Two former Miami-Dade Internal Services department employees, J.P. and B.D., were arrested and charged with racketeering, fraud with an organized scheme, and other white collar crimes on June 4. The men are accused of overcharging tax payers for services by overbilling them for the information technology services of a company called Data Industries Inc. Investigators claim that J.P. and B.D. received kickbacks from the scheme.
Miami-Dade County relieved the employees of duty after a subcontractor, A.M., spoke with police about his suspicions of illegal markups. A.M. claims that he charged Data Industries Inc. $125 an hour, and the company charged the county anywhere from $230 to $275 for his services. He also claims that they overbilled for the services of a web designer and another employee of Data Industries Inc. Since 2001, the company has earned $16 million in government contracts. If convicted of the crimes they are charged with, J.P. and B.D. could face serious penalties.
Racketeering is the crime of engaging in organized illegal activity. Under Florida's Racketeering Act and RICO, racketeering is a first degree offense that can be punished by up to 20 years in prison and the forced return of the assets gained in RICO violations. Fraud involves obtaining money or assets through deception, such as overbilling, and carries similarly harsh penalties.
Racketeering and fraud are two different types of white collar crimes. Coined in 1939, white collar crimes involve lying, cheating and stealing. White collar crimes often violate federal laws, which result in more severe penalties. With experience representing clients throughout the state of Florida, our Miami federal crime attorney is well-equipped to defend you against criminal accusations. As a former Miami-Dade County prosecutor, Attorney Mirer understands what the tactics the prosecution will use against you. If you have been charged with a federal crime, contact the Law Office of Michael Mirer, P.A. to learn more about creating a strong defense.