Posted on January 07, 2021 in Criminal Defense

Accusations of any type of crime can take a serious toll on a person's life. In some cases, young people or even those of an older age may not consider certain actions as explicitly illegal or even wrong. However, if the action breaks the law in any way, it is possible for criminal charges to result.

In particular, shoplifting is something that could come in many forms, and some of those forms may not seem serious. Nonetheless, if you stand accused of shoplifting in Illinois, you could face serious consequences, depending on the details involved and if a court convicts you of the alleged crime.

Types of shoplifting

If you are facing accusations of shoplifting, you undoubtedly want to understand why the charges came against you and what type of repercussions you could face. Part of that understanding could be determining what action or actions authorities suspect you carried out, which could include any of the following:

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 Posted on December 28, 2020 in Opiate Offenses

Drug crimes are particularly serious criminal offenses, and a conviction could result in significant penalties. An Illinois defendant could face years behind bars, fines and other consequences that may change the course of his or her life. This is certainly possible in cases involving opiate-related criminal charges. Opiates are powerful drugs, and there are certain types that are legal in specific situations, such as when prescribed by a doctor.

Opiates can include several types of drugs and painkillers, including Oxycodone and Vicodin. Prescription painkillers can include synthetic or naturally derived opium, and they are powerful and highly addictive when used inappropriately. Misuse of these types of drugs can result in a permanent mark on a criminal record, loss of future educational opportunities and trouble finding a job.

Possession of prescription drugs could even result in charges of intent to distribute opiates. With the help of an experienced defense attorney, it may be possible to avoid a prison sentence for other alternative sentences. This may include probation, which is more likely an option for first-time offenders, or completion of certain types of treatment programs.

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 Posted on November 21, 2020 in Sex Offenses

Allegations of sex crimes of any kind can have a significant impact on a person's future. It's essential to confront these allegations or charges with a strong defense as one's long-term interests, reputation and personal freedom are on the line. Charges of any type of sex offenses come with the potential of grave penalties, including time behind bars.

Because of the serious nature of these crimes, it is critical to work with an experienced Illinois attorney who provides guidance regarding the most appropriate and effective defense strategy. Conviction of a sex crime could not only result in time behind bars, but it could also lead to compulsory registration as a sex offender, loss of future opportunities and more. Some of the most common sex offenses include:

• Rape
• Aggravated sexual assault
• Internet sex crimes
• Failure to register a sex offender
• Sexual battery
• Possession of child pornography

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 Posted on November 12, 2020 in Criminal Defense

Allegations of abuse are serious, even they are false accusations. These allegations can eventually lead to formal criminal charges, which are a significant threat to your future. You would be wise to take your situation seriously and begin exploring how you can defend yourself. Protecting your future, your freedom and your reputation is critical.

Domestic violence includes any act of violence committed by one family member against another. It is often physically harmful, but it can include other types of harm, such as emotional abuse, controlling behavior and more. It happens between spouses, partners or anyone living together in the same home. These allegations could impact custody hearings, divorce proceedings and various aspects of your life, and it's vital to move quickly to defend yourself.

Domestic battery and types of violence in the home

Domestic battery is a specific type of domestic violence or abuse. Battery is violence or force used by one partner against another. It is possible to face domestic battery charges even if there are no apparent injuries as it can include the attempt to cause harm. Battery is a specific criminal charge, and other forms of domestic violence can include:

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 Posted on October 26, 2020 in Criminal Defense

White collar crimes are those that do not involve violence, but rather dishonesty or deception in order to get an illegal financial or other similar benefit. These crimes usually are committed by people in their professions or jobs, or in other positions of trust like guardians, conservators or officers or employees of nonprofit entities.

Health care fraud

A major problem in the U.S. is the commission of fraud in health care, such as the white collar crime of Medicare fraud. Medicare is the public federal health insurance program for people who have required work histories (or qualifying family members who do) and are seniors or persons with disabilities. Examples of acts that could qualify as Medicare fraud include:

• Submitting claims to the government for payment for services never rendered.
• Submitting claims containing falsehoods about diagnoses, dates of service or service codes.
• Referring patients to other medical facilities in which referring providers or their families have financial interests.

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 Posted on October 26, 2020 in Firm News

A recent grant to the Dallas Police Force will create a unit to investigate financial crimes associated with drug trafficking. According to U.S. authorities, nearly $30 billion in drug money leaves the U.S. for Mexico every year. The money is funneled through various means before reaching cartels in Mexico, where it is often used to bribe officials and otherwise further a cartel's power and influence.

Money laundering is a key component of the drug trafficking trade. Proceeds gained from illegal drug transactions are reinvested in legitimate businesses or luxury goods. Income may be hidden through false receipts or the misrepresentation of income from legitimate sales and businesses. Offshore bank accounts and wire transfers are also frequently used to transfer money. Debit and credit cards may be maxed and then transferred across the border.

Historically, Dallas law enforcement has not focused much on money laundering as a means to convict drug traffickers. While police will seize readily-available assets, such as hidden cash, much of the local law enforcement efforts focus on arresting people in possession of illegal drugs. The DPD has also used wiretapping, gathering intelligence through infiltration and going after drug kingpins in their enforcement of drug laws.

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 Posted on October 26, 2020 in Criminal Defense

The Texas-Mexico border has always been a major entry point for bringing illegal drugs into the United States. For a long time, marijuana, cocaine and heroin represented the vast majority of illegal narcotics intercepted by Customs and Border Protection agents stationed in Texas. However, over the last several years, CBP reports that methamphetamine traffic has risen steadily.

The Texas Tribune recently published data showing that CPB agents in the Laredo district seized approximately 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine in 2012. This is a 116 percent increase from 2011. In turn, in 2011, CPB agents in Laredo seized 34 percent more methamphetamine than they did in 2010.

The reasons for the increase are varied. American appetites for the drug have grown significantly, largely because methamphetamine is simultaneously highly addictive, cheap and potent. A recent study by the University of Texas Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network shows that since 2007, the purity of methamphetamine has increased by 127 percent. At the same time, the purchase price has fallen by approximately 70 percent.

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 Posted on October 15, 2020 in Criminal Defense

Six years ago, the federal government passed the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, a law designed to create a uniform sex offender registration system throughout the United States. Along with five other states, Texas officials have decided that the added costs of participating in the registry aren't worth the potential benefits it could bring.

Texas officials estimated that it would cost approximately $38 million to bring the state's sex offender registration system into compliance with the requirements of the federal law. The penalty for non-compliance is a 10 percent reduction in the crime prevention grants states receive from the federal government. Texas stands to lose approximately $1.4 million as a result of opting out of the federal registry.

In order to comply with the law, Texas would have to significantly expand the state registry, which already includes approximately 70,000 convicted sex offenders. This is because the federal law encompasses more offenses than the state law does.

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 Posted on September 09, 2020 in Drug Offenses

Facing a drunk driving charge can bring serious legal penalties against an Illinois driver. It can result in expensive fines, loss of driving privileges and even the potential for time behind bars. A person who is facing charges of drugged driving will also face the same penalties, but the way law enforcement can enforce this and test for drugs is still a little murky.

At the beginning of this year, new laws went into effect in Illinois regarding having marijuana in a vehicle. However, it is still illegal for drivers to operate a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. Tests that measure the amount of THC in a driver's system are still not completely accurate, and there is no single, standard, reliable way to test at a roadside traffic stop.

Handling drugged driving

According to new laws, drivers are able to have marijuana in their vehicles, but they cannot consume it while driving. It is also illegal for a passenger to smoke marijuana while in the vehicle. When transporting marijuana, it must be inside a specific type of child-proof container. If a law enforcement officer pulls a driver over, things such as slow response time, red eyes and drowsiness could indicate drugged driving, and the officer may then ask the driver to submit to certain sobriety tests.

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 Posted on August 07, 2020 in Sex Offenses

One of the most common and prohibitive penalties that come with a conviction of some sexual criminal offenses is compelled registration as a sex offender. For certain individuals, a conviction will bring the requirement of registering with the appropriate parties and updating that registration over time as needed. One Illinois man recently failed to update his registration, and he is now facing an extensive prison sentence as a result.

His registration requirement comes as a result of two previous convictions for sexual assault. One of his sexual assault convictions was for the assault of a minor, resulting in his obligation to register as a sex offender. At the time he failed to update his registration status, he was already under supervised released because of an unrelated drug conviction from 2006.

As a result of failing to update his registration, he was sentenced to 30 months in a federal prison facility and an additional 24 months in a federal supervised release program. After he is eventually released from prison, the Illinois man will be under supervision for 10 years. He will begin serving his sentence immediately after the one he is currently serving is complete.

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