From “Modern Day Mafia” to Probation

A Pre-Trial Defense Investigation in Operation on the Fence

“Modern Day Mafia” – The Public Narrative

In 2023, South Florida law enforcement announced the takedown of what officials described as a large-scale organized retail theft enterprise. This racketeering defense investigation in Florida required an independent review beyond the press conferences and headlines. During multiple press conferences, including appearances by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the case was publicly labeled a “modern day mafia.”

As widely reported by WPBF, CBS News Miami, USA Today, and Yahoo News, the case involved approximately $20 million in alleged retail losses and fourteen defendants accused of participating in an organized retail crime enterprise.

The investigation was branded Operation on the Fence. Authorities alleged approximately $20 million in retail losses and announced the arrest of fourteen individuals. Prosecutors described a coordinated criminal enterprise operating across county lines, complete with boosters, redistribution networks, and fencing operations.

Television cameras captured tables of seized merchandise. Defendant photographs were displayed on large presentation boards. Organizational charts were presented to the media. Headlines referenced racketeering, conspiracy, and money laundering. The optics were deliberate and dramatic.

Our client’s photograph was displayed publicly alongside the others. He was accused of being the head of the organization.

The theft ring itself was real. What was not real was our client’s alleged role in it.

Despite being grouped publicly with the broader case, our client maintained his innocence from day one. He had no knowledge of any alleged criminal enterprise, no involvement in a coordinated criminal organization, and was innocent of the charges filed against him.

The Charges

The State filed multiple felony counts, including racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, money laundering in excess of $100,000, dealing in stolen property, and multiple conspiracy counts related to dealing in stolen property. The charging document mirrored the press narrative, organized crime, financial movement, enterprise structure.

Our client entered a plea of not guilty and rejected early offers that included jail time. He was not willing to serve time for conduct he did not commit.

Racketeering Defense Investigation Florida Strategy

Royal Palm Investigations conducted a full pre-trial investigation in coordination with defense counsel.

The work included extensive discovery review, financial record analysis, review of electronic communications, Cellebrite extraction assessment, call detail record evaluation, body worn camera footage review, search warrant analysis, affidavit scrutiny, public records requests, and direct witness interviews.

Several co-defendants agreed to testify against our client. Their proffer statements were examined line by line. As timelines were reconstructed and documentary evidence was analyzed, inconsistencies surfaced. Assertions did not align with objective records. Statements conflicted with digital evidence. Key allegations fractured under scrutiny.

There’s a saying that perception is reality.

Not in this case.

And we helped prove it.

The Result

On February 11, 2026, all racketeering counts were nolle prossed. All conspiracy counts were nolle prossed. The money laundering charge was nolle prossed.

The only remaining count was dealing in stolen property. The sentence imposed was twelve days credit for time served and six years probation.

From alleged organized crime leader to probation.
From “modern day mafia” headlines to courtroom reality.

Defense Work in High-Exposure Cases

This case demonstrates the importance of independent, methodical defense investigation in complex, multi-defendant prosecutions driven by public narrative and press exposure.

Royal Palm Investigations works directly with criminal defense counsel in serious felony matters statewide and nationwide.

Learn more here:
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Additional detail about our investigative approach is available on our Criminal Defense Investigation Services page:
Criminal Defense Investigation Services

Who We’re Here For

We are not here to protect career criminals. We are here for the wrongly accused, the overcharged, and the individuals swept into narratives larger than the facts. For the client who maintains his innocence and is willing to fight for it.

In this case, perception was not reality. The evidence told a different story and that story prevailed in court.

Royal Palm Investigations
Florida License A3300070