Fort Lauderdale Criminal Law Blog

In late September and early October, Lee County authorities arrested 32 people for allegedly taking part in various drug crimes. The crimes reportedly involved opioids and other illicit substances.

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the arrests were the culmination of a two-month investigation called Operation Fall Frenzy. In addition to the arrests, large amounts of illegal drugs were recovered during the operation, including cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine. The investigation is not yet complete. At least 12 other arrest warrants have been issued for individuals accused of dealing drugs in Lee County.

Due to the alleged misconduct of a sheriff's in a neighboring county of Tallahassee, Florida, a number of convicted prisoners have been set free. The purported actions of the officer in question have led to an investigation by both state and county law enforcement agencies. The investigation could lead to the dismissal of current charges against other defendants as well as the release of further prisoners.

The investigation stems from allegations that the deputy 'planted" evidence during traffic stops. The issue began during the review of the officer's body cam footage during a stop. According to those who witnessed the tape, is appears the officer held a small package in his left hand. Later, he claimed to have discovered a similar looking package containing methamphetamines while searching the suspect's vehicle.

Law enforcement agents spent a year gathering evidence against 10 people arrested on charges of distributing heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine in central Florida. According to the director of the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, a 30-year-old man taken into custody was selling large quantities of heroin and fentanyl in Orange County. At the time of his arrest, police claimed that he had 3 kilograms of heroin and a gun in his possession.

The multi-agency drug task force that arrested the man along with nine other people reported that the group of alleged drug traffickers distributed 5 to 6 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl every week. The suspects allegedly hid the drugs in vehicles and drove them to parts of the state. Criminal charges against the people include trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl, conspiracy and weapons violations.

There are more serious crimes than shoplifting, but that doesn't mean you should take an accusation lightly. Depending on what you're accused of stealing, a conviction could result in a variety of hefty consequences, some of which could alter your life forever.

It's important to act in the appropriate manner when confronted about shoplifting, as this can impact your case in the future. Here are a few things you need to do:

• Stay calm and don't say too much: There will be a lot going through your mind, but it's typically better to keep your thoughts to yourself. You don't want to let something slip that will cause more harm than good. Just the same, remain calm and avoid physical confrontation.
• Protect yourself: Security officers and store owners have the legal right to detain you if there is reason to believe you were shoplifting. That said, they must have probable cause. Just the same, they are not permitted to use deadly force or force that can cause injury.
• You can be charged even if you didn't steal something: For example, a shoplifting charge could come about if you were helping another person steal an item. Even if you didn't know about the person's scheme, you could still face charges.
• Remember that mistakes happen: While not always the case, you may be able to explain why it looks like you were shoplifting. For example, maybe you lost track of where you were in the store, thus wandering close to the door with an unpaid item. Explaining this to the store employee may go a long way in clearing the air and allowing you to move on without additional trouble.