Yale T. Freeman offers broad-based legal experience and a personal approach to client representation. Mr. Freeman’s conceptual, analytical and strategic management of cases has earned the admiration of both colleagues and clients.

 

CASES OF DISTINCTION

  • Representation of the general manager of a parts supplier/repair station alleged to be a contributing cause to the crashes of the Boeing 737 Max of Lion Air Jet and the Ethiopian Airlines resulting in the death of 347 lives. The crashes occurred in 2018.
  • Representation of victims of sex trafficking which occurred in Florida hotels. Twenty-eight separate federal lawsuits were initiated. A group of twenty have yet to be filed.
  • Representation of decedent’s family into the death of their son during the course of a traffic stop while in police custody
  • Representation of a hedge fund principal in grand jury proceedings pertaining to a grand jury investigation
  • Representation of a witness in a grand jury proceeding pertaining to securing mercenaries and weapons
  • Representation of a defendant in pursuing claims against a Collier County sheriff’s officer for falsification of documents
  • Representation of family members in the investigation and prosecution of the family’s bookkeeper in multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud
  • Representation of several non-profits that had been victimized by multiple fraudulent schemes perpetrated upon them
  • Representation of a defendant charged with mail fraud in chiropractic investigations
  • Representation of a pharmacy and its principal in an investigation and prosecution conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with the Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Operation, part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team.
  • Representation of a former inventor and parts manufacturer who had been victimized by a group of employees through a scheme to defraud.
  • Representation of a sophisticated investor who had been victimized by a complex Real Estate Ponzi scheme.
  • Representation of a local investor/entrepreneur pertaining to allegation of participation in a $900 million Ponzi scheme, including an SEC investigation, an investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney, two bankruptcy proceedings, multiple pieces of civil litigation initiated by investors, and IRS investigations. (Read more at reuters.com and Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ.com)
  • Representation of an art dealer pertaining to materials claimed to be owned by world-renowned artist Robert Rauschenberg, and alleged to have been stolen. Further allegations include acts of fraud, theft and copyright infringement through the resale. This case has garnered international attention due to the unique matters raised in the United States District Court as well as the facts and circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the materials.
  • Representation of the Florida Dispute Resolution Center in an investigative capacity specifically related to complaints against mediators in the State of Florida. Also served on the Rules Revision Committee.
  • Representation of a Boca Raton real estate law firm that was a victim of an elaborate Ponzi scheme and the civil, criminal and Florida Bar ramifications connected to the lawyer and his firm. (Read more at Ft Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)
  • Representation of the owner/operator of a resort community regarding allegations of the theft of monies from the condominium association.
  • Representation of an individual charged with facilitating an international gambling operation
  • Representation of a computer-related corporation dealing with the theft of potential products
  • Representation of a Federal agent centering around allegations of impropriety pertaining to his official function.
  • Representation of a Sarasota investor who was the victim of a nationwide Ponzi scheme. Facilitated his cooperation with the U.S. Government, and worked in conjunction with civil counsel in the complex recovery process.
  • Representation of a title company in a complex mortgage fraud investigation involving in excess of 120 closings.
  • Representation of a Miami law firm and its principal in multiple investigations pertaining to the alleged theft of $31 million dollars, and the parallel civil and administrative litigation surrounding a series of failed real estate ventures.
  • Representation of a law firm and its developer client pertaining to multiple inquiries stemming from over 300 closings in South and Southwest Florida.
  • Representation of four separate law firms and law-related businesses in Southwest Florida pertaining to the theft of confidential and privileged documents and trade secrets by administrative employees and lawyer associates of those firms. These representations include interaction with law enforcement and regulatory agencies, and the facilitation of civil litigation
  • Representation of a Naples title company concerning allegations of mortgage fraud, money laundering and theft.
  • Representation of purchasers of famous works of art in criminal and civil investigations centering around allegations of a scheme to sell forged and counterfeit paintings.
  • Representation of an oil company and its principals who have been victimized by a group of consultants and their operation of a scheme to defraud. Representation involves an internal investigation and the facilitation of civil litigation and criminal prosecution on behalf of the company and its principals.
  • Representation of a group of victims in one of the largest known Southwest Florida Ponzi schemes with a total loss in the vicinity of $25 to $30 million dollars. Representation involves an internal investigation and the facilitation of civil litigation and criminal prosecutions. These matters also involve representation of the victims as creditors in several bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Representation of local builder and entrepreneur pertaining to allegations of theft and mismanagement relative to his involvement in the daily operation of multiple business entities connected to his developments.
  • Representation of a local contractor pertaining to a federal investigation and indictment with allegations of wire fraud and structuring. Investigation centered around $20 million dollars in contractor-employee fraud.

HISTORICAL CASES OF DISTINCTION

  • Representation of multiple individuals in S.A. v. Sabretech, State of Florida v. Sabretech — Criminal, administrative, and civil wrongful death proceedings arising out of the ValueJet air crash in the Florida Everglades. Representation of these clients occurred over the course of a seven-year investigation and included a three-year federal grand jury investigation, indictment, trial and appeal, a state homicide investigation and indictment, and various administrative investigations and proceedings by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Transportation Safety Board and the United States Congress.
  • Representation of employees in a Federal Grand Jury investigation into the business practices of a security company that provided passenger screening services to major airlines at airports throughout the United States. Participated in an internal investigation into the company’s practices, and in the development of the presentation.
  • Representation of the President of an aircraft parts manufacturer and distributor under investigation for selling military parts to Iran in violation of Defense and Commerce Department regulations.
  • Representation of Cecilia Marcillo-Aviles in United States of America v. Edgar Nakache, Susan Aviles, and Cecilia Marcillo-Aviles, a/k/a “Ana Cecilia Marcillo Muirragui” — Joint Interpol and FBI investigation concerning allegations of the smuggling and sale of $5 million worth of pre-Columbian artifacts from the country of Ecuador.
  • Representation of a company owner and the company which distributed scrap metal to industrial smelting firms throughout the United States. One load of metal exploded when placed in a customer’s foundry, killing two workers. The clients faced investigation and prosecution for homicide and environmental offenses.
  • Representation of Frantz Biamby in USA v. Biamby — An international political drug conspiracy which was the basis for the invasion of Haiti by President Bill Clinton.
  • Representation of Alberto Ruiz in USA v. Ruiz — Money Laundering Investigation — Pre-cursor for Operation Swordfish.
  • Representation of Arnold Salinas and Don Booth in Advantage Fund v. Booth/Salinas — An SEC criminal investigation and complex civil litigation relative to multiple entities attempting to gain control of a national telecommunications company based in Houston, Texas.
  • Representation of a Collier County Commissioner in State v. John Norris, et al — Public corruption and RICO (racketeering) prosecution in Collier County (“Stadium Naples”).
  • Representation of Craig Goodie in State of Florida v. Goodie and Kehl — The first economic crimes prosecution of an organized fraud in Collier County relative to the AIO stock scheme and Florida Security law violations.
  • Representation of a key employee of a cruise line in an internal corporate investigation, and an investigation initiated by the United States Attorney’s Office and the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife services pertaining to violations of the Endangered Species Act.
  • The most significant civil matter defended was the wrongful death claims by 110 families out of the ValueJet air crash in the Florida Everglades.

These cases are representative of the types of matters handled by Yale T. Freeman. However, each and every case is unique, with its own distinctive set of facts and circumstances that affect the outcome.