Category Archives: White Collar Crime
Florida Man Arrested for Ponzi Scheme
A Pensacola man is facing criminal charges for allegedly running a financial scam that bears the typical characteristics of a Ponzi or pyramid scheme. According to a May 30, 2017 report in the Pensacola News Journal, the man was transferring money between investors and his attorney’s trust account. The criminal complaint revealed that the… Read More »
New State Law on the Books: Money Laundering in Florida
While money laundering isn’t a new crime under Florida law, lawmakers did recently pass a bill to expand the type of conduct that constitutes the offense. According to the Miami Herald, the state House and Senate enacted a measure on May 5, 2017 to include “virtual currency” within the definition of monetary instruments. The… Read More »
Four Hialeah, FL Suspects Face Extradition to Virginia in Skimming Scheme
The Miami-Dade Police Department apprehended four suspects in a credit card fraud scheme tracing back to businesses in Virginia, according to officials’ reports. The two men and two women, with ages ranging from 21 to 32 years old, were confronted as they returned to the US from Cuba; all are legal immigrants that reside… Read More »
Fraud Scam Targeting South Florida Senior Citizens
A credit and debit card scam focusing on unwitting senior citizens has resulted in at least one arrest, though police continue to investigate what seems to be a widespread scheme. The Sun-Sentinel reported on December 9, 2016 that elderly victims would turn over their debit card and PIN to a person posing as a… Read More »
Hollywood, Florida Lawyer Gets One Year in Money Laundering Scheme
A money laundering scheme recently landed a Hollywood, Florida attorney in prison after he pleaded guilty to the charges against him back in August 2016. According to The Sun-Sentinel, a US District Court judge sentenced him to one year plus one day in federal prison, plus a fine of $,7500 and order to pay… Read More »
The Latest Fraud Scam in Florida: “Forced Sale”
A couple was finally apprehended after weeks of scamming retailers under a credit card scheme across several states. Numerous charges are still coming as authorities continue to investigate in a coordinated effort, but the couple is currently in custody in Walton County, Florida, according to ABC affiliate WKRG News 5. The pair jilted businesses… Read More »
Proving Credit Card Fraud: A Heavy Burden of Proof for Florida Prosecutors
A woman was charged with more than a dozen offenses related to fraud when recently stopped at Fort Lauderdale’s Hollywood International Airport. According to the Sun-Sentinel article, she was in possession of numerous credit cards intended for counterfeit purposes and admitted to purchasing the account numbers and identification details of the owners. She was… Read More »
SmartWater CSI and the Importance of Deterrence Props in Decreasing Property Crimes
Gadgets and gizmos of technology have consistently been a part of the “crime stoppers” modus operandi. We have seen alarm systems come and go, and video cameras and phone applications that can be used to check up on your home and the babysitter, among others. This is under the labored belief that people will… Read More »
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Leaving Untainted Assets Unfrozen
In 1989, the United States Supreme Court held in United States v. Monsanto that a criminal defendant who has violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) and the Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) may not use funds that were acquired through illegal activity to pay for the defendant’s counsel. The Court, at this time,… Read More »
The Crime and Punishment of “SWATTING”
Video games provide a forum in which players of the game can leave reality and delve into fantasy scenarios and act in a way that is permitted by the game. Video games have the reputation of being whimsical and fun, but also violent and an instigator of violent characteristics seen in many of its… Read More »