A former prosecutor who knows the system from the inside.

My roots

I was born and raised in Miami, the son of hardworking parents. Spanish was my first language; English came later. That's one of the reasons I do what I do: I know what it feels like when the system speaks a language your family doesn't, and I make sure that never leaves you at a disadvantage.

I graduated from Christopher Columbus High School and began my path in law at Miami-Dade College, where I earned my associate degree. I continued at the University of Miami, where I graduated with a bachelor's in Criminology, and then at Stetson College of Law, where I graduated with honors. During my studies I was a certified legal intern at the Pinellas County Public Defender's Office.

Four years on the other side

After finishing law school in 2007, I joined as a prosecutor under Katherine Fernández-Rundle, the Miami-Dade State Attorney. I started in county court prosecuting misdemeanors and traffic offenses; then moved to the juvenile division; and was the first in my class to advance to the felony division, where I handled property, violent-crime, and narcotics cases.

Later I was selected as one of the founding members of the State Attorney's Economic Crimes mortgage fraud unit. There I trained deeply in investigating and prosecuting complex white-collar fraud, working alongside the Miami-Dade Mortgage Fraud Task Force.

Those years taught me exactly how the prosecution thinks and works. Today I use that knowledge — from the other side.

Why I moved to the defense

In 2011 I left the State Attorney's Office to open my own criminal defense firm. I always knew that was where I wanted to be. Since then I've taken more than 50 cases to trial before a jury and handled more than 5,000 in total.

I've won numerous not-guilty verdicts and dismissals under Florida's Stand Your Ground law. I use the Constitution as a defense tool: the Fourth Amendment to exclude illegally obtained evidence, the Fifth to protect your right to remain silent, and the Sixth to guarantee you a fair trial and competent defense.

But most cases don't reach trial. Through early negotiation and dealing directly with prosecutors, I've won the dismissal of hundreds of cases before trial. The sooner I step in, the more I can do.

Who I represent

I represent people of all kinds in state and federal courts: healthcare professionals — doctors, nurses, administrators — accused of fraud; lawyers and other professionals; and police officers accused of excessive use of force. I also defend non-citizens, for whom a charge can put their ability to stay in the country at risk.

In federal court I represent healthcare executives, business owners in wire and bank fraud cases, and people charged over fraudulent federal loans, including PPP and SBA. I am a member of the select CJA panel of attorneys for the federal court for the Southern District of Florida.

Beyond the courtroom

Outside my practice, I teach criminal procedure as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami and train officers at the Miami-Dade Police Training Bureau. Focusing exclusively on criminal defense has let me build good relationships with prosecutors, judges, and other defense attorneys — relationships that end up benefiting my clients.

How I work with you

I meet personally with every client, and together we map out your case strategy. I'm accessible and I explain everything clearly, because I know the weight you carry when facing charges. To me you're not a file: you're a person I'll stand with through one of the hardest moments of your life.

Credentials