Pinellas County

Published on: August 6, 2014

Law Enforcement Agencies Unite to Catch Suspected Sex Predators in Polk, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Several law enforcement agencies from the federal, state and county level have joined forces with the hopes of catching alleged sexual predators.

While the operation spans across nine counties, including Polk, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, the message is the same: “We’re going to get you.”

The message was made loud and clear Tuesday when the agencies released details from a recent online sex sting- “Operation Cyber Vigilance”- during which they are tracking down men believed to be looking to arrange sexual encounters with children.

Due to the fact that the Florida Sheriff’s Association has made catching child predators its number one priority, the agencies are utilizing each other’s manpower to make the biggest impact, and the most arrests.

So far, officials have arrested more than 130 people.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri made a note to let everyone know they are going after the worst of the worst, and described one of the most recent arrests.

“So she’s out there working- trying to provide for the family. He’s at home with a 13 and 14-year-old sleeping, and what’s he do? He gets online, and starts chatting with one of our undercover detectives,” he explained. “And he leaves his 13 and 14-year-old daughters at home sleeping in bed, and comes up to Pinellas County to have sex with a 12-year-old.”

This most recent operation is designed for agencies to help one another. with that said, if the Polk County Sheriff’s Office launches an undercover sting, it might get help from Pinellas, Sarasota and Lee Counties, and visa versa.

In addition to the nine counties conducting the operation, eight others are contributing to the efforts.

The criminal justice system is often merciless when it comes to child sex crimes cases – they make it known that they are out for blood. Unfortunately, this usually means the innocent get swept up along with the guilty.

Detectives are so eager to catch alleged sexual offenders in undercover Internet stings that they tend to go overboard, often entrapping unsuspecting adults. Police will enter online chat rooms and masquerade as young boys or girls, or even parents or guardians of young children, looking for a partner to introduce them to the world of sex. They will drum up online conversations with adults and in many cases, manipulate them into soliciting illegal sexual activity.

And we all know what happens next – that person will be arrested and charged with a sex crime. In a matter of minutes, a person’s life can be flipped upside down. The legal consequences of a conviction can result in years in prison and mandatory registration as a sexual offender. The social and professional consequences of a sex crimes conviction can be just as bad for those convicted of child sexual abuse or child pornography.

Published on: August 1, 2014

New York Prison Guard in Pinellas County Jail for Allegedly Attempting to Have Sex with 11-Year-Old Girl

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A New York high-security prison guard is accused of purchasing a purple Rapunzel costume from a Disney store and sending it to Florida in February as part of a plan to have sex with an 11-year-old girl, according to a federal complaint.

The 34-year-old man allegedly answered an online ad last summer from a self-described single mom who was on the hunt for a man who could teach her daughter how to please him.

However, the ad was fictional, and just bait to trap suspected predators.

The “mom” was a Tampa-based agent for Homeland Security Investigations and the “girl” was not real.

The man was booked Tuesday into the Pinellas County Jail on federal charges of attempted child enticement, attempted production of child pornography and attempted receipt of the porn.

The Buffalo resident was initially arrested in New York on July 2.

Court records allege the man sent the “mom” a camera and asked her to take nude photos of the girl.

The adults apparently swapped hundreds of explicit texts and emails. In January, the man’s communication became more overt, according to reports. During this same time, the agent apparently told the man the “girl” was 11, not 12 as was the age first mentioned.

According to a spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the man is on leave without pay. He was hired as a corrections officer in 2006.

It is a crime for anyone to use the Internet to try to entice someone into having illegal sex. In fact, in order to be prosecuted for this crime, the act does not even have to actually be carried out. Additionally, as this case shows, there does not even have to be an actual victim for charges to be filed. Rather, your intent and efforts to achieve any unlawful contact will lead to an arrest.

Being accused of an Internet sex crime is quite serious. As soon as you are accused of a sex crime, your reputation is on the line. In most cases, your job, family and friends are jeopardized as well. A conviction could mean lengthy time behind bars, substantial fines and the permanent label as a registered sex offender. After you have been charged with a federal sex crime, you need to enlist the help of a Federal Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible. These types of crimes are far too serious to even contemplate handling any phase of the case without having an experienced criminal defense attorney in your corner.

Published on: July 15, 2014

Pinellas Park Firefighter Arrested for Selling Prescription Pills

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Pinellas Park firefighter has been arrested for selling and possessing prescription drugs, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives began to investigate after allegedly receiving a tip that the 38-year-old Largo man was selling prescription drugs. Police arranged a purchase from the man Friday evening. The man was arrested Saturday in the parking lot of Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg.

Detectives allege the man sold and was in possession of eight different types of prescription pills, including morphine, Xanax, hydromorphone and oxycontin.

The firefighter was arrested on eight counts of sale of a controlled substance and eight counts of possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail, where he is bail has been set at $200,000.

According to detectives, the man is a firefighter and a SWAT medic for the Pinellas Park Fire Department. He also works part time as an emergency room nurse at Northside Hospital.

This investigation is ongoing, and detectives are looking into how the man obtained the alleged drugs.

Any time someone is caught illegally selling any type of narcotic to another person, they run the risk of getting arrested and charged with the unlawful sale of a controlled substance. The state of Florida regards the sale or possession of a controlled substance as a very serious criminal offense. Similar to a distribution charge, this type of drug crime can result in years behind bars, tremendous fines and probation if convicted.

Police often try and catch those suspected of dealing drugs through undercover police stings. They may perform several undercover operations in order to build a sufficient amount of evidence against the suspect. In these operations, police may approach the suspected drug dealer and ask to purchase drugs. No matter what their strategy is, there are lines that police cannot cross. When police deviate from the strict guidelines that govern undercover sting operations, they could be accused of entrapment, which means any evidence obtained could be deemed inadmissible in court.

Published on: July 1, 2014

159 New Laws Begin in Florida Tuesday

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Florida will have 159 new laws starting Tuesday that address various issues, including college tuition, corporate tax credits, abortions and sex offenders.

One of the most prevalent laws is one that aims to protect children and others from dangerous sex offenders. The laws are intended to keep the most violent sexual offenders locked up longer and close any loopholes in a law that allows the state to send predators to a high-security treatment center once they have served their time in prison. The new laws will subject more offenders to potential civil commitment and prosecutors, detectives and victim advocates will be part of the committee that reviews their cases.

The sexually violent predator package of bills was among the first of the legislature sent to Gov. Rick Scott during the 60-day session that ended in May. The new laws are meant to create a better child welfare system in Florida. As of now, Florida is the only state in America that has a 50-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for violent sexual offenders.

Another law that seeks to protect children concerns the Department of Children and Families. The law changes how the department investigates and responds to cases; now placing a higher emphasis on shielding a child from abuse rather than focusing on keeping a family together. Moreover, the law also pays for 270 additional child protective investigators so that caseloads can be reduced and a response team can be sent out quickly to investigate child abuse deaths when the child had previous dealings with the system.

Another law will establish a statewide pilot program to pay for foster children’s driver’s education classes, license fees and car insurance so that they can be better prepared to gain employment when they turn 18 and leave the system.

The children of immigrants in the country illegally will now be able to receive in-state tuition at state universities after Scott changed his position on the issue. Another bill will give tuition breaks to honorably discharged veterans as well as waive professional licensing fees for them.

Local school boards now have the responsibility of selecting textbooks, whether or not they are on a state-adopted list, and will be required to put policies in place that allow parents to object to the books they choose.

Another new law took effect on June 20 that expands a voucher program, giving corporate tax credits to companies that provide money for low-income families to send their children to private schools.

As far as criminal laws go, there will be increased penalties for spiny lobster poachers, people leaving the scene of an accident that causes injury and people who illegally sell prescription drugs. Additionally, electronic cigarette sales to minors are now illegal in Florida. Another law forbids sending text messages soliciting products to residents on the state’s “no sales solicitation calls” list.

Florida has also changed its definition for its late-term abortion ban. Abortions will be illegal in Florida at any stage in a woman’s pregnancy if her doctor concludes that the fetus could survive outside the womb. The previous law banned abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy. An exception can be made to this law if the mother’s life is at risk.

Lastly, new laws will create a Florida Tourism Hall of Fame and the position of state poet laureate to promote poetry in Florida.

Laws across the United States are constantly changing. When you have been accused of committing a crime in Florida, only a Florida Trial Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can provide you with the legal representation that you need. While many attorneys are quick to negotiate with prosecutors to obtain a plea bargain instead of pursuing trial, our Florida Criminal Attorneys know that sometimes trial is the best option for your situation. We thoroughly evaluate every case and will always advise you of your best legal defense strategy.

Published on: May 12, 2014

Man Sues Over ‘COPSLIE’ License Plate Rejection, Supreme Court Rules in His Favor

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

On Wednesday, New Hampshire’s highest court ruled that the state infringed the free speech rights of a man who wished to have “COPSLIE” on his license plate.

The state Supreme Court agreed with the arguments of the man in a unanimous decision.

The man said he wanted the vanity plate to protest “government corruption.”

Published on: January 28, 2014

Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Pinellas Child Predator Sting Nets 35 Arrests

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A four-day child predator investigation in Pinellas County that involved local, state and federal investigators resulted in 35 arrests.

The sting, dubbed “Operation Home Alone,” targeted people seeking minors online for sexual relations.

The suspects, ranging between 19 and 65 years of age, are from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee counties. Police claim one suspect drove his bike to Clearwater from Kenneth City. Another is accused of driving from Miami, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation was organized by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police Department and also involved the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The sting started at 2 p.m. Thursday and ended at 2 a.m. Monday. The undercover operation used 12 investigators posing as minors to chat online with suspects. Reports indicate that detectives worked from 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the entire four days at computers set up in a training room at Clearwater police headquarters.

Investigators posted ads and chatted with people on more than a dozen websites, including backpage.com and Craig’s List. According to police, once a suspect arranged to meet with a minor, officers out on patrol were notified to arrive at the meeting locations and arrest those that showed up. Officials said that four meeting places in north Pinellas County were used.

Call a Pinellas County Criminal Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton today at 727-823-0000 to find out how we can help you.

Those arrested were brought to the Clearwater Police Department where they were interviewed and shown the transcripts of their online conversations before being transferred to the Pinellas County jail.

Those arrested will likely face charges related to traveling to meet a minor, sexual battery and procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution, according to police.

Ever since “To Catch A Predator” aired on NBC’s Dateline, local, state and federal law enforcement officers have stepped their game up in regards to catching those suspected of committing sex crimes via the Internet. By conducting undercover sex stings, police work around the clock for a certain time frame posing as minors or the parents or guardians of minors looking to arrange sexual encounters. Once arrests are made, the media often paints the worst picture possible regarding the suspects involved and fails to acknowledge whether those detained were the possible victims of police entrapment – when an officer’s behavior induces a person to commit a crime they otherwise would not have committed.

The entrapment defense requires thorough investigation and must be constructed carefully if used as a successful defense strategy. A Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can review the events leading up to your arrest and determine if this is a viable defense option.

Published on: January 13, 2014

Pinellas County Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Largo Woman Receives Four Year Sentence for Tax and Student Loan Fraud

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 44-year-old Largo woman was sentenced to four years in federal prison on Thursday for defrauding student financial aid and filing false claims with the Internal Revenue Service. Additionally, the Court also ordered her to pay restitution to the IRS, in the amount of $110,971, and to the Federal Stafford Loan Program, in the amount of $22,350.

The woman pleaded guilty to the charges against her on October 10, 2013.
Court documents indicate that the woman had previously obtained several student loans with outstanding balances, then had the balances dismissed due to a disability. She apparently managed to procure additional student loans by submitting forged physician forms stating that her condition had improved, and agreeing to repay her past loan balances.

The woman then applied for further student loans to attend Walden University, which court documents show she did not attend. She received more than $27,000 in loans, from which a total of $22,350 was disbursed to her.

In connection with the IRS, the woman apparently established four fictitious Florida corporations and then filed corporate tax returns claiming more than $500,000 in refundable tax credits. She opened bank accounts in the names of the corporations, where the refunds were directly deposited.

According to reports, the woman used the refunded tax credits for personal expenses.
She admitted that these corporations were created just to file false corporate tax returns and were not legit businesses.

The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Inspector General all investigated this case.

The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, has seemingly unlimited resources at its disposal when it comes to investigating tax crimes. These investigations often start out as civil matters, but can quickly intensify to criminal matters based upon the evidence they obtain. Tax fraud can legally be defined as many different things, including reporting false income, not disclosing certain assets, reporting more deductions than you are actually owed and even changing personal expenses to be represented as business expenses.

Published on: December 13, 2013

Pinellas County Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer :: St. Pete Property Owner Facing Criminal Charges for Failing to Notify Tenants of Lead Paint

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 56-year-old St. Petersburg property owner was recently indicted on charges that he failed to make tenants aware of the dangers of lead paint in their apartments, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa.

The Tierra Verde man has been charged with four counts of failing to provide approved Environmental Protection Agency lead paint warning notices and brochures to his tenants and two counts of alteration or falsification of records in a federal investigation.

Federal investigators became suspicious of the man after they allegedly found lead in the paint and soil at a property just west of Crescent Lake during a renovation in 2011.

The man apparently owns the property under his management corporations. According to federal EPA guidelines, the landlord must make sure tenants are aware of all possible dangers linked to lead paint before leasing.

According to the indictment, the man backdated disclosure forms when the EPA began investigating him in order to delay the investigation.

If convicted, the man could serve a maximum of one year in prison for each count of failing to provide a warning notice and up to 20 years for each count of falsification of records.

St. Petersburg officials claim the man is well known in the area because his nuisance issues have resulted in thousands of dollars in fines for various properties he owns.

Altering, deleting, destroying, erasing or modifying any business record with the intent to defraud can result in falsification of records charges. These charges are quite serious and can lead to jail time, fines and other penalties. If you are under investigation for or believe that you will be charged with alteration or falsification of records in a federal investigation, it is in your best interests to speak with a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.

Published on: November 11, 2013

Pinellas County Criminal Defense Attorney :: Dunedin Chef Accused of “Training” 3-Year-Old for Sex

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

FBI agents have charged a Pinellas County chef with federal child pornography charges after he allegedly admitted he made sexually explicit videos of a 3-year-old girl he was babysitting.

The 27-year-old Dunedin man apparently sent online chat messages under his name that graphically describe “training” a 3-year-old to perform a sex act, according to authorities.

The man was arrested late Tuesday after the FBI searched his home.

According to an FBI special agent, the man admitted to the production, transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. He also claims the man confessed to storing the images on two cellphones and a laptop computer.

A criminal complaint against the man alleges that he shared his own productions on the Internet so that he could gain access to other people’s pornography.

“He admitted that these images and other child pornography images he had downloaded and possessed were sexually gratifying to him,” according to the agent’s report.

The man was held in the Pinellas County Jail, pending a bond hearing Friday in U.S. District Court in Tampa.

Federal law prohibits the possession, production, receipt, transportation and distribution of images that depict minors in sexual situations. The potential punishments for a conviction of these crimes are usually quite severe, including up to decades behind bars, massive fines, registration as a sexual offender and a lifetime of public stigma.

Published on: November 30, 2012

Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Man Accused of Hitting 4-Year-Old Child, Causing His Kidney to Bleed

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

St. Petersburg, FL – A 23-year-old man was arrested Nov. 15 for aggravated child abuse after authorities claim he caused a laceration to a 4-year-old boy’s kidney while the child was in his care.

Deputies claim the man hit the young boy so hard that he urinated blood.

The boy was taken to the hospital where doctors allege the laceration to his kidney was caused by “trauma,” and not an illness or other medical condition.

The boy’s mother told police she had left her son in the man’s car while she was at work.

The boy apparently told police that the man hit him.

The man was arrested and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He is being held without bail.

The crime of aggravated child abuse is a very serious felony offense. For charges of this kind to stick in Florida, prosecutors must be able to prove that the accused willfully and knowingly committed child abuse, and in doing so, caused significant bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement. Criminal acts against children are taken quite seriously in the state of Florida. In fact, these cases are usually passed along to experienced prosecutors with the hopes of achieving a conviction.