Fort Lauderdale Criminal Attorney Blog

October 19, 2015

Former Florida Middle School Principal Not Guilty of DUI

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

A former principal of a middle school in Hollywood has avoided a DUI conviction when a jury deemed there was not enough evidence in to substantiate the state’s charges of drunk driving and cocaine possession.

Forty-seven-year-old Steven Williams, who used to be employed by Driftwood Middle School, was arrested in February by deputies with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office as he was driving home from a wedding with two relatives. The stop happened at a Dania Beach marina, and deputies said Williams failed the sobriety tests, smelled like alcohol and dropped a small bag of white powder allegedly fell from his pocket. The substance later turned out to be cocaine.

Deputies had been called to a nearby marina, where authorities said one of Williams’ passengers had been involved in a fight with a security guard. Williams reportedly coaxed the passenger back into the vehicle and was trying to leave the marina when deputies arrived. The man who called 911 told the dispatcher authorities needed to stop the car because the driver was drunk and one of the passengers “attacked one of my guys.”
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October 16, 2015

“Second Crown” of Latin Kings Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering

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

Lazaro Castellon, or “King Speedy” as he is known within the Latin Kings “tribe” was sworn as the “Second Crown” of the South Miami sect of the gang about six months prior to his arrest earlier this year.

He is now the fourth of two dozen Latin Kings gang members arrested following an undercover sting operation to work out a plea deal. Originally charged with racketeering conspiracy, robbery and possession of a firearm during a violent crime, he is pleading guilty solely to the racketeering charge. The exact terms of the deal won’t be released until the court gives final approval, but he still faces up to 20 years in prison. Nineteen other suspects are slated for trial on similar charges later this year.

Authorities say the sting put a major dent in gang activities throughout Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties. Anytime a person is charged with a gang-related crime in Florida, the offense is serious. That’s because gang involvement is considered an aggravating factor under Florida law, and these offenses can and often do carry enhanced penalties.
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October 13, 2015

Pembroke Pines Man Accused of Online Child Solicitation

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

A 45-year-old man from Pembroke Pines is accused of attempting to solicit a 15-year-old boy for sex.

However, as Kevin Jackson would later learn, the “boy” was in fact an undercover detective posing as a youth. Now, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports Jackson was being held on $250,000 bond.

Adding to the severity of the allegations is the fact Jackson allegedly has a very dangerous communicable disease with which he was diagnosed in 2000. He was still receiving treatment for it at the time of his arrest. Although the report does not specify which disease it was, Jackson – who reportedly admitted his guilt to detectives – said it was his intention to inform the minor of his condition prior to engaging in a sex act.
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October 9, 2015

Attempted Murder Charge for Florida Stabbing Suspect

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

A Florida woman has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing her husband seven times in their West Palm Beach home.

West Palm Beach police reported 39-year-old Christina Balazi was arrested after her husband of 10 years was transported to a local hospital with knife wounds, which were not believed to be life-threatening. The alleged victim reportedly told investigators while at the hospital that his wife suffers from bipolar disorder, and that the stabbing occurred while the pair were being intimate in their home.

Our South Florida criminal defense attorneys understand that as funding for mental health services has been slashed drastically in recent years, what used to be treated at localized treatment centers has now been shifted to emergency rooms, the Department of Children and Families and the criminal justice system. In the event there are allegations or evidence of violence, persons who suffer from mental health issues don’t end up receiving care that could address the underlying issues – they end up in jail.
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October 5, 2015

Man Faces Homicide Charges in Double Fatal Crash

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

Admerson Cleber Eugenio Vicente was not supposed to be behind the wheel of a car. In fact, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the 24-year-old man from Jupiter was legally barred from doing so until 2020 because authorities had slapped a “habitual traffic offender” label on his record.

And yet, he was behind the wheel, according to troopers with the Florida State Patrol. Investigators say he was driving a vehicle the wrong direction down I-95. In so doing, he collided with another vehicle, in which two sisters – a 23-year-old violinist and a 24-year-old Air Force staff sergeant – were on their mother’s home in Pompano Beach, following a trip to Disney World.

They never made it. The two died almost instantly in the violent, fiery crash. By the time first responders got to the scene, it was too late to save them.

As for Vicente, he is now in serious trouble. At this point, it’s early in the investigation. No criminal charges have been filed. But assuming he survives, he almost certainly will face charges, and it’s likely he could find himself in prison for decades.
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October 1, 2015

Pompano Beach Neck Stabbing Suspect Sought

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

An argument between two Pompano Beach roommates resulted in a violent act that left one man in critical condition with multiple stab wounds to the neck and another facing charges of attempted murder.

Police haven’t indicated what the source of the conflict was between alleged victim Mark Gougeon, 57, and alleged assailant, Brandon Wilson, 25. Both men were identified per a Broward County Sheriff’s report released to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

According to news reports of the incident, deputies responded to a call regarding a Pompano Beach stabbing on Sept. 29th. Near the 400 block of NW 10th Avenue, authorities found a man on an outside bench, suffering from a major loss of blood from his neck. The victim was reportedly still conscious and breathing, and well enough to inform investigators that Wilson, his roommate, grabbed him from behind and attempted to cut his throat.
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September 29, 2015

Florida Manslaughter Arrest for Fatal Shove

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

A single shove outside a Florida tire shop ended one man’s life and forever altered another.

Casey Fletcher, 28, is facing a charge of manslaughter, following an altercation outside the store on Prospect Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The fact pattern in this case has been described as “unique” for the fact defendant did not intend to cause harm to the alleged victim. Rather, he was coming to the aid of his girlfriend, and he didn’t try to use or even have possession of a weapon.

However, that single push resulted in the 66-year-old falling on the concrete, striking his head hard on the ground. His brain injuries were serious. His brother recently spoke with a reporter about the decision to take him off life support. He described his “shock” and called the whole incident “a shame.”
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September 25, 2015

Ex-Spa Owner Guilty of Prostitution, Money Laundering, Avoids Long Prison Term

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

One might say the outcome of Xiaoqin Li’s criminal case was a “happy ending” of sorts.

On the one hand, the former massage parlor owner did plead guilty to three criminal charges, including two for running a house of prostitution and another for money laundering. For that, she’ll have to serve at least nine months in jail, followed by 10 years of probation, with the first year of that on house arrest with an ankle monitor. She also has to agree to forfeit nearly $200,000 in funds seized from the business.

On the other hand, she avoided a lengthy prison sentence. Had she been convicted at trial of all the charges against her, she faxed a minimum term of four years, or a maximum term of 35 years.

The 52-year-old defendant and her two employees were arrested after a long police investigation sparked by complaints from neighboring businesses that the women were providing more than massages. Specifically, Li and her employees were accused of performing sex acts for money after massages at the business, which catered almost exclusively to male clientele.
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September 18, 2015

Florida Doctor Acquitted of Pill Mill Murder, Guilty of Drug Sale

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

A former pediatric surgeon who was later in retirement worked part-time for a pain clinic in Palm Beach County has been acquitted of murder charges related to the fatal overdose of a 24-year-old patient on Oxycodone. However, the 81-year-old physician was convicted of “selling” (over-prescribing) high quantities of Xanax to a patient – coincidentally a former chef for Donal Trump, no a U.S. Republican presidential candidate – who was undergoing treatment for substance abuse addiction.

The patient did not die, but the charge is still a third-degree felony, for which the doctor could face up to five years in prison. However, there is no minimum mandatory, so it will be up to the jurors and judge to decide the sentencing. The case was connected to a one-time “pill mill empire,” which involved a $40 million operation with clinics in both Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

The two twin brothers who owned the operation – now serving 15- and 20-year prison sentences – testified against the doctor. He faced 11 charges, including second-degree murder, drug conspiracy and drug trafficking.
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September 17, 2015

Boca Raton Mom Arrested for DUI, Leaving Child Alone

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

It was bad when the West Boca Raton woman in Coral Springs crashed her car around midnight. What made it worse was that police ascertained she was drunk at the time.

But worse than that? She had left her 3-year-old child alone at home.

Deputies with the Palm Beach County sheriff’s office arrived at the house, but no one answered and they couldn’t gain entry. Finally, the woman’s husband arrived at the household and unlocked the door. There, they found the girl inside, sleeping on a bed.

The husband was reportedly just coming home from work and was surprised to see a deputy at his door. He had no idea his wife had left their daughter alone at home or that she’d been arrested for a DUI accident.

Now, the woman faces charges of DUI and child neglect.
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