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

Tampa Man Facing Arson And Evidence Tampering Charges After Police Say He Was Captured On Tape Outside Of Burning Building With Trio Of Corpses Within

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Dec 10, 2018 | Arson

A Tampa man is facing arson charges after Hillsborough County authorities say he has ties to a burning home containing a trio of murder victims. Hillsborough County deputies arrested the 28-year-old man on Saturday pursuant to a warrant issued on him after investigators received video footage they say contains him and one other man in the vicinity of the burned building. Per investigators, firefighters were dispatched to the home in question on November 15 and, upon extinguishing the fire they found, they also discovered bodies of a 20-year-old man, a 28-year-man, and a 31-year-old man...

Houston Doctor Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison On Charges Of Medicare, Medicaid Fraud

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Dec 5, 2018 | Government Fraud

A Texas doctor was sentenced to 60 months in Federal custody after being found guilty of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of $9 million in false charges.Investigators say the 66-year-old Houston doctor was among nine participants in a conspiracy to submit false bills to the government health care programs. Per prosecutors, his role involved approving unnecessary testing as well as making his physician number available for others to fraudulently bill Medicare.In the course of the six-day trial last year, prosecutors presented evidence that the practice generated fraudulent bills totaling $13...

What are the penalties for forgery in Florida?

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Nov 12, 2018 | White Collar Crimes

There are a wide range of state white collar crime charges here in Florida. One example is the charge of forgery.What constitutes the crime of forgery in Florida? It is the false making, altering, counterfeiting or forging of certain documents with the intent to cause harm or defraud. State law lists what documents forgery charges can be brought over. This list includes a wide range of documents. A few examples include forged public records, deeds, wills, passenger tickets and receipts for money/good/property. Under state law, forgery is a felony offense. Specifically, it is a...

Plant City Man Arrested In St. Pete Slaying

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Nov 9, 2018 | Capital Murder

St. Petersburg authorities say an early-morning altercation led to a deadly argument last Thursday, and a Plant City man is now in custody to face murder charges as a result.Police say they received reports of an argument and gunshots from Midtown on the city's South side early on November 1. Upon responding to the calls, officers say they encountered Christina Veronica Rush with a critical gunshot wound in the backyard of a nearby residence. Officers immediately began first aid until paramedics could arrive. Rush was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital, where she passed away as a...

Port Richey Man Allegedly Bites Deputy During Flight From Drug Arrest

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Nov 7, 2018 | Drug Charges

Last week a Port Richey man allegedly fled from law enforcement and was bitten by a police dog before being apprehended on suspicion of drug activity.Pasco County Sheriff's deputies say a man was driving in New Port Richey on October 30 when they attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Rather than slowing his vehicle, deputies say he sped away.Per deputies, his flight led him to go against traffic in some spots as well as allegedly attempting to ram a police cruiser. He ultimately struck a different vehicle head-on, disabling his own vehicle, they say. The driver of the other vehicle was taken...

Deputies Say Treasure Island Woman Impaired by Prescription Drugs in Alleged DUI Manslaughter

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Oct 15, 2018 | Criminal Charges

Authorities say a Treasure Island woman was impaired by prescription drugs when she struck a septuagenarian with her vehicle in Madiera Beach last Wednesday.Twenty-six-year-old Ashley Nicole Konforte is accused by Pinellas County Sheriffs deputies of hitting 73-year-old Nancy Durham-Jones of North Port as she was crossing Gulf Boulevard north of 130th Avenue at around half past eight Wednesday evening. Officers say Durham-Jones and her husband were using a marked crosswalk after having activated the crosswalk signal when Konforte failed to yield the right of way and struck her with her 2014...

Morning Shooting Leads to Afternoon Arrest of Pinellas Park Man on Felony Drug Charges

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Oct 13, 2018 | Drug Charges

A shooting early in the day in St. Petersburg last Saturday led to an arrest on felony drug charges later that day.St. Petersburg Police responded to a report of gunfire at a residence near 22nd Avenue N. and 49th Street N. at a quarter past four on the morning of February 4. Authorities say that while officers were responding to that call, Ramon Clarence Green dropped off Iyana Worrils at St. Petersburg General Hospital 2 ½ miles away with a gunshot wound. Officers say that the 35-year-old Green arrived back to the residence while they were there, and officers questioned him upon his...

Gainesville Man Charged with Attempted Murder after Allegedly Shooting Father and Infant Child

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Oct 5, 2018 | Criminal Charges

A Gainesville man is in custody after authorities say he became angered at a man kissing his child goodbye.According to investigators, Torrance Lee was parked before the home of Darrell Jerrand Wilson prior to dropping off his 1-year-old son with him and his girlfriend, with whom Wilson is believed to be in a romantic relationship.Police say Lee kissed his child goodbye, causing Wilson to become incensed. They say he grabbed the child from Lee's arms, but the child was subsequently retrieved by Wilson's girlfriend, who is also the child's mother.She returned the child to Lee while Wilson...

DUI Manslaughter Charges Given to St. Pete Beach Woman Who Allegedly Killed Pedestrian

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Oct 5, 2018 | Criminal Charges

A St. Pete Beach woman is facing charges of DUI manslaughter after Pinellas County authorities say she struck and killed a man, then fled and initiated another car wreck.Per PCSD deputies, Carolyn Jean Yovan was piloting her Lexus SUV near Captiva Circle and Blind Pass Road on the evening of February 17 when it jumped the curb and struck Peter Chenhall.Chenhall, who was walking on the sidewalk at the time of the incident, sustained mortal injuries in the accident. Also of St. Pete Beach, the 39-year-old man was transported to Bayfront Hospital, but doctors were unable to save his life, and...

Another Tampa Bay Physician Indicted on Drug Charges

On Behalf of Brunvand, Wise & Farinella Law Group | Oct 5, 2018 | Drug Charges

Another local Tampa Bay area doctor faces federal drug charges this month. Dr. John Anthony Gianoli, III, a physician practicing in St. Petersburg and Largo, was indicted recently on five counts of illegally distributing or causing the distribution of oxycodone.According to the indictment, Gianoli illegally prescribed oxycodone on five occasions between October 2009 and February 2010. He is apparently an internist who specializes in pain management and has an interest in yoga.If convicted on all counts, Gianoli faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in federal prison. The indictment also...