Fort Lauderdale Theft Lawyer

A stolen-exam scheme was recently reported at the Miami campus of the Florida International University. Two FIU students and one alumnus were arrested. The arrest records allege that the alumnus obtained about five tests by means of accessing a secure email account of a professor and unauthorized entry of a room on campus. Subsequently, the alumnus is accused of organizing a distribution system to sell the tests at $150 each. The two students were supposedly part of the distribution system, and at least one of them is alleged to have collected money from the sales. The initial investigation indicated the breach of security involved exams from a single class in one semester. While each of these persons may face criminal penalties, significant questions must be answered before any of their cases may be resolved.

At the Miami theft criminal defense law firm of Kenneth P. Hassett, you will find a Miami Theft Lawyer or Fort Lauderdale Theft Lawyer to assist with the answers in a criminal theft case and defend you through the criminal theft proceedings. Florida theft and larceny laws require the State Attorney to prove beyond a reasonable doubt a number of elements of the crimes charged. These elements may include acquisition by trespass, deprivation of possession, and criminal intent. A Miami Theft Lawyer at our law firm may assist you to understand how these elements apply in your case. For example, for the test theft reported, our firm’s Miami Theft Lawyer may advise how the value of the exams taken will affect the grade of the criminal offense and what it will mean if the entire scheme is determined to be a single course of conduct as opposed to a separate offense for each exam stolen. When a defendant faces the technicalities of a Florida criminal theft proceeding, the assistance of our firm’s Fort Lauderdale Theft Lawyer should be sought to protect and preserve the defendant’s rights. The laws are intricate and can serve to keep a defendant from being unfairly punished. A criminal conviction and record has short-term and long-term consequences. If you have been, or if you know someone who has been, in a similar legal situation, contact the law firm of Miami Criminal Defense Attorney Kenneth P. Hassett.