Florida Criminal Defense Blog | Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group

NYC Man Sentenced To 13 Years In Federal Prison For Illegal Health Care Kickbacks

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Sep 11, 2020 | White Collar Crimes

A New York City man will be spending the next thirteen years in prison on a Federal conviction for his alleged involvement in a health care kickback scheme involving millions of dollars. The 45-year-old man was allegedly part of a network of several medical clinics in the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn that employed medical professionals enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. Per prosecutors, the medical professionals paid the defendant kickbacks to refer Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to them, which they allegedly did for over a decade. In order to camouflage the scheme, prosecutors say...

Eleven Tampa-Area Defendants Face Charges Relating To Fentanyl Overdoses In Town ‘N Country

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Sep 10, 2020 | Drug Charges

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of almost a dozen individuals it says were involved in a drug trafficking organization involved in several fentanyl overdoses in the Town 'N Country area. Per the Sheriff's Office, the eleven defendants were involved in an operation to distribute heroin and fentanyl by the pound throughout the Hillsborough County area, with their drug activity allegedly yielding more than a dozen overdoses and at least one fatality. Two of the defendants are from Tampa, three are from Clearwater, and six are of Kissimmee. They join an Orlando man...

Man Sought By Pasco Authorities For Allegedly Pushing Wife Into The Path Of A Speeding Tractor-Trailer

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Sep 9, 2020 | Criminal Law

A Marion County man is being sought by the Florida Highway Patrol for allegedly pushing his wife in front of an oncoming tractor-trailer in Pasco County.Troopers say the suspect's wife was traveling in the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 near Milepost 282 in the mid-morning on Thursday. She was driving a light pick-up truck with a utility trailer in tow when one of the tires blew out, forcing the vehicle off the road.Once safely off the road, the suspect and his wife became involved in an argument, say troopers. The suspect allegedly exited the vehicle and made his way to the driver's...

Tampa Woman Facing Murder Charges After Fatal Heroin Overdose

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Sep 4, 2020 | Drug Crimes

A Tampa woman is facing murder charges on allegations by deputies that she sold a man illegal drugs that ultimately led to his death. Hillsborough County deputies say the 38-year-old woman first came to their attention after responding in early March to the report of a 30-something man in the throes of heroin overdose. The man was not responsive as they arrived at the residence, and he was transported to hospital where he subsequently expired. Although deputies say they treated him with Narcan upon their arrival, the overdose-reversal drug did not have the desired effect. A subsequent...

Massachusetts Pharmaceutical Firm To Pay Feds $20 Million To Dismiss Medicare Fraud Claims

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Sep 3, 2020 | Government Fraud

A Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical firm has agreed to pay the Federal government over $20 million to settle claims by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that it led doctors to make claims to Medicare for prescribing their drug for a non-approved usage. Federal prosecutors say the firm's top management began to be aware that its drug was dramatically less effective against keratosis during shorter incubation times than it was for longer ones in early 2014. Although the FDA approved the drug for use in the more effective long-incubation applications, prosecutors say the firm began to...

Largo Woman Facing DUI Manslaughter Charges In Fatal Wreck With Motorcycle

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Sep 2, 2020 | Dui

Largo police say a Clearwater woman was intoxicated when she struck and killed a motorcyclist and fled the scene of the accident. Authorities say the 24-year-old woman was driving at a high rate of speed on South Missouri Avenue late last Saturday evening when she changed lanes in her 2016 Jeep Cherokee near Bayview Drive. However, the lane was already occupied by a man on a 2019 Can-Am motorcycle. Per investigators, the defendant's Jeep struck the motorcycle, sending the man flying onto the pavement. First responders to the scene said he expired at the site of the crash. The defendant...

Miami Duo Charged With Fraud For Allegedly False Statements In PPP and EIDL Applications

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Aug 31, 2020 | COVID-19

A pair of Miami neighbors were charged in Federal court last week for allegedly seeking more than $1.1 million in fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. Federal prosecutors say the duo, one woman 38 years of age and the other a man five years her junior, submitted four loan applications. They allegedly worked together on the applications, which they were said to have claimed on behalf of two businesses and two farms. The woman's application allegedly indicated that she operated a beauty supply store that employed 18...

Redington Beach Man Facing Vehicular Homicide Charge In 2018 Fatal Crash

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Aug 28, 2020 | Vehicular Crimes

A Redington Beach man is facing vehicular homicide charges after Pinellas County authorities say he caused a fatal crash while racing another vehicle two years ago. Florida Troopers say the 55-year-old man was driving west on 102nd Avenue at around dusk on November 19, 2018 in a new Ford Raptor pick-up truck when he became engaged in a race with the driver of another truck. The two trucks approached the intersection of 97th Street North, where a 74-year-old woman was driving her 2002 Lexus ES300, with her 20-year-old granddaughter as a passenger. Troopers say the victim attempted to turn...

Financial and fraud crimes can prove costly

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Aug 28, 2020 | White Collar Crimes

There are many types of fraud and financial crimes that Florida residents and businesses could find themselves involved in. Many of these crimes carry hefty penalties that could include lengthy jail time and restitution. Therefore, it’s important to know exactly what constitutes a financial crime so that a company or individual can make sure that he or she doesn’t get caught up in one. One type of financial fraud is bribery. Bribery is when one party pays off another party to receive or give influence in matters like legislation or voting. The tough thing about bribery is that there doesn’t...

Minnesota Man Facing Federal Fraud Charges In PPP Loan To Defunct Company

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Aug 27, 2020 | White Collar Crimes

A Minnesota man is facing federal fraud charges on allegations that he defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of about $841,000. The 32-year-old is the owner of a contracting and construction company through which he claimed to be entitled to a loan under the program. However, federal investigators say his company was ordered to stop doing business by the state, and the company's contractor's license expired at the end of last year and not renewed. Federal investigators say the defendant submitted a loan application for a PPP loan citing the defunct firm, but it was denied. He...