The Umansky Law Firm

Oh, what could have been if only Randy Quaid, older brother of Dennis Quaid, could keep out of trouble. The latest in the saga of the actor, who had a supporting role in the Oscar-winning film Brokeback Mountain, involves spending a week in a Canadian detention facility with his wife. The Quaids were being held on outstanding warrants from the US on charges of felony vandalism in Santa Barbara, California. The two allegedly were found squatting in a guesthouse they once owned.

In an interesting and bizarre twist, the Quaids have requested refugee status in Canada because they are being persecuted by "Hollywood star whackers." They believe these "star whackers" are responsible for the deaths of Heath Ledger and David Carradine.

The couple is to appear in court in Santa Barbara on November 2.

This isn't the first time the Quaids have been on the other side of the law. In 2009, they were charged with defrauding an innkeeper, burglary, and conspiracy in Montecito, California. They also used an invalid credit card to pay their tab at the Santa Barbara luxury resort the Biltmore. The two then fled and were arrested in Marfa, Texas. Charges against Randy Quaid were dropped, but his wife, Evi, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor defrauding, and received three years probation and ordered to perform 240 hours of community service.

Both have repeatedly failed to show up for court appearances in connection with different charges.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in the state of Florida, including Winter Park, Orlando, and Orange County, don't avoid court. Please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm and schedule a free, confidential case consultation.

Tampa police announced that Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Jerramy Stevens was arrested last Saturday and charged with possessing marijuana. He was originally pulled over for playing loud music.

The law enforcement officer who pulled over Stevens alleges that he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a search. He allegedly found over an ounce of the drug in Stevens' vehicle. He was taken to jail and charged with possession of marijuana
with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Stevens has a past police record, including being convicted of drunken driving in 2007 and pleading guilty to reckless driving in 2003.

As a result of Stevens' latest arrest, he will not be playing in this Sunday's game.

This error in judgment may hurt Stevens more down the road than he knows. This is also what often happens to people who are arrested under similar circumstances. Very few consider the future beyond the possibility of being arrested. However, each action has consequences and they must be dealt with. If you're lucky, you may face a suspended sentence or get away with classes and probation. Still, there is a serious risk of jail time, which can impact more than your record. You may lose your job, your family, your home, and more.

In cases like this, it is important you speak with a criminal defense attorney who understands the law. If you have been charged with drug possession in Orange County or Orlando, Florida, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm today.

The US Department of Justice announced that a Port Orange, Florida couple arrested last December was sentenced to federal prison for possession of counterfeit cash.

Florida law enforcement allegedly found the couple, a 34-year-old man and 28-year-old woman, asleep in a car in the parking lot of an Orange County business. Both allegedly lied about their identities because they had outstanding warrants in Arizona.

When police searched the vehicle, they allegedly found hydrocodone, counterfeit money, printer ink cartridges and several boxes of resume paper. Some of the boxes allegedly contained paper cut-outs that were shaped like currency, while others contained uncut counterfeit cash printed on the resume paper. Police also discovered several Visa, American Express, Walgreens, and WalMart gift cards in the car.

The couple pleaded guilty last June to possession of counterfeit United States currency. Last Friday, the man was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and his wife was sentenced to 15 months.

Desperate times make people do desperate things. However, one event putting you on the other side of the law can set you up for a lifetime of regret. Make sure you have an attorney with experience to help you understand the charges against you and will aggressively seek to make sure you receive fair treatment in a court of law.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umanksy Law Firm for a free confidential case consultation.

Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau was arrested and charged early Monday for felony spousal assault with injury
near San Diego, California. Just hours after his release, Seau reportedly drove his SUV over a cliff in Carlsbad, California.

According to California police, Seau's 25-year-old live-in girlfriend called to report an incident around 10:00pm Sunday night. She alleges Seau assaulted her during an argument. When police arrived, Seau was not there. His girlfriend allegedly had superficial wounds that did not require medical treatment. Seau called her a couple of hours later and was convinced to return home. When he did, he was arrested.

Several hours later, Seau was seen driving his 2005 Cadillac Escalade off a cliff. The woman driving behind him reported the accident just after it occurred. Seau's vehicle apparently nearly hit a man below on the beach. It was estimated that Seau was going very fast when he went airborne. The SUV landed 100 feet below the cliff.

Seau suffered only a few scratches, but was seen being taken away on a stretcher in a neck brace. Witnesses say he was sitting outside the vehicle after the crash.

Police state Seau was not in a suicidal state of mind and he wasn't under the influence when he crashed. According to a family member, he was just very tired after the domestic violence incident the night before.

The 12-time Pro Bowler will likely face charges for the accident.

If you have been charged with domestic violence in Orange County or Orlando, Florida, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation.

One of the largest alleged Medicare scams was ended this week with the arrest of over 70 people. The mostly Armenian suspects are allegedly part of a network of gangsters, and were arrested in New York, California, New Mexico, Georgia, and Ohio. A US attorney involved in the case said the scope and sophistication of the fraud puts the traditional Mafia to shame.

Authorities allege that the network began to unravel in upstate New York when almost 3000 Medicare patients had their information, including dates of birth and social security numbers, stolen. Also stolen were the identities of doctors, which were used to set up nearly 120 phantom clinics in 25 states. These names were used to submit fake bills for care never given.

The paperwork allegedly submitted for bills was a giveaway, according to authorities. Some of it showed nose and throat specialists performing pregnancy ultrasounds, eye doctors performing bladder tests, dermatologists doing heart exams, and obstetricians testing for skin allergies.

The New York part of the fraud shows that nearly $100 million were submitted and Medicare paid out $35 million.

One of those arrested is allegedly a "vor," which is the equivalent of a traditional godfather.

If you have been charged with fraud in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial and confidential case consultation.

In what is sadly becoming old news, a senior citizen has been arrested and charged with drug trafficking. Volusia narcotics officers raided the 64-year-old woman's Oak Hill home and allegedly found a "veritable cornucopia" of prescription pills.

According to the Volusia sheriff's office, the woman had been under investigation for over a month. Someone reported her last month for buying prescription medication from other seniors and then reselling them. Investigators allegedly seized muscle relaxants, anxiety medication, and several different kinds of pain medication from the woman's house numbering over 450 pills. The suspect also allegedly admitted to buying oxycodone and then reselling it for $12 a pill.

Investigators also allegedly found almost two ounces of marijuana, scales, marijuana paraphernalia, grow lights, and about $500 in counterfeit bills. The suspect says that someone paid her for drugs with the phony bills.

In addition to drug possession, the suspect was also charged with trafficking oxycodone and hydrocodone. She was booked in the Volusia County jail and bail was set at $53,000.

If you have been charged with drug trafficking in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial consultation.

The Playmates strip club in Cocoa was raided by Florida law enforcement late last week where seven dancers and the club's owner were arrested. The women are accused of dancing completely naked and soliciting sex from customers in the parking lot. The dancers, ranging in age from 21 to 44, were booked into the Brevard County Jail. The club's 52-year-old owner was charged with allowing the women to engage in prohibited acts. City codes do not allow strippers to dance fully nude.

According to police, this raid is the culmination of a two-month investigation after complaints by neighbors that the strippers were allegedly engaging in prostitution and other illegal activities. According to police, three of the women had solicited several undercover officers.

The club was shut down following the arrests.

The club has been in trouble before. In August 2009, police raided the club after finding it had hired two underage girls. Both had fake IDs.

The rules for the club changed when Cocoa annexed the property Playmates sits on in 2003. Prior to this, the strippers could dance fully naked until 2:00 am. After the annexation, the club was forced to shut down at 11:00, and the dancers were told to wear opaque coverings.

If you have been charged with prostitution or solicitation in Orange County or Orlando, Florida, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial and confidential case consultation.

A senior U.S. district judge was arrested for allegedly purchasing cocaine, marijuana, and prescription painkillers from a stripper in Atlanta last week. The former chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Atlanta was secretly recorded by the stripper who was giving the conversations to the FBI. In addition, it is alleged that the 67-year-old judge was having a relationship with the stripper that began last spring. This alleged relationship was based around the two using cocaine, marijuana, and the painkiller Roxicodone, as well as sex.

According to authorities, the judge was recorded in a conversation last Friday telling the stripper he would help her find a job because she was having trouble since she has a record. During the conversation, the judge allegedly told the stripper that adding a second woman to their evening was too risky because he didn't want to do drugs with someone he didn't know. The stripper then asked the judge if he would follow her to a drug deal to protect her because she didn't know the dealer very well. It was after buying drugs that the judge was arrested.

If you have been charged with drug possession in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm today.