EFTA00189811.pdf

United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Florida NEW$ BRIEFING To: From: Executive Division Acting United States Attorney Vacant, First Assistant Executive Assistant , Special Counsel Chief, Criminal Division Deputy Chief, Criminal Division Chief, Appellate Division Chief, Asset Forfeiture Division Chief, Civil Division Chief, PINS , Chief, Narcotics Chief, Economic and Environmental Crimes Section Chief, Major Crimes Section Chief, Special Prosecutions Deputy Chief, Ft. Lauderdale , Deputy Chief, West Palm Beach Deputy Chief, Ft. Pierce June 11, 2009 EFTA00189811 Southern District of Florida - Press Release Page I of I The United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Florida Press Release MIAMI RETURN PREPARER PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX PREPARATION FRAUD SCHEME June 10, 7009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, announced that defendant Beaudelaire Telfort, 37, of Miami, pled guilty today to one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code 7206(2). Telfort remains on bond pending sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for August 19, 2009 at 9:30 AM, before U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga. At sentencing, Telfort faces up to three years' imprisonment and mandatory restitution. According to court documents, Telfort managed his own business, Nation Tax 1, in Miami, where he prepared tax returns for other individuals and filed them electronically with the IRS. Telfort received fees in connection with the preparation and filing of those returns. On Apnl 24, 2009, a twenty-six count indictment was unsealed against the defendant charging him with tax fraud charges. As set forth in the Indictment, Telfort was charged with assisting in the preparation of false U.S. Individual Income lax Returns (Forms 1040) for numerous individuals during calendar tax years 2002 and 2003. The tax returns contained false information regarding wages, income and withholding amounts. In total, the fraudulent tax filings sought more than 560,061 in fraudulent tax refunds. During the plea hearing, Telfort admitted to preparing and filing a tax return for a client in which he misrepresented the client's wages and income, and the amount of federal taxes withheld. Telfort also admitted to filing a fictitious W-2 form with said return, which suggested that the client had worked for a second employer and earned a salary working for that employer. The material misrepresentations resulted in a claimed tax refund that was significantly greater than what the client was legitimately entitled to receive. Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph B. Shumofsky. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.fiscLuscourts.goy. Technical comments about this website can be e-mailed to the Webmaster. PLEASE NOTE: The United States Attorney's Office does not respond to non-technical inquiries made to this website. If you wish to make a request for information, you may contact our office at 305-961-9001, or you may send a written inquiry to the United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of Flonda, 99 NE 4th Street, Miami, F'. 33132. http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/f1s/PressReleases/090610-01.html 6/11/2009 EFTA00189812 Campos, Cyndee (USAFLS) Subject: FW Article - South Florida Business Journal .".€-7.7esday June '0 2009 3 31 Dm EDT I Motaed Wednesday. June 10 20O3 3 38pm Tax preparer pleads guilty to fraud South Florida Business Journal The owner of a Miami tax preparation business pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of tax fraud according to a news release from the U S attorney for the Southern District of Florida In April. Beaudelaire Telfort. 37. was lilt with a 26-count indictment in which he was charged with assisting in the preparation of fake tax returns for clients in 2002 and 2003 totaling $80.061 Telfort. who owned Nation Tax 1 admitted to misrepresenting a client's wages and income and to filing a fictitious W-2 form Telfort face up to three years in prison and restitution Sentencing is set for Aug 19 Jennifer Wroblewski Special Agent / Alternate Public Information Officer Internal Revenue Service. Criminal Investigation Office: 954-423-7897 Cell 305-986-9485 Fax 954-423-7888 EFTA00189813 Campos, Cyndee (USAFLS) Subject: FW. NEWS RELEASE: TWO JAMAICAN NATIONALS, INCLUDING JAMAICAN FUGITIVE, CAPTURED AND CHARGED ON IMMIGRATION CHARGES June 10, 2009 NEWS RELEASE: TWO JAMAICAN NATIONALS, INCLUDING JAMAICAN FUGITIVE, CAPTURED AND CHARGED ON IMMIGRATION CHARGES Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony I. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations, announced the arrest of defendant Omar Oneal Lewis, 33, a Jamaican national wanted by the Jamaican government as one of their 10 "most wanted" fugitives in connection with a 2008 homicide. Lewis was arrested on June 8, 2009, by ICE special agents in Miami, working with the Lauderhill Police Department. Lewis was considered the 6th most wanted fugitive in Jamaica. ICE agents also arrested Michael Montague, 25, also a Jamaican national. Both men were residing in the South Florida area and both were charged with having illegally re-entered the U.S. after having been deported. If convicted, Lewis faces up to two years in prison and Montague faces up to 10 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Sloman stated, "Foreign fugitives cannot run and hide on our soil for long. Thanks to the outstanding work of ICE and the Lauderhill Police Department, one such fugitive will be brought to justice." "I'm proud of the hard work and diligence of our special agents for tracking down and apprehending these criminals," said Anthony Mangione, Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Miami. "Apprehending dangerous foreign fugitives hiding in the United States is a top priority of ICE and now, not only has this illegal alien been removed from the streets of South Florida, but he will eventually be removed from the United States to face justice in Jamaica." Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of ICE's Office of Investigations in Miami and the Lauderhill Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lorraine Tashman. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at htto://www.usdoi.gov/usaoffis. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://oacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. EFTA00189814 Jamaican fugitive faces immigration charges - 06/10/2009 - Miaminerald.com Page I of I Eheliiiamilleralb ar, Posted on Wed. Jun. 10, 2004) Jamaican fugitive faces immigration charges The Associated Press Authorities in South Florida say they've captured a Jamaican fugitive connected to a 2008 homicide. The U.S. Attorney's Office reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 33-year-old Omar Oneal Lewis Monday in Miami. Officials say Lewis is considered the sixth most wanted fugitive in Jamaica. At the same time, ICE agents also arrested 25-year-old Michael Montague. Both men have been charged with illegally re-entering the U.S. after being deported. Under U.S. law, Lewis faces up to two years in prison and Montague, a convicted felon, faces up to 10. Besides the charges they face in the U.S., ICE officials say they will eventually be deported and will likely face additional charges in Jamaica. O 2009 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miamiherald.com http://www html 6/11/2009 EFTA00189815 Suspected killer wanted in Jamaica arrested in Lauderhill -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com Page 1 of 1 sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-lauderhill-fugitive-arrest-b061009,0,4655364.story South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com Suspected killer wanted in Jamaica arrested in Lauderhill By Joel Marino SunSentinel.com 7:01 PM EDT, June 10, 2009 LAUDERHILL One of Jamaica's most wanted criminals - an accused killer who goes by the street name "King of Evil" - was arrested in Lauderhill on Monday by police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Omar Oneal Lewis, 33, was charged with illegally re-entering the country after having been deported. Lewis was deported to Jamaica in 2006 and should not have been living in Florida, according to court records. Jamaican authorities have been looking for Lewis since 2008, when they say he killed a man named Richard Reid that June, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force. He was placed on a top 10 most wanted list by Jamaica's law enforcement agencies. Details of that case were not immediately available. Copyright © 2009, South. Florida Sun-Sentinel JI The page cannot be displayec There is a problem with the page you are trying to rea be displayed. Please try the following: • Open the yiew.atdmt.0010 home page, and the to the information you want. • Click the al Refresh buttOn, or try again later. • Click a Search to look for information on the • TOu can also see a list of related sites. hnp://www.sun-sentinel.com/nev•s/local/breakingnews/sfl-lauderhill-fugitive-arrest-b06 I 009,0,18476... 6/11/2009 EFTA00189816 Jamaican fugitive faces immigration charges PalmBeachPost.com Search Page I of 2 One-Stop Hurricane Shopping Register Now I Log In Jobs Autos Real Estate Classifieds Health Place An Ad Home News Weather Sports Business Obituaries Opinion Living Entertainment Photos Video Blogs Services Web Search Donie0 r YAHOO! SEARCH • 31i Jamaican fugitive faces immigration charges MIAMI — Authorities in South Florida say they've captured a Jamaican fugitive connected to a 2008 homicide. The U.S. Attorney's Office reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 33-year-old Omar Oneal Lewis Monday in Miami. Officials say Lewis is considered the sixth most wanted fugitive in Jamaica. At the same time. ICE agents also arrested 25-year-old Michael Montague. Both men have been charged with illegally re-entering the U.S. after being deported. Under U.S. law, Lewis faces up to two years in prison and Montague, a convicted felon, faces up to 10. Besides the charges they face in the U.S., ICE officials say they will eventually be deported and will likely face additional charges in Jamaica. June 10, 2009 - 6:37 p.m. EDT Copyright 2009, The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP Online news report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without the .rior written authori of The Associated Press. ONE-STOP Hurricane Shopping Shutters • Generators • Suppks • More Win a Free Generator- Find Out Howl stormexpo2009.com Mgt Featured Motorcycles Honda Shadow Acre 750cc '06. Kept indoors. Exc., Lk.. Harley Davidson http://www.palmbeachpostcorn/search/content/gen/ap/FLJamaican_Fugitive.html 6/11/2009 EFTA00189817 TUN.11.2209 10.03f'l USAO WPB FL mo.797 P.1 THE PALM REACH POST • THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2009 Judge delays ruling on request to unseal plea deal in sex case By SUSAN SPENCER WENDEL 'Wm Bawl Thst Ste Was WEST PALM BEACH — A circuit Judge on Wednes- day did not unseal the deal that money manager Jeffnsy Epstein of Palm Beach struck with fed- eral prosecutors to avoid charges, opting instead to give Epsteirib lawyers a thaom to demonstrate why it should remain hid- den from public view. Circuit Judge • Jeff Epsts Col knowle bath dged at a hearing that EpeWnb deal was not sealed in state court In ac- cordance with the rules. 'I don't see where any of the procedures were ever followed," he said. Colbath has given Epstein defense attorney. Jack Goldberger, an op- portunity to argue that the document was properly sealed and asked lawyers to submit briefs to him by Riday. Colbath also set a full bearing for June 25. Attorneys for young women now suing Epstein are asking Colbath to un- seal the deal that Epstein brokered with federal prosecutors. A lawyer for The Pahn Beach Peet also has joined in the request. "It's a secret agree- ment A secret, sweetheart g ant," said former ot:II:Judge Bill Berger, who now represents some of the women. "Everybody was in on this deal except the victims and the public; Berger said. The public should be outraged it has gone as far as it has." A second attorney representing the women, Brad Edwards, has seen the sealed document A federal judge allowed him and his clients to view it, but not to discuss its con- tents. Edwards said the women were "outraged" at what had been negotiated without their knowledge. A reporter asked Edwards if he thought Epstein re- ceived treatment by prosecutors. 'Are you kidding? It's transparent. Certainly no one else gets treated like that," Edwards said. Epstein, 56, a reported money manager of billion- aires, Is currently serving an 18-month sentence in the Palm Beach County Stockade after pleading guilty nearly a year ago in state court to felony solicitation of prostitution and procuring teenagers for prostitution. The saga beg yeani ago when the Palm Beach Police Department began investigating whether young women were be- ing brought to Fjsrvials mansion on in Brillo Way to massage him and have sex with him in exchange for money Epstein's attorneys, in federal filings, have referred to sealed docu- ments as a deferred pros- ecution agreement with federal prosecutors and have called it "unprec- edented" and 'highly unusual." Goldberger said his cli- ent has not received any special treatment. • PutwLyncer_ wendellIckPosicarn EFTA00189818 Miami skipper in lobster poaching case can't fish for two years Pace 1 of 2 PalmBeachPost.com Miami skipper in lobster poaching case can't fish for two years Gra PRINTTHIS By BRITTANY LEVINE The Miami Herald Thursday. June II, 2009 Two more of the six defendants in one of the largest lobster-poaching cases in the Florida Keys were sentenced Wednesday. i '4,-.1 1 t -/ Post your la comments on this story below More Florida news Latest state headlines P.B.. County, TColts1 news Special reports Weather I Traffic I Obituaries Robert Hammer, a well-known Miami charter boat captain and principal figure in the case, was sentenced to two months in prison, six months of house arrest and placed on two years of probation. During his probation. the 45-year-old is banned from fishing commercially or for pleasure near South Florida waters. Sean Reyngoudt of Summerland Key, an aspiring professional kite surfer with a prosthetic leg who played a minor role in the poaching, got four years of probation. He, too, was banned from fishing. The two were charged in a federal grand jury indictment last year with the illegal harvest of about 6,000 lobsters from man-made habitats called casitas placed in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The lobsters were stored in a freezer at the million-dollar home of the scheme's kingfish, David Dreifort, 41. Dreifort, a commercial fisherman — who Hammer called the "largest lobster poacher in the Keys" in court documents — and his wife, Denise. are scheduled for sentencing July 17. Both could face a maximum of five years in jail and a $250,000 fine. Using casitas to harvest lobsters dirties the ocean and could have a negative effect on lobster migration and reproduction, wildlife experts said. Hammer said he plans never to fish again. He has sold his boat and will work for his wife's company, Humane Animal Removal, after serving his time. He will most likely serve the prison time at a South Florida facility close to his wife and children. Reyngoudt, 25, said getting involved with Dreifort was "the worst choice I've ever made in my life" and plans to continue kite surfing. The first of five to plead guilty, John Niles, 50, of LaBelle, was spared jail time in return for his cooperation. In April, Michael Dclph, 39, of Key West — son of legendary charter boat captain Ralph Delph and the only one to http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Miami+skipperfinflobster • p... 6'11 2009 EFTA00189819 Miami skipper in lobster poaching case can't fish for two years Page 2 of 2 plead not guilty — was sentenced to 10 months in prison. The six were arrested in August on opening day of lobster season after federal agents caught all, minus Reyngoudt, returning to Dreifort's Cudjoe Key home with 922 lobsters. Agents called the case Operation Freezer Burn. Find this article at: http /Awn, palmbeachpost combocalnewskontentistatetepaper/2009,06/11/0611Jobster html r Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. http://palmbeachpost.prinfthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Miami+skipper+in+lobster+p... 6/11/2009 EFTA00189820 Miami skipper in lobster poaching case can't fish for two years - 06/11/2009 - MiamiHerald.com Page 1 of 1 the Miami Hera 4k Posted on Thu, Jun. 11, 2009 Miami skipper in lobster poaching case can't fish for two years BY BRITTANY I.EVINE blevinerq)_MiamiHeraldsom Two more of the six defendants in one of the largest lobster-poaching cases in the Florida Keys were sentenced Wednesday. Robert Hammer, a well-known Miami charter boat captain and principal figure in the case, was sentenced to two months in prison, six months of house arrest and two years of probation. During his probation, the 45-year- old is banned from fishing commercially or for pleasure near South Florida waters. Sean Reyngoudt of Summerland Key, an aspiring professional kite surfer with a prosthetic leg who played a minor role in the poaching, got four years of probation. He, too, was banned from fishing. The two were charged in a federal grand jury indictment last year with the illegal harvest of about 6,000 lobsters from man-made habitats called casitas placed in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The lobsters were stored in a freezer at the million-dollar home of the scheme's kingfish, David Dreifort, 41. Drcifon, a commercial fisherman -- who Hammer called the "largest lobster poacher in the Keys" in court documents -- and his wife, Denise, are scheduled for sentencing July 17. Both could face a maximum of five years in jail and a $250,000 fine. Using casitas to harvest lobsters dirties the ocean and could have a negative effect on lobster migration and reproduction, wildlife experts said. Hammer said he plans never to fish again. He has sold his boat and will work for his wife's company, Humane Animal Removal. after serving his time. He will most likely serve the prison time at a South Florida facility close to his wife and children. Rcyngoudt, 25. said getting involved with Dreifon was "the worst choice I've ever made in my life" and plans to continue kite surfing. The first of five to plead guilty, John Niles, 50, of LaBelle, was spared jail time in return for his cooperation. In April. Michael Delph. 39. of Key West -- son of legendary charter boat captain Ralph Delph and the only one to plead not guilty -- was sentenced to 10 months in prison. The six were arrested in August on opening day of lobster season after federal agents caught all, minus Reyngoudt, returning to Dreifort's Cudjoe Key home with 922 lobsters. Agents called the case Operation Freezer Burn. ₹) 2009 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miamiherald.com 6/11/2009 EFTA00189821 Feds get tough on mortgage fraud - 06/11/2009 - Miami/ lerald.com Page 1 of 2 Posted on Thu, Jun. 11, 2009 Feds get tough on mortgage fraud By MONICA HATCHER McClatchy Newspapers To neighboring residents, the string of rapid-fire sales at a Coral Gables home was emblematic of the cause and consequences of South Florida's housing bust. The four-bedroom house, now vacant and deteriorating, was sold, bought and foreclosed on three times in less than three years. Neighbors always suspected "something wasn't right with the milk" at 330 Alesio Avenue as the value of the home more than doubled to $1.2 million in the short time span. It turns out they were on to something. Last week a federal judge sentenced Jose G. Martin. who had once posed as a renter in the home, to 65 months in prison for orchestrating a $6.6 million mortgage fraud scheme involving the Alesio property and six other homes in Miami-Dade County. In all, prosecutors say he pocketed $1 million - $450,000 alone from his machinations at 330 Alesio. He used the money to pay off co-conspirators and enrich himself. Martin's sentence, which came on Wednesday, is a sign the federal government is taking a tougher stance against people who commit mortgage fraud - a crime once so pervasive that it played a role in bringing about the current economic crisis. Average sentences for mortgage fraud convictions have increased from 24 months since 2004 to between 50 and 55 months currently, according to Rachel Dollar, a California-based attorney who specializes in fraud recovery litigation. And, they're expected to soon get harsher. Last month. Congress paccrd new legislation strengthening prosecutors' ability to light fraud and promised new funding for more agents, analysts and investigators. TASK FORCE It also created a nationwide mortgage fraud task force modeled after a task force in Miami-Dade County, where mortgage scammers such as Marlin ran amok during the housing boom. Despite his stiff sentence, the Alesio neighbors said it wasn't long enough - considering the harm mortgage fraud has done to South Florida's housing market and the national economy. "I'm happy someone got punished for it, but maybe they didn't go up high enough. It's criminal what the banks and mortgage companies were allowed to get away with," said Fred Hermes, who lives across the street. Yolanda Fcanny, a few doors down, also blamed the banks for allowing Martin to so easily rip them off. But now lenders are subjecting loans to rigorous underwriting in an effort to fight fraud and avoid future losses. The message currently telegraphed is that people who committed mortgage fraud during the boom should be expecting a knock on their doors, said Michael Sichenzia, president of Deerfield Beach-based Dynamic Consulting. a loss mitigation and real estate analytics firm. 6/11/2009 EFTA00189822 Feds get tough on mortgage fraud - 06/11/2009 - MiamiHerald.com Page 2 of 2 'CLEAR MANDATE' "Law enforcement has been given a clear mandate to go after mortgage fraud and prosecute people to the fullest extent of the law," Sichenzia said. "This is going to be like the war on drugs 20 years ago because the government has to send a message that this will not be tolerated." Eric Bustillo, who heads the economic crimes section for the U.S. attorney's office in Miami, said the office began attacking the problem early. In 2007, it joined forces with state law enforcement to step up investigations and prosecutions. Then, last year, it formed a separate strike force of teams from other federal agencies to enhance efforts. In two years, the office has charged 176 people with mortgage fraud, convicting 120 of them. But with new, labor-intensive cases pouring in almost daily, Bustillo said the office is asking for more resources to tackle pending investigations, which have exploded by 600 percent. As for the house at 330 Alesio Avenue, neighbors said they suspected wrongdoing for a long time. "It just kept changing hands," said Linda Marquis, who lives across the street with her husband, Fred Hermes. Martin, prosecutors said, was running a classic straw borrower scheme, in which he recruited and paid thousands of dollars to three stand-in buyers to purchase 330 Alesio and other homes in Miami using fraudulent papers. Few, if any, payments were ever made on the loans that totaled $6.6 million, and $2.6 million for the Alesio home. As soon as the properties entered foreclosure, Martin would arrange the next bogus sale. At each closing, he collected on phony invoices for construction work that was never done by his company, Old Martin Construction. Raphael Piedra and Jose D. Martinez, two of the alleged straw borrowers, also have been charged, but remain fugitives. A third straw borrower, Samuel Morejon pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 27 months in jail. "Fraud was everywhere you turned," said Sichenzia, who himself served three years in federal prison for mortgage securities fraud between 2003 and 2005, but now helps law firms and lenders ferret out malfeasance. "If I look at 100 transactions month, 90 percent of them have one aspect or more of a misrepresentation in the documents," he said. The house at 330 Alesio doesn't appear to be worth anywhere near its last sale price of 51.2 million. The lawn is overrun with weeds. Thieves long ago stripped the place of its appliances and fixtures. "My handyman was here and he said he wouldn't give them more than $200,000 for it, it's going to need so much work," Marquis said. C 2009 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miamiherald.com 6/11/2009 EFTA00189823 2 in St. Lucie County arrested in counterfeiting scheme : TCPalm.com Page 1 of 1 TC PALMO-L-- FLORIDA5 TREASURE COAST AND rAim BFACH ES RIAD MORI AT Vo•WAtTCF i.< 2 in St. Lucie County arrested in counterfeiting scheme By Tne Pain, Beach Post Wednesday June 10 200? FORT PIERCE - It wasn't burnt breakfast St Lucie County Sheriffs Office detectives smelled Tuesday morning when they knocked on the apartment door in the 6500 block of Yedra Avenue Instead, it was burnt counterfeit money, and Brenda Hopkins. 46, and Ronald Jensen. 51. are facing charges of counterfeiting money and possessing the tools for counterfeiting money. a news release from the Sheriffs Office states, Jensen faces an additional charge for destroying evidence About 7 44 a m. Tuesday. Sheriffs Office detectives and U.S. Marshals were serving a felony petit theft arrest warrant for Hopkins, when she ran out of the back sliding door and was caught by law enforcement officers. the arrest affidavit states. After entering the apartment. a detective smelled an odor and heard Jensen making noises in the bathroom The detective found burnt $20 bills inside the toilet bowl and a stack of folded $20 bills on the back of the toilet. the news release states. Detectives found at total of $1,680 in counterfeit $20 bills. $43 in bleached $1 bills, and one bleached $5 bill, the release states Jensen and Hopkins have requested an attorney. the release states As of Wednesday afternoon, Hopkins was in St. Lucie County Jail in lieu of $41,000 bail, jail records show. Jensen was released on $15,000 bail on Tuesday evening. jail records show Click here to read the full article C 2009 Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers http://svww. tcpa Im.cominc ws/2009/jun/10/2-st-luc lc-county-arrested-counterfeit ing-sc heme/?printer=1/ 6/11/2009 EFTA00189824 Page I of 4 ShareThis Reprints 8 Permissions Print Federal Vacancies Women, minorities apply in record numbers, spurred by the Obama factor lune II, 2000 7 he sea change in the White House seemed to signal to women and minority lawyers in South Florida that their time is now as they considered openings for federal judge and U.S. attorney in the Obama administration. Web Extra: List of applicants Hispanic and black candidates populate both lists, and women make up half of the 20 applicants vying for the seat vacated when U.S. District Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley in West Palm Beach took senior status in February. Gregory Samms, a black attorney who runs a Coral Gables law firm, said Obama's victory in November encouraged qualified minonty candidates to believe they would be evaluated fairly. 'Before. we couldn t even get on the field Now. we feel at least we can get on the field," Samms said. 1 think the fact Obama was successful is encouraging more minorities to apply for these positions.' The diversity of applicants comes after criticism of the makeup of the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for a lack of women and minorities. Attorney Marva Wiley. president of the Gwen S Cherry Black Women's Bar Association, said she is happy to see the attention paid to the commission's makeup didn't discourage women or minorities from applying it's a good sign people feel the process is going to ment their participation: Wiley said 'Sometimes people take themselves out of the game early because of what they perceive issues to be It is encouraging to see that they put their names in the hat to see what the outcome will be' By John Pacenli [RELATED STORIES U S. Attorney and I federal bench applicants The JNC will cut the list of applicants for individual public interviews set for mid-July. Three names for each position will be forwarded to Democratic U.S Sen. Bill Nelson, who will recommend a nominee to Obama after another round of interviews 'We are talking about a district which has never had an African-American U S attorney, a district — with an exception of a temporary appointment — that has never had a woman as a U S attorney.* said Guy Lewis. a former U S attorney who is now a partner with Lewis Tem in Miami 'You look at the minority candidates, and they are strong candidates — former and current partners and judges - Among the minority applicants to succeed U S Attorney Alex Acosta are three black judges. Broward Circuit Judge Ilona Holmes. head of the criminal division, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Daryl Trawick. and Palm Beach County Court Judge Reginald Corlew Hispanics Wilfredo Ferrer, an assistant Miami-Dade County attorney, and Lilly Ann Sanchez, a criminal litigator with Fowler White Burnett in Miami also have put their names in the hopper. 'It's great there is such diversity in the applications we are seeing this year: said Charles Lichtman. an attorney with Berger Singerman and legal counsel for the Florida Democratic Party. 'There are certainly terrific minority candidates and female candidates and to be sure male candidates. I see it extremely difficult to pare the list down.' Roland Sanchez-Medina. president of the Cuban American Bar Association, agreed the Obama factor appears to be encouraging minorities to apply. 'Listen, there's an African-American man in the White House now,' he said. Obama has made diversity a priority in his appointments. He most recently selected federal judge Sonia Sotomayor for the U S Supreme Court If confirmed by the Senate, she will become the first Hispanic on the high court. Earlier this month, Acosta accepted the dean position at Florida International University's law school in Miami The Republican appointee knew his time was limited when Obama was elected. New presidents normally pick their own U.S. attorneys, especially when the party in office changes Federal prosecutor Jeffrey Sloman. Acosta's top assistant, has stepped in as interim U.S. attorney to run the 284-attorney district stretching from Key West to Fort Pierce Sloman applied to become Acosta's permanent replacement along with 15 others -There is no more important rfistnet in the United States in terms of the types of cases, the number of cases,' Lewis said of the Southern District 'L A and New York may try to steal the thunder nationally, but the truth is Miami is absolutely the World Series.' Attorney Lisa Lehner, a board member of the Miami-Dade chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, said she was impressed three women applied for the U.S. attorney position. 'This is probably the first I've seen this number of women apply for the U.S. attorney's office: she said 'Women feel they actually have a shot at that one There never has been a women in that position, and from whM I understand, from what I hear, what I feel, that spot has opened for women' The 20-candidate list to replace Hurley is made up mostly of minorities and women Federal Public Defender Kathleen Williams. U.S. Magistrate Robin Rosenbaum and Miami-Dade Circuit Judges Mary Barzee Flores are among the female contenders http://www.dailybusincssreyiew.comlnews.html?news_id=55550&stripTemplate- 1 6/11/2009 EFTA00189825 Page 2 of 4 Some of the minority applicants vying for the bench include U.S. Magistrate Patrick A White and Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judges Darrin Gayles and Jerald Bagley, who are black: Miami-Dade Circuit Judges Maria D Gritz and Peter R Lopez: and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez President Bush appointed the last federal judge to the South Florida bench in 2004 Marcia Cooke. a former federal magistrate in Detroit with strong hes to Jeb Bush. became the first black woman appointed a federal judge in the state Even though it's important to get minority and women candidates in the mix. Lehner said qualifications matter most 'These are two very important positions. The selection should be on merit Nobody is saying the senator or the president should make the ultimate selection based on what group somebody fits in. That is not what this is all about This is about the best person for the job,' she said Ahley said she remains 'cautiously optimistic' as the selection process begins 'Folks don't want to get too confident before giving the process a chance to work itself and prove its validity.' she said. John Pacenti can be reached at (305) 347-6638. Former U.S. Attorney's for The Southern District of Florida: Mom Allison McArea - May 1828 - April 1829 John G. Slower - April 1829 - April 1830 John K Campbell - April 1830 - May 1830 Edward Chandler - May 1830 - Oct. 1834 Adam Gordon - Oct 1834 - Dec_ 1834 Wylie P. Clark - Dec 1834 - June 1835 William Marvin - June 1835 - March 1839 Charles Walker - March 1839 - July 1840 L Windsor Smith - July 1840 - Aug. 1842 W. Macrae - Aug. 1842 - March 1847 L Windsor Smith - March 1847 - Aug. 1850 William R Hadley - Aug. 1850- March 1858 John L Tatum - March 1, 1858 -April 1861 Thomas Jefferson Boynton - April 5. 1861 - Oct 1863 Homer G Plantz - Oct. 1863 - Dec. 1869 Claibom R Mobley - Dec. 1869- Aug 1876 John Tyler - Aug 1876 - Nov. 1877 B Patterson - Nov. 1877 - March 1886 Livingstone W. Bethel - March 1886 - April 1890 G. Browne Patterson - April 1890 - July 1894 Owen J.H. Summers - July 1894 - Aug. 1894 Frank Clark - Nov. 1894 - July 1897 Joseph N. Stripling - July 1897 - Dec. 1905 http://www.dailybusinessreview.cominews.html?news jd55550itstripTemplate= I 6/11/2009 EFTA00189826 Page 3 of 4 John M Cheney - Dec 1905 - Oct 1912 Richard P. Marks - Oct 1912 - June 1913 Herbert S Phillips - June 1913 - Oct 1921. June 1936 - Aug 1953 Wlham M Gober - Nov 1921 - April 1929 Wlburn P Hughes - April 1929 - July 1933 John W Holland - July 1933 - June 1936 James i Guilmarhn - Aug 1953 - Dec 1959 E Coleman Madsen - Dec 1959 - April 1961 Edward G Boardman - April 1961 - Oct 1962 Edith House - Nov 1962 - June 1963 Wiliam A Meadows Jr - June 1963 - Dec 1969 Michael J Osman - Dec 1969 Robert W Rust - Dec 1969 - June 1977 Vincent K Antle - June 1977 - Sept 1977 Jacob Eskenazi - Sept 1977 - March 1980 Allee W. VVampler IIl - March 1980 - March 1982 Stanley I. Marcus - April 1982 - Aug 1985 Leon 8. Kellner - Aug 1985 - June 1988 Dexter W Lehtinen - June 1988 - Jan. 1992 James G. McAdams - Jan 1992 - May 1992 Roberto Martinez - May 1992 - Sept 1993 Kendall Et Coffey - Oct 1993 - May 1996 Wiliam A. Keefer - June 1996 - Aug 1997 Thomas E. Scott - Aug. 1997 - May 2000 Guy A. Lewis - June 20O0 - Aug. 2002 Marcos D. Jimenez — Aug. 2002 - June 20O5 R. Alexander Acosta - June 2005 - June 2009 Your Name: Comments Type your comment here. rJ Submit This Form Clear Form Search the archive for more stories http://www.dailybusinessreviev,.cominews.html?news_id=555508cstripTemplate=1 6/11/2009 EFTA00189827