Florida Criminal Attorney Blog

Raquel Wright, a 36 year old school teacher at Oslo Middle School in Indian River County, Florida was arrested this week for Trafficking in Oxycodone. Given her status as a school teacher, it is presumed that she does not have any prior criminal history.

While her case is pending, a judge ordered that Wright be released on a $150,000 bond. Before posting this bond, Wright should have retained a lawyer to file a motion to reduce bond. On a school teacher' salary, a $150,000 bond may be a bit excessive, even though the crime alleged is a serious felony.

However, bond is not Wright's main problem. As a criminal defense attorney, I think Wright's case presents a number of interesting questions whose answers may help her case. First, how did the police come to get involved with her? According to news reports, cops set up a sting operation after Wright agreed to sell them pills over the phone.

Was she snitched on by a confidential informant? Did the police violate the law when they investigated her? If a snitch was used, was that person cooperating with police to save themselves from their own case? Did police entrap Wright?

Once she was arrested, did Wright give a statement to police? If so, did they advise her of her right to remain silent and her right to an attorney before questioning? If not, any and all statements made by Wright may be thrown out by a judge.

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Investigators from the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant on First Medical Group in Tampa, Florida. First Medical is a pain clinic that allegedly dispensed prescription medication without a license and engaged in money laundering. Police investigators are currently in the process of reviewing medical records, taking witness statements, and analyzing any evidence of wrong-doing that they may have seized during their raid.

While no arrests have been made, police do claim that some are in the works. Given the severity of the offenses, bond may be set very high simply as a consequence of the number of charges filed.

If this is the case, those arrested would benefit greatly by hiring an attorney to file a motion for bond reduction. While there is no guarantee as to outcomes, most motions to reduce bond are successful.

When a judge sets bond, he or she will consider a number of important factors. These include the nature of the charges, the possibility that the defendant may flee if released, and the possibility that the defendant poses a danger to the community.

Since a search warrant has already been executed, I can tell you that the next step in this case will include arrests. Therefore, those involved would be best served by immediately hiring defense lawyers to help guide them through the process and act as their representative.

If police haven't done so already, they will also be seeking statements, aka "confessions," from the pain clinic's employees, owners, and any other persons involved that they may be trying to build a case against. This will certainly include any companies and individuals who may have unlawfully or negligently supplied First Medical with prescription medication.

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