Five people were arrested this week following an investigation by the Fl. Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement—an investigation that spanned two years. All five are charged with organized fraud and the illegal acquisition of diesel fuel, or theft.

According to the Florida Times-Union, the group is accused of using fraudulent credit cards to obtain large amounts of diesel fuel. They then stored the fuel and resold it to truck drivers at a discounted rate. Thirty Hess stations were involved, both in Florida and Southeast Georgia.

The group was able to steal large amounts of fuel at every stop because the truck they were using allegedly contained illegal fuel tanks in the bed.

While this story is a bit of an extreme example, it does show that fuel theft can be a serious crime with serious repercussions. If you are accused of filling up on gas and driving away without payment, you could face charges. Even though most urban gas stations require you to pay up front these days, the same isn’t true everywhere.

In most cases, stealing gas is considered “petty theft” simply because of the value. Petty theft can result in up to 6 months in jail and $500 in fines. However, if this isn’t your first theft offense, the charge could be more serious.

Under Florida law, if you are charged with theft on more than two occasions, you can automatically face 3^rd degree felony charges. A 3^rd degree felony carries a potential 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines. It doesn’t matter if you were caught shoplifting or stealing gas—this applies to all theft charges.

The seriousness of your theft charge is directly tied to the value of the goods or services you are accused of taking. Obviously a $2,000 watch will carry a harsher sentence than a $20 tank of gas. Similarly, if you take something valued at more than $100,000, you can face 1^st degree grand theft charges, which carry a potential 30 years in prison.

When you are up against theft charges, whether they are “petty theft” or “grand theft”, you need the assistance of an aggressive defense attorney. Contact me today to discuss the details of your case and to receive a free consultation.

A Lauderdale Lakes Pawn Shop recently reported a burglary. Lucky for police, surveillance cameras captured the whole thing, from the suspect repelling down from the ceiling to loading up the stolen firearms.

The identity of the suspect is still unknown but curious folks can watch him work here at CBS News. The theft occurred at the Peoples Pawn Shop where the suspect made off with three rifles and two shotguns.

The suspect is reported to have cut a hole in the roof and dropped a rope. When he comes into camera range you can see he carries a bag on his back, the bag he later deposits the stolen weapons into.

While officials work to identify and capture the suspect, the nation gets a laugh at his escapade thanks to modern technology and a smart store owner’s decision to install cameras.

Burglary or breaking and entering are far more serious offenses than just theft. This is because the crime involves more than one criminal action. First, you are forcing entry to somewhere where you should not be. Second, you are stealing.

A theft charge, however, involves simply taking control over something you don’t have a right to. This could be shoplifting or it could involve simply walking away from someone’s home with something that doesn’t belong to you.

In theft cases, the charge you face depends on the value of the item that is alleged to have been stolen. The most serious theft charge is called Grand Theft and involves the theft of property valued over $100.000. This is a 1^st degree felony and carries a potential 30 years in prison.

On the other end of the spectrum is 2^nd Degree Petty Theft. This is the least serious of theft crimes and involves something valued at less than $100. If charged and convicted of this offense you face 2^nd degree misdemeanor charges and 60 days in jail.

Whether the case against you involves a fairly minor incident or one that involves a large amount of money, I may be able to help. Contact me immediately to discuss the details of your theft case.

A thief is hitting hospitals and doctor’s offices in Florida, able to slip in and out largely due to her crafty disguise: scrubs.

Police don’t know who she is but according to WFTV in Orlando, she has walked into several medical buildings and stole credit cards directly out of staff member’s purses and wallets.

She then takes her new plastic shopping, picking out toys for children and décor for her home. She has been caught on surveillance making purchases at stores like Walmart, WinnDixie, Target, and Walgreens.

In total, police believe she has hit 4 people and spent over $5,000 in other people’s money. Among the hospitals she has stolen from are Cape Canaveral Hospital, Holmes Regional, and another in Sebastian. The most recent incident is believed to have happened on October 13^th.

When she is caught, she will face several theft charges and fraud for utilizing the credit lines as if they were her own.

Theft crimes aren’t always this elaborate. They could involve shoplifting or taking something from a neighbor without permission. However, there are incidences of theft that are much more detailed than this one as well.

If you are facing theft charges or charges of fraud, the possibility exists that you will do time if convicted. Just how much of a sentence you face is dependent on the circumstances of the offense.

For instance, petty theft offenses are considered misdemeanors and apply where the value of stolen goods and services is less than $300. Misdemeanors, in Florida, will be punishable by less than 1 year in jail.

On the other end of the spectrum, a 1^st degree grand theft charge is the most serious of theft charges and is when the value of stolen property is greater than $100,000. This type of charge can result in up to 30 years in prison.

Whatever kind of theft charges you are facing, I want to help. Contact me today to discuss the details of your case and to see how having an aggressive defense attorney can make all the difference on your day in court.