Recent Posts in Drug Crimes Category

In Lebanon, Ohio, it is reported that a woman who was visiting the Warren Correctional Institution is now facing felony charges for smuggling drugs into the facility. 

Police report that the female visitor, 19-year-old Kiara Taylor, was caught by troopers.  She was arrested by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and then charged with a third-degree felony and a fifth degree felony of possessing criminal tools.

Police say they were tipped off that Taylor would be trying to smuggle drugs to an inmate at the institution during a scheduled visit. They say that when Taylor first arrived, she was confronted by officers about the drugs. She then voluntarily surrendered a candy bar wrapper that contains 16 g of marijuana.

If she is convicted, she will face up to seven years in prison as well as a $15,000 fine.

Have you been charged with a serious drug crime in Orlando?  If so, contact our law office today to speak with an Orlando criminal defense attorney.

In Vineland, police and the county say that they have made 24 arrests during the month of June and August.  The arrests are the result of an ongoing drug crime investigation.

The police investigation targeted street-level drug dealers in an area around 7^th and Cherry Streets. 

The investigation was conducted by Vineland city police in partnership with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.  Officers say that they arrested 20 local residents as well as for people from Bridgeton.  The arrests were made on June 24^th and 25^th as well as August 11^th and 12^th.

If you have been charged with a serious drug crime in Orlando, you need to do everything you can to protect yourself.  One of the best things you can do is hire an Orlando criminal defense attorney from the Rivas Law Firm.  Contact our practice to set up a case evaluation with a lawyer who can help you fight your criminal charges.

This month, police say that they were able to arrest crack dealer after receiving tips to a drug hotline.  The tips led police to the crack dealers' home, which was near Abney Elementary School.

Investigators say that they had been monitoring the house for numerous weeks after receiving a series of phone calls about suspicious activity at the residence.  Based on their surveillance, members of the department's narcotics division determined that crimes were being committed in the home.

The department managed to execute a search warrant at the house.  Once inside, they found three residents as well as 17 rocks of crack cocaince, marijuana, pills and two guns. 

The residents of the house, Darryle Smith, Tiffany Brown and Orlando Gillum, were arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm while in possession of drugs, being convicted felons in possession of a firearm, possession of drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of clonzapam and possession of carisoprodol.

Have you been charged with serious drug crimes in Orlando?  If so, contact the Rivas Law Firm and consult with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer immediately.

This week, a 34 year old man from Daytona Beach received a sentence of 10 years in prison.  The judge presiding over the defendant's case ruled that he was qualified as a habitual offender and ordered jail time.

On March 9^th, Jermaine Bernard Riley was found guilty of selling cocaine.  In Riley's arrest affidavit, it is stated that a confidential informant was working with police when Riley sold him $80 worth of narcotics.  

State Attorney's spokesman Chris Kelly told news sources that Circuit Judge Patrick Kennedy sentenced Riley to 10 years in state prison.  Once that sentence is completed, he is ordered to serve 10 years of probation.

People who have been charged with drug crimes can face some of the toughest legal penalties imaginable.  For this reason, they should always hire an Orlando criminal defense attorney.  If you have been charged with a drug crime, contact Rivas Law Firm now!

Police were in for quite a surprise when they conducted a house raid in Ormond Beach.  Agents investigating a marijuana-growing operation had entered a residence only to find the owner had 26 snakes - some were large and others were venomous.

Police say that the owner, 51 year old James Walsh, had 13 marijuana plants which he had tried to hide among tomato plants on his patio.  Officers also say that aside from the marijuana and snakes, Walsh had a monitor lizard and an opossum.  He kept all of his pets in aquariums, glass cases and storage tubs.

After months of investigating the home, Ormond Beach Police and agents from the multi-agency East Volusia Narcotics Task Force raided the home.  Agents also seized 49 grams of cultivated marijuana, drug paraphernalia, growing equipment and a sawed off shotgun.

Following the raid, Walsh was charged with cultivation of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

If you have been charged with serious drug crimes, contact Rivas Law Firm to discuss possible defenses with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer!

SWAT and narcotics officers were preparing to search a Lincoln residence when other officers stopped a vehicle carrying two of the house's residents. One of those residents was Jerry Brown, 49. After getting permission from Brown's roommate, officers searched the vehicle, house, and Brown and discovered a handgun and nearly 600 pills, a narcotics investigator reported.

440 of the pills are believed to be Oxycontin and Hydromorphone, both painkillers, and 141 have not yet been identified. The remaining five pills are believed to be Alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication. Brown allowed himself to be pat down and had a bottle of pills on him. A .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun was found in the house. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

If you have been charged with a drug-related crime or weapon crimes, it is important that you discuss your case with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer.  Contact the Rivas Law Firm now!

A multi-agency probe that has lasted for months has resulted in the arrests of 172 people, including two doctors, and the seizure of more than 20,000 prescription pills. The probe, called "Operation Pain Killer" targeted street-level dealers and doctors who are involved in peddling prescription narcotics. 49 of those arrested live in Lake County, FL, and others lived in Orange, Oseola, and Seminole County.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey reported, "I'm pleased that this investigation neutralized numerous distribution points in Central Florida. There will be follow-up operations to attack this lethal supply chain." Most of those arrested were charged with trafficking Schedule II narcotics. The drugs seized included oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam. The two doctors arrested operated pain management clinics. The probe began on January 1 and the final round of arrests was made on June 2.

If you have been charged with drug crimes in Orlando, contact the Rivas Law Firm to schedule a time to meet with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer.

A man called the police after two women claiming to sell magazines stole his wallet off of his counter after he let the women into his home. 22-year-old Jessica Rosenengal of Florida and 21-year-old Starla Harjo of Oklahoma were arrested a short distance from the crime. They admitted to stealing the wallet and said they had thrown it away. The wallet was later located where the women said they had thrown it, according to police.

The two young women have been charged with grand larceny and peddling without a permit. Harjo was also charged with possession of marijuana. Both women were arraigned and held on $7,000 bail. Police Lt. Thomas Gerace advised the public, "Always ask to see a permit to solicit before dealing with anyone selling door to door," and "Never let a stranger into your home."

If you have been charged with a criminal offense such as a theft crime or a drug crime, contact the Rivas Law Firm and talk with an Orlando criminal defense attorney.

The Osceola County Jail is in the process of receiving $4 million worth of security improvements. Over Memorial Day weekend, an accused smuggler managed to sneak in six pieces of crack cocaine which weren't discovered until four days after he was booked into the jail. Last year the guards managed to let a 9mm pistol slip by them, and earlier this year, tools for an escape.

Jail officials commented that they did not know how many other cases of smuggling had been discovered since January and would need to do at least eight hours of research to discover if any other drugs had been sneaked past guards in recent months. The jail's interim Director Kim Bogart has ordered an investigation to determine how the drugs were smuggled in.

If you have been accused of a drug crime in Orlando, contact the Rivas Law Firm to schedule an initial consultation with an Orlando criminal defense attorney.  We can help you determine the best course of action.

Authorities in the Bahamas have charged two tourists from Florida with the murder of a Jamaican man. The man who was killed, Clive Tomlinson was fatally shot early on Wednesday in Bimini. Authorities believe that Tomlinson was killed as part of a drug deal gone wrong.

The two men charged with the murder are 27-year-old Daniel Andres Ayo and 39-year-old Luis Mendez. A third man, 43-year-old Florida man Jorge Luis Paez was also allegedly a part of the incident, but was not charged in the murder. Paez was, however, charged with drug possession and weapons charges. Police say that the three men were carrying 1.6 ounces of marijuana at the time of the incident with the intent to sell.

None of the men entered a plea during their initial hearing, and their attorneys declined to comment.

If you have been charged with a serious criminal offense, you are entitled to a lawyer who will protect your rights. Contact the Rivas Law Group to consult with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer to discuss your options if you have been charged with a crime, such as murder.

A pregnant woman was arrested by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) for ingesting drugs while pregnant. Ms. Esoche, along with four other suspects, tried to smuggle cocaine while on a flight to Rome. According to Hamza Umar, the airport commander, it was his view that the suspect had no respect for the dignity of her child.

Ms. Esohe communicated to officials  that she had been rejected by the man who impregnated her. She claimed she needed to fend for herself in order to survive. She agreed to smuggle the drugs on the promise of 2,000 Euros, claiming that she needed the money to take care of herself and her unborn baby.

Arrested for Drug Smuggling? Contact the Rivas Law Firm for Help!

If you have been charged with a drug crime, you need to contact a knowledgeable attorney immediately. An  Orlando drug crimes defense attorney at our firm can provide you with the defense you need against your serious drug charges. To learn more about the ways we can help you with your case, please contact the firm today by calling 888-249-1206.

Both the state of Florida and the Federal Government have laws regarding the unlawful use, distribution, possession or production of specific kinds of drugs. The laws are designed to reduce the illegal use of drugs and curb drug related crimes. This includes drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, and marijuana.

Drugs are categorized into what are called schedules, of which there are five. Schedule one drugs are the highest in category and are the most potent based on susceptibility to becoming dependent on them and do not have an acknowledged medical use. Schedule five would be the least potent with the least likelihood for dependency. The penalties connected with schedule one drugs are far more severe than the penalties for a drug crime involving a substance in a lower schedule.

Police have arrested a mother and her two teenage sons in Palm Bay after it was discovered they were growing marijuana in their home.

Inside one of the teenager's bedrooms were nine small marijuana plants, in addition to marijuana paraphernalia such as scales and baggies.

Apparently the police had been investigating the two teens while undercover for months, and that their mother, 42-year-old June Kellner, was rarely around or at home.

Both teens have been charged for their involvement, however the younger teen, 14-year-old Benjamin Kellner, faces felony charges for growing the marijuana and selling it at school.

Facing Drug Charges in Orlando?

If you have been arrested for your involvement in a drug crime, it's important to speak with an experienced defense attorney right away. Drug charges, especially felony drug charges like marijuana cultivation, carry heavy penalties upon conviction, such as imprisonment, steep fines, probation or parole, mandatory drug treatment, license suspension, and more.

At the Rivas Law Firm, an Orlando criminal defense lawyer will see to it that you are provided with the aggressive defense you need against your charges. Whether this is your first drug crimes arrest, or you have been convicted of a drug offense the past, you can rest assured we will make every possible effort to help you secure a favorable case outcome.

Contact our firm today if you'd like to discuss your case with a knowledgeable drug crimes defense lawyer.

Police recently arrested seven students at Sanford Middle School for their alleged involvement in a drug ring.

The alleged ring leader is 13-year-old Onyx Mast. Police say Mast sold marijuana, cocaine, and prescription pills to his classmates, and was able to get the drugs on campus by hiding them inside peppermint tins.

In addition to Mast, six other students have also been arrested. These students are believed to be Mast's customers, and ironically had a hand in their own arrest. One student apparently told a school official that Mast put something in his backpack, and then one by one the students started ratting each other out. Eventually Mast and the other students showed school officials their drug stash and all were consequently arrested.

Mast is now facing felony drug charges. The other six students have been charged with misdemeanors, but all stand to be expelled from school for their involvement.

Has Your Son or Daughter Been Charged with a Crime?

If your son or daughter is facing criminal charges, it's important to speak with an attorney who has experience in the Florida juvenile court system. The court process and criminal penalties are different for minors. For example, if Mast is found guilty of the charges, he could be ordered to state custody until he's 19. If he were an adult, he would be facing years in state prison, in addition to other penalties.

At the Rivas Law Firm, we have a great deal of experience in all areas of criminal defense, including juvenile criminal law. If your son or daughter has been arrested for a crime, you can trust an Orlando juvenile defense attorney at our office to protect his or her rights and work hard to secure the best possible case result. We know the toll a criminal conviction can take on your son or daughter's life, and are prepared to do everything we can help your child win their case  to avoid a potentially life-changing conviction.

To arrange a consultation to discuss your child's charges with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer at our office, contact the Rivas Law Firm today at (888) 249-1206!