What is a “Scheme to Defraud”?
With multi-level marketing companies and investment firms in the news lately for fraudulent business practices, the term “scheme to defraud” has become a hot topic. This term is often used incorrectly and interchangeably with the term “fraud” or “theft” but there is a difference that is important to understand, especially if you’re facing charges for […]
Will My Outstanding Warrant in Pinellas County Show Up on an Employer Background Check?
When you are hoping to pursue a new career opportunity, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you will pass the background check. Unfortunately, the background check may go beyond whether or not you’ve been convicted of a crime and may include things like arrests (even if you weren’t convicted) […]
Warrants 101 Part 4: Failure to Appear Warrants
“Failure to Appear” warrants are arguably one of the most misunderstood types of warrants because they often occur in the context of another court proceeding. A judge generally uses a failure to appear warrant as a method to compel a person’s appearance in court or to comply with a court’s orders after a person has […]
Warrants 101 Part 3: Arrest Warrants
There’s a common misconception that if there is a warrant out for your arrest, your face will be on the front of “Wanted” posters. That simply isn’t the case. An arrest warrant can be issued for a number of different reasons, and in some cases you may not even know there is a warrant out […]
Warrants 101, Part 2: Search Warrants
Do you have an outstanding Pinellas County warrant? Learn more about your options here. If you base your legal knowledge on television shows, it would seem that police officers can enter property and arrest people at will. However, that is not the case. In many cases, police must obtain a search warrant to enter and search […]
How Your History Can Impact Drug Trafficking Punishment
With many criminal charges, your prior history may play a role in your sentencing. With drugs, this may not necessarily be the case. Surprisingly, of drug trafficking offenses in the United States, 46.7% of offenders have little to no criminal history according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC). In this brief article, a drug crimes attorney […]
Grand Theft in Florida – Breaking it Down
For many people, the term “grand theft” brings to mind a popular video game, Grand Theft Auto, but being charged with grand theft in real life is no game. There are a number of way that a person can end up being charged with grand theft and most that have nothing to do with automobiles. […]
Warrants 101
If you’ve ever seen a legal drama or bounty hunter television show, you might have heard a little bit about warrants. Warrants are governed by Florida Statutes Chapter 901, and despite popular belief to the contrary, you do have rights when a warrant is issued for your arrest. In this brief article, a defense attorney in St. […]
Grand Theft Charges and Penalties
Grand theft is a serious charge that can follow you for years to come. If you are facing grand theft charges, it is important to understand what these charges mean and what the potential penalties are so that you can defend yourself properly. In this brief article, a grand theft defense attorney in St. Petersburg with Russo, […]
Domestic Battery Among Siblings: What Are Your Rights?
When we think about domestic violence or domestic battery, it’s likely that the first thing to come to mind is an altercation between a couple or two people in a romantic relationship. However, you can be charged with domestic violence if you have a violent altercation with a sibling or a relative. Although some siblings […]