Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Should I Ever Waive Arraignment or Preliminary Hearing?
Perhaps you have been arrested and charged with a crime in federal court, or someone close to you is sitting in federal custody, awaiting a court date. These early days are crucial to the defense of the case. At Bruce L. Udolf, P.A., our clients are represented by a lifelong career federal prosecutor and… Read More »
How to Secure Your Release from Custody Pending Trial in Federal Court
When someone is arrested and charged with crimes in federal court, it is almost always a very serious matter. Federal court is not as relaxed in how it handles deadlines and procedures as some state courts may be. For these reasons, it is imperative to work closely with an attorney who has many years… Read More »
Florida Doctor Acquitted of Federal Steroid Trafficking Charges Loses Medical License
A Stuart, Florida doctor who was previously charged with involvement in a massive steroid trafficking ring has recently had his medical license suspended a second time. The doctor had his medical license reinstated after facing federal charges in 2011 and being acquitted in 2014, and has had it suspended again after continuing to write… Read More »
Federal Computer-Related Crimes under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) began to take shape in the 1980s as computers became more widely used and susceptible to hacking and other criminal activity, and is now widely used in prosecuting federal crimes involving computers, or “cyber crimes”. The CFAA does not cover every type of illegal activity that can… Read More »
Group Hit With COVID-Related Fraud Charges in Florida
Nine Florida natives have been charged in a $24 million COVID-relief scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Three were charged in federal court in Florida, and five were charged in federal court in Ohio. All three of the individuals charged in Florida federal court are… Read More »
Why Florida Should Better Protect Inmates From COVID-19
A female prison inmate at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in South Florida died from COVID-19 on Monday at just 36 years of age. She had asked for “compassionate release” about a month earlier, citing long standing health conditions that could lead to severe complications if she were to catch COVID-19. She was a non-violent… Read More »
Does postponing federal jury trials due to COVID-19 violate the Sixth Amendment?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer. On August 11, 2020, the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued an order postponing federal jury trials until 2021. The COVID-19 crisis has upended many aspects of our lives, and has affected the lives of criminal defendants in particular. Especially for defendants held in… Read More »
Identity Theft Charges In Unemployment Fraud Cases
As we discussed recently, the federal government has brought fraud charges against individuals seeking relief money for businesses in a fraudulent way. We mentioned fraudulent unemployment claims were on the rise as well. Another thing you should know about unemployment fraud is that, like many criminal offenses, it can result in a variety of… Read More »
Bruce Udolf Quoted In USA TODAY – Trump’s Unrestrained Full Partner? Attorney General William Barr Echoes President in Slamming DOJ
Analysis: The attorney general’s attacks sparked backlash from prosecutors, threatening to further tear at the core of the Department of Justice Kevin Johnson Kristine Phillips USA TODAY For much of his presidency, Donald Trump has cast the Justice Department as the enemy within. He has regularly called out federal prosecutors and FBI agents as… Read More »
What Makes a Florida Crime a Federal Offense?
In many criminal cases, when you are arrested and charged with a crime, your case is heard in a Florida state court. What this means is the law that you are accused of breaking is one that is listed under Florida’s statutes and regulations. Every state has its own laws, many of which may… Read More »
