Posted on September 1st, 2010
Last week, 42-year old Roberto Settineri, an alleged mobster, plead guilty to helping try to cover up Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein’s $1.2 billion fraud. Earlier this year, Rothstein also plead guilty in a federal court in Fort Lauderdale where he was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Settineri admitted to “engaging in financial transactions to aid the destruction of documents tied to the scheme”. Prosecutors and Settineri were able to come to a plea bargain which leaves him only facing a maximum of four years in prison. Settineri and his lawyers argued that Rothstein had set him up and that he had not intended to commit a crime.
If you or someone you know has been charged with fraud, contact the Boca Raton theft & fraud lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on August 11th, 2010
47-year old former Venice Elementary School teacher Diana O’Neill was charged with abusing mentally disabled students in 2008 but was acquitted after trial. Parents and support staff say they either witnessed or heard reports of her hitting profoundly mentally disabled children in the school’s special education department over the head with water bottles, kicking a student, and pulling on another student’s lip.
Now, despite being sanctioned by the court, O’Neill will be keeping her teaching certificate and returning to teaching. In a settlement with Florida’s state education department, O’Neill will serve two years of probation, pay $500, and receive a letter of reprimand. In exchange, O’Neill will be able to return to the classroom, but will be prohibited from working with students with communication disorders.
The Superintendent of the district has stated that O’Neill will not be returning to Venice Elementary School.
If you or someone you know has been charged with battery, contact the Boca Raton assault & battery lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on July 8th, 2010
50-year old Avery Shawn Hinds was arrested on charges of driving under the influence with serious bodily injury and hit-and run. At the time of the accident, Hind’s driver’s license had been suspended twelve times and he was driving with an indefinitely suspended license. He was booked in the Palm Beach County jail on Sunday with a $6,000 bond.
Police reports say that Hinds was driving his 1998 Ford Mustang when he first hit a Chevrolet Malibu and fled onto Yamato Road. The driver of the Malibu followed him and in his attempts to flee Hinds rear-ended a 1994 Toyota Celica driven by Linda Gandav. Gandav suffered bleeding on the brain after the accident. Hinds was taken to West Boca Medical Center for minor face injuries where police officials say he showed signs of being drunk.
Blood test results revealed Hind’s blood alcohol content to be at .172 and .173 after the accident. The legal limit for BAC in Florida is .08.
After the accident, Hinds stated, “It was road rage. I was being chased by somebody else … The next thing I know I ran into this lady taking a turn … I’m sorry. That’s all I can say. It wasn’t done intentionally”.
If you or someone you know has been charged with driving under the influence, contact the Boca Raton DUI lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on July 6th, 2010
The Palm Beach County police are on a search for two men involved in an attempted robbery at a Wendy’s restaurant on Yamato Road.
According to police officials, three Wendy’s employees were leaving when two armed men dressed in dark clothing and masks approached them. The employees said the men then stole their wallets and phones and made them go back inside the restaurant. The men ordered the employees to open the safe but became impatient and pulled on the safe’s handle, setting off an alarm.
The men escaped in a silver or gray SUV.
If you or someone you know has been charged with theft, contact the Boca Raton theft and fraud lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on July 2nd, 2010
South Daytona police announced their plans to increase efforts over the Fourth of July weekend, starting this evening. Officials say they will place a DUI checkpoint between the 1700 and 1800 blocks of South Palmetto Ave. between 6 and 10 PM.
Lt. Ron Wright stated, “You catch more drunk drivers when you’re looking for them, but this is more effective for education. We want to remind people not to drink and drive”.
The Florida Highway Patrol also announced plans to step up statewide traffic enforcement with focus on driving under the influence and speeding.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI, contact the Boca Raton DUI defense lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on June 29th, 2010
A man from Deerfield Beach, Florida was arrested earlier this month by the Boca Raton police for a burglary from last October 2009.
Adam Flemming was suspected of the burglary but wasn’t able to be arrested until DNA evidence was secured. Flemming left blood in four different locations in the house he burgled. The evidence was sent to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office forensic unit for DNA analysis. It wasn’t until June 6th that the Boca Raton police heard confirmation that the DNA evidence matched their suspect.
Boca Raton police officer Sandra Boonenberg stated, “They’ve become more careful with all the CSI shows and stuff like that. Sometimes we get lucky”.
Flemming was arrested on charges of grant theft and burglary to an unoccupied dwelling.
If you or someone you know has been charged with theft, contact the Boca Raton theft and fraud lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on June 18th, 2010
An actor from the HBO hit TV series, the Sopranos, has been arrested for drunken driving charges.
Jail records show that the 51-year-old was arrested early Friday morning. The officer who pulled him over said that you could smell alcohol on the actor and he had bloodshot, watery eyes and he was slurring his speech.
After he blew into the Breathalyzer, he reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .111. He is expected to be released from jail later in the evening on a $500 bond.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a serious crime such as a DWI, contact the Boca Raton DUI lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. by calling 561-353-2800.
Posted on June 8th, 2010
The Boca Raton police are on a search for a man involved in a strong arm robbery that occurred this past Tuesday afternoon.
The suspect robbed a woman after she exited the passenger side of her husband’s car in a parking lot at 650 West Glades Road, sneaking up from behind and grabbing her purse. The man then ran east across Meadows Road and into a black four-door Honda with tinted windows.
The suspect is described as having worn a white t-shirt, dark pants or shorts, and a black baseball cap.
If you or someone you know have been charged with a crime, contact the Boca Raton theft defense attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on May 13th, 2010
A man from Davenport, Florida has been sentenced to five years in prison following the bust of a local crack house.
According to court documents, Judge John Jarvey sentenced Prentice Spraggins to five years in prison. One of Spraggins’ associates was given a life sentence for crack distribution.
During a search of an apartment in the 500 block of East George Washington Boulevard, several rocks of crack cocaine were found in Spraggins’ pants pockets. The crack weighed 6.8 grams and was packaged for sale, according to police reports.
Spraggins was living in the apartment with Ricky Bernard Randle, who was a known crack dealer in the neighborhood, prosecutors say.
If you have been charged with a crime in Boca Raton, please contact Boca Raton drug crime defense lawyer Eric N. Klein by calling 561-353-2800.
Posted on May 6th, 2010
A 14 year-old girl stole a car from a gas station in Boca Raton Tuesday, while a girl was sitting in it waiting for her father, police say.
According to officials with the Boca Raton Police Department, a man left his 12 year-old daughter in his 2003 Nissan Murano with the engine running and the doors unlocked shortly after 5:00 p.m. Wednesday. As the man went to pay for gas at the Valero gas station in the 1300 block of North Federal Highway, the 14 year-old rushed up to the driver’s side door, opened it and kicked the 12 year-old out. The teen then sped off, police say.
Mark Economou, a spokesman for the Boca Raton police department said there are three things that should not be done at a gas station, “leave the door unlocked, the car running, and a minor unsupervised inside.”
“Even if you have no one in your car you should lock the doors while you’re pumping gas,” Economou said. “There have been several cases of thieves taking things from vehicles while an oblivious car owner is pumping gas.
If you have been charged with a crime in Boca Raton, please contact Boca Raton theft defense attorney Eric N. Klein by calling 561-353-2800.
