Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Florida Tianeptine Laws
As drug education teachers will enthusiastically remind you, when you buy oxycodone pills on the street, there is no guarantee that the pills contain any oxycodone. Most likely, they are made of cheaper ingredients instead. It could be a stronger and less expensive opioid, such as fentanyl, or it could be a mixture of… Read More »
Guilty But Free On Bond?
The anticipation is the worst part of being a defendant in a criminal case. You are supposed to have a court hearing within three days of your arrest, but those are the longest three days of your life. If you plead not guilty, then every piece of news that reaches you during pretrial discovery… Read More »
Introducing Nexus, Florida’s Newest Club Drug
Sure, Miami has the most glamorous club scene out of anywhere in Florida, but you can find a smorgasbord of drugs even in little towns that no one has ever heard of. In November 2024, undercover police officers communicated with Elijah Barney and discussed buying drugs from him. When they met to conclude the… Read More »
Palm Beach County Woman Asks For Immunity To Testify Against Co-Defendant In Financial Crime
The best-case scenario in a criminal case is if prosecutors agree to drop the charges against you, but they only do that if they become convinced that it is not possible to convict you or if you agree to cooperate with the state in an ongoing criminal case. In the former scenario, it is… Read More »
You Can Get Charged With Sex Trafficking Even If No Money Changes Hands
Whether true crime podcasts or action movies are your preferred form of entertainment, you have experienced the dramatic tension of a story where undercover police communicate with an adult who promises to facilitate a meeting between the undercover officer and a minor for sexual purposes. As soon as the adult’s and the undercover officer’s… Read More »
Does Wealth Determine The Outcome Of Your Criminal Case?
From your perspective, it seems like wealthy people have an easy time in every aspect of life. Their jobs are not physically demanding and offer them enough free time to exercise and to shop for and cook a variety of foods. Because they have health insurance, they do not fear visiting the doctor, whereas… Read More »
Classical Rhetoric Is The Secret Ingredient In A Successful Defense At Trial
Which academic subject can help you avoid criminal penalties? Is it a STEM subject where you can land a tech career that makes you enough money that you are above the law? Probably not. Still, studying math can help you avoid accounting errors that might lead investigators to suspect you of financial crimes, and… Read More »
When Can The Police Require You To Show ID?
The Fourth Amendment protection against illegal search and seizure of property means that, if you are just minding your own business, the police should just leave you alone. The Fifth Amendment protection against coercing into incriminating oneself means that, if police initiate an interaction with you, whether or not they do it for a… Read More »
Does Drug Distribution Become Homicide When Someone Suffers A Fatal Overdose?
One of the most disturbing phone calls someone can get is from a family member announcing that he or she is in police custody and is being accused of drug crimes. Sometimes the family launches into “eye of the hurricane” clarity in the midst of a cyclone of fears and worst-case scenarios. They raise… Read More »
Financial Crime Investigations In The Workplace
Succeeding in business almost always involves stepping on people and taking a lenient approach toward the truth; no one ever said that capitalism was pretty. Despite this, there are times when lying in a business context is against the law. Most of the time, taking the sleaze of sleazy businessmen a little bit too… Read More »