Lee County

Published on: November 20, 2013

Lee County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Two Men Arrested for Selling Synthetic Marijuana at Convenience Stores in Fort Myers

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two Fort Myers men were arrested at the end of last month and charged with selling synthetic marijuana at two convenience stores.

One of the men, 18, was charged with four counts of sale and possession of a synthetic narcotic after Fort Myers police claim he sold the illegal substance, commonly referred to as “spice,” to an undercover agent at a Sunoco convenience store.

The other man, 47, faces one count of sale and possession of a synthetic narcotic for allegedly selling to an undercover agent at the Super Stop Food Store. Police believe the man is in the country on an expired work visa. According to reports, a hold has been placed pending a federal hearing.

Police said they are looking for another suspect from another store that has yet to be arrested.

The arrest of these men follows an undercover sting that took place in early October that resulted in the seizure of more than $1 million in synthetic marijuana from stores across Lee County. That undercover drug bust led to the arrest of several store clerks.

The state of Florida has made the sale and use of synthetic marijuana products illegal for several reasons. While the ingredients found in synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or Spice, are not made from actual cannabis leaves, these substances are used to produce the same effects as using marijuana. It can cause many of the same symptoms, but if used for a prolonged period of time, this drug can also cause acute psychosis. Other dangers associated with using this drug include an intensified likelihood of developing a chronic psychotic disorder.

Published on: November 12, 2013

Lee and Charlotte County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Five Arrested in SWFL Clinic Fraud Sweep

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Five people working at clinics in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte were arrested after police concluded an investigation into alleged false personal injury claims at these facilities.

The arrests included clinic owners, massage therapists and chiropractors who have been charged with patient brokering and solicitation in support of what police call a large school personal injury protection fraud ring.

The investigation was conducted by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division in partnership with Nationwide Insurance Company. It was apparently discovered that employees at rehab centers in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte were advising patients to sign documents for rehabilitation services for injuries that occurred during auto accidents.

The clinics are accused of billing insurance companies for treatments that apparently never occurred. The investigation allegedly uncovered that the Port Charlotte facility was operating without the proper license.

A 31-year-old receptionist, a 52-year-old massage therapist, a 51-year-old facilitator, a 51-year-odl clinic owner and a 63-year-old chiropractor were all taken into custody.

The department’s investigation was also led by the Lee and Charlotte County Sheriff’s offices. The suspects were booked into either the Charlotte County Jail or the Lee County Jail.

According to police, the suspects are awaiting bond. If convicted, they each face up to five years in prison.

There are many different types of insurance fraud or insurance crimes that a persona can be accused of. Essentially, insurance fraud is the crime of providing false information to an insurance company about a claim so that the company will agree to cover any costs related to losses or damages.

Published on: October 9, 2013

Collier & Lee County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Southwest Florida Couple Arrested for Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A joint investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Ft. Myers Regional Operations Center and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in August resulted in the arrest of a Collier County Corrections Corporal and his wife on numerous charges of prescription drug offenses.

Agents arrested the 44-year-old Fort Myers woman on 23 counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud and two counts of principal in the first degree for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Her husband, a 29-year-old Correctional Corporal for the
Collier County Sheriff’s Office was arrested on two counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud and two counts of principal in the first degree for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.

The investigation apparently began in January 2012 after the FDLE received information from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office that the alleged suspects were fraudulently obtaining numerous controlled substances at pharmacies in Lee and Collier counties.

Police claim that the woman fraudulently called in prescriptions and/or refills for Xanax, Vicodin and Ambien into various pharmacies for herself and her husband while she was employed at Advanced Medical Center in Naples.

The woman was booked into the Lee County Jail while her husband was booked into the Collier County Jail.

Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud is a third-degree felony in Florida. Fraudulently obtaining medical prescriptions can carry very serious consequences, including multiple years in prison. In order to prove this crime, prosecutors in the state of Florida must prove that the controlled substances were obtained through misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

There are many ways to fraudulently obtain medical prescriptions, some of which include:

• Falsifying Prescriptions
• Altering Prescriptions
• Counterfeiting Prescriptions
• Impersonating a Doctor
• Stealing Blank Prescription Pads
• Using One Prescription to Obtain Multiple Refills
• Visiting Multiple Doctors for Medical Prescriptions, also known as “Doctor Shopping”

Published on: July 23, 2008

Make a Wish: Bonita Man Charged with Theft for allegedly Stealing 42 cents from Mall Fountain

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Times are tough for a Bonita Springs man charged with the theft of 42 cents from a mall fountain on Monday. Tampabays10.com reports that Laslo Mujzer was approached by mall security at Coastland Center after a mall patron allegedly saw him stealing money from a fountain outside the mall. A sign posted near the fountain indicated that all coins thrown in the fountain are donated to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County.

After detaining Mujzer and finding change on him, Naples police arrested him for misdemeanor theft— sometimes called petit theft– which subjects Mujzer to up to 60 days in jail and a possible driver’s license suspension. If given the chance, Mujzer would probably like to make a wish on those coins he allegedly took from that fountain to make his legal troubles disappear. Unfortunately it is not that easy–he is currently being detained by authorities for an immigration hold.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a theft offense, contact Criminal Lawyer Whittel & Melton, LLC at 1-866-608-5LAW for information or a consultation.