Three Dead in Five Weeks: BSO's Pursuit Crisis Demands Adults in the Room Ronald Wilson, 74, was driving through an intersection in Tamarac on February 16th with the right-of-way when a BSO K9 deputy — chasing a stolen Jeep — slammed into his truck. He was dead within the hour. Ten days later, Bonnie Bouffard, also 74, pulled onto [...]
What It Really Feels Like to Be Falsely Accused of a Crime You didn't do it. You know you didn't do it. And yet here you are — staring at a criminal charge, a police report with your name on it, or a text message from someone telling you the police are asking questions. The ground underneath you has [...]
Federal Presentence Investigation Reports If you are awaiting sentencing in federal court, one document will shape what happens next more than almost anything else: the federal presentence investigation report, commonly called the "PSR" or "PSI." We have seen this document determine whether someone receives probation or years in federal prison. We have seen it affect security classification, program eligibility, [...]
Federal Supervised Release If you or someone you love is facing federal charges in South Florida, you're probably focused on one question: How much time am I going to serve? But there's another part of a federal sentence that can affect your freedom just as much as prison time — federal supervised release. As federal criminal defense lawyers in [...]
Criminal History and Federal Sentencing If you or someone you love is being prosecuted in federal court, one of the first questions you probably have is: "How much time am I really looking at?" In federal court, the answer often depends heavily on your criminal history. At our Miami criminal defense firm, we regularly represent clients in federal cases [...]
Relevant Conduct in Federal Sentencing If you are facing federal charges in Miami, you might assume your sentence will be based only on the specific offense listed in your indictment. That assumption can cost you years. Under the concept of relevant conduct in federal sentencing, a judge may consider far more than just the conduct underlying the count of [...]
Federal Plea Agreements If you're facing federal criminal charges in South Florida, you're likely overwhelmed. Federal prosecutors do not file cases casually. When the United States government indicts you — whether for drug trafficking, healthcare fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, firearm offenses, or another federal crime — the stakes are extremely high. In many federal cases, the prosecution offers a [...]
Acceptance of Responsibility in Federal Sentencing When you’re facing federal charges in Miami, or anywhere in the Southern District of Florida, one of the most important sentencing questions is whether you qualify for a reduction for Acceptance of Responsibility. Under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, this adjustment can reduce your offense level by up to three levels — and [...]
Role Adjustments in Federal Sentencing When you’re facing federal charges in Miami or anywhere in the Southern District of Florida, one of the first questions you’ll ask is, “What am I realistically looking at?” Your sentencing exposure often turns on the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and few parts of those guidelines matter more than role adjustments. Role adjustments can [...]
Proffer Agreements ("Queen for a Day" Agreements) If you are under investigation for a crime in South Florida, there may come a moment when prosecutors suggest a proffer agreement, sometimes casually referred to as a "Queen for a Day" agreement. On the surface, it can sound like an opportunity—a chance to tell your side of the story without immediate [...]
