Robert J. Becerra Attorney

First Admitted: 1990, Florida

Professional Webpage: http://www.rjbecerralaw.com

Bar / Professional Activity:

Florida Bar’s International Law Certification Committee, Chair, 2025
Chair of the Foreign Legal Consultants Committee of the Florida Bar International Law Section, 2025
Member, American Bar Association Criminal Justice and International Law Sections, 2024
United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2024
United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, 2024
United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 2023
Florida Bar Council of Sections, Past-Chair
Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association, Presenter
Miami-Dade County Bar Association, Member
Chair of the Florida Bar Council of Sections, 2023
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, 2019
Chair, Florida Bar Grievance Committee 11"J", 2023
Chair, Florida Bar International Law Section, 2020
U.S. Court of International Trade, 2015
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Supreme Court of the United States, 1994
Member, Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association
U. S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1991
Florida Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association
U. S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1991
U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1994
U. S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1991
Florida, 1990

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results):

Client, an importer of tires, received a sentence of home confinement after pleading guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit customs smuggling after evading $1.9 million in anti-dumping customs duties., 2025
Client, an importer, was sentenced to probation in federal court despite the prosecution advocating for a prison sentence despite over $1,000,000 in evaded import duties., 2024
Won appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit where my client was appellee in an appeal from a final judgment in its favor for damages against a U.S. importer for breaching a contract to which the Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG) applied to the contract., 2023
Prevailed at a federal bench trial in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, in an international business case where client was Chinese exporter of tablets, involving the Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG), 2022
Prevailed in a trademark case in federal court on a motion to stay and compel arbitration, over strenuous objection of the plaintiff., 2020
Prevailed in an appeal to the Third District Court of Appeal of Florida from an order denying a motion to compel arbitration. The Court of Appeal reversed the order, and remanded for the granting of the motion to compel arbitration, 2020
In Miami-Dade state court, client moved to compel arbitration. Motion was denied. Took appeal of order denying motion to compel arbitration to Third District Court of Appeal. Order was reversed in client's favor, remanded for lower court to enter order compelling arbitration., 2020
Customs and Border Protection seized shipping vessel for allegedly having secret compartments. Filed lawsuit against Government to get vessel back for owner. Litigated forfeiture action against Government. Arrived at settlement whereby vessel owner eliminated alleged compartments and paid storage charges in return for release of vessel., 2019
Obtained settlement on behalf of seafood importer against freight logistics company for allowing seafood importer's container of shrimp to thaw and become spoiled., 2018
Represented president of freight forwarding company who was charged in Florida state court with possessing unstamped cigarettes and evasion of cigarette tax, all Florida felonies. Convinced prosecutor to dismiss felony charges and arranged no contest plea to misdemeanor of failing to have a permit to export cigarettes. No sentence, fines or taxes owed., 2017
Obtained federal court settlement for auto parts distributor/importer whereby Customs and Border Protection returned all seized auto parts to the auto parts distributor/importer which had been alleged to be counterfeit., 2017
In representing a London vehicle importer, obtained both a settlement and a civil theft judgment against a Florida automobile broker who failed to deliver vehicles after being paid by the London importer., 2016
In a Florida lawsuit between an exporter and a trucking company, I represented the trucking company. The exporter alleged that the trucking company had either lost or stole about $170,000 worth of its cargo. The trucking company filed a motion for summary judgment against the exporter. On the eve of the hearing on the motion for summary judgment, the exporter filed a dismissal of all its claims against the trucking company., 2015
Lower court dismissed $60 million fraud case against client/defendant in Miami Court in favor of forum in Venezuela. Plaintiff took appeal. Appellate court affirmed dismissal of case in favor of court in Venezuela, 2014
Won not guilty verdict for clients, a cell phone exporter and its purchasing manager, in a federal criminal money laundering trial involving exports to Colombia and wire payments through the Black Market Peso Exchange., 2014
Client was Venezuelan national accused in civil action in Miami Dade Circuit Court of stealing up to 60 million dollars from defunct Venezuelan brokerage house in Caracas. I filed motion to dismiss for forum non conveniens, arguing that case belonged in Venezuelan courts. Plaintiff, a Venezuelan national, claimed that because he was an asylum applicant in USA, Venezuelan courts would deprive him of due process and be unfair. After remand from an appellate court, I convinced the Miami court to dismiss the case anyway in favor of a Venezuelan court. Case against my client was dismissed., 2013
Represented Shipper of computer parts from Florida to Dominican Republic. Defendant, an ocean carrier, had container with shipper's goods stolen from its warehouse/truck yard. Lawsuit filed and resulted in confidential settlement., 2013
Represented importer whose goods, cellular phones, were seized by US Customs. After government refused to return goods, I sued the Department of Homeland Security in federal court in Miami demanding the return of the goods. Settlement was entered into by the parties whereby all goods were returned to my importer client without payment of any monies, costs or fees to the government., 2013
Convinced State Attorneys' Office to dismiss charges against client, a manager of a company, accused by her employer of stealing company funds. Also convinced Department of Economic Opportunity (unemployment compensation) to reinstate her unemployment benefits over employer's objection at unemployment compensation appeal hearing, 2012
Represented client charged in New York State Court with Enterprise Corruption, money laundering and illegal bookmaking in regard to an internet sports betting network. Worked out plea deal with prosecution dismissing all charges and allowing client to plead guilty to disorderly conduct, which is less than a misdemeanor under New York law., 2012
Settled civil case between joint venture partner and joint venture entity which extracted client from joint venture in its totality, without any surviving restrictions in return for substantial settlement payment, 2012
Client had monies seized from bank account in Miami by federal government. After requesting judicial forfeiture proceedings and negotiating with government, it agreed to return almost all of the seized funds., 2011
Client was sued for violating Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed case after I filed a motion to dismiss for failing to plead with the particularity required by Supreme Court precedent, 2011
Obtained a below Federal Sentencing Guidelines sentence of probation with home detention for a client convicted of tax evasion, 2011
Represented client in high profile criminal fraud case involving the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Client sentenced to bottom of Guideline Range although government claimed he was mastermind of scheme to defraud, 2011
Obtained a $310,000 attorney's fee award against a Coffee import/export company in Miami, 2010
Obtained a misdemeanor plea agreement and sentence for a client that is an importer of food ingredients in a very high profile case. The case involved dog food ingredients from China which were tainted, resulting in the deaths of thousands of dogs and cats. The government originally indicted the client with 26 FDA misdemeanors and a felony wire fraud conspiracy. Through negotiation, a plea agreement was reached whereby the client pled guilty to two misdemeanors and the felony wire fraud conspiracy was dismissed along with 24 other misdemeanors, and the government agreed in the plea agreement to a probationary sentence and fine. Client was sentenced to probation and a fine., 2010
Represented a cheese importer who imported adulterated cheese from Nicaragua and then violated a hold on that cheese by the Food & Drug Administration. Importer then attempted to fool Customs and FDA into thinking the cheese was being re-exported when in fact it was already sold nationwide. After a guilty plea, obtained a sentence for the principle that was a minor fraction of that requested by the government., 2010
Represented a seafood wholesaler in a lawsuit brought against another seafood wholesaler in Miami-Dade Circuit Court for the conversion(theft) of a container load of frozen fish imported from Brazil. Becerra obtained a jury verdict in his client's favor in a very circumstantial case, resulting in a Final Judgment for his client $110,000., 2009
Robert J. Becerra a case brought by his client, a U.S. importer, against a Chinese manufacturer of Christmas lights for breach of contract and warranties, won an appeal in the Third District Court of Appeal taken by the defendant of an order denying their motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, 2009

Special Licenses / Certifications:

International Law, Florida Bar, beginning in 2014, 2025

Honors:

Named to "Florida Legal Elite" list in Florida Trend Magazine in "International" practice., Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine, 2021
Received the St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law's "Legal Luminaries" award for International Trade, Legal Luminaries Award, St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law, 2024
Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide
Super Lawyer in “International”, 2024
“AV Preeminent” rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
Who's Who in American Law, Marquis Who's Who, 2009
Listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" 2015-2025 editions under "Criminal Defense: White-Collar", The Best Lawyers in America, 2025
America's Most Honored Professionals, American Registry, 2011
Rated 10.0, “Superb” by Avvo, a lawyer rating website
Listed among "South Florida's Top Rated Lawyers," Criminal Law, 2012, 2013
Ranked AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5*, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
Named, "Top Lawyer," Criminal Law/Criminal Defense, South Florida Legal Guide, 2012-2019, South Florida Legal Guide, 2021
Named, "Super Lawyer" Super Lawyers Magazine, 2014-2024, SuperLawyers, 2024

Educational Background:

University of Miami, B.B.A., Majors: International Finance and Marketing, 1986

Scholarly Lectures / Writings:

This article discussed the changes in priorities regarding anti-foreign corruption enforcement under the FCPA in the second Trump Administration., Author, Anti-Foreign Corruption Enforcement in the Second Trump Administration, International Law Quarterly, Legal, 2025
Article discusses the extraterritorial reach of certain federal criminal laws to conduct occurring outside of the United States. , Author, The Extraterritorial Reach of Corruption, Money Laundering, and Fraud Crimes: Offenses Without Borders?, International Law Quarterly, Legal, 2024
Panel presenter on use of AI in the practice of law, FIU College of Law, 2024, Panelist, AI in the practice of law, FIU College of Law, 2024
Moderated panel on “Counterfeits or Gray Market?:Latest trends in trademark and intellectual property protection, enforcement and compliance for imported and exported trademarked goods” at the iLaw 2023, the ILS Global Forum on International Law, 2023, Moderator, Counterfeits or Gray Market?:Latest trends in trademark and intellectual property protection, enforcement and compliance for imported and exported trademarked goods”, Florida Bar International Law Section, 2023
The article discusses the manners and methods of trade-based money laundering through the precious metals markets and ways to avoid involvement in illicit transactions, Author, Gold at the End of the Rainbow: Money Laundering Through the Precious Metals Markets, International Law Quarterly, International Law, 2022
Moderated panel on “International Money Laundering through the Precious Metals Markets” at the iLaw 2022, the ILS Global Forum on International Law, 2022, Moderator, International Money Laundering through the Precious Metals Markets, Florida Bar International Law Section, 2022
Moderator, PPE Transactions in a Pandemic: Achieving Compliance and Identifying Fraud”, Zoom Webinar, Florida Bar International Law Section, 2021, Moderator, PPE Transactions in a Pandemic: Achieving Compliance and Identifying Fraud, Florida Bar International Law Section, 2021
I authored a chapter on international criminal law in the Florida Bar International Law Section's reference deskbook, Author, International Criminal Law, The International Law Deskbook 2020, International Law, 2020
Zoom webinar on the legal issues presented when importing Gray Market products, Presenter, Gray Market Imports, Florida Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, International Trade And Logistics, 2020
Article discussing the market for gray market products and the line where engaging in that market becomes illegal, Author, When the Gray Market Turns Black, International Law Quarterly, International Trade And Logistics; Distribution, 2020
Presented seminar on trade based money laundering in international trade, Presenter, Trade Based Money Laundering, Florida Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, International Trade And Logistics, 2020
Moderated panel on compliance due diligence, Moderator, Compliance in Mergers and Acquisitions, iLaw2020: The ILS Global Forum on International Law, Law, 2020
Article published in International Law Quarterly, Winter 2018 edition, focuses on recent case law in Florida holding that the Carmack Amendment does not preempt state law claims for wrongful misconduct causing damage to an inland shipment, Author, Crack in the Carmack: Florida Supreme Court holds Carmack Amendment Preemption not Absolute in all Claims involving Inland Shipments, Florida Bar International Law Section, 2018
Presented on a panel regarding the NOAA's new Seafood Import Monitoring Program at the Seafood Expo North America held in Boston March 11-13, 2018, Seafood Import Monitoring Program, Seafood Expo North America, 2018
Co-Presenter in this live seminar held on April 18, 2018 at the headquarters of the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association which discussed administrative, civil and criminal Customs and Trade Enforcement, Co-Presenter, Everthing you Need to Know About Customs and Trade Enforcement, FCBF, International Trade, 2018
Article published in Daily Business Review on July 24, 2018 regarding trade-based money laundering in international trade and real estate., Author, Trade Based Money Laundering-South Florida is in the Bullseye, American Lawyers Media, 2018
I was the featured presenter in a seafood industry sponsored webinar discussing criminal enforcement in the seafood industry, Presenter, Comply or Die: Criminal Enforcement in the Seafood Industry, Seafoodsource.com, 2017
Panelist in Technical Program for the International Precious Metals Institute's 2017 annual conference in Orlando, Florida, Panelist, Staying out of Trouble and Keeping the Feds Away From Your Import Shipments, International Precious Metals Institute, 2017

Industry Groups:

International Trade
Transportation

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