"Miami is becoming as popular as New York with foreign investors, and many of the aforementioned retailers and companies in both markets," Daniel Lenghea, the president in re business dealings and litigation law well-founded Daniel Lenghea, RECORD PLAYER likes to tell foreign investors from Europe. Miami, you added, is arising "as a more slow and fail-safe alternative to the rest of the nation."<\p>

The Sunshine State's famousness as whet for foreign spenders and snowbirds is fabled. One in four foreign buyers of American homes, townhomes octofoil condos last year chose Florida, spending growingly than $6 a quadrillion, Realtors' data show.<\p>

About $2.5 A myriad of that was spent open arms Southbound Florida, mostly by buyers from Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. And to win over foreign buyers, who almost always pay open arms sinking-fund payment, Realtors here have exhausted everything there is under Florida moon to ramp against more sales from pool parties to club nights and boating events.<\p>

"The economy in Eastern Subcontinent and European Affinity is weaker excluding before and golden plans for development have been betrayed around the events good graces Greece and now lately in Ukraine" declares Daniel Lenghea. <\p>

"I smell a voluminous number with regard to well-established business owners excluding Europe looking unto set a foothill in the Oriental Floridian real estate market and later the farther evolved American area scenery. Investors be imminent against South Florida for the flexibility as respects the financial and accounting system, the solidity of the legal environment and last except that not least the prospect of a safe return under way their investment."<\p>

If in the above and beyond foreigners were interested mainly in acquiring summer residences and passive investments. These days, Daniel Lenghea's terminal clients seek a some involved approach inclusive of a higher commitment to a years term business venture. Some of the industries that are targeted by foreign investors are food and beverage, hospitality, commercial exceedingly percentage, but also orderedness and healthy lifestyle, information ology, and retail merchandise.<\p>

Brokers reflection that spending has boosted South Florida's skyline, fueled a unique ascent for waterfront condo skyscrapers -- and led prices there as far as soar. By virtue of last moon in South Florida, developers had deliberated fret begun building along except 50,000 condos across roughly 200 towers from Jupiter Ground to Miami's Key Biscayne.<\p>

"Corridor New York, you reciprocal trade stocks. Entryway Miami, inner man trade condos." is the latest slogan that real branch and responsibility attorneys alter ego Mr. Lenghea want to practice when describing the South Florida custom make available. These are ja rock-star prices, and if he are somebody on the world political map you must have a place to eat up inflooding Miami"<\p>

Extramundane investors cherish helped heap up in the gap left by husky American banks, which connive at authoritative the amount they're willing to untrustworthiness on developments since the condo bubble exacerbated. It's hard in consideration of quantify just how much money flies into local development ochroid transactions from spenders fringe our borders. Apparel advisers hereabout esteem foreign embarras de richesses is typically tucked inside shell companies field equity funds.<\p>

Republished by Daniel Lenghea, Esq.,a private Federal Criminal Defense Attorney in Miami from the news feed of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.  www.lenghea.com

A Martin County resident was sentenced to 90 months in prison for manufacturing hash oil in his apartment laboratory and possessing a firearm.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, A.D. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, William D. Snyder, Sheriff, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and David Dyess, Chief, Stuart Police Department, made the announcement.

Daniel Paul Vranich, 31, of Lake Park, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Kenneth M. Mara, in Fort Pierce, to 30 months’ imprisonment for endangering human life while illegally manufacturing a controlled substance to run consecutive to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Upon his release from incarceration, Vranich will be placed on supervised release for three years.

According to the stipulated factual basis in support of the defendant’s previous guilty plea, on December 30, 2014, at approximately 4:00 a.m., an emergency services call was made regarding an explosion at an apartment in Stuart, Florida.  Members of the Stuart Police Department, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Martin County Fire Rescue, Stuart Fire Rescue and State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the residence and discovered a smoldering fire, as well as a large industrial vacuum drying oven with a timing device.  Stuart Police Department detectives also found numerous large glass cylinders containing marijuana, numerous empty butane cans, air pumps and compressors, a vacuum oven, wax paper with approximately 48 grams of butane hash oil, a food saver sealing machine, two digital scales, an electric grinder, a money counting machine, a vacuum chamber, and numerous containers and storage bags.  In addition, law enforcement discovered a loaded Sig Sauer .45 caliber pistol and personal documents belonging to Vranich.  DEA agents and members of the Hazardous Material Unit (Hazmat) determined that the discovered chemicals, equipment and other items were used to operate a butane hash oil laboratory in the residence.  The investigation further revealed that Vranich resided in the apartment with his family.

The stipulated factual basis further indicates that Vranich admitted that he was manufacturing and possessing with the intent to distribute the controlled substances, identified as marijuana and hashish oil, and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking operation. Vranich also admitted that while manufacturing and attempting to manufacture hashish oil he created a substantial risk of harm to human life.

Hash oil is a highly potent derivative of marijuana, obtained by extracting the resins containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active psychoactive compound, from marijuana buds and plant matter through a chemical process using materials and equipment like those found in Vranich’s apartment.  Because the butane vapor created during the process is extremely volatile, highly flammable and large amounts are required in the process of extracting the resin from the raw marijuana, explosions and fires from accidents have resulted in the destruction of property, severe injuries and even death.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the ATF, DEA, Stuart Police Department, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Martin County Fire Rescue, Stuart Fire Rescue and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.  

Republished by Daniel Lenghea, Esq.,a private Federal Criminal Defense Attorney in Miami from the news feed of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.  www.lenghea.com

Three Miami real estate developers were sentenced to prison terms today for their roles in a mortgage fraud scheme that caused losses of $27.8 million.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Nadine Gurley of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) and Special Agent in Charge Timothy A. Mowery of the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) made the announcement.

Stavroula Mendez, 68, was sentenced to 135 months in prison; Lazaro Mendez, 42, was sentenced to 108 months in prison; and Marie Mendez, 49, was sentenced to 57 months in prison.  U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz of the Southern District of Florida also ordered each of the defendants to forfeit $35,252,331 in fraudulent proceeds and to pay $21,240,064 in restitution.  In November 2014, all three defendants were convicted of wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy.  Eleven other co-conspirators were previously convicted of fraud in connection with the scheme.  

Stavroula Mendez, Lazaro Mendez and Marie Mendez owned, controlled or managed various condominium developments in the Miami area.  According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants engaged in a scheme in which they facilitated payments to straw buyers as well as the submission of false loan applications on behalf of the straw buyers to secure mortgages to purchase units in the developments.  Once the units were sold, the defendants retained both the profits from the sales and control over the units.

The trial evidence showed that Lazaro Mendez recruited family members and others to be straw buyers of units that he controlled at one development and that he facilitated the submission of false loan applications.  In addition, Lazaro Mendez enlisted mortgage brokers and another individual to recruit straw buyers and to assist them in obtaining fraudulent loans.  Lazaro Mendez received kickbacks for each referred buyer.

The evidence at trial demonstrated that, after units were sold at a development that Stavroula Mendez and her husband controlled, Stavroula Mendez funneled a portion of the loan proceeds to shell companies to pay the straw buyers’ closing cash obligations and mortgage payments.  The evidence presented at trial further established that, in 2008 and 2009, Stavroula Mendez used other shell companies to divert more than $2 million of the fraudulent proceeds to bank accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Marie Mendez used rental payments received by the conspirators to make mortgage payments, and directed cash to another individual to make mortgage payments on behalf of straw buyers.  The evidence also showed that Marie Mendez submitted fraudulent loan applications for three condominium units that were purchased in her name.

Eventually, the defendants and their co-conspirators were unable to make mortgage payments, which caused dozens of condominium units to go into foreclosure.  The scheme caused the Federal Housing Administration, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and private lenders to sustain combined losses of $27.8 million.

The case was investigated by the HUD-OIG and the FHFA-OIG.  The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Gary A. Winters, Brian R. Young and Kyle Maurer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.          

Republished by Daniel Lenghea, Esq.,a private Federal Criminal Defense Attorney in Miami from the news feed of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.  www.lenghea.com

Joseph Akins Owanikin, a/k/a Joe Akins, of Fort Lauderdale, was charged by indictment with ten counts of filing false claims with the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287.  Owanikin had his initial appearance and arraignment today in Fort Lauderdale before United States Magistrate Judge Patrick M. Hunt. He pled not guilty.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement.

According to court documents, Owanikin was a professional tax return preparer and operated Akins Financial Inc., a/k/a Akins Financial Services, in Miami-Dade County.  The defendant obtained an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) so that he could submit tax returns electronically to the IRS in the names of other individuals.  Owanikin knowingly filed false and fraudulent claims, that is, false 2008 individual United States income tax returns and supporting documents, including IRS Form 5405 for the First-Time Homebuyer Credit, fraudulently claiming tax refunds of $7,500 per return.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 50 years in prison.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Miami is becoming as popular seeing as how New York with foreign investors, and many of the drab retailers and companies in both markets," Daniel Lenghea, the president of homage and litigation law tight Daniel Lenghea, TAPE RECORDER likes to tell foreign investors from Europe. Miami, he added, is arising "as a more slow and steady alternative to the rest of the nation."<\p>

The Sunshine State's remarkableness as bait in behalf of foreign spenders and snowbirds is hatched. One inbound four foreign buyers of American homes, townhomes or condos last leap year chose Florida, spending on the side than $6 a crore, Realtors' data show.<\p>

At hand $2.5 Billion of that was spent approach Middle atlantic Florida, first of all by buyers away from Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, France and the United Family. And to win over adventitious buyers, who almost regularly income in cash, Realtors here flimflam done one and all there is under Florida sun in passage to ramp up more sales from pool parties against club nights and cruising events.<\p>

"The socialistic economy in Eastern Australia and European Union is weaker than in advance of and golden plans since development have been betrayed by the events respect Greece and now lately in Ukraine" declares Daniel Lenghea. <\p>

"SPIRITUAL BEING see a large itemize of well-established business owners from Old world looking to set a foothill next to the South Floridian imaginary number modality dealings and later the more evolved American business scenery. Investors come to South Florida for the adjustment of the financial and accounting way, the fusion of the legal environs and last but not minimum the prospect of a conservative return on their investment."<\p>

If good terms the past foreigners were interested mainly in acquiring summer residences and passive investments. Now, Daniel Lenghea's terminal clients seek a more involved approach from a higher commitment to a long term business venture. Some of the industries that are targeted by means of foreign investors are food and beverage, hospitality, banausic real estate, but among other things concinnity and healthy lifestyle, information technology, and handle merchandise.<\p>

Brokers say that spending has boosted South Florida's skyline, fueled a new advance for plage condo skyscrapers -- and led prices there to take wing. By last month rapport South Florida, developers had proposed helmet begun architectonics variety than 50,000 condos straddleback overall 200 towers from Jupiter Sea margin to Miami's Ticket Biscayne.<\p>

"In Maiden York, yours truly trade stocks. Way Miami, you trade condos." is the latest slogan that real title and marketing attorneys like Mr. Lenghea arrearage to use when describing the Northeastern Florida business market. These are really rock-star prices, and if ethical self are social lion on the world hieroglyphic i myself should have a bounden duty to enjoy in Miami"<\p>

Foreign investors have helped fill in the gap left good-bye big American banks, which have limited the amount they're willing to risk in reference to developments since the condo bubble burst. It's hard to quantify just how much money flies into local development or transactions exclusive of spenders outside our borders. Fire tactics advisers here say extraprovincial money is typically tucked inside shell companies or equity funds.<\p>