Recently, the internet has become flooded with questionable deals to make easy money and not long ago, attorney Erika Valcarcel aided a man that fell victim to an unscrupulous offer that left him in serious legal trouble. Apparently, the 42-year-old manufacturing worker made contact with an individual on backpage.com, who purported to be with a legitimate insurance company. The individual offered to send the man a rebate check that he would need to cash on behalf of the company, keeping a portion of the funds for himself. The man went to the bank, but instead of receiving the money, he was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony of uttering a forged instrument. This is a check fraud offense, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison. While the man should have had the foresight to know this was not a legitimate transaction, he certainly did not want to serve time in jail or have a conviction for a crime of dishonesty follow him on all his future employment and financial applications. Therefore, he called on Erika Valcarcel, Criminal Defense Lawyer, P.A. for help navigating the situation.
Attorney Valcarcel began working on her client’s case and met with the prosecutor, who initially wanted to pursue the felony conviction and house arrest. During negotiations, Varcarcel argued that her client was duped into acting as a patsy in an internet scam and the other party was much more culpable. The prosecutor eventually agreed with her argument and acquiesced to permit her client’s enrollment in the Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI), which allows for a dismissal of the charges after completing some community service. In the end, the client was pleased to learn a life lesson, rather than paying for a lapse in judgment with time in jail or a looming check fraud conviction.
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"Erika Valcarcel, Criminal Defense Lawyer, P.A. is the best you will find. Erika Valcarcel is completely honest and straightforward. She took a huge burden off my shoulders many times during difficult periods of my life knowing that she was doing everything that that could and should be done. Her knowledge is extensive and her advice has always been right on the mark. She is worth every penny of the fee she charges. You cannot go wrong securing her services."
Joni A. | Sarasota County
Domestic Violence Charges Dismissed in 10 Days
When a client was arrested for battery after an altercation with his girlfriend, he immediately contacted attorney Erika Valcarcel. The client was adamant that the entire situation was a misunderstanding, but nevertheless he was looking at a domestic violence conviction and potentially up to a year in jail. We acted fast on his behalf and discussed the situation with the State attorney’s office. We informed the prosecutor that our client's girlfriend did not want to proceed and highlighted the weaknesses in their case. Once they were aware of these developments, we successfully arranged to have the charges dismissed. This was all before our client's first court date and impressively all done within 10 days of the initial arrest.
