Tampa

Experienced Hillsborough County Defense Lawyer Committed to Securing the Best Possible Outcome in the Toughest Cases

Tampa’s fast-moving court system leaves little room for error once you are arrested. Within hours you can be booked at Orient Road Jail, referred to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, and scheduled for a first appearance before a judge in downtown Tampa. The Mayberry Law Firm understands how quickly accusations turn into formal charges in this city—whether they originate from the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, or the federal agencies headquartered near MacDill Air Force Base. If you want a Tampa criminal defense attorney who combines local knowledge with aggressive strategy, we are prepared to confront the government’s case head-on.

Federal Charges

Interstate commerce routes like I-275, the Port of Tampa Bay’s shipping terminals, and MacDill’s federal enclave attract FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security investigations. Fraud schemes involving wire transfers through Tampa’s banking centers, drug conspiracies routed through the port, and firearm offenses linked to MacDill housing can all shift a case from state court on Twiggs Street to the U.S. District Court on North Florida Avenue. Federal prosecutors move quickly, using grand-jury subpoenas and forensic accountants long before an arrest is made. Challenging a federal indictment often means attacking jurisdiction, questioning interstate commerce allegations, and undermining the probable-cause affidavits that justified wiretaps. A Tampa criminal defense attorney who practices in the Middle District of Florida can negotiate with Assistant U.S. Attorneys before the government locks itself into mandatory minimum positions.

Sex Crimes

Tampa nets hundreds of sex crime arrests each year through online stings run from suburban warehouses and through accusations tied to nightlife districts in Ybor City and SoHo. Charges range from solicitation to aggravated sexual battery. Digital forensics—chat logs, phone extractions, and IP tracking—are the backbone of these prosecutions, yet they are only as reliable as the officers collecting them. A skilled Tampa criminal defense attorney will question whether undercover detectives induced behavior that never would have occurred, challenge chain-of-custody gaps in seized devices, and expose misidentifications that stem from hotel surveillance footage along Dale Mabry Highway. In many cases, the defense can file suppression motions that remove key digital evidence or argue entrapment when law enforcement crosses the line from detection to the creation of an offense.

Violent Crimes

From Raymond James Stadium tailgates to Gasparilla parades, Tampa police regularly respond to fights that escalate into aggravated battery or attempted murder charges. Florida’s Stand-Your-Ground statute offers immunity when you use force to protect yourself, but the burden is on your lawyer to file a motion and present evidence that you acted lawfully. A Tampa criminal defense attorney will secure witness statements before memories fade, collect surveillance from downtown venues, and obtain 911 recordings to reconstruct who was the true aggressor. When firearms are involved, the defense can exploit discrepancies between ballistic reports and eyewitness accounts—often critical in proving self-defense or mistaken identity.

Theft Offenses

Tampa’s retail corridors—International Plaza, WestShore Plaza, and the Midtown district—generate high-value shoplifting and credit-card fraud arrests. Florida law allows prosecutors to combine multiple misdemeanor thefts into a single felony count once the total surpasses $750. Loss-prevention officers often overestimate item values or rely on low-quality surveillance footage. Your attorney can subpoena clearer security video, cross-examine corporate witnesses, and negotiate civil compromises that satisfy retailers without a criminal conviction. For white-collar theft allegations involving Tampa’s finance and healthcare employers, a detailed audit may reveal accounting errors or unauthorized third-party access that weakens the prosecution’s narrative of intentional fraud.

DUIs

Tampa police deploy saturation patrols along the Courtney Campbell Causeway, in Ybor City, and near Amalie Arena after concerts and Lightning games. Breath-test results from the Intoxilyzer 8000 units at Central Breath Testing face challenges for calibration drift and operator error. Field-sobriety tests conducted on uneven cobblestone streets in Channelside produce unreliable clues. A Tampa DUI defense attorney inspects maintenance logs, body-cam footage, and dispatch notes to uncover constitutional violations—such as stops lacking reasonable suspicion or prolonged detentions while officers awaited a DUI task force unit. Necessity defenses also arise when drivers have no safe alternative transport, a frequent scenario in early-morning hours after major events.

Drug Crimes

Tampa’s role as a logistics hub brings DEA-monitored parcels through Tampa International Airport and shipping containers through the port. Detectives often rely on confidential informants to arrange controlled buys in parking lots on Fowler Avenue or Fletcher Avenue. Informant credibility, laboratory backlogs, and mishandled field test kits create fertile ground for dismissal or charge reductions. In trafficking cases, the defense can question whether net drug weight includes legally possessed substances, challenge the legality of canine sniffs during traffic stops, or argue constructive possession when drugs are found in shared vehicles or residences.

Call a Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Today

A criminal charge in Tampa can derail your plans today—and haunt your record for decades. Evidence disappears, witnesses relocate, and prosecutors decide their trial strategy long before your first court date. The Mayberry Law Firm acts quickly: filing motions, securing surveillance footage from businesses along Kennedy Boulevard, and negotiating with the State Attorney’s Office before charges become immovable. Call 813-444-7435 or reach us through our online form to schedule a confidential consultation with a Tampa criminal defense attorney who will fight relentlessly for your freedom, your reputation, and your future.