Practice Areas

Federal and State Criminal Defense

The criminal defense practice of Cohen, Jayson & Foster runs the gamut, from representation of professionals and business people in complex matters including securities fraud, tax fraud, bank fraud, and mail and wire fraud to the representation of citizens seeking an aggressive defense in a full range of crimes filed in the Florida state criminal justice system.

FEDERAL AND STATE CRIME – CASE EXAMPLES

Confidential - No charges filed in the case of a circuit court judge being investigated by the FBI, state police and U.S. Attorney’s Office for money laundering.
Confidential - No charges filed against a prominent real estate developer under investigation by the FBI and U.S Attorney’s Office for million-dollar bank fraud. Father and brother who were represented by other attorneys were charged and convicted.
Confidential - No charges filed against a medical director of a psychiatric hospital under investigation by the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for improper billing and kickbacks.
Confidential - No charges filed against an international internet business being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission for improper solicitation.
No prison time for business executive accused of wire fraud utilizing defense that an antidepressant drug caused erratic behavior. Paxil Defense Saves Executive from Prison.
New trial ordered in case of police officer found guilty of two counts of child molestation. 25-year prison sentence vacated.
Charges dismissed in manslaughter case following presentation of the first narcolepsy defense in the State of Florida.
No prison time for high-profile case involving young woman accused of double fatality hit-and-run. Florida vs. Jennifer Porter.
Complete dismissal of case against a couple accused of wrong doing in their infant daughter’s disappearance; government misconduct involving fabrication of evidence exposed. U.S. Department of Justice, for the first time in our nation’s history, admits vexatious bad-faith prosecution of an individual. United States vs. Aisenberg

When an individual faces criminal charges in state or federal court, finding the appropriate legal representation is essential, because of the potential for significant personal and financial loss.

Areas of representation include:

Bank Fraud
Bribery
Drug and Regulatory Offenses
False Claims Act or Whistle-Blower (Qui Tam) Lawsuits
Fraud Involving Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices or FDA Regulations
FTC Investigations
Health Care Fraud
Insurance Fraud
Investigations by Statewide Prosecutor, FDLE, Florida Attorney
Mail and Wire Fraud
Money Laundering
Mortgage Fraud
RICO
Securities Fraud
Tax Fraud
Telemarketing Fraud

Our Criminal Defense Team draws upon decades of front-line prosecutorial and criminal defense experience, and is comprised of the following members:

Barry A. Cohen – With over 30 years of experience as an attorney in the Tampa Bay area, Barry Cohen is renowned for his legal prowess and tenacity in the courtroom. He has represented numerous judges, public officials, business executives and their family members over the course of his career in a vast number of criminal and civil matters.
Todd A. Foster – Todd Foster’s experience as an FBI agent, and federal and state prosecutor sets him apart from other criminal defense attorneys. This knowledge provides Mr. Foster with an insight into the details of complex white-collar crimes and how the government conducts probes of suspected criminal activity.
Kevin Beck – As an assistant federal defender, Mr. Beck led a team of lawyers in the successful representation of a man charged under the Patriot Act in Tampa Federal Court. He has experience in representing people from all walks of life facing many serious charges, and has represented a number of clients in appealing the death penalty.
Kevin Darken – A published authority in health care fraud, false claims and qui tam (whistle-blower) actions, Mr. Darken has 20 years of experience in the field. The former assistant U.S. Attorney is responsible for drafting the intricate legal arguments required in complex federal cases.
Stephen Romine – A Florida Bar Board-Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, Mr. Romine utilizes his experience as a public defender to provide his clients with aggressive representation. His clients have included business owners, lawyers, doctors, law enforcement officers, judges and members of the media.
Michael Rubinstein – With 20 years of experience as an assistant U.S. Attorney, Mr. Rubinstein has conducted many white-collar federal grand jury investigations and has successfully tried numerous criminal cases in the U.S. District Courts. He brings a wealth of knowledge in the area of drug trafficking, fraud and money laundering cases on an international level.
Devon Stoney – Utilizing a dual knowledge of law and accounting, Mr. Stoney assists clients in complex cases involving taxation, fraud, pharmaceutical and medical issues. He also has a background in computer forensics, adding to his value on the team.

To complement this highly qualified criminal defense team, CJF has a full-time in-house investigation team, led by award-winning investigator Kevin Kalwary. In addition, the firm employs a full-time forensic CPA with over 30 years of litigation experience to assist the defense team in financial and business-related matters. On an as-needed basis, the CJF draws upon a cadre of outside investigators with specific areas of expertise and knowledge, including securities experts, former FBI or IRS agents, or expert accounting and IT personnel.

Although we are best known for our work on cases that have received national media coverage, many matters we have handled have been effectively resolved before they reached the level of an indictment or public announcement. We have represented corporations, business executives, bankers, doctors, securities brokers and others who were subjects and targets of criminal investigations with less than a whisper of notice. Barry Cohen has represented lawyers and judges through the years, including a Hillsborough Circuit Judge and Florida State Attorney, which earned him the title ‘the lawyers’ lawyer’. We have vast experience representing clients in matters involving a wide array of government agencies, including the United States Department of Justice, various state attorneys, the Office of the Florida Statewide Prosecutor, the FBI, SEC, FTC, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, DEA, IRS and Florida Financial Regulators.

The firm is solidly committed to utilizing the finest and latest technology available to support its efforts on behalf of our clients. Using a fully integrated computerized case management system, as well as a combination of portable litigation and presentation support systems, we bring the latest technology to the courtroom to enhance the representation of our clients.

If you have been accused of a crime and are seeking representation, Tell Us About Your Case.