Fort Lauderdale Criminal Attorney Blog

April 7, 2016

Delray Beach Arrest for LSD Trafficking

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A man in Delray Beach is charged with trafficking some $2,000 worth of acid to an undercover informant in Boca Raton, according to The Sun-Sentinel.

Authorities say 28-year-old Rusty Hoyman repeatedly sold “large amounts” of both LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and MDMA (better known as ecstasy) to the information from January through March.

The confidential informant reportedly revealed to authorities that Hoyman was trying to sell a 100-dose “sheet” for $650 in January. The informant, by that time working closely with detectives, purchased the sheet and then turned the drugs immediately over to police. There were two more reported undercover buys in February and March. Continue reading

March 30, 2016

Woman Accused of Revenge Porn Against Ex-BFF

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Typically when we talk about “revenge porn,” it’s an act of cyber sexual harassment committed by former romantic partners. The majority of cases involve men posting sexually suggestive or explicit photographs of their former wives or girlfriends.

But in a recent case out of Illinois, it involves a woman who is accused of posting private sexual images of her former best friend since grade school.

The Daily Beast reports the 38-year-old defendant, Stephanie Kaczmarek, is charged with unlawful dissemination of private sexual images – also known as “revenge porn” – a felony in Illinois. Police announced her arrest earlier this month. Continue reading

March 26, 2016

Broward Sex Crimes Dating Back 20 Years Now Prosecuted

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” goes the old saying.

And this is as true for a defendant as it is the victim. That’s because when cases are filed five, 10 or 20 years or more after an alleged crime, it becomes exceedingly difficult to challenge the veracity of the charges. Witness memories fade. People retire. Others die. Receipts that might have verified or disproved certain elements are gone. Records are trashed.

That’s why if you are accused of a Broward sex crime that involves years-old allegations, you must hire an experienced defense attorney to help ensure your rights are protected.

One such case was recently reported by The Sun Sentinel, involving a Pembroke Pines defendant accused of raping one child and molesting another two decades ago. Continue reading

March 21, 2016

Fort Lauderdale Felony Drug Conviction Gets Doctor Probation

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A former pain clinic doctor who worked at a facility in Fort Lauderdale was sentenced to four years of probation, following his conviction last fall on a felony drug charge.

Dr. Gerald Klein, 81, had been facing up to five years in prison for his conviction for illegally selling a prescription of Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, to a patient at a clinic in West Palm Beach. That patient happened to be Alejandro Pino, who at the time was working as a chef for now-GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump.

It could have been much worse for the physician, who last year was staring down the possibility of a life sentence on a first-degree murder charge, following the 2009 overdose death of another patient of the so-called “pill mill” where the doctor worked. In January, twin brothers and co-clinic managers received 15 and 20 years, respectively. Continue reading

March 15, 2016

Slew of Traffic Offenses Facing Fort Lauderdale Motorcyclist

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A Fort Lauderdale motorcyclist is facing nearly a dozen charges after police reportedly had to set up a sting just to catch him. Officers had reportedly spotted the 19-year-old morning after morning on a black Honda bike, weaving through morning rush hour traffic, speeding, pulling wheelies and running red lights.

The officers allege this same man, always wearing a GoPro video camera strapped to his helmet, had three times shook his head no and continued on when officers tried to pull him over. On the third such instance, police allege the motorcyclist refused to stop, ran through a red light and waved to the officer, as if inviting law enforcement to chase him down.

But at that point, police couldn’t follow him through the crush of traffic. Department safety policy prohibits officers from chasing down suspects for traffic offenses or minor misdemeanors. Still, police were eager to stop him. So they set up a sting. Continue reading

March 11, 2016

Florida Mom Turns in Teen Son After Police Chase

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Broward Sheriff’s detectives are lauding the actions of a mother who turned her teenage son into authorities after spotting him on television news, fleeing on foot from a police helicopter that had been chasing him and three others across four cities along I-95.

Authorities say she brought her son to the police station around 1:30 a.m. and instructed him to cooperate with deputies. Her actions were deemed “upstanding” and “noble.”

To be sure, parents have a responsibility to hold their children accountable for wrongdoing. At the same time, what some may not realize is that even though these are minors, they can still face adult penalties. That’s why they should receive the same kind of legal defense protection as any adult facing serious charges. Continue reading

March 5, 2016

Law Enforcement Use Technology to Catch Suspects

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

The evolution of technology in recent years is somewhat astonishing. The fact that we all walk around with what amounts to a personal computer and can instantly connect to anyone in almost any corner of the globe is a testament to that.

But don’t think for a second that police haven’t tapped into that potential as well.

Prime example: Recently the Sun-Sentinel reported on a case in which Broward County Sheriff’s Office detectives were able to electronically track a stolen phone to a man and woman who were later arrested for theft.

The pair allegedly stalked the victim as he walked out of a Pompano Beach casino, followed him to a nearby store and robbed him at gun point of his winnings, his wallet, electronics, his backpack – and his iPhone – in the parking lot. In cash alone, the pair reportedly took $11,740. Continue reading

March 1, 2016

Marital Privilege Violation in Florida Sex Case Results in Mistrial

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A criminal case for lewd lascivious molestation against a Weston foot doctor has ended in mistrial after a recorded phone conversation played for jurors violated Florida’s spousal privilege statute.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, Broward Circuit Judge Raag Singhal made the call after jurors heard a recorded call between defendant, Dr. Augustine Bollo, and the alleged victim’s mother in which the mother alleged Bollo’s wife did not believe he was innocent.

Singhal considered the defense attorney’s request for mistrial after the tape was played, and after reviewing case law, granted that request. Continue reading

February 29, 2016

Florida Manslaughter Charges Dropped for Ansara Law Firm Client

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

South Florida Defense Attorney Richard Ansara of The Ansara Law Firm successfully defended a client charged with manslaughter following a 2013 fatal shooting in Boca Raton.

As The Sun-Sentinel recently reported, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Glenn Kelley dismissed the second-degree felony case against 25-year-old client Joshua Henry of Pompano Beach. Henry originally faced up to 15 years in prison. He is now a free man.

Ansara aptly argued that the events resulting in the death of Justin Holt, 22, were the result of a “tragic accident,” not criminal action. Continue reading

February 27, 2016

Alligator Drive-Thru Assault: “It Was a Prank”

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A 24-year-old South Florida man stands accused of assault with a deadly weapon for throwing a live alligator into a fast-food restaurant drive-thru window. His father recently spoke out, saying his son is a “nature lover” with a “good heart,” and the ordeal was simply, “a prank.”

Unfortunately, intent in these matters is of little consequence in the eyes of the criminal justice system. He allegedly willfully tossed the 3.5-foot creature at the unsuspecting fast food workers would, if proven, render his reported lack of harmful intention meaningless.

In fact, it has been our experience that most people accused of criminal conduct had failed to fully grasp the seriousness of their actions under the law. Sometimes this, along with a lack of prior criminal record and other factors, can be asserted as mitigating circumstances to justify a lesser penalty. However, it cannot on its own be grounds to drop the charges entirely. Continue reading