Representative Matters

Representative matters David Tarras has handled include:

• Wire Fraud – Prison Avoided, Probation Only
In a federal wire fraud case carrying significant prison exposure, the defense achieved an extraordinary outcome: no incarceration. Despite government guidelines recommending prison time, the Court imposed probation only.
• Pharmaceutical Controlled Substances Case – Decades of Exposure Reduced
In a federal prosecution under the Controlled Substances Act involving pharmaceutical distribution, the defendant faced the possibility of decades in prison. Through extensive mitigation and strategic advocacy, the Court imposed a sentence of only 13 months of imprisonment followed by 12 months of supervised release—a dramatic reduction from the potential penalties.
• Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Conspiracy – Facing Life, Received 5 Years
Secured favorable sentencing outcome for a client facing a mandatory minimum of ten years and guidelines up to life. Through extensive mitigation, including a forensic mental health evaluation, expert testimony, and medical literature, David Tarras demonstrated how lifelong PTSD and abuse made her vulnerable to coercion. The Court granted safety valve and a substantial variance.
• Federal Firearms & Supervised Release – State Case Dismissed, Concurrent Sentence
In back-to-back firearm prosecutions, David Tarras got a related state case thrown out and prevented stacking of penalties. Instead of facing lengthy consecutive sentences, the client received a single concurrent term at the bottom of the guidelines.
• Armed Robbery with Firearm – Avoided 20-Year Mandatory Minimum
The client was facing a 20-year minimum mandatory sentence in state court, plus federal firearm charges. On the eve of trial, David Tarras forced the State to drop the minimum mandatory. The ultimate result: concurrent sentences and a four-year federal term.
• Supervised Release Violation – No Prison Despite Government Objections
For a defendant recently released from a 20-year federal sentence, a marijuana violation did not result in revocation. Instead, the Court reinstated supervision with six months of home confinement and no electronic monitoring.
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm – Prison Avoided, Time Served
The Court found prior felony treatment to be unfair and imposed a sentence of time served with home confinement and supervised release, rather than years in custody.
• False Statements in Firearm Purchase – Zero Prison Time
Successfully argued for a downward variance to house arrest and no jail, down from 48 months at the bottom of the guidelines, for a local South Florida car mechanic charged with gun trafficking in a conspiracy involving the seizure of over a hundred firearms at the New York/Canadian border.
• Illegal Reentry & Firearm Possession – Cut Sentence in Half
After successful objections to guideline enhancements, the Court imposed a sentence of one year and one day, roughly half of the recommendation from probation and the government.
• Straw Purchaser Firearms Case – Probation Only
In a straw purchasing case with clear guideline exposure to prison, the Court imposed probation only, after mitigation evidence of PTSD from childhood trauma.
• Supervised Release & Alleged Domestic Violence – Complete Reinstatement
After demonstrating that the government could not prove allegations, supervised release was reinstated with no additional custody.
• DUI Manslaughter / Supervised Release – No Admissions, Time Served
A supervised release violation tied to a pending DUI manslaughter charge was resolved with time served and reinstatement, without requiring damaging admissions.
• Drug Distribution with Mandatory Minimum – Lowest Possible Sentence
In a narcotics conspiracy with a five-year mandatory minimum, the Court granted safety valve relief and imposed the lowest sentence permitted by the guidelines.
• Supervised Release Violation – Complete Dismissal
In a federal supervised release proceeding tied to an alleged tax evasion offense, the defense successfully argued that probation overstepped its authority by investigating without IRS involvement. The Court agreed, and the violation affidavit was dismissed in full—resulting in termination of supervised release with no additional penalties.