Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

06/01/2026

Parents in Tampa Bay — please read this and talk to your kids tonight.

In the last few weeks, "teen takeovers" have swept across our area. Hundreds of teenagers swarm a beach, a park, or downtown — organized in hours through TikTok and group chats. On May 31, a 17-year-old was shot at the Clearwater Beach takeover. In May, Tampa police arrested 22 young people, some as young as 12, after a takeover at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

Here's what every parent needs to understand:

Your child does not have to do anything wrong to get hurt or arrested. In a crowd of hundreds, police often detain everyone in the area first and sort it out later. A kid who showed up just to be with friends can walk away with an arrest record. And in a state as heavily armed as Florida, a frightened citizen who feels swarmed may open fire — a child could be shot simply for being in the crowd.

The single best protection costs nothing: a conversation. Tonight, tell your teen —

It is not a party. People bring guns, and fights start in seconds.
Just being there is the risk. You can be shot or arrested doing nothing wrong.
If you end up in one, leave and call me. I won't be angry — I'll come get you.
If a takeover flyer hits your group chat, send it to me. Don't go, and don't share it.

A teenager who already has a plan — leave, call home, no anger — is far more likely to walk away when the crowd turns.

Our attorneys bring more than 25 years of experience defending young people and their families across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties — and we would much rather help you keep your child out of the system than defend them after the fact. If your child was arrested — or hurt — at one of these events, the hours afterward matter. Call us anytime.

The Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
(813) 727-7159 — free, confidential, available 24/7

Full guide for parents linked below.

06/01/2026

TAMPA FAMILIES: Watch out for this jail bond phone scam.
Here's how it works. Someone you love gets arrested. Before they've even seen a judge, your phone rings. The caller says he's a Hillsborough County Sheriff's lieutenant — he even uses a real lieutenant's name. He says the judge "already set bond" and tells you to bring cash to the jail, where he'll meet you out front to handle it.

It's a scam. And it's still happening right now.

Our firm's founder, Rocky Brancato, watched it happen in real time. He was standing in the First Appearance line when a scammer was on the phone with a client's mother. She handed him the phone. The caller was convincing — but every word was a lie.

Here's the truth. For serious charges, bond is not set before First Appearance. No deputy ever collects bond money in a parking lot. And the Sheriff's Office never asks for cash, gift cards, or crypto over the phone.

If you get one of these calls, hang up and verify. Look your loved one up on the HCSO "Who's in Jail" inquiry, check the case on the Clerk's HOVER system, and call Inmate Records directly at (813) 247-8400. Never call a number the scammer gives you.

Please share this. The families being targeted are the ones who've never dealt with the system before. One share could save someone thousands of dollars and a lot of fear.

Full breakdown: https://www.brancatolawfirm.com/blog/hillsborough-county-jail-bond-scam/
The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. | (813) 727-7159
Defending the accused across Hillsborough, Pinellas & Pasco Counties

05/10/2026

Getting ready.

04/15/2026

The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. was built to do things differently.

No assembly lines. No handing your case off to someone you've never met. No attorney walking into court having just read your file that morning.

You came to us for a different standard — and that demand has outgrown what one attorney can handle. So, we did what we promised: we grew the team only when the right person arrived.

Please help us welcome Jean-Luc Adrien, Esq. to the firm on May 18.

Jean-Luc brings a powerhouse background to our clients. He started at the elite Bronx Defenders in NYC before serving our local community as Division Chief at the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office. From DUIs to homicides, he has defended clients across the full spectrum of criminal law.

He is also quadrilingual — fluent in English, Haitian Creole, French, and Spanish. For too long, many families across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties have struggled to find high-level defense in their own language. That changes now.

Same standard. Broader reach. More families defended.

The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. | (813) 727-7159

04/04/2026

Getting ready for big changes at the Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

02/19/2026

Did you know police may already be tracking your car — even if you've done nothing wrong?

Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are expanding across Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the surrounding area. These cameras capture your plate, vehicle details, and movements — feeding it all into a searchable database used by thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide.

If you're facing criminal charges connected to ALPR or Flock camera evidence, you need an attorney who understands this technology and knows how to challenge it.

Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Rocky Brancato and The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. break down what you need to know — including your rights, how this data is used against you, and the defense strategies that matter.

Call (813) 727-7159 for a free, confidential consultation.

Link in comments

01/23/2026

01/10/2026

Millions watched the same video. Why did they see two different crimes?

The Rene Good ICE Shooting case proves exactly what we see in Tampa courtrooms every day: In a polarized world, jurors often reach verdicts based less on the evidence and more on the beliefs they carried into the courtroom.

Ask yourself: If you were charged today, would your jury judge the facts? Or would they judge you based on their own political or social lens?

We just published a deep dive on the "Sleeper Juror" phenomenon and why experienced jury selection is now the most critical part of your defense.

Read the full analysis here: https://www.brancatolawfirm.com/blog/rene-good-case-jury-selection-polarization/

The Rene Good ICE Shooting case shows why jury selection matters: same video, opposite verdicts. Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

12/19/2025

UPDATE: The Officials Have Spoken.

Back in September, we explained via a blog post on our website the truth about Florida's new license plate law: standard frames are LEGAL.

Some disagreed. We were accused of misreading the statute. Commenters cited sheriff's office videos and news reports as "proof" we were mistaken.

We stood by our analysis.

Now, both the BILL'S SPONSOR and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles have issued official clarifications:

Rep. Doug Bankson (who wrote HB 253): "What started as a false alarm became a raging fire of misinformation... The reported information is absolutely untrue. No one is in danger for sporting their favorite frame, as long as their license number and sticker are uncovered."

FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner (December 12, 2025 memo to ALL Florida law enforcement): License plate frames are NOT prohibited. The bottom of the plate is NOT a "primary feature." Frames covering "FLORIDA" or the bottom text are PERMISSIBLE.

The law targets TAG FLIPPERS and OBSCURING DEVICES—not your Gators frame, your dealership border, or your Bucs pride.

Yet even now—with official clarification from the man who wrote the bill AND the state agency that oversees motor vehicles—some people continue to dig in their heels. Still insisting the misinformation is correct. Still spreading false claims to others.

When the bill's sponsor says the viral interpretation is wrong, it's wrong.

When FLHSMV issues a memo correcting the record, the record is corrected.

When a 2019 Fourth DCA case already ruled these frames permissible, the law is settled.

At this point, continuing to spread misinformation isn't a difference of opinion. It's a choice and you are part of the problem!

THE RULE:

LEGAL: Frames that leave your plate NUMBER and STICKER visible
LEGAL: Frames covering "Florida" or the bottom text
LEGAL: Dealer frames, sports frames, university frames

ILLEGAL: Plate flippers, privacy shutters, reflective sprays
ILLEGAL: Anything designed to defeat cameras or hide your plate on demand

If you were stopped or charged because an officer misunderstood this law, you may have a defense. A bad stop means suppressed evidence.

Our commitment is to accurate legal information—even when it means going against the prevailing narrative. We read statutes, not viral videos.

https://www.brancatolawfirm.com/blog/florida-license-plate-law-2025/

Call (813) 727-7159
BrancatoLawFirm.com
Tampa, FL