Articles Posted in criminal defense

Many people don’t know their license is suspended until an officer tells them. An unpaid ticket in another county, a missed court date, a lapse in insurance, or a child support issue can quietly suspend a Florida license. Then comes a routine stop on Dale Mabry, and suddenly the conversation is about handcuffs instead of…

A theft accusation can feel strangely small and enormous at the same time. Small, because it may have started over a few items at a store in Brandon or a misunderstanding with a roommate. Enormous, because a theft conviction is often treated as a crime of dishonesty, and that label can follow a person into…

In federal court, a person can be charged with a drug conspiracy without ever being caught with drugs. A phone call, a ride to a meeting, a few text messages, or a bank deposit can be enough for prosecutors to say someone was part of the agreement. That is what makes conspiracy charges so powerful…

Most people imagine a drug trafficker as someone moving bricks across state lines. Florida law paints with a much wider brush. In a fentanyl case, the line between a possession charge and a trafficking charge can be crossed with an amount of powder or pills that fits easily in a closed fist. That one line…

Mortgage fraud allegations can come from almost any part of buying, selling, or refinancing a home, from a loan application and supporting paperwork to an appraisal, a closing, or a document filed with the county clerk. These cases are often investigated for months before anyone is charged, and the same facts can lead to charges…

Spring break brings thousands of college students and visitors to Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, and the rest of Tampa Bay. Most trips end with nothing more than a sunburn. But every year, some end with an arrest. If you or a friend or family member was arrested on spring break, the answers below explain…

Bank fraud allegations can come from many situations, such as loan applications, checks, account activity, or pandemic-era relief programs like PPP loans, and they’re often investigated long before anyone is charged. Bank fraud cases are typically federal crimes prosecuted by federal prosecutors, though some related conduct can also be charged in Florida state court. This…

By Attorney Ron Frey · Updated October 12, 2026 US 19, I-275 through St. Petersburg, the Gandy and Howard Frankland approaches, and the roads to the beaches carry heavy traffic every day. For many drivers, a traffic stop is the only time they deal with law enforcement, and what happens at the roadside can lead…

By Attorney Ron Frey · Tampa · Updated October 12, 2026 Dale Mabry, Hillsborough Avenue, I-275 through Westshore, the Selmon, and Bruce B. Downs at rush hour are some of the busiest roads in Tampa Bay. For many drivers, a traffic stop is the only time they deal with law enforcement, and what happens at…

By Attorney Ron Frey · Updated October 12, 2026 A traffic stop is the most common way police start a face-to-face encounter with the public in the United States. For many Florida drivers, a stop is the only time they ever deal with law enforcement. Even so, what happens at the roadside can lead to…