In 2007, the boss of the South Florida Genovese organized crime family was sent to prison for 14 years, and, in a few days or weeks, he will be released thanks to his cooperation with the government despite his original stand against helping prosecutors, according to The Palm Beach Post.

Prosecutors recommended that the 78-year-old former crime boss’ sentence be reduced by half after he cooperated with prosecutors. How he assisted the government is unclear, but it was substantial enough for the court to grant the recommendation. But with a half sentence and standard time off for good behavior, the former crime boss would have had to wait until August before he was released. His release was moved up after the defense asked that his final six months be removed due to his advanced age and serious health conditions, including diabetes and heart trouble. The judge conceded to this request.

The former crime boss used to live in Palm Beach Gardens and owned the West Palm Beach restaurant Soprano’s. In 2007, he plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy for his role in criminal enterprises in Palm Beach and Broward counties, including extortion, robberies, loan sharking, and money laundering. He had also approved the violent assault of a Coral Springs businessman and accepted over $100,000 in stolen property from an undercover agent.

It is a defense attorney’s job to act in the best interests of their client and to ensure that they are not unlawfully punished for wrongs that they may or may not have committed, before conviction, and, if necessary, after. If you have been charged with criminal enterprises in Florida, contact the Palm Beach County criminal enterprises defense lawyers at Musca Law to learn more about getting the legal defense you are entitled to. Call us today at (800) 687-2252 for a confidential consultation of your case.

Stalking is a serious offense in Florida and can carry substantial penalties. Not many people are aware of what actually constitutes “stalking” in Florida, however. This may not only lead people to inadvertently commit the crime, but also makes him or her highly unprepared for the consequences.

Under Florida Statute 784.048, any person who “willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly” follows, cyberstalks, or harasses another person is guilty of the crime of stalking. This crime carries the penalties of a misdemeanor of the first degree, which include a maximum one year imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine. This is the only stalking charge that is charged as a misdemeanor.

The following other related stalking charges, all considered aggravated stalking, are all felonies in the third degree, which are punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years and/or a maximum fine of $5,000:

• Stalking, as described above, as well as making a credible threat with the purpose of instilling in the victim a reasonable fear of bodily injury or death of themselves or an immediate family member;
• Continuing to stalk a person who is protected under an injunction or other court-ordered prohibition of conduct; and
• Stalking a minor under the age of 16.

If you have been charged with stalking or aggravated stalking in Florida, you face significant penalties which can have adverse effects on your personal and professional life. If you have already been convicted of a felony, the penalties will be more severe. To learn more about how you can effectively avoid stalking charges, contact the aggressive stalking defense attorneys in Florida at Musca Law today at (800) 687-2252.

The Super Bowl is an exciting event that will not only be drawing out-of-towners to the hosting city of Indianapolis, but also bringing together football fans across the country together at countless Super Bowl parties, where they will enjoy traditional game day food and drink while rooting for their team.

The fun and games of Super Bowl weekend can be ruined by a DUI charge, however.

Drunk driving is common during Super Bowl weekend and, as such, law enforcement will be aggressively on the lookout for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol. If a driver seems impaired, they will be pulled over, whether they are actually so or not. Some of the common signs that police officers look for when attempting to identify intoxicated drivers include:

• Drifting across multiple lanes;
• Abruptly changing speed;
• Poorly navigating turns;
• Driving excessively slow;
• Driving the wrong way; and
• Ignoring traffic control devices.

Being pulled over for other simple traffic violations, such as speeding or failing to yield the right-of-way, may also lead to a DUI arrest. However, a traffic violation is often just that and nothing more. Law enforcement can become overzealous in their efforts to take drunk drivers off the roads. Though this is understandable as drunk driving accidents do occur and are often deadly, it can lead officers to misconstrue observations as well as violate proper procedure.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Florida, the experienced Florida DUI defense lawyers at Musca Law can examine the details of your arrest to determine any violations of procedure and if the stop itself was unlawful. To learn more about protecting your legal rights and avoiding DUI penalties, contact us today at (800) 687-2252 for a confidential consultation.