The Umansky Law Firm

A 28-year-old manager of an Orange County UPS store was arrested and charged with grand theft. Investigators allege the manager has stolen over $8000 worth of gift cards and money orders since February 2009. He was arrested this week as customers and others looked on and led away denying he was a thief.

A criminal history report allegedly shows the man uses six different aliases and has arrests dating back to 1996. He has been labeled a "serious or habitual juvenile offender" for those arrests. He also has a grand theft conviction stemming back to 2002. He pleaded guilty and was convicted of aggravated stalking of a minor under the age of 16.

According to investigators, video surveillance shows the man using gift cards in various locations, and cashing out money orders at a bank using his own name. The investigation came about when a customer contacted police about missing money orders he had sent to Puerto Rico. The customer said he sent the money orders through the UPS store where the accused works.

After looking into where the missing money orders were cashed, the customer found out the name used. When he called the UPS store, he discovered the man he was speaking with was the alleged thief.

It is unclear if there was a background check performed on the alleged thief because each UPS store franchise owner must enforce the company policy on their own.

The Sheriff's Office is currently working on four cases involving this individual and it is believed he will be charged with further crimes.

If you or a family member has been charged with theft in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial and confidential consultation.

Brevard County police allege thousands of dollars worth of Turbo Tax software has been stolen from Target stores in several towns. The alleged thieves hit stores in Merritt Island, Melbourne Village, Titusville, and Viera.

Police have video surveillance of the suspected thieves and two vehicles that may be linked to this group. There are six people that may be involved in the Turbo Tax theft, but there have been no arrests.

Turbo Tax is a popular software people can use to file their taxes from home. Police are concerned the software that was taken from the Target stores may wind up on the black market, or flea markets and garage sales. They also speculate that the thieves may be collecting the software for people who are going to file illegal tax returns in order to get refunds.

Shoplifting is a crime that costs retailers millions of dollars a year. Tax fraud, while not as widespread as shoplifting, is a serious crime that can keep you in prison for years. Shoplifters may find themselves charged with a misdemeanor if the stolen goods are under $300. If they are over $300, the charge is grand theft felony. In either case, you can find yourself unemployed, your driver's license suspended, and publicly shamed.

For a vigorous defense of these charges in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm.

By now everyone knows that college students flock to warm beaches for Spring Break. This year has been no different. The beaches and bars of Florida fill up with young people letting off steam and shaking off winter in a time-honored rite of passage. Unfortunately, just like every year, there will be some who take the partying too far and do things they will later regret.

It's easy to get caught up in the moment with people your own age in a place that seems full of like-minded people. However, when the drinking turns to charges of public intoxication or driving under the influence, getting caught up in the moment can ruin the plans you have developed for after you graduate.

Going through the Florida criminal justice system as a first time offender can be a frightening experience. If you are from out of state, all you want to do is get back home. Florida is full of tourists and out of state college students this week who are here for a good time. If this good time turns into a run-in with law enforcement, you need to know that there are local attorneys who can help you.

Having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side is one of the best things you can do for yourself if you have been charged with a crime during Spring Break. The attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm understand what you are going through and will work hard to help you through this time.

A first time offender has a much better chance of having charges dropped and his or her record expunged. The Umansky Law Firm can help make this happen.

If you have been charged with a crime while on Spring Break in Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm. We serve Orange County and Orlando, Florida, as well as the rest of the state of Florida.

A Tyler, Texas man will have to spend the rest of his life in prison for possession of just over a quarter pound of pot. A jury convicted him and he was sentenced to 35 years, but the Smith County prosecutor in the case wanted a sentence of 99 years.

According to the report, someone tipped off police to the smell of marijuana coming from a vehicle. He was found with marijuana and a digital scale within a thousand feet of a day care center. The local newspaper noted that the man was convicted of two felonies in the '80s and was accused of possession of marijuana in a drug free zone in 2008.

Some in the local media are astounded at the sentencing. A Houston Press blog said, "We just hope Texas Department of Criminal Justice can free up room for this menace to society; maybe the state can release a child molester or serial arsonist to find a cell for [the accused]."

It has also been noted that the 35-year sentence is identical to that of another man convicted in Del Rio, Texas. However, that man was involved in a multimillion dollar marijuana smuggling ring, and had transported 24 tons of pot into the United States.

Though the convicted had two prior felonies and was within a drug free zone when he was caught, a 35 year sentence seems excessive. It is unclear how the man was defended, as well as why the jury gave him such a long sentence. It isn't as if he murdered anyone.

We encourage anyone who has been charged with drug possession to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney to learn your legal options, and to avoid long prison sentences.

If you are in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, please contact the experienced drug offense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial consultation. We serve clients across the state of Florida.

A California state senator and family values legislator was arrested March 3 for driving under the influence in Sacramento. California Highway Patrol pulled over the senator after spotting him weaving down the road in his state-issued vehicle. He was allegedly leaving a gay nightclub with an unidentified male passenger, and was stopped at 13^th and L St.

The senator allegedly identified himself when approached by a law enforcement officer. The father of four was then arrested and charged with driving under the influence, and driving with a blood alcohol level higher than .08. He was released after posting a $1400 bond.

After being released, the senator issued a statement that stated his apologies and his acceptance of responsibility.

It goes without saying that if you are famous, or at least well-known, and get into trouble with the law, your name is going to be in the news. If you're a senator and you get into trouble, your name will be known beyond the state where you are from.

Though politicians and sports stars frequently must go before the public and apologize, most people do not have this luxury. We make mistakes that our friends and family know about, and maybe this is for the best. If you are charged with a DUI, you don't necessarily want this fact broadcast to the nation. At the Umansky Law Firm, we offer a confidential consultation so that your name is kept out of the public sphere.

If you have been charged with DUI in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm. We serve clients across the great state of Florida.

The ex-boyfriend of an Orange County sheriff's deputy accuses the man of domestic violence. The accuser said in a petition for a temporary domestic violence injunction that the deputy lived with the man for four years. During that time, he was allegedly beaten by the deputy in 2008 and forced to clean up his own blood at gun point.

The man said the fights he and the deputy had were usually sparked by the deputy's alleged "anonymous sexual encounters and online conversations in gay chat rooms."

The deputy was already disciplined for sex acts with another man while working off-duty security at a hotel. In 2001, the deputy was served with a temporary domestic violence injunction by his ex-wife. She alleged there was physical violence during their five year relationship.

In 2002, the officer was disciplined by investigators for "unbecoming conduct" after his ex-wife reported the deputy had moved $500 of her money into his own account. For that incident, the deputy had 40 hours taken from his pay and he was placed on a one-year disciplinary probation.

For the off-duty security situation, he was docked 150 hours of pay and placed on a one-year disciplinary probation.

If you have been charged with domestic violence in Orange County or Orlando, Florida, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial and confidential consultation.

A large drug ring allegedly operating from Central Florida to New York was reportedly broken up by investigators for the Lake County Sheriff's Office last week. Law enforcement officers say the ring spread from Eustis to New York. Detectives claim they served six search warrants in two days and arrested 12 suspects. They expect more individuals will be arrested in relation to this drug ring.

Police reportedly seized over a kilo of cocaine, with a street value of $35,000 and about a dozen guns. The Lake Sheriff's spokesman said this is only a fraction of the drugs tied to this group of individuals.

These 12 people were charged with various complaints ranging from trafficking cocaine, operating a criminal enterprise, and conspiracy to traffic and purchase cocaine. The alleged ring leaders, both men in their 30s, were arrested and charged. They are alleged to have distributed marijuana, cocaine, and crack cocaine throughout Central Florida and New York City.

The five month investigation reportedly involved agencies and police departments from Clermont, Eustis, Lady Lake, Mount Dora and Tavares.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug offense in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial free and confidential consultation.