Latoria Pickett, 28, of Orlando was arrested on felony charges of conspiracy to commit organized fraud and fraudulently using personal-identification information and was being held in the Orange County Jail on $50,000 bond.
Pickett, who worked as a customer service repreentative for a company (Affiliated Copmuter Services) that processes payments for E-PASS was arrested on February 3, 2010, after allegations that she photocopied customer checks and sold them to people who stole money from their accounts. According to a spokeswoman for the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, about three dozen customers were victimized. Pickett was fired shortly after the allegations came to light.
The investigation began in September 2008 when the Orange County Sheriffs Office conducted a traffic stop and found copies of Expressway Authority customer checks on a woman named Tonya Wells, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said. Wells and several others were arrested that year on charges of cashing counterfeit checks throughout Florida. Investigators found dozens of checks, drivers licenses and bank-account numbers for people who were not E-PASS customers, they said.
The Expressway Authority and ACS hired auditors and changed procedures to make sure a similar scheme could not happen again. Hodges would not be more specific.
If you have been arrested or charged with Fraud or Theft in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Orlando Police departments are warning people to be on the lookout for a scam group that has recently arrived in the city. Law enforcement officials say that gangs are moving into the area and are preying on people using a 3-card Monte game. Among the areas hit by these indivicuals are Daytona during Bike Week and the Daytona 500 along with Orange County tourist areas.
In 3-card Monte, a dealer shows the audience a card, shifts that card with two others and asks someone in the audience to guess which card was shown. One person in the audience is in on the game and works with the dealer to convince others to bet large amounts – and lose them.
The scam group’s members also have been known to rob participants as they play the game. The men, who all are related by blood, marriage or long-term association, often travel in minivans registered from Ohio and Kentucky. One Marion County man already has reportedly already has been robbed of a $2,600 and a valuable ring while playing the game at a gas station, according to the Marion sheriff’s office.
If you have been arrested or charged with a Fraud or Theft in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Seminole County circuit courts are starting a new drug court program. It is grant funded and under the terms of the grant, it is for first time felony drug offenders only. Therefore the primary charge must be for a felony drug offense and that must be the first felony of any type. There must be no evidence of sale. Minimal prior misdemeanors are allowed but will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Participants must live in Seminole County to qualify. Unlike other diversion cases,these cases can be referred from the trial division.
This is not a free program and will likely be on a sliding scale. Other requirements include: some community service, cost of prosecution, drug court fees and charges for the program requirements. Funding will cover some costs for indigent clients. Prior to final acceptance the defendant must have a TASC (drug) evaluation that finds them suitable for the program, however, TASC will not accept any appointments until previously approved by the program director. Evaluations from other sources are not acceptable. If the evaluation says they need more extensive treatment than provided for in this program they can opt in to the normal drug court program. DUI counts will need to be resolved with the trial division prior to entry into the program.
Due to record keeping requirements there will be a referral form required to submit future case for drug court (both programs).
If you have been arrested or charged with a Drug crime in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, or if you have had your driver license suspended for a Drug conviction, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Our client was arrested in Orange County on a charge of DUI. The arresting Officer indicated in his report that our client was driving on the wrong side of the roadway. The officer followed our client and viewed a driving pattern that included weaving and failing to keep her car in her lane. A traffic stop was conducted and the officer indicated he smelled alcohol on our client’s breath. Following the field sobriety tests, our client was arrested for DUI and ultimately refused the breath test.
Our client is in college studying gireign relations politics hoping for a career out of the country in politics with the U.S. government. It was required that the DUI charge be reduced or dismissed in order for her to both continue her education and then persue her career in international politics.
After our firm made a demand for evidence, it was discovered that there may be some questionable actions by law enforcement. Pre trial motions were filed and negotiations began with the State Attorney. During this process, the State Attorney agreed to reduce the charge to a non DUI offense.
If you have been arrested or charged with a DUI in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, or if you have had your driver license suspended for a DUI, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
