The Umansky Law Firm

A raid across areas of southern Florida this morning by state and federal law enforcement targeted "pill mills" that were allegedly dispensing oxycodone to patients over the internet.

Law enforcement dubbed the raid "Operation Snake Oil" and targeted pain clinic owners and operators who were marketing the drugs through around 1600 internet sites. Six people were indicted on charges of conspiring to illegally dispense over 660,000 doses of oxycodone. Three of the defendants have also been charged with conspiracy to launder illegal profits, as well as 26 counts of money laundering. The clinics netted at least $22 million in profits.

In addition to the six people charged in the indictment, doctors and clinic employees in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach area were arrested in the raids spanning three counties. In addition to the cash, the indictment includes forfeiture of real estate, a trailer park, and scores of vehicles and boats.

According to the indictment, the clinics required cash payments and allegedly used false urine tests and medical imaging to justify prescribing the drugs.

It is no secret that oxycodone is abused throughout the nation. However, one US attorney says that recent estimates show that Florida prescribes ten times more oxy than all other states combined. When drug dealers can get $10 to $30 for a 30 milligram pill, it's no wonder desperate people will risk selling them.

If you are facing a drug offense 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 case consultation.

An Orange County law enforcement officer has been charged with driving under the influence. The officer was pulled over at 1:30 in the morning as he was driving his personal vehicle on Oseola Parkway and Florida Parkway.

According to police reports, an Orange County sheriff's watch commander was called to the scene. The officer was relieved of duty and his law enforcement credentials were taken away immediately. He was then booked in the Osceola County Jail and his bond was set at $500. He will be reassigned when he bonds out and returns to the job.

Recently, there was another law enforcement officer who was charged with DUI while off duty. Again, we need to make the point that while we expect law enforcement to adhere to the law, both on duty and off duty, these men and women are human and make mistakes. This particular incident may not have cost the officer his job yet, but that is certainly a possibility.

The blood alcohol content you are allowed when driving is .08 or below. Many people may believe they are sober enough to drive or simply believe they won't get caught. However, taking this chance has repercussions that can change your life forever.

If you have been charged with a DUI 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 for an initial confidential case consultation.

Two Transportation Safety Administration employees have been arrested by Port Authority police and charged with theft for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from check luggage at John F. Kennedy Airport.

The two men, each in their 30s, face three felonies, including grand larceny, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property, as well as a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct. Authorities say they have recovered almost $40,000 so far. However, the two suspects allegedly admit to stealing $160,000 in other thefts.

According to TSA officials, the arrests are the result of an investigation involving the TSA and Port Authority police after another TSA employee alerted them to the thefts going on at JFK Airport. Also, TSA officials have said that 12 TSA officers have been fired nationwide from security checkpoints or checked baggage over charges of theft.

TSA has a zero tolerance policy for theft in the workplace and fires those who are accused of this crime.

TSA is in nearly every airport across the country, including Florida, and handles hundreds of pieces of luggage every day. Nearly all of these employees can be trusted to do their jobs, but some sadly find the temptation to steal from unsuspecting passengers too great.

If you have been charged with theft in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm today.

The day after winning a Grammy for best reggae album, Jamaican singer Butu Banton was in court facing serious drug charges. He is accused of conspiring to buy cocaine from an undercover agent in December 2009. This is the second trial for Banton regarding this matter. The first one ended in jury deadlock last September.

Banton and a friend allegedly met with an informant and an undercover officer in Sarasota, Florida to discuss buying cocaine. According to prosecutors, the meeting was videotaped. Later that month, Drug Enforcement Administration agents state Banton inspected and then tasted the cocaine. Banton's co-defendant then allegedly gave an undercover officer $135,000 worth of cocaine.

While Banton's co-defendant has pleaded guilty, Banton did not put down any money, or receive any money for the drugs. He was also not at the drug deal itself. However, prosecutors state he still played a major part in helping negotiate the deal.

Banton is charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and aiding two others in possessing a firearm during the course of cocaine distribution.

During his first trial, Banton testified that he talked with the government informant about cocaine, but he said he was only speaking to the man because he claimed to have music connections.

Banton's trial continues today. Prosecutors are expected to call the informant, a convicted cocaine smuggler who has earned millions of dollars helping U.S. law enforcement, to the witness stand.

If you are facing drug charges 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.

Lindsay Lohan is expected to be charged with felony grand theft after allegedly walking out of an L.A. jewelry store last month. The necklace is valued at $2500, and is called "one-of-a-kind." After it went missing, an associate of Lohan's turned the necklace in to police just prior to a search of her house.

This charge comes just weeks after Lohan's release from court-ordered drug rehabilitation, and only three weeks before a judge said he would end Lohan's supervised probation after her 2007 DUI conviction.

This isn't Lohan's first alleged theft of expensive items. She was accused of stealing a $12,000 coat in New York City in 2008; a $400,000 necklace in 2009 from Elle; and a $35,000 Rolex from someone last year. The Los Angeles District Attorney apparently looked at these past accusations in light of the most recent one before deciding what to do. While Lohan wasn't prosecuted or convicted for any of these alleged thefts, it did give the prosecution reason enough to look for a pattern in Lohan's behavior.

It was first reported that there was surveillance footage of Lohan wearing the necklace in the store, but not of her leaving with it. This has apparently changed. It is now alleged that there is video of Lohan wearing the necklace that is partially hidden by other items around her neck.

If you have been charged with grand theft 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.

You've been warned. Osceola County authorities have announced that the St. Cloud police will be focusing extra attention on those who may be drunken drivers. According to law enforcement, there will be a DUI checkpoint set up at an undisclosed location from 11pm February 25 to 4am February 26.

This checkpoint will be staffed by law enforcement from several different departments, including St. Cloud, Kissimmee, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and state Department of Transportation.

There will be signs advising motorists of a sobriety checkpoint ahead. Once you've been diverted into the checkpoint lane, you will be advised of the purpose of the checkpoint and your driver's license will be checked.

This checkpoint is two weeks away. Most of the time, motorists just stumble upon them with little advanced warning. So, now that you've been warned in advance, are you going to take the chance that you won't be pulled over and asked to step out of your car?

Unfortunately, even if you have had very little to drink, the police may pull you from your car and give you a roadside sobriety test anyway. If your B.A.C. is over 0.08, you will probably go to jail for driving under the influence. If this happens, you need to contact an experienced DUI defense attorney as soon as possible.

If you have been charged with DUI 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 consultation.

A Greenacres
anesthesiologist pleaded guilty to trafficking prescription pain killers and was sentenced to ten years in prison, plus a $50,000 fine.

According to Palm Beach prosecutors, the anesthesiologist diverted hydrocodone and other drugs while he ran a weight loss clinic between 2007 and 2009. In 2009, a woman found out that her cousin was using her name to illegally obtain prescriptions that were written by her husband, the anesthesiologist. Police later found that another cousin and a friend were getting prescriptions filled. Another woman was also being driven to a pharmacy to get prescriptions filled.

Police allege that the anesthesiologist illegally diverted nearly 6400 hydrocodone tablets worth over $38,000.

When confronted, the anesthesiologist allegedly said his wife was severely addicted to prescription drugs, but that he also used them for past injuries. A search of his home turned up prescriptions for hydrocodone and diazepam signed by the doctor for one of the cousins. Three prescription bottles with their labels partially removed were allegedly found, as were "numerous clear plastic pill bags in the master bedroom end table and safe."

Unfortunately, this doctor not only betrayed the trust of his profession, but knowingly did so using his wife's name and other family members. He has learned the hard way what can happen when you are convicted of a drug charge in Florida.

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

Lindsay Lohan has once again been accused of stealing a necklace from a Los Angeles, California area business. The $2,500 necklace was allegedly stolen last week and Lohan was allegedly seen wearing the necklace on a surveillance video. However, the video does not show Lohan walking out of the store with the necklace.

Los Angeles police got a search warrant for Lohan's home, but an associate of Lohan's turned over the necklace to police before they acted on the warrant.

Lohan has issued a denial that she took the necklace and has accused the person making the accusation against her as "nuts."

The 24-year-old has been in the news mostly for her battle with drug and alcohol addiction. However, she's currently on probation for charges stemming from her DUI arrests. While Lohan may have turned over the missing jewelry before the police searched her house, this does not get her out of trouble.

Conditions for probation vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the charges, as well as what is worked out with the prosecution. However, the conditions are usually very strict and must be adhered to. Any failure of these conditions can lead to a violation of probation. This is what put Lohan back in jail late last year.

If you have been charged with theft or probation violation 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 case consultation.