Michele Gonzalez and Jorge Gonzalez-Betancourt were convicted of racketeering and drug trafficking charges in March. The married couple were the owners of 1st Medical Group, a licensed pain clinic that prosecutors say the pair used as a front to sell opioid prescriptions to addicts and dealers, some of whom traveled from faraway states to reach the supplier.

The trial lasted four and a half months, with five days of jury deliberation. At sentencing, the Gonzalezes and their former office manager, Maureen Altman, were each sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Gonzalezes were each fined $750,000, and Altman was fined $500,000. Altman was the only defendant to address the court, saying that she took the job in order to support herself.

Judge Caroline Tesche said the defendants were responsible for an organized criminal enterprise that profited on the backs of addicts.

People who have suffered harm due to improper prescription and dispensation of drugs may be able to obtain compensation by pursuing a pharmaceutical negligence lawsuit. Contact Joyce & Reyes to learn more about your rights.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The arrest allegedly stemmed from text messages the teen’s mother found on her son’s phone.  The mother then allegedly asked the teacher to come to her home to talk about the relationship.  The teacher then allegedly admitted to having numerous sexual encounters in different locations in Lakeland.  Sexual battery charges are very serious and can result in a person being a sexual predator or sexual offender. Usually, the police will conduct “controlled phone calls” in these cases which will become a key piece of evidence in the sex prosecution.  In Florida, it is a felony to tape record a conversation with another person without their knowledge.  However, one of the exceptions to this rule is if the phone call is recorded at the direction of the police to conduct an ongoing investigation.  The Probable Cause Affidavit states the teacher allegedly made statements admitting the sexual affair during one of these “controlled phone calls”.  However, I have seen numerous cases where the police allege a suspect admitted to a crime, but when you listen to the tape, this is absolutely not the case and poetic license is taken when interpreting what is actually said on the tape.  The defense attorney is entitled to a copy of the tape to see exactly what was said during the recorded call.

The teen allegedly told police that sexual acts occurred in Hillsborough County as well as Polk County.  If that is true, additional charges can be brought in Hillsborough County also.  In ever criminal case, the prosecution has to prove the “venue” of the crime.  That means, the prosecutor has to prove the crime was committed in the prosecutor’s jurisdiction.  So, each act is a separate crime and each county’s prosecutor can bring sexual battery charges if the crime allegedly happened in their county.

Fichter was booked into the Polk County Jail on six (6) counts of “Unlawful sexual activity with a minor” in violation of Florida Statute 794.05 which states “A person 24 years of age or older who engages in sexual activity with a person 16 or 17 years of age commits a felony of the second degree… “sexual activity” means oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another; however, sexual activity does not include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose.” A 2nd degree felony is punishable by up to 15 years in Florida state prison for each count (each sex act).

If you have been arrested for rape, sexual battery, unlawful sex with a minor, or any other sex crime,call an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight for you in court.

Thomas C. Grajek – 863-688-4606

The Defendant objected to the admission of the air bag report arguing that the report was hearsay and should not be admissible at trial.  The judge overruled the defense’s objection, admitted the report, and the Defendant was convicted at trial of  leaving the scene of a crash involving death, vehicular homicide, and driving while license is suspended or revoked.  Based upon this evidentiary ruling, this air bag report could also be used in a DUI manslaughter case.

After the conviction, the Defendant appealed to the Second District Court of Appeal which rules on cases in Polk and Hillsborough County.  The appellate court agreed with the trial court and held that the “black box” report was not hearsay and was admissible at trial.  This means that the “Confrontation Clause” which gives the Defendant the right to confront his or her accuser and the witnesses against him did not apply.  That is because the court rules that the “black box” report is not testimonial hearsay.  What does all that legal mumbo jumbo mean?  That the the air bag control system report is not accusatory and does not describe any specific wrongdoing of a driver.  The report merely establishes the existence or absence of some objective fact, i.e., if and when the brakes were applied in the driver’s car before the accident and the speed the car was traveling.  If this had been a lab report done by a crime analyst or lab technician stating the results of a driver’s blood alcohol level or what type of drug was seized by the police, the person who conducted the lab report would testify.

What does mean to you?  If you have been arrested for a driving offense or a drug offense, the nature and type of the report may require a witness to testify.  You also need to know that information before you go to trial or make the decision to go to trial.   Retaining a criminal defense lawyer that stays up-to-date withe the latest case law is extremely important to get the best outcome for your criminal case.  Knowledge allows you to make the best and most informed decisions possible.

If you have been arrested for a serious felony, DUI with Serious Bodily Injury (SBI), DUI Manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident with death, or a drug or controlled substance offense, retain an attorney that knows the most recent case law and how the rules of evidence will benefit or hurt your case.

PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS – CALL NOW 863-688-4606 AND SPEAK TO AN EXPERIENCED AND AGGRESSIVE ATTORNEY WHO WILL FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS IN THE COURT ROOM!

 THOMAS C. GRAJEK, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Handling all criminal and juvenile cases in Polk County, Florida including Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, HainesCity, and Davenport.

See Peterson v. State, __ So. 3d __, 39 F.L.W. D75 (2d DCA 1/3/2014)

Organizers used statistics to highlight the importance of bicycle safety awareness. They said 173 cyclists were killed in Hillsborough County alone in the past 18 years. Injuries in the same time frame were much higher at 6,656. In 2012, 13 Hillsborough County cyclists were killed, making it the deadliest year here since 1996. That number attracted the attention of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who selected Tampa as the location for the first of two DOT Regional Bicycle Safety Summits. The summit was held on April 11.

The Ride of Silence was held on Wednesday, May 15, and started at 7 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Cyclists were asked to ride the 11 miles in silence and to wear either a black or red armband. Red honored injured cyclists, and black honored those who died. The names of nine cyclists killed in Hillsborough County since the last Ride of Silence were read aloud before the start.

The first Ride of Silence was held in Dallas, Texas in honor of cyclist Larry Schwartz. Since then, the idea has spread to hundreds of communities around the world.

Deaths and injuries among Tampa-area cyclists and pedestrians are all too common. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident of any kind, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to help get you the compensation you deserve.

If you need to speak with a car accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.