including a recent bust involving two former NFL players.

Cenor has reportedly been accused of partnering with Dorothy Boulin of Coral Springs in order to commit tax fraud. Cenor, who wasstationed at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan for military duty, allegedly stole social security numbers and other personal information from fellow soldiers and sent them to Boulin, who would use them to file false tax returns. It is not clear how Cenor purportedly acquired the information, but reports indicate that Cenor is accused of transmitting the information to Boulin from December 2011 to January 2012 using an iPad.

Boulin, 29, has pled guilty to charges of tax fraud already; news reports say that she is accused of attempting to acquire 'tens of thousands' of dollars through the alleged fraud. She evidently informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation of Cenor's alleged involvement and cooperated with them in his investigation as a condition of her plea deal. A search of his bunker in Afghanistan allegedly yielded 44 names and security numbers of U.S. Marines, 21 of which overlapped with names allegedly found in Boulin's possession.

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Ramon Rodriguez and Carlos Pena of Miramar, Florida was arrested after authorities conducted raids of two alleged underground gambling operations located in stores, sources indicate. Roommates Rodriguez, 43, and Pena, 41, was reportedly charged with bookmaking and keeping a gambling house. Authorities have also said that they are searching for a third suspect. It is not clear whether either of the current defendants has qualified for bail bond or has retained a private criminal defense lawyer.

Sources indicate that the arrests came after two separate raids on Monday morning, one of Santiago Meat Market (5730 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., West Park) and one of La Guajaca Multi-Service store (2701 SW 64th Ave., Miramar). Rodriguez allegedly ran the gambling operation in the meat market, while Pena was in charge of the one at the Multi-Service store. The latter store evidently offered a slew of products and services, ranging from fitness smoothies to travel advice. Customers of the two establishments, which were apparently functional and law-abiding businesses, told local newscasters that they thought that the stores were perfectly normal. "I come here everyday to get food because I work in a restaurant," commented one of Santiago Meat Market's regular customers. Reports indicate that employees who authorities believe were not involved in the alleged operation will not be prosecuted.

The Broward County Money Laundering Task Force reportedly conducted the bulk of the investigation, which seemingly involved undercover officers placing bets at both establishments. Reports indicate that undercover officers started investigating about six months ago after someone tipped them off to the alleged operations. Now, with the Kentucky Derby and Miami Heat in full swing, officers say that the decided to conduct the raid.

"We think they were moving about $25,000 a day through these businesses," one Broward Sheriff's deputy reportedly told the press. "There was a cashier behind bullet proof glass. You would place a bet and they would give you a computer generated slip showing what your bet was." The investigators allege that Santiago Meat Market serviced hundreds of gambling customers per day, opening at 8:00 a.m. and, starting recently, closing after NBA tip-offs.

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Frank Currier of Fort Lauderdale, Florida was arrested after he allegedly falsely claimed that an airplane passenger at Miami International Airport was carrying a bomb, according to news sources. Currier, 45, was arrested on Saturday at his Fort Lauderdale home and charged with making a false 911 call and making a false bomb threat, reports indicate. It is not clear whether Currier, who was booked into Broward County Jail on the charges, has qualified for bail bond. It is similarly unclear whether he has retained a private criminal defense lawyer.

News reports do not specify when the alleged false report occurred. However, they do allege that Currier called Miami International Airport saying that a passenger on a flight out of Miami had a chemical bomb concealed in a laptop computer. It is not clear whether Currier allegedly stipulated a name or a flight number to go along with the claim.

Sources denote that officials traced the phone call back to Currier's residence. It is currently unknown whether anyone else lives at the home or whether Currier confessed to making the call to authorities. Prior to his arrest for the bomb threat, Currier was reportedly arrested on April 26th on unrelated charges of first offense criminal mischief of $200 or less. The details of the case are not known, nor is it clear whether Currier has obtained legal representation for the case.

Currier was not the only area resident to come to the attention of authorities this week. Miami officials are reportedly attempting to arrest Luis Felipe Moya in connection to a late April hit-and-run car accident. Moya, 24, has not yet been apprehended in connection to the crash, and it is not clear what charges he is facing. It is also not known whether he has retained a private criminal defense lawyer.

According to sources, Miami police believe that Moya was involved in a hit-and-run car accident resulting in serious injuries, one of several recent area crashes. 19-year-old Eliza Gresh, the victim of the alleged hit-and-run, remains in a coma at Kendall Regional Medical Center, sources indicate. She was reportedly crossing South Dixie Highway at the intersection of Southwest 57th Avenue on April 27th when the accident occurred. A witness alleged that Gresh went airborne during the collision.

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Amaury and Amed Villa were arrested in Miami, Florida after they allegedly helped orchestrate what federal authorities are calling the largest theft of prescription drugs in U.S. history, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. Brothers Amuary Villa, 37, Amed Villa, 46, and 9 other area residents were charged with a total of 18 counts in Florida alone. The Villa brothers were also charged in a separate case in Connecticut in connection to the same alleged March 2010 theft, which evidently involved $75 million worth of pharmaceutical drugs. The charges include the sale and possession of stolen goods, conspiracy, and illegal sale of prescription drugs. It is not clear whether any of the defendants, who are scheduled to attend an initial hearing in Fort Lauderdale today, has retained a private criminal defense lawyer.

The press release, one of several announcing Miami area federal violations this week alone, announces charges mostly in connection to the theft of an Eli Lilly, Connecticut pharmaceutical warehouse. News reports indicate that the alleged theft was extremely intricate and that the defendants were only apprehended because of biological evidence left on a water bottle that Amed Villa allegedly touched during the theft and left in the warehouse. The stolen drugs apparently included Prozac, Gemzar, Cymbalta and Zyprexia and include cancer and psychiatric remedies. Federal authorities believe that the defendants were trying to sell the drugs, according to the official press release.

Sources indicate that the alleged theft began with Amaury Villa making several trips to Hartford, Connecticut and the New York area to allegedly plan the robbery, staying in high-end hotels and renting expensive cars each time. Reports denote that Villa also leased two tractor-trailers in February. Before the robbery, tools were allegedly purchased at a Home Depot in Flushing, New York and transported to the warehouse area. Villa also allegedly flew into La Guardia, Connecticut before renting a Cadillac Escalade and driving to Windsor, Connecticut the night before the robbery.

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59 Miami area residents were arrested in a major Medicare fraud investigation, according to a press release by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. The arrested parties include business owners, doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. The release states that the investigation discovered approximately $452 million in false Medicare bills in the sting, which is reportedly a record amount. It is not clear whether any of the Miami area defendants, who are allegedly responsible for $137 million's worth of the false bills, has qualified for bail bond or has retained a private criminal defense lawyer.

According to the press release, the investigation was a joint endeavor by the Department of Justice and the HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force. It purportedly involved around 400 law enforcements on federal, state, and local levels. It is not clear what tactics were used during the investigation, but according to the statement, the defendants are accused of partaking in "schemes to submit claims to Medicare for treatments that were medically unnecessary and oftentimes never provided" and that "patient recruiters, Medicare beneficiaries and other co-conspirators were paid cash kickbacks in return for supplying beneficiary information to providers." The release states that the South Florida defendants have been charged a variety of federal offenses, including health care fraud, money laundering, and violating anti-kickback statues.

Most of the defendants were accused of crimes involving clinics that were allegedly set up specifically to commit Medicare fraud. One of the federal cases is against Yaquelin Colls, Pedro Colls, and Jesus Fernandez, who owned and operated two separate clinics that ran out of the same address. The first, which was reportedly called Ma Medical and Therapy Services, Inc., was allegedly used to submit $972,068 in medical claims for HIV and cancer injections to a Medicare Advantage-affiliated private insurance company. The injections, the press release says, never happened. The defendants are also accused of bribing third parties into serving as patients at the two clinics, then submitting claims in their names.

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Rolando Prieto, Brian Roland Tangherlin, and Alfredo Quintana were arrested during a protest organized by Occupy Miami, according to press reports. Reports indicate that Prieto, 23, was arrested for inciting a riot and obstructing a public right-of-way; Tangherlin, 22, was arrested on charges of resisting arrest with violence and obstructing a public right-of-way; and Quintana, 23, was arrested on one count of resisting arrest and three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer. The three are believed to have been booked at Miami-Dade County Jail on the charges. It is not clear whether any of the defendants has been granted bail bond or has retained a private criminal defense attorney.

Sources indicate that the arrests occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the Occupy Miami May Day protest, which occurred in downtown Miami near Southeast 2nd Avenue. The protest was one of many May Day Occupy events protesting wealth distribution, tax law, and other issues. Police were dispatched to the area during the protest, which reportedly lasted approximately seven hours. One witness said that the arrests occurred at the rear of the group during a march.

According to reports, Prieto and Tangherlin were arrested first, and Quintana was arrested while he reported the arrests to a news source. Police reportedly indicated that Prieto ignored a police officer's instructions to get off the road and blocked a marked police vehicle. The police report says that Prieto began to "yell and call for the crowd to gather and begin protesting in the middle of the roadway" upon his arrest, sources indicate.

Police attempted to arrest Tangherlin after he allegedly ignored orders to clear the roadway. However, reports indicate that Tangherlin resisted arrest by pulling away and was then tackled by several officers. Tangherlin allegedly fought back and injured one officer by kneeing him in the torso. A Miami police spokesperson indicated that the injuries were minor.

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William Joseph and Louis Gachelin were arrested in Miami, Florida after they were allegedly involved in a large-scale tax fraud scheme, according to a press release by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. Joseph, 32, is an NFL veteran, while Gachelin, 31, reportedly played for Syracuse University. Also arrested in the sting were Regina Carrol, 37; Lanny Fried, 34; Guy Maxineau, 35; Castra Pierre-Louis, 34; and Gunie Similien, 32. The press release mentions that Michael Antwon Bennett, another former NFL player, was recently arrested for tax fraud as well.

The case is making headlines largely because of the former NFL players involved. William Joseph played defensive tackle for the University of Miami. He went on to be a first draft pick for the New York Giants in 2003, rounding off his football career with the Oakland Raiders in 2010. Bennett was also a first round draft, playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 2001 after playing running back for the University of Wisconsin. He spent a decade in the NFL before retiring from the Raiders in 2011. Gachelin nearly made it to the NFL in 2004 after playing defensive lineman for Syracuse University; he was signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots but never made it to the field.

The defendants in this case were charged with forgery of U.S. treasury checks, theft of government money, and use of five or more identification documents with unlawful intent, according to the press release. Bennett, who was charged in a similar case, is accused of wire fraud. It is not entirely clear where the defendants are being held, whether they qualify for bail bond, and whether any of them has retained a private criminal defense attorney.

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Stacey Ann Ortiz of St. Lucie, Florida was arrested on April 18 after she allegedly got into a violent altercation with her boyfriend. Ortiz, 34, was arrested and charged with domestic battery following the incident. It is not clear whether she has qualified for bail bond or retained a private criminal defense attorney.

According to the arrest report, police were called to the 2000 block of Southeast Avon Park Drive in Port St. Lucie, Florida late on April 18 by Ortiz's boyfriend. The boyfriend, whose name was not released, reportedly alleged that he and Ortiz had come back from drinking and socializing at a friend's house in order to go to sleep. He told officers that after getting into bed Ortiz wanted to engage in sexual intercourse. He reported that he wanted to watch television instead, so he turned her down.

He alleged that after he turned her down repeatedly, Ortiz became angry and attacked him, although it is not clear how. The boyfriend told investigators that he ran into the garage and down the street to escape Ortiz. The police report indicates that "it appeared the victim had just left his bed since he was only wearing his underwear." It does not mention any physical evidence of the alleged attacks. The victim is not believed to have sought any medical attention after the alleged incident.

When interviewed by police, Ortiz allegedly told investigators that she and her boyfriend had gotten into a verbal altercation that eventually turned physical, although she did not detail the cause of the argument. She reported that she had pushed her boyfriend after he rammed into her with his head, and that she chased him outside in anger. Ortiz, like her boyfriend, is not believed to have required medical treatment after the altercation.

The affidavit also says that a responding officer noticed a broken mop handle on the floor of Ortiz's residence and asked Ortiz what had happened. Ortiz allegedly responded that the handle broke while she was using it to break a window on her boyfriend's vehicle. The affidavit indicates that the state of the truck window in question substantiated the story. The financial cost of the damage is not known.

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Eduardo Olivares and 12 others were arrested in a Miami, Florida auto insurance fraud sting dubbed "Operation Crash Clinics," according to an announcement by the Miami Police Department on Thursday. Olivarez, 42, was arrested along with Daysel Aguilar, 24; Meritania Amaro, 23; Andrés Blanco, 45; Lorelys Diaz, 23; Osvaldo García, 65; Luis Armando Pérez, 39; Marco Torres, 50; Omar Yeras, 64; Alina Urgelles, 50; and Sissi Ramos-Orosco, 26.

The defendants have been accused with offenses including grand theft, insurance fraud and organized fraud. They include doctors and therapists as well as clinic receptionists and other alleged conspirators. It is not clear whether any of the arrested parties has qualified for bail bond or has retained a private criminal defense attorney.

According to the press release by the Miami-Dade Police Department, Operation Crash Clinics was a joint investigation by area law enforcement and insurance companies. The year-long sting resulted in three Miami-Dade County clinics being shut down after investigators determined that they were involved in insurance fraud. The clinics in question are Excellent Group Services, Paradise Cosmetic Center, and Family Therapy.

The fraud scheme was allegedly a multi-layered endeavor that involved staged car accidents, falsified medical paperwork, and insurance claims for therapy that never happened. Authorities say that the scheme started with 'runners,' who found people who were willing to pose as injured victims of car accidents. Sometimes, the runners would look up local car accidents and contact victims to ask them to participate, according to the investigation.

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Matthew Newton was arrested in Miami, Florida last week after he allegedly got into a physical fight with a hotel clerk. The arrest comes in the wake of another incident for which the 35-year-old Australian actor is facing charges of trespassing and resisting arrest. Newton is facing additional charges of battery and resisting arrest after last week's altercation. He was released from Miami-Dade County Jail on $2500 bail bond and is currently awaiting trial.

According to the arrest report, the more recent arrest occurred in the early morning hours of April 17 at a Courtyard Mariott hotel located in Coconut Grove. Most of the incident was caught on the hotel's surveillance cameras, although part of it was blocked by a pole in the lobby.

The arrest report indicates that Newton was angry that he was receiving poor cell phone reception and became violent. The report states that Newton "threw all the papers off the counter," then "went behind the counter and punched victim in face with closed fist and then pushed victim to the ground." "(The desk clerk) drops to the ground and Mr Newton follows him down and then we see the clerk stumble and get up and Mr Newton following him," said a Miami-Dade police spokesperson of the footage.

Newton reportedly returned to his room in the hotel following the fight, and was arrested there. Police claim that Newton resisted arrest by pulling away from the arresting officer as he was being handcuffed. There is no surveillance footage of the arrest available.

Newton says that he was provoked to violence by the hotel clerk. "Mr Newton is claiming the clerk spat in his face," said the police spokesperson. "However, the clerk had his back to the camera so you cannot see that at any point." Newton is due in court to face the charges next month.

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Miami, Florida police have announced that their recent "Operation Dear John" sting, which targeted prostitutes and their customers, resulted in 27 arrests. 22 of the arrests were potential customers, while 5 were prostitutes, according to the police department. The defendants are believed to have been booked at Miami-Dade County Jail, mostly on charges of soliciting prostitution. Some were also hit with drug, firearm, or weapon possession charges. It is not clear whether any of the arrested parties has qualified for bail bond or has retained a private criminal defense attorney.

According to the press release by the Miami-Dade Police Department, the arrests occured on Thursday night of last week and exclusively targeted a single block Southwest 8th Street and Southwest 43rd Avenue. Undercover officers were able to make the arrests primarily by observing prostitutes and johns arranging to exchange money for sex.

Officials believe that many Miami-Dade area prostitutes are either juveniles or have been forced into prostitution. Police say that they hope to combat human trafficking by reducing demand through stings such as "Operation Dear John." Another one of the department's goals is to provide prostitutes with connections to social services and help organizations, which aim to get prostitutes homes and steady jobs.

Although a list of the arrested parties is not readily available, police have announced that one of those arrested for prostitution is 19 years of age. "Juvenile prostitution and forced prostitution are the ugly, ugly crimes at the heart of human trafficking activities," said a Miami-Dade State Attorney in a written statement after the arrests. "To stop human trafficking, we must attack the problem from many directions with all the enforcement and social service tools at our disposal. This is an effort we must succeed with."

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