Matthew DellaBetta is an accomplished trial attorney with a distinguished history leading high-stakes investigations and achieving results for his clients.
Before entering private practice, Matt served as the Deputy Chief of the Violent Crimes and Gangs section at the United States Attorney's Office in Baltimore, Maryland. During his tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney, Matt led hundreds of investigations of organized criminal enterprises, violent gangs, and international drug cartels, resulting in successful prosecutions involving racketeering, murder, kidnapping, sex trafficking, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, and narcotics trafficking. Before his service with the Department of Justice, Matt also served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in New York City, where he successfully tried dozens of cases to verdict.
Over the course of his career, Matt has tried numerous cases to verdict before juries in federal and state courts. Prior to joining Stumphauzer Kolaya & Sloman, Matt was a partner at a preeminent South Florida firm where he specialized in products liability, wrongful death, and complex commercial litigation. His successes there include representing the rapper Flo Rida in a breach of contract suit against a publicly traded energy drink company. The trial, which received national news coverage, resulted in an $82.6 million verdict in favor of Flo Rida, one of the largest verdicts of 2023.
Representative Experience
- Lead trial counsel defending a business executive in a nine-figure federal health care fraud prosecution involving Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment, brought by the Justice Department's Criminal Division Fraud Section, securing acquittals on all money laundering counts and a below-Guidelines sentence after a federal jury trial that received national news coverage.
- Key member of the trial team that secured an $82.6 million jury verdict for the rapper Flo Rida in breach of contract and complex commercial litigation against a publicly traded energy drink company, one of the largest jury verdicts of 2023.
- Secured dismissal with prejudice of all claims against a corporate director in high-stakes business litigation involving the social media platform Truth Social. Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. v. ARC Global Investments II, LLC (Fla. 12th Jud'l Cir. 2024).
- Won appellate reversal in the Florida Third District Court of Appeal of an order dismissing with prejudice claims for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Steinmetz v. Pickholtz, 414 So. 3d 309 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025).
- Secured a below-Guidelines sentence of 36 months in federal sentencing proceedings for a laboratory owner convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud involving loss to the United States exceeding $65 million.
- Secured a $5 million wrongful death settlement against a publicly traded corporation, and a $4.7 million wrongful death settlement against an individual and a municipality arising from an automobile crash.
- Lead counsel for the personal representative and trustee in multi-front probate, trust, and business litigation arising from the death of the founder of a South Florida health care group, involving contested control of the estate, a family trust, and closely held operating companies.
- As a federal prosecutor, lead counsel in the investigation and RICO prosecution of a criminal organization that committed numerous murders for hire, including the murder of a federal witness.
- As a federal prosecutor, lead counsel in the investigation, prosecution, and trial conviction of one of the most prolific wholesale fentanyl distributors in Baltimore.
- As a federal prosecutor, co-counsel in one of the largest MS-13 racketeering prosecutions in the District of Maryland, resulting in dozens of murder convictions.
Recognition
- Listed, Super Lawyers, 2024–present
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 40 Under 40 Outstanding Professionals, 2023
- Listed, Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch": Products Liability, Personal Injury, and Medical Malpractice, 2023
- 1st Place, UCLA Roscoe Pound Moot Court Tournament, 2010
- 1st Place, UCLA Mock Trial Tournament, 2009
Publications
- "Fifth Circuit Prohibition on Geofence Warrants Raises Larger Question about Digital Search Warrants," The Florida Defender, November 2024
- "Snyder Decision Re-Emphasizes Supreme Court's Federalism Concerns in Federal Prosecutions," Daily Business Review, July 2024
- "Additur: Avoiding a Pyrrhic Victory at Trial," Florida Justice Association Journal, November 2022
- "An End to DOJ Privilege Review? Trump Lawsuit Signals Shifting Court Attitudes," Daily Business Review, September 2022
Professional & Community Involvement
- Southern District of Florida Criminal Justice Act Panel
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Federal Bar Association
- Miami-Dade Bar
Education
- J.D., UCLA School of Law, 2011
- B.A., Philosophy, summa cum laude, San Jose State University, 2008
Admissions
- Florida · New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern & Middle Districts of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
