In 2016, the Supreme Court of the United States, in Hurst v. Florida, held that Florida’s death penalty sentencing scheme violated one’s Sixth Amendment right because a jury must find the aggravating factors necessary for imposing a death sentence as opposed to solely...
Law Offices of Paul D. Petruzzi PA
Florida Death Penalty Unconstitutional Again! What Now?
Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court struck down the state’s death penalty law because the law didn’t require jurors to be unanimous (i.e., 12 out of 12 jurors ) when imposing the punishment. State legislators had rushed to fix the law earlier this year after...
Rescheduling of Marijuana
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has recently announced that it will consider rescheduling Marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II drug. As it is currently scheduled, it has no acceptable medical use and a high potential for abuse. In fact, it is...
Former DEA Agent Sentenced in Relation to Silk Road Investigation
In another startling development on a case involving one of our clients, a former DEA agent who participated in the investigation and prosecution of persons involved with Silk Road, the notorious online market place for drugs, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for...
Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act of 2015
Congress is finally moving forward with long-awaited federal sentencing reform. While it will probably not be as comprehensive as we want it to be, it will still be very significant. Many mandatory minimum sentences will be reduced or eliminated and it will give...
The China Pipeline
Today’s international drug importation cases are very different from the importation cases of years past. Traditionally, multi-kilogram drug importation cases involved smuggling narcotics in shipping containers on commercial airlines, by cargo vessel, or overland by...
Inmate charged with 1st Degree Murder
Another sad story of Florida law enforcement not protecting an inmate entrusted to their care. In this case, Javier Medina, a 44 year old inmate at the Polk County Jail was charged with first degree murder after his cellmate was found nearly dead. Of course Polk...
New Policies for Corporate Employees
The Department of Justice and Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced new policies to federal prosecutors nationwide that prioritizes the prosecution of corrupt corporate employees, managers and executives and puts pressure on corporations to turn over evidence...
Raw Deal Inc. Sentenced to 40 Months
The sale of falsely labeled food, drugs, or cosmetics is a serious federal crime. Barry Steinlight, owner and president of Raw Deal Inc., was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment for the sale of mislabeled ingredients. By pleading guilty, Steinlight admitted that...
Lawrence Foster convicted of fraud
Wire fraud can be a serious federal crime. Lawrence Foster, a Miami Beach resident, was convicted on all counts following a jury trial for his role in defrauding over 100 investors of over $8 million dollars. Foster fraudulently promised investors that his company,...
