Three people face serious theft charges in south Florida
The act of taking someone else’s property is against the law. Here in Orlando, Florida, local residents are familiar with the different types of theft, including burglary, robbery, shoplifting and credit card theft. These criminal offenses can be prosecuted under both state and federal law, depending on the nature of the offense. Misdemeanor offenses, such as petty theft, can incur minor penalties for the accused, but for theft cases that involve a huge sum of money, severe penalties are usually in order.
In Miami-Dade County, Florida, three people were charged with money laundering, grand theft and organized fraud after Miami-Dade Aviation Department’s accountants performed an audit and discovered that an estimated $2 million was missing. According to prosecutors, two of the suspects were handling the money that was being paid by international airlines for flyers who wanted to be booked into the Club America Lounge. However, the suspects allegedly did not deposit the money into the county’s aviation department, instead putting the money into their personal accounts. The suspects allegedly used the money to pay off car loans and massive credit card bills, as well as create college tuition accounts.
Anyone who is accused of grand theft, money laundering and fraud should note that these offenses carry serious penalties. However, crafting a strong criminal defense may help a defendant during a court trial.
Creating a strong criminal defense can be done alone or with the assistance of a knowledgeable legal professional. The defendant and the professional can work together and explore all legal venues. The defense may also negotiate with the prosecution for reduced fines and penalties.
Source: NBC Miami 6, “3 charged in airport money laundering scheme,” Willard Shepard and Alexandra Leon, July 31, 2014
