The Umansky Law Firm

Although this has nothing to do with the US that we know of, an interesting fraud case has been uncovered in Germany.

According to Frankfurt's prosecutors' office, in early 2010, a Lufhansa Airlines stewardess was found with a bag full of one and two eruo coins. She was apparently struggling to lift it at an airport when her bag was searched. Airline cabin crew members do not have a weight limit on their baggage.

This find set off an investigation in Germany that stretched all the way to China, and uncovered a vast forgery ring. Lufthansa employees have been investigated as part of this ring, and six people in Germany were arrested today. Four of the six are Chinese nationals.

Authorities suspect those involved smuggled euros, or pieces of euros, that were taken out of circulation from Germany to China where they had been sent as scrap metal. When euros are taken out of circulation, the inner part of the coin is removed from an outer ring, which then effectively turns them into scrap.

In China, the coins were reassembled and then exchanged for a total of 6 million euros at the Bundesbank. Bundesbank employees are not suspected of being part of the forgery ring.

The Bundesbank is the only institute in Europe that exchanges damage euro coins with new ones for free.

Investigators who raided the residences and offices of suspects found around three metric tons of pieces of coins and a machine that puts them back together.

If you are in this country, specifically Florida, and have been charged with forgery or theft, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial case consultation today.

Lindsay Lohan was offered a plea agreement in the case that she stole a necklace from a Los Angeles, California jewelry store. That plea would have sent Lohan to jail for felony grand theft. Lohan, however, has refused to accept the plea yesterday and will now have a jury decide her fate.

As you probably already know, Lohan was accused of taking a "one of a kind" necklace valued at $2500 from a jewelry store in January. She was also seen on security footage walking out the front door wearing the necklace. (It's been reported that the jewelry store sold the rights to the security footage to a media outlet, as well as someone from the jewelry store talking to an agent about a possible book deal. This raises questions about their motives here.)

Lohan has maintained she is innocent since she was first accused of stealing the necklace.

Had the necklace been valued at less than $950, Lohan would be facing petty theft charges. Because the necklace is valued higher, Lohan is facing felony grand theft. This may put her in California state prison from 16 months to three years. Since the prison time depends on the value of the stolen property and the defendant's previous arrest record, Lohan might be out of the public eye for quite some time if she is convicted.

It has also been noted that Lohan has been in court nine times in the past ten months.

If you have been charged with theft or shoplifting 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.

The Las Vegas, Nevada deputy district attorney who prosecuted ubiquitous party girl Paris Hilton was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly bought crack cocaine. David Schubert, a Clark County deputy district attorney, was arrested in Las Vegas and jailed on one count of cocaine possession. He posted bail and was scheduled for an initial court appearance yesterday.

According to police, Schubert was seen picking up another man in his white BMW in a neighborhood with a reputation for drug dealing. The vehicle was followed to an apartment complex, and the man Schubert picked up allegedly went to buy the cocaine. The vehicle was stopped by police and cocaine was allegedly found in the vehicle.

The man picked up by Schubert told police he would purchase $40 worth of cocaine "several times a week."

Clark County District Attorney David Roger has said publicly he's disappointed, and that Schubert will be prosecuted like anyone else would.

Paris Hilton's defense attorney says he doesn't know Schubert well, and added "I believe in the presumption of innocence."

In addition to prosecuting Paris Hilton for cocaine possession, Schubert also prosecuted Grammy Award winner Bruno Mars – also for cocaine possession. Both Hilton and Mars were ordered to perform community service. Hilton also paid a $2000 fine, while Mars was ordered to serve probation and undergo drug counseling.

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 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Volusia County deputies arrested three people in connection with an alleged meth lab set up in a car with stolen plates. A neighbor had called police to report three suspicious individuals hanging out around an abandoned house in South Daytona.

The three suspects all face different charges. One faces dealing in stolen property and possession of narcotics; another faces charges of possession of methamphetamine; the third is facing narcotics and possession of counterfeit money charges (five counterfeit $50 bills were found in her purse). The third suspect was also arrested on two outstanding warrants.

Upon searching the vehicle, police allegedly found Oxycodone, methamphetamine, chemicals used in the manufacturing of meth, and a scale. Several notebooks containing instructions for manufacturing meth were also found. Some of the notebooks also allegedly contained other people's Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, and security questions.

There are many things you should do if you have been arrested on drug charges. One of the most important moves you can make is to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney.

If you are facing drug charges 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 confidential case consultation.

A 24-year-old Seminole County teacher's aide arrested along with her boyfriend late last month is now facing several drug charges. Volusia County Sheriff's Office alleges she was sitting in her vehicle while he stole items from a Walmart in Deltona. He was followed out to the car by security and deputies where they were both detained.

Unfortunately, the woman gave permission to deputies to search her vehicle and said she would speak to them without an attorney present.

Deputies allegedly found a partially smoked joint in the ashtray. When they searched her purse, they also allegedly found a metal marijuana pipe, three hypodermic needles, and a container with white and blue powder in it. The woman allegedly told a deputy it was crushed Percocet. In addition to this, the woman allegedly admitted that all the found drugs were for her.

The woman was charged with possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled prescription substance. She has since bonded out.

She has a prior arrest record for failure to appear in court following driving with a suspended license in 2006.

The school board has suspended the teacher's aide without pay, and is determining if her employment should be terminated.

If you have been charged with drug possession, do not speak to the police without speaking to an attorney first. If you are 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 case consultation.

Sadly, life imitates art imitating life for Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, an actress who played a drug dealer and killer on HBO's The Wire. Pearson was among over 30 people arrested this morning in a drug raid in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore Sun reports that the arrests are part of raids in the city and surrounding counties connected to a "large-scale heroin and cocaine operation" conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration agents, Baltimore police, and other agencies.

As an actress on The Wire, Pearson's character was close to life. The 30-year-old was allegedly born to a drug addict and then began selling drugs herself when she was very young. When Pearson was 14, she killed another teenager, was convicted of second-degree murder, and spent over six years in prison.

Baltimore law enforcement is keeping tight lipped about what Pearson is charged with until a press conference later this afternoon. However, it is known that this was part of a five month investigation.

This is unfortunate if true, not only because of the charges, but because Felicia Pearson was given many chances that most people convicted of serious crimes do not get. From a young drug dealer and murderer to having a role in a celebrated television show, and now this. We can only hope Ms. Pearson's attorney is able to turn away these drug charges.

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.

A Michigan dentist visiting Florida where his son was playing in a Winter Haven baseball tournament is facing several charges after allegedly using a stolen credit card to buy pizza. The 54-year-old man is facing charges of credit card theft, forgery, impersonating, and attempting to use the ID of another person without consent.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the alleged victim dropped his credit card in the parking lot of a Publix in Davenport on Saturday night. When he noticed it he called his credit card company to cancel the card. As he was on the phone with the company, he was told someone used the card to make a purchase at Mia Pizza Pasta Kitchen. He then immediately called the police.

Polk County deputies then found the dentist waiting for his order at the pizza parlor. He allegedly admitted finding the credit card and ordering two large pizzas with it. It was noted that the dentist had $250 in cash in his wallet at the time of his arrest. When asked if he was having financial difficulties, the dentist allegedly laughed and said, "absolutely not."

Florida is a destination for all kinds of tourists. Unfortunately, even those of means will occasionally get into serious trouble. Although this man allegedly told the law enforcement officers that his net worth was in the millions of dollars, he is still facing serious charges that may put him in prison.

How We Can Help

The criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm have experience representing tourists accused of serious crimes in Florida. We will work aggressively to give you the representation you deserve to fight the charges against you, so you can return home.

If you have been charged with 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 for a free and confidential consultation.

A 52-year-old Ocala, Florida woman, who supplied a bottle of vodka and half keg of beer to a teen party on New Year's Eve, was sentenced to ten days in jail on Tuesday. This stems from a serious head injury a 19-year-old received when a fight broke out at the party.

She was charged with providing alcohol to minors, a second degree misdemeanor, and pleaded no contest with no plea bargain set in place. As a result, sentencing was left up to the judge. The defendant was given ten days in county jail, six months of probation, 200 hours of community service, and ordered to attend a Victim Impact Panel. She was also admonished by the judge for acting like "one of the gang" instead of a mother.

The defendant gave the alcohol to the teens, as well as drove her 16-year-old daughter and some of her friends to the party. A fight broke out, in which a 19-year-old latched himself onto a car leaving the party. He fell when the car was traveling between ten and 20 mph, hitting his head on the pavement. After this incident, the teen was driven back to the defendant's house and placed in a bathtub when he appeared unconscious and was vomiting.

Those with him suspected it was alcohol poisoning. The defendant said she wanted to call an ambulance for him, but waited 15 minutes to do so. He was then airlifted to Shands at the University of Florida. His father, who spoke at the defendant's hearing, told the judge his son suffered a fractured skull and bruises around his head.

Although she earned high praise from character witnesses, the defendant offered in court that this was not the first time she had given alcohol to teens. The judge said that, although all parties involved, including the injured teen had some level of responsibility in this incident, the defendant "set the events in motion."

If you have been charged with a crime 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.

Christina Aguilera was arrested for public intoxication early this morning in West Hollywood, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. Her 25-year-old boyfriend, Matthew Rutler, was arrested for driving under the influence in the same incident. His bail was set for $30,000.

According to law enforcement, they spotted a vehicle driving erratically and pulled it over around 2:45 in the morning. Inside police found Rutler behind the wheel, and an allegedly very intoxicated Aguilera next to him. Police have said that she seemed "unable to take care of herself." She was then booked for public intoxication

TMZ.com reports that a source close to Aguilera has stated friends have been trying to get her into a rehab program for weeks.

Aguilera's arrest might serve as a warning for those who believe that they will never be arrested for an alcohol related crime if they are not driving. Although this kind of thing needs to be taken on a case by case basis, in that it may be up to the officer's discretion, you should know that just because you are not driving, you are not necessarily free from being arrested.

This arrest will do little to hurt Aguilera because she's a star, but for the other 99% of people arrested for something like this, the criminal consequences can include a fine, a conviction, and possible jail time – depending on your prior criminal record.

If you have been charged with DUI or another alcohol-related crime 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.