RSSLos Angeles Criminal Defense Blog
Don’t Talk About Your Case on Social Media
If you are facing charges in a criminal case, you may feel inclined to post your thoughts online or have conversations with your friends or make comments about it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or other social media platforms. Law enforcement and investigators use information gathered from social media to help build the case against you. A “joke” you post to amuse your friends could have a significant impact on your case. The rule is: Never speak about your case on social media – ever.
The ABCs of Fraud
When people hear the word “fraud,” their first thought may be of a businessman in a cheap suit showing up at the door to sell fake knives. While this would be one accurate depiction of a fraud crime, the reality is that fraud encompasses a wide range of different activities in many different areas. Not only can fraud occur in finances, healthcare, taxes, and virtually every other industry, but there are many ways the State can charge people with fraud.
There Are Serious Problems in California’s Jails
Since 2011, something strange has been going on in jails throughout California. For years, the California government has been struggling with the problem of incarceration overcrowding, and in 2003, under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the issue finally started to take priority. After several attempts to solve the crisis, including a $7.75 billion prison expansion, transferring prisoners out of state, and other measures, the governor was still finding it difficult to reach a middle ground between reducing prison populations and taking a hard line against violent offenders.
DUI Incidents Often Involve Other Serious Charges
We all know that a DUI conviction can result in fines, jail time, and the loss of your driver’s license; as well as damage to your reputation and your ability to obtain certain licenses and jobs. But, depending on the circumstances of the arrest, a DUI can lead to other serious charges. Let’s look at some of those situations.
What Is Honest Services Fraud?
Honest services fraud is defined in United States Code Title 18 Section 1346 – also known as the federal mail and wire fraud statute – as “a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.” It is a federal crime, and it is broadly applied across the United States.
Don’t Trust the Jailhouse Informants
Jailhouse informants are notoriously unreliable and have played a role in a number of wrongful convictions. These informants usually get something in return for their testimony, which gives them incentive to lie or stretch the truth. Our skilled Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP can work to refute incriminating, false testimony from a jailhouse informant.
When Forensic Science Is on Shaky Ground
Forensic science used to solve crimes is all the rage in television shows, books, and movies. In real life, however, the science behind forensics may not be as dependable as we have been led to believe. DNA evidence is currently exonerating people who have been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated based on faulty evidence.
Prescription Fraud: Doctors Under the Microscope
As the opioid crisis in America has escalated, with media reports about prescription drug use and abuse filling the headlines every week, doctors have come increasingly under fire. The actions of physicians and healthcare workers who can write prescriptions are under review more than ever before, and charges of prescription fraud have become increasingly common. While there have certainly been negligent, even malicious, medical practitioners who have contributed to this epidemic, there are also a lot of honest doctors caught in the blast zone of these investigations.
California Gun Laws and Violations
California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and more laws on the books regarding guns than any other state. This makes it very easy for the average person to lack a real understanding of what’s allowed and what can get them into trouble when it comes to firearms. There are specific laws regarding who can own a firearm, the process required to legally buy a gun, and who is forbidden from owning a firearm.
College Admissions Scandal Creates Many Questions for Those Implicated
Fifty people, so far, have been indicted in what U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling has described as “the largest college admission scam ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice.” Those charged include high-profile actresses, a fashion designer, business leaders, and other wealthy parents; as well as nine athletic coaches from such prominent universities as Yale, Georgetown, USC, and UCLA. The alleged “scam” involved bribing coaches, falsifying SAT and ACT scores, questionable claims of learning disabilities, and the creation of fake athletic resumes. In short, the allegation is that wealthy parents were presented with and took advantage of various tactics to help ensure their children would gain admission into elite colleges across the country.