Florida Drug Courts Celebrate 20 Year Anniversary

Many drug offenders in the Tampa area have the opportunity to participate in a treatment-based drug court. There are drug court programs in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota counties – as well as throughout Florida. In fact, the first... [Read More]

Pasco County Driver Sentenced to 15 Years for DUI Manslaughter

A senior judge in Pasco County sentenced Charlton Oliver Jr. to 15 years in prison for the DUI manslaughter of Shelly Bingham this week. Fathers of three deceased young people were allowed to speak at the sentencing hearing. Twenty-three-year-old Christian... [Read More]

Death Penalty Resumed in Florida 30 Years Ago

Most Americans spent Memorial Day remembering lost loved ones and military heroes. But May 25, 2009 was a remarkable date in Florida for another reason. It was the 30th anniversary of the nation’s first involuntary execution after a four year... [Read More]

Repeat Offender Convicted of St. Pete DUI Manslaughter

A Pinellas County jury found Lonnie Booth guilty of DUI manslaughter this week. Booth was charged after the November 2005 death of Rose Mitrano on Roosevelt Boulevard. Booth was also found guilty of driving with a license that had been... [Read More]

Expect More Prosecutions in Tampa as Federal Mortgage Fraud Bill Passes Congress

Hot on the heels of an announcement by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida that mortgage fraud cases would now be aggressively pursued by a special task force, the U.S. Congress has passed a new mortgage fraud... [Read More]

Two Tampa Area Men Charged with Defrauding U.S. Government

You may have heard claims or seen ads touting a “proven method” to avoid paying federal income tax. Prosecutors clearly believe that this is too good to be true. Two Tampa Bay area men have been indicted in federal court... [Read More]

Another Tampa Area Doctor Charged with Illegal Prescriptions

Tampa Bay area doctor Kevin Mark Denny was indicted in federal court this week on felony drug charges – specifically, two counts of acting outside the scope of professional practice by dispensing and distributing oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam (generic Xanax)... [Read More]

Tampa Federal Prosecutor Plans More Mortgage Fraud Cases

Tampa’s U.S. Attorney Brian Albritton expects to see ten times more mortgage fraud prosecutions in his office in the next year. Albritton told local media that his office is helping coordinate a large-scale multiagency task force that plans to bring... [Read More]

Sarasota Murder Trial Hinges on Defendant’s Sanity

The Sarasota murder trial of Elton Murphy started this week. Prosecutors charged Murphy with the first-degree murder of gallery owner Joyce Wishart in January 2004. In opening statements, prosecutors claimed that Murphy picked Wishart out as a rape victim because... [Read More]

Casey Anthony Asks For Change of Venue

Casey Anthony, the Orlando woman charged with capital murder in the death of her young daughter last summer, plans to ask a judge for a change of venue. If the request is granted, the trial will be held outside of... [Read More]