South Florida Criminal Attorneys Blog

21-Year-Old Involved in Two Broward County Bank Robberies Surrenders

August 25, 2019 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

Bank robbery has been a federal crime in the United States since 1934. This includes National banks, state member banks, savings and loans, credit unions, armored cars and related institutions that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC).

It was in the 1930’s when the John Dillinger gang also known as The Terror Gang caught the country’s attention wreaking havoc with their daring robberies of twenty-four banks. Since that era the FBI has become the leader of all investigations relating to any assault on the Federal Reserve System.

Dillinger became a folk hero to some when the press ran embellished accounts of his swagger and flamboyant personality, equating him to a then day Tony Soprano figure.

Newly Appointed Gregory Tony Cleaning up Broward Sheriff’s Office

July 27, 2019 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

Recently appointed Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony has been working tirelessly to change what has been charged as an existing culture of unnecessary violence that has recently gripped his department.

The department has been heavily criticized going back to the Parkland shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Tony who was a previously retired Coral Springs police sergeant was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in January replacing then Sheriff Scott Israel.

Cutting Edge DNA Website Limited by User Backlash

June 30, 2019 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

At the end of last November, an article was posted on this blog that related to the use of genealogy websites by police to find and catch criminals utilizing DNA submitted by users, many from cold cases that were at one time considered unsolvable.

The article told the story of the arrest of Benjamin Lee Holmes who allegedly murdered a University of Central Florida student named Christine Franke in October, 2001.

The case had gone cold for close to eighteen years.

Pompano Beach Woman Arrested for Supplying Illegal Prescriptions

May 25, 2019 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

Michael B. Cohen, Esq is a Criminal Defense Attorney specializing in federal crimes as well as the defense of state charges such as drug cases, fraud, and all associated criminal matters. He maintains two offices in South Florida and a separate office located in the New York Metropolitan area.

You can follow his twitter feed to read similar diversified blog posts. His South Florida website can be found at https://www.southflalaw.com and his New York City site can be accessed at: http://www.nyfederalattorney.com

Many experts have stated that the current opioid crisis that has galloped rapidly throughout the United States can be attributed to pharmaceutical companies convincing the medical populace as a whole, that patients would not develop an addiction to the opioid pain relievers they manufactured. This resulted in what many believe is the starting point when healthcare providers began to prescribe them at higher rates.

Threatening Political Voicemails Leads to Arrests

April 21, 2019 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

Our country is divided; with our politics reaching a level of intense polarization which most likely hasn’t been seen since the American Civil War.

One day after the release of the Mueller report, that’s primary focus was to deliberate on Russia’s seemingly successful interference of the 2016 presidential election; and if any American persons aided and abetted in the process, a South Florida man was arrested for leaving threatening voicemails on multiple Congresspersons’ voicemails.

This article is not political, but will point out how the apparent impenetrable divide in our country has caused certain people to become overly-passionate when it comes to their personal opinions about their political leanings. So much so, they arrive at a point where they believe they need to take action personal action.

Thirty Six Year Old Murder Case Reversed on New DNA Evidence and Confession

March 25, 2019 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

Michael B. Cohen, Esq is a Criminal Defense Attorney specializing in federal crimes as well as the defense of Homicides and all related cases. His offices are located in New York City as well as retaining two offices in South Florida

You can follow his twitter feed to read similar recent blog articles of importance, highlighting cases of interest which occur in the New York Metropolitan area as well as the Dade, Broward, Palm Beach County areas of South Florida.

Ronald Henry Stewart is a rapist. Of that there’s no doubt as he was previously convicted for multiple charges of rape. However, Ronald Henry Stewart is not a murderer. In the summer of 1983 after being charged with the rape/murder of 20-year-old Regina Harrison Stewart he pleaded no contest. A jury subsequently convicted him of all counts of these crimes. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of the young West Palm Beach college student.

Man Found Guilty in Murder of Popular Substitute Boca Raton Teacher

February 28, 2019 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

O’Connor’s Pub and Package Store in the Sandalfoot Plaza, located well west of the city of Boca Raton has been a popular meeting place in that spot for more than a decade. For those who like smoking cigarettes with their drinks it’s a welcome retreat. Monday’s are college night/ladies night with live DJ’s spinning tunes on Friday and Saturday nights. Karaoke is offered every Wednesday and Sunday.

Many regulars will tell you that the food is good, with the kitchen open very late serving reasonably priced drinks making it their favorite local watering hole.

According to a review found on Yelp, it’s “a really popular pub for after party hours for anyone who wasn’t ready to call it quits”. But not all the reviews are so flattering, giving it a total overall 2 ½ star rating.

Two Brothers Charged with Capital Murder after Fort Lauderdale Robbery Homicide

January 25, 2019 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

It was a pleasant South Florida night in December with temperatures hovering in the low seventies when two teenage Fort Lauderdale area brothers allegedly decided to carry out a robbery.

Kobe and Rondrick McLemore are accused of the shooting death of Dwight Higgins Jr. which took place last month at approximately 7:30 in the evening. Higgins was found by police lying on the ground on the outside portion of a fence by the Lauderhill Point Apartment Complex in East Central Fort Lauderdale.

Kobe was taken into custody as he left his home pushing a baby stroller while Rondrick was apprehended shortly after when he was seen by police entering a convenience store not far from the same residence the two men shared at the time of the apprehensions. Rondrick was arrested as he exited the store. They were both taken into custody without further incident earlier this month (January 2019).

Prominent Hillsboro Beach Attorney Convicted on Federal Securities Charges

December 23, 2018 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

After a two-week trial in federal court in the Southern District of Florida a well-known and highly respected South Florida attorney faces decades in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of federal crimes.

James M. Schneider, who is 77 years old, is now awaiting sentencing for the crimes he was convicted of earlier this month which could easily amount to a lifetime in prison due to his age. A U.S. District Judge is set to sentence Schneider on Feb. 14, 2019.

In October, 2017, Schneider was charged with multiple counts of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. At sentencing, he now faces a maximum statutory sentence of twenty-five years for each count of the securities fraud and conspiracy counts, and ten years each for money laundering and the conspiracy to commit money laundering counts, as well as a fine up to $250,000 or double the proceeds of the scheme as to each.

DNA Match from Genealogy Site Leads to Arrest in 2001 Murder of UCF Student

November 25, 2018 | Michael B. Cohen, P.A.

Over the past few decades or so, a vast amount of genealogy Websites have become popular to the public. For a moderate fee, these companies will send you a kit where a person can submit their DNA for testing which is analyzed in their labs.

Most people that use these services are curious about their heritage and want to track their family tree going back generations. But they’ve also become a treasure trove of potential evidence for law enforcement agencies.

The use of a DNA profile, commonly known as a DNA fingerprint has come a long way since its acceptance as a means of identification since it was first introduced into the legal system back in the mid 1980’s.