Criminal Defense in Miami, Florida
State and federal criminal defense across Miami-Dade and South Florida since 1989. Direct attorney involvement on every case.
One attorney involved on every case.
Criminal defense requires sustained attention from someone who has read the case file in detail. The Law Offices of Andre A. Rouviere is a boutique practice by design. Andre handles each consultation personally, prepares the motions, reviews discovery, and appears in court on the case.
Calls reach Andre directly without a screening service or junior intake. The same attorney who takes the call handles the case through resolution.
Charges and Cases the Firm Defends
Each area below has its own page with the specific statutes, penalties, and defense considerations involved.
General Criminal Defense
For cases that do not fit one charge category, are still developing, or involve overlapping issues.
Explore General Defense →DUI & Traffic Defense
Florida DUI cases under § 316.193 plus the parallel DHSMV license suspension. 10-day clock applies.
Explore DUI Defense →Drug Charges
Possession, possession with intent, trafficking, and federal drug cases. Mandatory minimums apply at trafficking weights.
Explore Drug Charges →Domestic Violence
DV criminal charges and federal firearm prohibition under § 922(g) often applies in DV convictions.
Explore DV Defense →Violent Crimes
Aggravated assault, battery, robbery, kidnapping, and 10-20-Life mandatory firearm enhancements.
Explore Violent Crimes →Federal Crimes
Federal investigations, indictments, and sentencing in SDFL and MDFL. Federal Sentencing Guidelines apply.
Explore Federal Crimes →White Collar Crimes
Healthcare fraud, securities fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and tax crimes in state and federal court.
Explore White Collar →Sex Crimes
Sexual battery, lewd acts, internet sex crimes, and registration requirements. Cases requiring careful, discreet defense.
Explore Sex Crimes Defense →Weapon Charges
Florida firearm offenses, 10-20-Life enhancements, and federal § 922(g) felon-in-possession cases.
Explore Weapon Charges →Theft & Fraud
Petit theft, grand theft, identity theft, embezzlement, and federal wire and mail fraud charges.
Explore Theft & Fraud →Juvenile Defense
Florida juvenile delinquency cases, direct file decisions, and protecting a young person's record and future.
Explore Juvenile Defense →Probation Violations
VOP hearings, technical and substantive violations, and avoiding the original sentence's full exposure.
Explore Probation Defense →Appeals & Post-Conviction
Direct appeals, motions for new trial, and post-conviction relief in Florida and federal courts.
Explore Appeals →Expungement & Sealing
Florida record sealing and expungement. Eligibility analysis, FDLE applications, and court petitions.
Explore Expungement →Two Court Systems, Different Rules
Federal practice has different rules, deadlines, and sentencing structures from state court. The firm handles both.
State Criminal Cases
- Cases heard at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
- Florida Statutes Chapter 893 (drugs), 784 (assault), 812 (theft), 316.193 (DUI)
- Sentencing guidelines under Florida Punishment Code
- Parole and gain time may apply
- Mandatory minimums for trafficking, 10-20-Life, and PRR
- Plea, trial, or pretrial diversion all possible outcomes
Federal Criminal Cases
- Cases heard in SDFL and MDFL federal courthouses
- U.S. Code Title 18 (general crimes), 21 (drugs), 26 (tax)
- Federal Sentencing Guidelines determine the range
- No parole; defendants serve approximately 85% of sentence
- Mandatory minimums under § 924(c), drug quantities, RICO
- § 5K1.1 cooperation can reduce sentences below mandatory minimums
What the Defense Work Actually Is
Criminal cases are built on evidence, timing, and pressure. The cases that resolve well, on either side of trial, share the same underlying pattern. The constitutional issues get identified early, the discovery gets read carefully, and the case gets postured so the prosecution has to take it seriously.
Investigation
Discovery review, witness interviews, evidence preservation, and identifying the constitutional and procedural issues that can be raised pretrial. The decisions made in the first 48 hours often shape what comes next. What the police did, what they have, and what they cannot prove is the foundation everything else gets built on.
Strategy
Identifying the strongest defense theory and the weaknesses in the prosecution's case. Decisions about expert witnesses, pretrial motions, and posture for negotiation get made here. Cases with strong suppression issues or charging defects move differently than cases that turn on disputed facts at trial.
Pretrial hearings often resolve cases before trial or shape what evidence can be used.
Pretrial Litigation
Motions to suppress, motions to dismiss, motions in limine. The pretrial phase is where most of the case-shaping work happens. A successful suppression motion can dispose of the case entirely. A motion in limine can keep the prosecution's strongest evidence away from the jury.
Resolution
Trial, plea negotiation, or pretrial disposition. Which path makes sense depends on the strength of the case at that point, the offer on the table, and what the client actually wants out of the matter. The work that produces a workable outcome was done in the months before, not in the negotiation itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Florida?+
Will I work directly with Andre on my case?+
How much does a criminal defense attorney cost?+
Can I avoid jail time on a felony charge?+
Should I take the plea offer the prosecutor gives me?+
Does the firm handle federal criminal cases?+
What should I do if I am being investigated but have not been arrested?+
Can a criminal record be cleared in Florida?+
Direct attorney access at (305) 774-7000
Initial consultations are free and confidential, with no obligation to retain. Calling early in a matter usually creates more options than calling late.
What Clients Say
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