Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

LOS ANGELES - According to a breaking story published by the Associated Press, Grammy-winning rapper T.I., who has a history of Drug Offenses and is on Federal Probation after spending time behind bars on Gun Charges, was arrested along with his wife after police smelled marijuana coming from their car, authorities said.

The rapper was arrested Wednesday night in West Hollywood during a traffic stop, Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy Mark Pope told The Associated Press. Authorities said they smelled a strong marijuana odor but would not say if any other drugs were found in the car.

The 29-year-old rapper and his wife, Tameka Cottle, were released from jail at about 4 a.m. Thursday after posting $10,000 bail each, sheriff's Deputy Luis Castro said.

T.I.'s publicist declined to comment.

The arrests follow last week's detention of socialite Paris Hilton, who is being investigated for Felony Cocaine Possession after a motorcycle officer smelled pot wafting from her car.

The Atlanta-based rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., is a multiplatinum hitmaker. Known as the "King of the South," he has emerged one of music's most profitable stars.

He also has a key role in the current top box office movie "Takers." The shoot-'em-up about an armored truck Robbery that goes bad was released last week and topped the box-office chart.

T.I. served seven (7) months in an Arkansas Federal prison and three (3) months in a Georgia halfway house on Federal Weapons Charges and was released in March. He was sentenced to serve three (3) years of supervised release after his prison sentence ended.

He was ordered not to commit another Federal, State or local crime while on supervised release, and also ordered not to illegally possess a controlled substance. He was also told to take at least three (3) drug tests after his release and to participate in a drug and alcohol treatment program.

Patrick Crosby, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney in Atlanta, had no immediate comment Thursday on whether Harris violated the terms of the judge's order.

Since his release, the rapper, who previously spent time behind bars for Drug Offenses, has vowed to live a better life. He spoke to children about the dangers of drugs and guns, and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young was one of his supporters. As he prepared for his most recent sentence, he starred in the MTV reality show "T.I.'s Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go."

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, T.I. talked about living a more positive life.

"Right now, it's all about moving forward and just acknowledging the blessing that are here today. ... Just moving past the regrets of yesterday -- the things that could've been done better," T.I. said in a July interview.

Unfortunately, at this point in time, it looks like the only forward moving for T.I. is that he is one step closer to going back to Federal prison.

Continue reading "LOS ANGELES: Rapper T.I. Arrested Again - Federal VOP Coming Soon" »

According to an online story on BayNews9.com, members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), along with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), busted a major drug operation that was using produce shipments to smuggle Cocaine into the Tampa Bay area.

The men arrested are accused of bringing $2.5 million worth of drugs from Mexico to Tampa Bay communities like Palm River and Progress Village.

Deputies say a 23-year-old college student from Texas was at the top of the operation. At the bottom were local "gang members" who distributed the drugs.

"Thirty-three gang members and drug dealers have been federally indicted to date and a dozen more are still pending Federal and State charges," said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Chief Jose Docobo.

The drugs were hidden in boxes of limes. Deputies say the drug dealers hid the cocaine in packages of limes because the strong odor of a lime can hide other smells, but they say it didn't work because K-9's were still able to sniff out the drugs.

"The limes were in boxes and inside those boxes the Cocaine was concealed inside other boxes within that pallet or shipment," Mark Trouville, with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Deputies say it was then turned into Crack Cocaine and distributed on the streets of Progress Village and Palm River.

According to the BayNews9.com story, concerns from neighborhood groups prompted the "crack down."

Continue reading "HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY: Drug Trafficking Ring Busted By DEA After Shipping Cocaine in Boxes of Limes" »

According to a story in yesterday's St. Pete Times, "[a] year-long drug investigation led to the seizure of more than $1.5 million in cash and Monday's arrest of a 28-year-old man on Federal Drug Charges."

Details from a Federal arrest warrant showed how Cocaine was shipped from Mexico and distributed through St. Petersburg's neighborhoods by top members of "8-Hype," a local criminal street gang based in the Harbordale section of St. Petersburg.

The suspect named in the Federal arrest warrant, Justin Levine Richardson, was arrested on a Federal charge of Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine. What makes this story interesting is that Narcotics detectives said they found $1,008,720 inside Richardson's mom's car.

According to the St. Pete Times, "Richardson has been well known to narcotics detectives for years. In 2004, the St. Petersburg man was arrested in Texas for shipping drugs through the mail. He was sentenced to five (5) years in a Federal prison and was still on Felony Probation for that crime when he was arrested Monday."

Richardson's arrest was part of a joint operation between the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). According to authorities, they tracked down witnesses who said Richardson supplied them with Cocaine; tracked him as he allegedly transported a large black duffel bag containing $277,585 to a drug "stash house"; and discovered a courier who crossed the U.S.-Mexican border 176 times since 2008 (you'd think, if anything, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and/or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would find 176 border crossings, between the United States and Mexico, in less than two (2) years at least suspicious?).

Yesterday, Richardson, of 500 Trinity Lane in St. Pete, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals. He is currently being held, without bond, in the Pinellas County Jail on a "courtesy hold" for the U.S. Marshals.

Continue reading "ST. PETE: Drug Suspect Busted with $1.5 Million in Mom's Car" »

As we enter another Holiday Season, the SLAVIN LAW FIRM would like to wish you and yours a Happy and Safe Holiday weekend.

With the support of all of our friends, family and clients, 2009 was another excellent year for the SLAVIN LAW FIRM. And for that, we have much to be thankful for this Holiday Season.

To our family and friends, thank you for your patience and understanding when it was necessary to work late nights and/or weekends.

To our business colleagues and our outstanding network of fellow attorneys, thank you for not only your referrals but for the trust that you have placed in the SLAVIN LAW FIRM to provide an experienced and aggressive representation to those that you've sent our way.

And to both our former and present clients, thank you for the trust that you have placed in the SLAVIN LAW FIRM to protect your rights and to handle your important criminal and/or traffic-related matters.

On behalf of the entire SLAVIN LAW FIRM team, have a Happy, Healthy and Safe Holiday Season.

Continue reading "CLEARWATER: Happy Holidays from the Slavin Law Firm" »

A disgraced Illinois insurance executive pleaded guilty Tuesday, in Los Angeles, California, to secretly shooting nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, who repeatedly called her stalker a "sexual predator" and said she hopes he "never sees the light of day," says The Associated Press in a recent USA Today article.

Michael David Barrett pleaded guilty to Interstate Stalking after Andrews urged the judge to give him a harsh sentence and not allow him out on bail.

"His actions have had a devastating impact on me and family," said Andrews, who attended the hearing with her father and attorney.

She said she is constantly reminded that Barrett's videos appeared online and subjected her to cruel taunts from sports fans while working as a sideline reporter.

"I don't know him," she said. "I haven't met him. I hope he never sees the light of day."

U.S. District Judge Manuel Real allowed Barrett to remain free pending sentencing on Feb. 22.

According to a plea deal filed last week, Federal prosecutors and Barrett agreed to a 27-month prison sentence. But the judge will decide how long he serves and how much restitution he will have to pay Andrews.

Barrett has admitted renting hotel rooms next to Andrews three (3) times and shooting two (2) videos of her while she was naked. He was accused of posting the videos online and trying to sell them to the Los Angeles-based celebrity gossip site TMZ this year.

Andrews was poised as she addressed the court. She looked down at times as Real read the allegations against Barrett, which included details of him traveling to follow Andrews. She shook her head when Real read about Barrett buying information about Andrews online, and dabbed tears after Barrett entered his guilty plea.

Barrett stood at a podium for the nearly ten (10) minutes it took to read the allegations against him. He repeatedly answered, "Yes, your Honor" when Real asked him to waive his rights and confirm the truthfulness of the allegations.

Federal Prosecutors in Los Angeles have agreed not to pursue further charges against Barrett. However, he could face criminal action in other states stemming from other videos he allegedly shot of unsuspecting nude women through peepholes.

Continue reading "LOS ANGELES, CA: Erin Andrews Seeks Harsh Sentence Against Video Stalker" »

An "anonymous tip" led undercover detectives to a Bartow home, where they found a working moonshine still according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives searched the house on Thomas Jefferson Circle East in Bartow, where they found the fully-operational still. They seized the still, along with seven jars of moonshine.

The two men who live at the home, 54-year-old Kenneth Wayne Wilkerson and 36-year-old Rockie D. Smith, said they used the still to make moonshine for their own use.

"I knew it was illegal but I wasn't going to sell it. I didn't see no harm in it," Wilkerson said. "The moonshine we made - it was good and like I said, I wish you could have tasted some of it."

Detectives said they also admitted to selling moonshine to their friends and coworkers.

Both men were arrested and charged with one (1) count each of Possession of a Moonshine Still, Possession of Moonshine and Conspiracy to violate Florida's beverage law. All three (3) of these charges are third-degree felonies (each punishable by up to five (5) years in prison).

Continue reading "POLK COUNTY: Undercover Detectives Bust Moonshine Operation" »

The "King of Hudson" has been dethroned.

A federal judge has sentenced Arde Olsen, also known as the "King of Hudson," to 20 years in prison for Trafficking in Oxycodone.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Olsen was the ringleader of a large oxycodone trafficking organization that he mainly operated from an auto repair shop at 11923 Pine Forest Drive in Hudson and a home on Denton Avenue.

Law enforcement targeted Olsen in a Federal drug operation called "Operation Oxy Express," which led to the arrest of Olsen and 18 others. Each has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to Federal prison.

Olsen, 51, drew the harshest sentence this week among the defendants. The lowest sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington was two years, which went to the youngest defendant, 19-year-old Amber Marie Morreale.

To read the plea agreement (courtesy of the TBO.com), please click here.

Prosecutors said the group obtained large amounts of oxycodone from various pharmacies across Tampa Bay through Doctor Shopping. Olsen paid individuals to visit doctor offices and obtain prescriptions for oxycodone.

According to a prior St. Pete Times article, here is a list of those indicted in "Operation Oxy Express:"

• Arde Olsen, 51, who also goes by Arne. Authorities say he was the ringleader.

• Shannon Star Olsen, 45, who married Arde in 2002.

• Arde's son, Jason Michael Olsen, 24.

• William "Billy" Joseph Califano, 29.

• Earle Monroe Silcox, 30.

• Jessie Krumm, 21.

• Amber Marie Morreale, 19.

• Jerald "Popeye" John Gilio Jr., 33.

• Anthony "Ant" Robert Upton, 28.

• Donna "Fat Donna" Jean Bynum, 31.

• Debra A. Collins, 48.

• Dannie James Mariedth, 50.

• Sarah Lynn Maynard, 25, who also goes by Sara Widemann.

• Joshua "Josh" McTavish Brown, 24.

• Anthony "Tony" Keith Christian, 27.

• Billy Ray Hardin, 27.

• Soni Jo Cheesbrough, 27.

• Dennis "Ash" Ashley Miller, 35.

• Jereme Lee Gould, 24.

Continue reading "TAMPA: Leader of Hudson Oxycodone Ring Gets 20 Years in Federal Prison" »

Pot-smoking patients and their sanctioned suppliers should not be targeted for Federal Prosecution in states that allow medical marijuana, prosecutors were told Monday in a new policy memo issued by the Justice Department. For the complete story, check out the Associated Press article in today's St. Pete Times.

Under the policy spelled out in a three-page legal memo, Federal prosecutors are being told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.

The guidelines issued by the department do, however, make it clear that Federal agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes.

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce Federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.

"It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate Drug Traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.

By the government's count, 14 states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Some medical marijuana advocates say Maryland shouldn't be included in that group, because the law there only allows for reduced penalties for medical marijuana usage.

Florida, however, does not permit the medical use of marijuana.

California stands out among those for the widespread presence of dispensaries - businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Colorado also has several dispensaries, and Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that promotes the decriminalization of marijuana use.

Advocates say marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain and nausea, among other ailments.

Continue reading "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Feds to Stop Prosecuting Medical Marijuana Users" »

One of the first pieces of advice that I give to new clients is to take down any social networking profiles that they may have (if they tend to use these accounts, like Facebook or MySpace, to talk about or post evidence of their criminal activity).

Another recent story out of Seattle reaffirms this advice. To read the complete story, check out this link to the original CBS News.com story.

Maxi Sopo was living the dream of a fugitive abroad, kicking back on the beaches of Cancun during the day and partying in the clubs at night. Then, Maxi Sopo did two (2) things that are NEVER a good idea to do when you are hiding from law enforcement. First, Sopo started posting Facebook messages about how much fun he was having. He then accepted a "Friend Request" from a former Justice Department official.

Because of these poor decisions, Maxi Sopo, a 26-year-old native of Cameroon, is now in a Mexico City jail awaiting extradition back to the United States to await his trial on Federal charges of Bank Fraud.

(right) Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scoville displays part of the Facebook page, and an enlarged profile photo, of fugitive Maxi Sopo. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Even in the hold-nothing-back world of social networking, where police search Facebook photos for evidence of underage drinking and watch YouTube videos to identify riot suspects, it's rare that a fugitive helps authorities this much (see Maxi Sopo's Facebook profile below).

Prosecutors say he masterminded the Bank Fraud scheme with Edward Asatoorians, who was convicted by a Federal jury in Seattle last week. Testimony at trial indicated the pair persuaded young co-conspirators to lie about their income to obtain loans for fabricated auto purchases, and then used the money to prop up Asatoorians' business and to take an expensive trip to Las Vegas.

Continue reading "SEATTLE: Fugitive Brags on Facebook and Gets Busted!!" »

Yesterday, a Safety Harbor man was arrested on various charges stemming from his involvement in a counterfeit money order scam. Raul Francisco Zelaya, 50, was arrested for Scheming to Defraud a financial institution, Communications Fraud and Possession of Counterfeit Checks. For the complete story, check out today's Tampa Bay Online article.

On Tuesday, when investigators finally arrested Zelaya, he had an additional 243 counterfeit money orders valued at over $230,000. Zelaya is believed to have obtained these checks from a known online check-cashing scam. These type of scams typically appear online as "work from home" job opportunities and can be posted on websites or appear in spam e-mail.

This is not the first time that this Zelaya character has been involved in this type of activity. According to the Clearwater Police Department, Zelaya previously took part in a similar scam that was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Continue reading "PINELLAS COUNTY: Counterfeit Money Order Scam Busted" »

An interesting story in today's St. Pete Times highlights the life, or lack thereof, of Teddy Braden, the former gang member turned blogger that blogs from the Pinellas County Jail.

Braden, who is in the Pinellas County Jail on Drug Charges, blogs with the help of his mother -- who takes his notes and letters and posts them online at: teeninjail.blogspot.com

Braden, who was arrested for the first time at age 13, has a Juvenile record consisting of various Drug Charges and a Residential Burglary. As an adult, he has been locked up for doing drugs, selling drugs, Grand Theft, Burglary and now Drug Trafficking.

In one of Braden's blog posts he states that "One of my biggest regrets is joining a gang." The quote sits below a picture of Braden, wearing a red t-shirt, hat and bandana, while throwing up a "B" (a noted gang hand sign for the Bloods). However, something about this photo tells me that Braden would not survive, on the streets, for very long.

Continue reading "CLEARWATER: 20-Year Old Pinellas County Jail Inmate / Blogger" »

In what is becoming an all-too-familiar story in Pinellas County (and throughout the entire Tampa Bay region), the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office rounded up 21 suspects in a multitiered Oxycodone Trafficking scheme. For the complete story, check out today's St. Petersburg Times article.

Working under the code name "Operation Oxy-Con," several local law enforcement agencies including the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the Clearwater Police Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) started rounding up street level suspects. The operation, which targeted 52 subjects with 122 criminal charges (including Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud and Trafficking in Controlled Substances began in December.

The suspects involved in "Operation Oxy-Con" are part of a Pinellas County prescription drug ring that has obtained over 30,000 pills and made approximately $300,000 since last November.

For those of you that are not yet familiar with the potent pain killer Oxycodone: You will be real soon. As stated by Lt. Robert Alfonso of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, this bust was a huge step in the fight against illegal prescription drug abuse. Alfonso further stated: "This is the new heroin. This is the new cocaine. It really is to that magnitude in Pinellas County."

The SLAVIN LAW FIRM, in Clearwater, has extensive experience defending prescription drug cases including: Trafficking in Oxycodone, Doctor Shopping and Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud.

Continue reading "Pinellas County Detectives Bust Oxycodone Drug Ring" »

A recent Bay News 9 story indicates that crime and gun ownership are both up in Manatee County, Florida. Some residents have indicated that it's the large increase in crime that prompted them to buy a gun. Specifically, Manatee County residents have been fighting back against a recent string of Home Invasion Robberys and Murders.

Recent changes in Florida law have made it easier for each of us to defend our own home and property. Expanding the old concept of the "castle doctrine," Florida lawmakers have given individual property owners additional tools to protect themselves from violent and/or gang-related activity.

The SLAVIN LAW FIRM, in Clearwater, is a proud supporter of the Second Amendment and is a firm believer in allowing law-abiding property owners to possess firearms for the protection of their home and family.

Continue reading "MANATEE COUNTY: Crime and Gun Ownership, Both Up" »

Welcome to the odd world of random crime committed in the Tampa Bay area. As they say on "Law & Order," here's another story that has been "ripped from the headlines." You just can't make this stuff up.

Yesterday, the Chief of Tampa General Hospital's trauma center pleaded "no contest" to two (2) misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to two (2) years of probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. For the complete story, check out the full St. Petersburg Times article.

Documents which were released yesterday shed some light on this unusual crime. On April 21, 2009, Dr. Sergio Alvarez, a first year resident in the plastic surgery department of the University of South Florida, was assisting Dr. David J. Ciesla during a surgery when they located a bullet on top of the man's liver. About an hour into the surgery, Dr. Ciesla was relieved by another doctor. However, prior to leaving the operating room, Dr. Ciesla reached into the fugitive's body and removed the bullet. According to Dr. Alvarez, Dr. Ciesla stated "this is what we do with bullets" before placing the bullet inside the rubber glove on his right hand.

Unfortunately for Dr. Ciesla, two (2) agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were sitting inside the operating room waiting to take the bullets into evidence. However, when questioned by the FDLE agents, Dr. Ciesla stated that the bullets were still stuck in the patient's body.

Dr. Ciesla eventually returned his souvenir, one week later, after being confronted by University officials. For his part, Dr. Ciesla was charged by the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office with Providing False Information to Law Enforcement and Obstructing or Opposing an Officer without Violence.

Yesterday, County Court Judge Cheryl Thomas "withheld adjudication," meaning Dr. Ciesla will not receive a conviction on his record (assuming he completes the terms of his probation successfully). He will also be eligible for an Early Termination of Probation, after serving one full year of probation, if all of his terms and conditions have been met.

Continue reading "Prominent Tampa Surgeon, Who Hid Bullet Found During Surgery, Gets Probation" »

A Pinellas County doctor, Kevin Mark Denny, ot Tierra Verde, pleaded guilty to Federal Charges that he illegally sold and/or distributed pain pill prescriptions. For more info, you can check out the full Tampa Bay Online article.

Denny, who also had an office in Tampa on North Dale Mabry Highway, illegally prescribed popular painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone as well as alprazolam (which is the generic form of Xanax). A Federal prosecutor stated that Denny was employed by Shiloh Medical Group to work in a "small, one doctor shop connected to a pharmacy," and was paid to seek patients and write lots of prescriptions. In April alone, Denny wrote $25,000 worth of presciptions for oxycodone at Grace Pharmacy.

The SLAVIN LAW FIRM, in Clearwater, has been seeing many new clients that have been arrested and/or charged with various Drug Offenses like: Sale of Oxycodone, Possession of Oxycodone, Doctor Shopping (formally known as "Withholding Information from a Practitioner," Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud and Trafficking in Illegal Drugs (covering the wide spectrum of drugs from painkillers like Oxycodone to hardcore street drugs like Cocaine, Heroin and Methadone). Likewise, clients are coming into the office at an ever-increasing rate with a Violation of Probation on one or many of the above-listed offenses.

It is important to know that there are many different ways in which a drug case can be handled. How YOUR drug case is handled and whether YOUR criminal defense attorney has the training and experience necessary to aggressively fight the State of Florida on your behalf are two questions that YOU should consider very carefully. With the many life-changing consequences associated with a drug conviction, the selection of the right criminal defense attorney is vital.

Continue reading "Pinellas County Doctor Guilty of Prescription Drug Charges" »