Clearwater Criminal Defense Law Blog

Among the more common white collar crimes in Florida is the crime of extortion, which is also known as blackmail. Though it may seem straightforward, there is some nuance to the Florida crime of extortion. Following is a brief synopsis of what you need to know about the crime of extortion in Florida. History The term “blackmail” hearkens back to the practice of what we now know of as a protection racket between the English and Scottish residents and the local Border Reivers (raiders) established in the 13th century. Specifically, the raiders demanded tribute (“male”) in the form of goods and...

The laws governing embezzlement in Florida are somewhat complex and not necessarily intuitive. The following article will explore embezzlement laws in Florida and what you need to know if you ever find yourself charged with embezzlement. Basics Generally, embezzlement is the act of withholding assets for the purpose of conversion of those assets by one who was entrusted to hold or use those assets in a different way. Generally the crime has five elements fraudulence, criminal conversion, property of another, lawful possession. To show fraudulence, the prosecutor must show that the defendant...

Credit card fraud in Florida is a serious offense. Each year hundreds of Floridians are charged with millions of dollars in credit card fraud in courts across the state. What follows are the laws you need to know if you are faced with a charge of credit card fraud in Florida. Basics Credit card fraud in Florida is governed by the State Credit Card Crime Act. Broadly, the Act prohibits buying or selling of stolen or forged credit cards, using another’s credit card without authorization, and counterfeiting credit cards. Under the Act, several different kinds of payment systems are governed,...

Computer crime in Florida has become a growing concern, and the Florida laws on it have come into play in more and more situations. Here’s what you need to know to avoid running afoul of Florida’s computer crime laws. Basics Computer crime in Florida is defined in the Florida Computer Crimes Act. The Act divides computer crime into two areas: crimes against intellectual property, and crimes against computer users. Most (but not all) of the acts in both these areas are felonies. Intellectual Property Florida law on intellectual property computer crimes penalizes two different acts –...