All of the 31 suspects had responded to online ads and engaged in sexually explicit verbal and written conversation. They agreed to travel to a secret Sarasota County location for the purpose of having sex with a child or children. (The location will remain secret in order to be used again). When the suspects arrived, they were placed under arrest by detectives. Some of the charges brought against several of the suspects include “use of a computer and traveling to seduce, solicit or entice a child to commit sexual acts.”

Sex crimes against children are aggressively prosecuted. At least one of the 31 arrested suspects faces a second-degree felony charge carrying a maximum 15 years in prison. Such consequences can have a significant impact on a person’s personal and professional life. They can lose their family, their job, and even be branded a sex offender for the rest of their life. The repercussions of a felony sex crime charge should never be underestimated.

If you have been accused of a child sex crime in Florida, you will be fervently prosecuted. Your best chance to avoid excessive penalties and/or an unjust conviction is by retaining the services of an aggressive Florida criminal defense attorney. The experienced Sarasota County crimes against children defense attorneys at Musca Law have the knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively protect your legal rights. For a confidential consultation, call us today at (800) 687-2252.

Detectives are investigating multiple thefts from the set of The Glades in South Florida. Two thefts have occurred in the last month, amounting to over $20,000 worth of copper wiring/cables which were used to power air conditioners on the production sets. According to Broward County deputies, two men in a white Ford F150 pick-up truck drove up to the loading dock and stole the cables. A second theft occurred recently and also involved the theft of copper cables and a truck driving up to the same loading dock, though this time it was a different truck.

Surveillance video showing details of the crimes has been released by authorities, who are urging those with any information to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-8477.

If you have been arrested for a theft crime in Florida where the stolen property is of increased value, you may face substantial penalties. In order to avoid excessive charges and penalties, it is in your best interest to retain the services of one of the aggressive Broward County criminal defense attorneys at Musca Law. We are committed to protecting the legal rights of each and every client. To discuss your situation with one of our lawyers, contact us at (800) 687-2252.

Each of the seven arrested suspects are being charged with the following specific charges:

1. Paramilitary training;
2. Attempt to shoot into an occupied dwelling; and
3. Evidence of prejudices while committing the offense.

It is illegal, and a felony, to participate in paramilitary training in Florida for the purposes of using such training for a civil disorder within the U.S., and the evidence of prejudices falls under the scope of the state’s hate crime law.

The investigation that led to these arrests is part of a widespread effort to put a stop to hate crimes in the community. The suspects have ties to an organization called American Front, which is identified as a hate group by both the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, despite its official purpose being the “religious and cultural preservation of the European peoples” which is “organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes.”

Hate crime and conspiracy are serious charges in Florida and can carry harsh penalties upon conviction. To avoid excessive penalties and/or an unjust conviction, it is imperative that you hire the right Florida criminal defense attorney. At Musca Law, we make it our personal mission to defend your legal rights and protect your future. To speak to one of our lawyers, call us today for a confidential consultation at (800) 687-2252.

Holiday weekends traditionally involve a lot of parties which include drinking, and Cinco de Mayo is no different. During these holiday occasions, law enforcement ups enforcement with DUI checkpoints and increased patrols to catch drunk drivers and take them off the road. Because of this, however, law enforcement tends to be overzealous about arresting possible drunk drivers over the holidays. Just because a driver is exhibiting certain signs of intoxication does not mean that those signs were caused by imbibing alcoholic beverages. Nonetheless, in order to make sure you stay safe, healthy, and not under arrest during holidays like Cinco de Mayo, it is imperative that you follow these tips:

1. If you plan to drink, don’t drive. Take a taxi or carpool with a designated driver to your destination.
2. If you drive to a party but have been drinking, wait until you are completely sober before attempting to drive home, call a taxi, or ask a sober driver to drop you off.
3. If you are hosting a party where guests will be drinking, take the keys of anyone who is intoxicated and/or help them arrange for a safe ride home. Also, don’t be afraid to cut someone off if they become dangerously drunk.

By following these simple rules, you can be sure to not mar the holiday fun with a Florida DUI stop or arrest. If you have been accused of DUI, however, you have the right to a proper defense. At Musca Law, our aggressive DUI defense lawyers in Florida can defend your rights against both administrative and criminal action taken against you. To speak to one of our attorneys about your situation, call us today for a confidential consultation at (800) 687-2252.

The number of bank robberies occurring currently amounts to about two per week. The FBI attributes the increase in bank robberies to a number of factors; however, the most influential seems to be the economy. There are a lot of people who have no job, no home, and are desperate. Such circumstances increase the types of crimes that would provide quick money. Gambling and drug-use also tend to increase in such economic circumstances.

Although the number of bank robberies has increased, the types of robberies committed are less violent, typically involving a lone suspect approaching one teller, rather than multiple suspects with multiple weapons attempting to take the whole bank by violence. Regardless of the situation, the FBI encourages bank patrons and employees to not attempt to stop robberies.

Regardless of your personal situation, violent crimes such as robbery can have a significant effect on your future. If you have been charged with robbery in Florida, the aggressive robbery defense lawyers in Florida at Musca Law can protect your legal rights and build a strong defense on your behalf. To learn more, call us today for a confidential consultation at (800) 687-2252.

The investigation into Congressman Rivera began at the end of the 2012 congressional campaign when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) identified possible ethical violations, including that, as a state representative, he attempted to hide a one million dollar contract with a Florida gambling company and also used campaign money to pay for Florida House of Representatives activities which were already reimbursed by the state. Additionally, over $65,000 in credit card charges were made for what seemed to be personal expenses, though they were paid for using campaign money.

Though Rivera does not face charges in Florida, he will still be the subject of a federal probe. Congressman Rivera referred to the year-long investigation as a fishing expedition which turned into a wild goose chase.

Politicians face a lot of scrutiny from law enforcement, the media, government, and the public, especially when allegations of corruption surface, which is why it is important to retain the services of an experienced Florida public corruption defense attorney who can discreetly and aggressively defend your legal rights. If you are facing a public corruption charge in Florida, call Musca Law today for a confidential consultation at (800) 687-2252.

HB 177 would have created a program that would allow and support non-violent felony offenders, who have served 50 percent of their prison sentence, to re-enter the world as peaceful and productive members of society. This early release would be conditional on the felons meeting certain criteria and fulfilling certain requirements, including:

• Requiring that the offender complete substance abuse treatment and rehabilitative program(s);
• Requiring notice to state attorneys and courts;
• Authorizing the state attorney to object to the release;
• Directing a court to screen and choose eligible offenders;
• Requiring that offenders enroll in adult education (in specified circumstances); and
• Requiring the assessment of career education and vocational skills.

This program would have established a strict structure for felons who were considered to have a good chance to succeed and rejoin society, and thus prevent recidivism. But now there is no way to know if the program would have worked.

You can’t rely on politicians to enact favorable laws to benefit your future. If you have been accused of a crime in Florida, your best chance of getting your charges reduced or dismissed is by retaining the services of an aggressive Florida criminal defense lawyer. At Musca Law, we are committed to protecting the legal rights of every one of our clients, regardless of the crime committed. To find out how we can help you, contact us today at (800) 687-2252 for a confidential consultation.

Once authorities said that he would be charged, Zimmerman turned himself in after being in hiding for his safety. He will be pleading not-guilty against second-degree murder charges. It is hoped that now that the process is moving forward, much of the anger and/or frustration caused by the case will recede. The intention to charge Zimmerman was announced 46 days after the shooting.

The process is still in its early stages as the prosecutor and defense attorneys have not yet even begun the jury selection process; however, if found guilty, Zimmerman faces a minimum of 25 years imprisonment as well as a $10,000 fine, which are the penalties established for second-degree murder as per Florida statute 782.04. Zimmerman’s defense lawyer expects that it will take at least six months and perhaps even up to one year before the trial begins, but this is speculation as he has not reviewed the evidence himself yet. He is replacing Zimmerman’s former defense attorney.

Murder charges are very serious and have the potential to jeopardize your entire future. If you have been charged with murder in Florida, the aggressive Florida murder defense lawyers at Musca Law can protect your legal rights. Call us today for a confidential consultation today at (800) 687-2252.

Juvenile crimes in Florida can still come back to haunt adults even after they’ve straightened out their lives. A 29-year-old woman, who was first arrested at 12 years-old, found herself being charged as an adult for felony grand larceny and burglary when she was 17-years-old. Now, those records are creating challenges for her as an adult more than 10 years later, despite the fact that she recently graduated from Florida International University law school and has long left that life behind.

Because she was charged as an adult when she was 17-years-old, her crimes will stay on her record. As a result, simple tasks, like trying to rent an apartment, become much more challenging. In fact, the 29-year-old law school graduate was only able to rent an apartment in a bad neighborhood when she first moved to Miami because most desirable locations have condo associations with strict rules concerning criminal records.

According to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, there were 5,482 juvenile crimes in Palm Beach County. Of these, 211 juveniles were charged as adults. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is required to disclose all criminal history records, including juvenile offenses, unless the records were expunged or sealed, which only occurs under certain circumstances.

Being arrested for a juvenile crime in Florida should not be taken lightly. A juvenile criminal record may create obstacles for the rest of your life. At Musca Law, our aggressive Palm Beach County juvenile crime defense attorneys recognize the potential threat of a juvenile criminal record and will provide the effective representation you need to protect your future. If your child has been arrested for a juvenile crime in Florida, contact us today at (800) 687-2252 to learn more about your child’s legal rights and options.

The former fugitive, who had been performing construction jobs in Ecuador, had his car broken into. The perpetrator stole his cell phone and wallet. He set out to get a new driver’s license but was stopped by police in La Libertad, who were checking every driver’s identification documents. Without any official identification on him, the former fugitive was arrested and taken to immigration where he was fingerprinted. The Interpol results revealed his “wanted” status.

The original trial involved the former fugitive and 12 other men; they were all charged in a drug plot to import several thousands of pounds of cocaine into Miami from Colombia. The Coast Guard saw 70-pound bales of cocaine floating in the ocean and being loaded onto a fishing boat and three speedboats near the Bahamas. Although the former fugitive had gone on the run before the final verdict was read in the original trial, he was nonetheless convicted of conspiracy but acquitted of actual drug importation charges.

Drug trafficking is a serious offense that carries severe penalties. If you have been accused of drug trafficking in Florida, contact the experienced Florida federal drug trafficking defense attorneys at Musca Law. We can build an aggressive defense on your behalf and protect your legal rights. Call today (800) 687-2252 for a confidential consultation.