Tampa, Florida Defense Attorneys

Darren Finebloom, ESQ., Darren Finebloom has tried over 70 criminal cases before a jury in the State of Florida.  He has practiced criminal law since he became an attorney over 8 years ago. Over the years he has personally represented clients who have been charged with serious felonies and misdemeanors in both State and Federal Courts throughout the State of Florida.


Originally from Miami, Florida. Darren received his Bachelors Degree in Criminology from Florida State University in 1996. Thereafter, Darren attended law school at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he graduated Cum Laude with Honors in 2000.

When someone is accused or charged, regardless  of whether it is a DUI, child abuse, sexual assault, drug possession, theft, or homicide, no one possesses more motivation than Mr. Finebloom in zealously protecting his client's rights under the law and seeing to it that they are afforded a fair trial. He combines his trial experience with a personal commitment to his clients in order to offer competent representation in a supportive, hands-on environment.

Darren has won dismissals for his clients all over the State of Florida, including but not limited to the following counties:  Orange, Sarasota, Manatee, and Hillsborough.  Darren is admitted to practice before all Florida State Courts and Federal Courts including the Southern and Northern Districts of Florida.

Darren Finebloom Q&A

When you ask Darren Finebloom why he decided to become a lawyer, the first reason he’ll tell you is that he’s competitive.  He has always had the desire to hone his abilities and pit himself against any foe — on the schoolyard as a kid, on the professional soccer fields of England, or in a Florida courtroom.  Being competitive is a good thing when you decide to practice law and even more so when you focus on drug cases.  Here’s why you want Darren Finebloom on your side.

Why do you concentrate on defending drug cases?

I began my legal career as a Public Defender.   I came to realize that our drug laws are extremely draconian and that the government is filling our prisons with minor sellers and addicts as opposed to the actual drug kingpins.  Imagine 18-year-old kids facing minimum sentences of seven years in prison or someone facing a drug charge and looking at serving more time than a child molester!  Ever since I was young I had a passion for defending the underdog, so, as long as our government keeps using its formidable resources to keep fighting this political farce known as the ‘War on Drugs,” most everyone arrested on drug charges starts out as an underdog.  When you can get 15 years for selling $80 worth of pills, someone has to help you fight for real justice!

How do you approach your drug cases?

From my very first criminal case involving a drug crime — a simple possession of marijuana charge — I learned the importance of leaving no stone unturned and paying attention to details.  There are so many different ways to challenge a drug charge, whether it is the stop, the search, or the arrest.  If you carefully and thoroughly examine the State’s case there are bound to be problems.  My job is to identify those problems and attack the State’s weaknesses.

Do you have a proven method of defense?

Absolutely!  Gather all the evidence and then attack it.  Start at the beginning with how they first came in contact with my client:  Did the police have ‘reasonable suspicion’ before stopping and searching a vehicle?  If a confidential informant was involved, were they reliable… how did they know my client… what tactics did they use to help the police… was there entrapment?  Then we move on to whether the stop or seizure was constitutional?    When they searched a house, was the warrant properly obtained?  

We attack methodology and procedures, too.  We can discover a great deal by analyzing police reports and evidence on audio recordings and videotape.  And how evidence was handled is extremely important.  We once had a trafficking case where we had an expert reweigh the seized drugs after the State’s lab tested them; enough of the drugs were used up in testing that the amount was under the trafficking minimum and we got our client a non-conviction and probation.  There are many ways to attack drug cases and it’s our job to find the right ones.

What are some unique aspects of laws regarding driving under the influence of drugs?

The public needs to be aware that they can be charged with a DUI even if they are using prescription drugs… the police don’t differentiate between prescribed medication and controlled substances when they suspect someone is impaired while driving.  And when someone is asked to provide a urine sample, if you refuse your license is automatically suspended under Florida law.  But keep in mind that normal testing can only prove the presence of a substance, not when it was taken.  Cocaine stays in your system for a minimum of 72 hours while marijuana could be in your system for 30 days.  That means we can challenge the reliability of the urine sample and the testing methods as well as the State’s ability to prove when the person took the substance.  We have access to an amazing team of expert witnesses, including toxicologists. 

What is your opinion on police pressuring people into becoming confidential informants?

First of all, I suggest never speaking to the police without an attorney present, and especially in regards to providing ‘substantial assistance’ as a confidential informant. If you’ve just been arrested and are undergoing interrogation, you’re extremely vulnerable and not thinking clearly.  Bring a lawyer on board immediately!

Now, I don’t necessarily recommend any of my clients provide substantial assistance to the police.  I have a couple concerns with that: one, the person’s safety… they are sending them into situations that are extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening; second, the officers actually have very little ability to make the deal for the prosecutor’s office — you may go put your life on the line and the prosecutor says they won’t give you the deal after all.  But, my recommendation is not absolute.  Substantial assistance is one of the few ways of getting under a mandatory sentence or getting out of jail time, so having a good defense attorney negotiating for you is in your best interest.

And don’t let the police railroad you into making a deal on your own by telling you it’s a ‘one-time offer.’   If you can provide sufficient information for something the police are interested in, then asking for a lawyer will have no effect on the offer… it will not go away.  

What do people need to look for in hiring a defense lawyer?

You definitely want to hire someone who focuses in criminal defense and who has experience in handling drug cases, everything from minor marijuana possession all the way up to complicated trafficking cases.  It is particularly important to know they’ve handled cases similar to your own and how they turned out.  Results count!  Personally, I’m happy to show anybody that comes into my office the cases I’ve handled and the results I’ve achieved.  Hesitation is a warning flag you need to pay attention to.

Another decisive factor is accessibility.  A client facing drug charges is under extreme stress and needs to be able to contact their lawyer when they have questions and concerns, whatever time of the day.  So, be sure to hire someone willing to provide access 24/7 like we do with toll-free phone numbers and e-mail.

Finally, when you choose a lawyer, choose someone who you feel is not just in it for the money.  You’re going to have to get a ‘gut feeling’ about this aspect as you talk with them.  They need to be in it to defend you and they feel that your rights and your life are important.  

What are the dangers associated with choosing an inexperienced attorney?

An inexperienced lawyer can jeopardize your future.  Someone not familiar with Florida statutes and who doesn’t handle drug cases on a daily basis may not provide you with a valid defense and you end up in prison.  There are so many holes and traps that an inexperienced lawyer can fall into, too.  Imagine not knowing the mandatory sentences you are facing or not understanding that certain evidence must be preserved!  With your life on the line, experience counts. 

Why should someone choose you to defend them?

When you are facing a severe sentence, you want to be represented by a fighter and that’s what I am.  I’m creative and I’ve handled every single type of drug case there is to handle in the state of Florida.  I will do everything in my power to fight your case and get the best result possible, whether it’s a minimum sentence, probation, or, the best case, a complete dismissal.  

Every case is personal to me.  I have seen what the overwhelming resources of the government can do to a first time offender who cultivated a few marijuana plants, a young person who has never been in trouble before, and people going through financially hard times that got caught up in circumstances they were unable to handle.  People with limited experience dealing with the criminal justice system need a lawyer like me to stand up for their rights and defend them.

And let’s be perfectly frank: a person facing a drug charge is in a serious situation and is paying for someone qualified, experienced and able to handle the pressure of cases that can last from 90 days to two years.  That is exactly what I provide my clients. I am being compensated to represent their interests every day and every step of the way until their case is resolved.  I live every day to defend my clients and come to know them as people.  Their future is one of the most important things to me while I am representing them on their case. That’s what I do, and that’s what every lawyer in my firm does.   Besides our experience and our qualifications is the fact that we actually care about the people we defend.  

Contact us about your legal matter today!