Drug Offenses & Drug Trafficking

August 14, 2009

Largo “Drug Sweep” Nabs 47 People for Street Level Drug Sales

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office finished up a three-month undercover investigation into street level drug sales in and around the Largo area of Pinellas County. Named “Operation Mid-County Clean-Up, this street level investigation focused on the Sale of various Controlled Substances including Marijuana, Cocaine and Prescription Drugs.

For more information, you can check out the original St. Petersburg Times article.

As a general rule, the State of Florida is very tough on drug cases — especially those involving a Trafficking amount of a controlled substance. Florida law calls for “minimum/mandatory” sentences that can last 3, 7, or 25 years. Unlike other criminal sentences that get imposed, if you are sentenced on a Drug Offense to a “minimum/mandatory” sentence, you will complete that sentence “day-for-day,” without the ability to obtain any “good or gain time” or be released early.
Continue reading

August 6, 2009

Tampa Bay Area Prescription Drug Ring Busted

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

In yet another reminder of how out-of-control our Prescription Drug problem is within the Tampa Bay area, the self-professed “King of Hudson” and 18 others have entered guilty pleas in Federal Court to Federal Drug Distribution Charges.

For more information, check out the full St. Petersburg Times article.

Run out of an auto repair shop in Hudson, this Doctor Shopping ring would visit multiple doctors throughout the Tampa Bay area in order to obtain and resell the highly addictive painkiller, Oxycodone.

The Blake & Dorsten, P.A. in Clearwater frequently handles Drug Offenses & Drug Trafficking charges. Many times, these drug offenses have harsh minimum/mandatory prison sentences.If you’ve been arrested for or charged with a Drug Offense or a Drug Trafficking charge, the Blake & Dorsten, P.A. is here to assist you. 365/24/7.
Continue reading

August 5, 2009

Crime Still Climbing in St. Petersburg

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

A recent story in the St. Petersburg Times has indicated that crime is on the rise in the City of St. Petersburg, Florida. According to the latest numbers, Burglary
and Theft Crimes are rapidly increasing.

For the full story, click here:

Police Chief Chuck Harmon has suggested that the rapid rise in crime is due to many factors including the current economic crisis, rising unemployment and home foreclosures.

While Property Crimes like Auto Theft are on the rise, most Crimes of Violence are down this year. Robbery is down 12 percent this year and the number of Homicides have been cut in half.These statistics have lead to a steady increase in business for the Blake & Dorsten, P.A. in Clearwater. Criminal Attorney Nicholas J. Dorsten, of the Blake & Dorsten, P.A., handles all criminal matters arising in the City of St. Petersburg and throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Continue reading

August 3, 2009

St. Petersburg Blockbuster Robbery & Cop Shooting Trial Begins

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

A jury was picked and the Trial has started in one of my all-time favorite cases that I handled while prosecuting in the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office. I can remember the day that one of our local undercover detectives was shot as our Gang Prosecution Unit was already prosecuting several members of St. Petersburg’s “Haines Road Cru.”

What started as a small “neighborhood group” that bullied people around had turned into a small group of dangerous individuals robbing local pharmacies at gunpoint. Initially, each Robbery was done to get as much Oxycodone and Xanax as possible as the street value of those pills had gone through the roof in Pinellas County.

Soon thereafter, this small group, all clad in black with their faces concealed, robbed a Blockbuster Video in St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, at that time, the St. Petersburg Police Department was doing undercover surveillance on this group.Once the undercover units noticed that a Robbery was occuring at the Blockbuster, one of the plain-clothes detectives confronted Velislav Matzov. After the detective identified himself as a law enforcement officer, Matzov fired several shot almost killing the detective.For his part, Matzov was charged with Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer as well as various other Armed Robbery charges. His co-Defendant, Joseph Hollings is set for Trial next week. The driver of the vehicle, Danielle Karlau, has already entered a plea and is expected to be called as a witness. Matzov is facing Life in prison if he is convicted of the most serious charge: the Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer.

For more information on this case, including the initial St. Petersburg Times article and the Bond Hearing that I handled for the State of Florida, check out the St. Pete TImes article “Birthday Gift Blamed for Cop Shooting“.
Continue reading

July 30, 2009

Only in Tampa Bay: Oxycodone Found In 4-Year Old’s Bag of Skittles

by Blake & Dorsten, P.A.

Over the last several years, there has been a tremendous rise in prescription drug abuse throughout the Tampa Bay area. Many of our clients are finding themselves charged with Trafficking in Illegal Drugs (with Oxycodone being the flavor of the month), Doctor Shopping and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud.

However, things are starting to spiral out of control when a 4-year old child at the Tampa International Airport is found to possess a bag of Skittles candy full of Oxycodone pills. Obviously there was some type of mistake as these pills have a “street value” of about $15.00 a pill.Blake & Dorsten, P.A. has handled dozens of Prescription Drug Cases over the last year. Many times, these cases involve very harsh penalties including minimum/mandatory prison sentences. Some would say that our criminal justice system has gone too far with these draconian penalties.

BEWARE: In the State of Florida, you can be charged with Trafficking in Illegal Drugs based on the weight of the drug(s) alone. You do not have to be a “drug dealer” or sell anything to be charged with Trafficking. Simple possession of a bottle of pills, without a legal prescription, can land you in prison for up to 30 years.

For more information, including the original St. Petersburg Times article, click here
Continue reading