Presidential Pardon — John Moore (Shark Divers Case)

Marc Seitles helped secure a presidential pardon for John Moore, a Florida diver convicted after freeing sharks from a fishing longline. National outlets covered the clemency and the underlying federal case.

Related victory: Victory: Presidential pardon for John Moore

Media coverage:

• Miami Herald — President Trump pardons Florida divers (06/02/2025)
• USA Today — President Trump pardons Florida divers who cut 19 sharks free from longline (06/02/2025)
• Palm Beach Post — Trump pardons Jupiter shark divers (05/29/2025)
• The Guardian — Trump pardons two divers convicted of theft for freeing sharks (06/03/2025)

United States v. Fidalgis Font

Marc Seitles represented Fidalgis Font, CEO of Tellus Clinical Research, in a federal healthcare fraud case alleging “fake” clinical drug trials. Font was acquitted of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering charges. The matter received coverage from Law360 and the Miami Herald.

Related victory: United States vs Fidalgis Font

Media coverage:

• Law360 — Jury Clears Miami Drug Trial Co.’s CEO Of Fraud Charges (05/19/2023)
• Miami Herald — Miami prosecutors lose medical fraud case alleging ring ran ‘fake’ clinical drug trials (05/19/2023)

United States v. Justin Magnuson

After challenging the government’s drug-trafficking and money-laundering theory, Marc Seitles helped resolve Justin Magnuson’s federal indictment with a favorable outcome. Coverage also followed Magnuson’s later justice-reform advocacy.

Related victory: United States v. Justin Magnuson

Media coverage:

• Justice Reform Foundation — Profile of Justin Magnuson
• Texas Lawyer (PDF) — 20 Months’ Hard Time: Cautionary Tale After Investor Imprisoned Over ‘Legit’ Marijuana Trade (09/29/2022)
• Dallas Morning News (PDF) — How 3 North Texans who tried to sell pot legally ended up behind bars (04/18/2022)

Healthcare Fraud, Money Laundering & Complex Federal Investigations

Marc Seitles is frequently quoted as counsel in Miami Herald and other coverage of healthcare fraud, money-laundering, and related federal enforcement matters.

Media coverage:

• Miami Herald — Miami federal judge accuses prosecutors of spying on defense, orders new trial (12/22/2022)
• Miami Herald — Judge throws out major sweepstakes fraud case, orders new trial
• Miami Herald — Once imprisoned for Medicare fraud, Miami operator charged again in big case linked to Cuba (08/02/2019)
• Miami Herald — Miami man arrested in $230 million HIV-drug scheme, then gains release from fed lockup (07/05/2022)
• Miami Herald — Federal agent charged with tipping off target of healthcare fraud investigation in Miami (07/22/2020)
• Sun Sentinel — Massive $23 million auto insurance fraud was an intricate operation (10/14/2017)

State of Florida v. Kitchings

Law Offices of Marc David Seitles (formerly Seitles & Litwin) successfully overturned Mr. Kitchings’ conviction and twenty-two year sentence on appeal in an Uber-driver sexual battery case that drew regional press attention.

Related victory: State of Florida v. Kitchings

Media coverage:

• The Palm Beach Post — Former Uber driver granted new rape trial (02/12/2020)
• Sun Sentinel — Uber driver wins new trial in passenger rape case (02/12/2020)
• Law.com — Prosecutors Misled Jury in Rape Case Against Uber Driver, Florida Panel Finds (02/12/2020)

United States v. Uri Ammar (Brinks / Calder Casino)

On appeal, counsel formerly practicing as Seitles & Litwin obtained reversal of a life sentence arising from an armed robbery prosecution involving a Brinks guard’s murder at Calder Casino.

Related victory: United States v. Uri Ammar

Media coverage:

• Sun Sentinel — Ex-casino worker admits role in ‘inside job’ robbery that led to murder of Brink’s guard (06/27/2017)
• Sun Sentinel — Appeals court throws out ex-casino worker’s conviction in fatal robbery of Brink’s guard (11/30/2016)

Elroy Phillips / Dirty Cop Testimony & Other Appellate Matters

Appellate and post-conviction work for clients whose convictions rested on flawed or corrupted testimony has been covered by South Florida outlets.

Related victory: Elroy Phillips v. United States

Media coverage:

• New Times Broward-Palm Beach — Elroy Phillips, inmate imprisoned on dirty-cop testimony, still seeking freedom (03/14/2014)
• Naples Daily News — Appeal court orders new trial in Daniel Guevara-Vilca child porn case (04/10/2015)
• Miami Herald — Despite false trial testimony, Miami judge upholds 24-year sentence for crack-cocaine offender (03/06/2014)

Extradition & International Criminal Matters

Marc Seitles has been interviewed and quoted in coverage involving extradition, OFAC, and cross-border narcotics and political cases.

Media coverage:

• The New York Times — Marc Seitles requests immunity for client in international ammunition-export scandal (04/04/2008)
• El Nuevo Diario — Marc Seitles interviewed about extradition of Manuel Noriega (09/07/2007)
• Miami Herald / El Nuevo Herald — Former Colombian politician stays free in South Florida — for now (03/19/2017)
• EFE — Ex-Colombian minister’s defense says there’s no extradition treaty with U.S. (10/26/2016)
• Associated Press — Colombiano extraditado a EE.UU. obtiene libertad tras desestimación de cargos
• Kienyke — “Me confundieron con un narcotraficante y me extraditaron” (01/19/2014)
• CNN.com — Cali Cartel Bosses Near Plea Deal (09/26/2006)
• USA Today — Cali Cartel’s Rodriguez Brothers Close to a Deal to Save Family (09/22/2006)

Additional Notable Mentions

• Miami Herald — Two ex-Miami cops aim to overturn convictions for protecting cocaine shipments (05/21/2021)
• Miami Herald — Colombian kingpin dying in prison seeks ‘compassion’ from Miami judge (02/06/2020)
• Miami Herald — U.S. agent got prostitutes and cash from Colombian drug lord; now headed to prison (11/30/2017)
• ProPublica / AllGov — Bureau of Prisons fights against early release of dying or incapacitated prisoners (2013)
• The Huffington Post — Family of inmate who had brain surgery denied prison visit access (07/22/2015)
• Jamaica Observer — Buju Banton immigration / bond coverage (2010)
• Associated Press — Judge orders government to pay $600,000 over prosecutorial misconduct
• Sun Sentinel — “A caring doctor—or a drug peddler?” (02/17/2009)