Georgia Criminal Defense Blog

The nydailynews.com website reported in a story on February 10, 2009 that Dr. Richard Lucente, 37, had been arrested for the NY drug crime of illegally selling steroids to bodybuilders. Lucente is also the main doctor involved in a steroid scandal involving NYPD officers. Lucente operated the New York anti-aging and wellness center in W. Brighton, Staten Island. He was one of the principal doctors writing prescriptions for police officers and high school athletes. Lowen’s Pharmacy in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn was also indicted.

Charles Hynes, Brooklyn District Attorney said, “He gained a reputation as someone who would sell to any bodybuilder, weightlifter or athlete.”

According to the authorities, Lucente wrote a prescription for Joseph Baglio, a bodybuilder who had just recently had a heart transplant because of steroid use. Police believe Baglio’s death is connected to steroid use. Homicide charges were not placed on Lucente because medical examiners could not be absolutely sure that the steroids were the cause of Baglio’s untimely death. Therefore Lucente was charged with reckless endangerment.

Hynes said, “Dr. Lucente knew he had a heart transplant. He had no business giving him any kind of steroid.”

Lucente would receive kickbacks for sending patients to Lowen’s Pharmacy whose owner John Rossi, 56, killed himself in his office in 2008.

Hynes added, “Dr. Lucente’s greed resulted in the tragic death of two people.”

Investigators believe Lucente made $500,000 from steroid patients between 2005 and 2007. Lucente faces 5 ½ years for each of the 76 counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance.

It was not disclosed if police officers or firefighters cooperated with the investigation.

John Meringolo, Lucente’s lawyer said, “He will be vindicated. He has helped people. He has saved peoples lives. It’s actually absurd what they are doing here.”

If you have been charged with a drug offense in New York or Georgia, you are facing serious charges and should hire a skilled Georgia or New York drug charge attorney from Conaway & Strickler immediately. Depending on the amount of narcotic seized, you could be facing a long jail term and heavy fines. Do not fight these charges on your own. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com website reported in an account on February 10, 2009 that Vincent Pastore, 62, known as Sal Bonpensiero on the HBO television series called The Sopranos, had agreed to settle out of court for being accused of domestic violence in Manhattan. Exact details of the settlement were not disclosed. Pastore’s former fiancée Lisa Regina accused him of assaulting her. Regina and Pastore walked out of court together after settling a $5.5 million court battle.

Pastore said, “I think I just wanna say, thank God it’s over. How can anybody be happy about something like this?”

According to court reports, Pastore is accused of hitting Regina in the head in 2005. Regina was exchanging screams with Pastore when she then pulled down Pastore’s pants on a street in little Italy.

As Regina walked out the courtroom she said, “That would have been America’s funniest videos, right?

Pastore acknowledged in the civil trial that he took hold of Regina’s hair but denied hitting her. He performed 70 hours of community services for the act.

David Perecman, lawyer for the actress said, “That door just got opened and there were going to be more inquiries into that, and the details around it.”

Pastore’s lawyer Barry Strutt, simply had this to say about the settlement: “It was satisfactory for both sides.”

Responding to questions about his past, in which he allegedly struck someone with a bat he said, “I have never hit anyone in my life with a baseball bat, except in the movies. They’re always rubber, anyways.”

Domestic violence is a form of abuse which involves people who know each other, such as partners, spouses, ex spouses, parents and children, or boyfriends and girlfriends. It is extremely important to hire an aggressive and skilled Manhattan criminal defense attorney to defend your rights during this difficult time. With a Georgia or New York domestic abuse lawyer from Conaway & Strickler, you may be able to have your charges dropped, avoid jail time, or receive an alternative such as counseling or probation. Please call 800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com website reported in a story on February 9th, that a woman who described herself as the mother of New Jersey officer Martin Abreu, 25, was placing the blame of the car accident on the dead female victim and the other pedestrian who was seriously injured. Abreu is accused of driving under the influence in New York behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry when he ran over the pedestrians as they returned home to Battery Park City from a night of dancing shortly after 3:30 a.m.

Abreu’s mother claimed that the couple was crossing West St. against the light. She said, “It was her (the dead victim’s) fault.”

Police refused to declare whether the couple had crossed against the light or not. Having no shame, the women continued with her absurd statements saying, “So my son went out and had a couple of drinks. He deserves to have a good time now and then.”

Marilyn Feng, 26, died at the scene. She had just recently graduated from New York University Law School and was preparing to take the bar this summer. Dennis Loffredo, 26, was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan were he is recovering from leg and head injuries.

Abreu was suspended from his job and is being charged with a violent crime in New York for vehicular manslaughter along with his DWI charge.

Facing a DWI connected with vehicular manslaughter is a scary experience that carries serious jail sentences. Not only does a person endure the horrifying and humiliating experience of being arrested, they then have to appear in court where he or she will have to face the prosecutor against him, the judge, and all of the State's prosecutorial power. Contact the experienced Georgia and New York criminal defense attorneys at Conaway & Strickler, PC who can help you during these most difficult times. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com website reported in an account on February 10th that today’s modern crooks are the leaders of our financial institutions who have sent the economy into a downward tailspin, thrashing the American way of life with their New York white collar crimes. These glutinous people include types such as incompetent CEO’s and malicious scammers.

Now these government bailed out business are upset that they can only pay their top executives $500,000. They claim that they will not be able to attract top talent. It may behoove them to retract this statement. After all, it took them just a matter of years to bring down corporations and lose many hundreds of billions of dollars, if not more.

According to reports, some of the money was used on executive jets, sumptuous bonuses, and fancy offices.

On a somewhat lesser scale, Edgar Veloz stole his friend’s identity and wrote himself $3,000 worth of checks. It would have taken him 1,000 years to bankrupt Citigroup at this rate. Compare that to leader of Citigroup, Charles Prince, who managed to bring down the company in less than a year while earning a salary in the millions.

A white collar crime is a term used a lot these days, you hear it in the news and media, yet few know what it really means. White collar crime in New York is an act of theft or other criminal conduct which violates a corporate or government officer's fiduciary duties. Thus, if a person is acting in a position of financial trust or management for a client, a business, or a government agency, and they do something illegal, stealing the company's funds, for example, then that person has committed a white collar crime. If you are being accused of a white collar crime, it is in your best interest to contact a skilled Georgia or New York white collar crime attorney. Please call Conaway & Strickler, PC at 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

The nydailytimes.com website reported in a story on February 11th, that Manual Gaspar Latuna Sanchez, a cargo van driver, inadvertently struck and picked up a body that had already been hit, dragging it for 17 miles. According to police reports an SUV first hit a man trying to cross at 108th St. in Corona, Queens and ended nearly an hour later when someone finally was able to get the van driver’s attention.

Smelling something burning Sanchez did pull over to check the van but did not notice anything wrong. Raymond Kelly, police commissioner, said that the driver continued driving for nearly an hour until finally waved down in Brighton.

Kelly said, “People were signaling him to stop the vehicle. That’s when the body is discovered under his car.”

The dead man’s body was severely damaged and unable to be recognized. Crime scene investigators believe that the body got stuck in the van’s chassis, making it difficult for the driver to see when he checked if something was wrong.

Maria Diaz exclaimed, “Oh my God, how could a body be dragged that far? That’s terrible.”
Police were going to go back over the van’s route to see if any body parts or clothes could be found.

Joe Palmeri said, “I don’t believe it. How could you not feel a body under your car driving that far? Just the initial hit you had to feel, right.”

Although this case appears to be an accident, the driver may face homicide charges. Homicide is a situation in which one person kills another person. If you have been arrested for, or charged with homicide in New York or Georgia you may be facing very serious consequences and should hire an aggressive Georgia or New York homicide defense lawyer right away. There is a lot at stake, and depending upon your situation, you may be facing a life sentence, which is why you are in desperate need of accomplished and skilled legal representation. Please call Conaway & Strickler, PC at 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

A nydailenws.com report from February, 11th stated that Rosario Prestigiacomo, 64 was killed with a knife while inside his apartment in Ridgewood on Green Ave. According to police reports, Prestigiacomo was the landlord there and family relatives said that he owned the apartment. Police were investigating and did not know if Prestigiacomo knew his killer.

Rosa Adele was distraught in her Florida home and said, “It is a real big shock.”

Aggravated assault is a crime in which a person illegally attempts to and is able to commit violence against another individual. Listed below are some examples of crimes which may constitute assault in New York:

• Assault with a deadly weapon


• Assault with intent to cause serious physical pain


• Physically attacking an individual


• Threatening to cause physical harm


• Causing fear in others by threats or endangerment


• Intention to commit battery

Amongst the severest violent crime is homicide; this is a situation in which one person kills another person. If you have been arrested for, or charged with homicide in New York or Georgia you may be facing very serious consequences and should hire an aggressive Georgia or New York violent crime lawyer from Conaway & Strickler, PC right away. There is a lot at stake, and depending upon your situation, you may be facing a life sentence, which is why you are in desperate need of accomplished and skilled legal representation. Do not attempt to represent yourself, there is just too much at risk. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com reported in a story on February 10, 2009 that Russell Harding, housing czar during Rudy Giuliani’s governor term, is fighting court attempts to place his name and address in a New York state wide registry of sex offenders for life. More than 27,000 names can be found on the list for offenders of sex crimes in New York.

According to court documents, Harding is upset that federal prosecutors recently turned over documents detailing damaging chats he had online.

Harding wrote, “As the court knows these chats were not the basis for any charge brought against me either in the original or amended indictments. They were never used as evidence as they had no evidentiary basis for the crime of possession of child pornography in this particular case.”

Harding has just finished serving a five year sentence for embezzlement of city funds and possession of child porn. Harding pleaded guilty in 2003 to stealing $400,000 from the city’s Housing and Preservation Development Corp. and using it for lavish vacation and car.

On his personal website rudyveritas.com Harding wrote, “I understood these chats to be sealed as they had never been proven to be authentic and had no evidentiary value since they were not part of the crime alleged. The way you achieve fairness and equity in the justice system is everyone plays by the rules. When one side cheats, especially the more powerful side, there can be no justice. Whether you think me a good guy or a scumbag I am fully prepared to let you be the judge as to whether or not I received a fair shake.”

Each year there are countless cases of individuals wrongfully accused of and charged with criminal sexual acts in New York and Georgia. In this situation, it is very important that you secure the representation of a Georgia or New York sex crime defense attorney who is skilled in sex crime law and will be able to use evidence to show your good character. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

A nydailynews.com report from February 10, 2009 stated that an SUV fled the scene after running down a family crossing the street. Following their mother, Ralph Nicholas was struck as he was holding his sister Sade’s hand at the intersection of Avenue H and Utica Ave in Brooklyn.

Sade Nicholas, 11 said, ‘We was getting off the bus and crossing the street. No cars was coming.”

All of a sudden an SUV going at high speed appeared from behind a stopped car and ran the stop light, running over the family. Flashing headlights was the only thing Sade remembers seeing.

Sade said, “I got up and went to my mother. She couldn’t get up.”

Her younger brother Ralph was flung onto a cab and then landed on the street with blood coming from his head.

Sade said, “I think he flew because he was all the way on the other side of the street.”

Nicholas was transported to Kings County Hospital were he was in intensive care after suffering major head injuries and has not regained consciousness. His mother is Lisa Humphrey, 41 is expected to recover after also suffering a head injury.

Crossing the street is always dangerous even in a quiet neighborhood such as the one in this example. All precautions should always be taken, including taking the necessary time to make sure no cars are near or even at further distance as they may be approaching at a high speed. Serious traffic violations involve serious misconduct while driving a motor vehicle. Felony examples include vehicular manslaughter and vehicular homicide.

If you are being accused of a serious traffic violation in New York or Georgia you need the skilled New York criminal defense attorneys at Conaway & Strickler, PC. They have a proven success record and will fight for your rights. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com reported in an account on February 10, 2009 that an undercover sting operation resulted in the arrest of parolee Kirkland Smith, 58, for selling methadone to an undercover police officer. Due to a slip up, either by the NYPD or the district attorney’s office, they botched up the drug test results and were unsuccessful in meeting a deadline to indict Smith; therefore, he walked out of jail. According to police reports Smith poured $20 worth of methadone into a water bottle and sold it to the undercover cop in this New York drug crime.

Feeling untouchable, Smith decided to take two women hostage for six hours. Police were finally able to talk Smith into surrendering without incident. Smith claimed to have been upset because he was getting evicted, although no evidence of this could be found.

Parole officials will wait to see if they will charge Smith with violating his parole until the drug case is settled.

At Conaway & Strickler, P.C. their drug offense and parole violation attorneys aggressively defend the rights of clients throughout New York and Georgia, and are nationally recognized for their successful case outcomes. Each of their attorneys has a deep, personal knowledge of the courts, judges, and other courthouse personnel in the courts in which they practice on a regular basis. For more than a decade, the Georgia and New York drug crime defense lawyers have successfully defended clients charged with various felony and misdemeanor charges, and they may be able to help you in your time of need. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com website reported in an article on February 10, 2009 that a NYPD police officer who just graduated from the police academy had shot and wounded an 18 year old Brooklyn man, Akeem Harvey. According to police and witness reports, the NY violent crime happened outside an R&R grocery store in Brownsville at around 2:30pm. Officers from the 67th precinct stopped Harvey who they say was acting nervous, fiddling with his waistband then dashing north on Winthrop St.

An unidentified woman said, “The cops were searching the boy outside the store and he started running. The Police started chasing after him. I heard a shot. And he was down around the corner. I started crying and praying.”

Harvey was running home when a .357 magnum revolver fell from his body and he picked it up and pointed it at the police. One police officer responded by firing one shot hitting Harvey in the face. Police then found the unloaded gun under Harvey’s body.

The partner of the officer had stopped to pick up his mobile phone then came upon the pair after the shooting. Harvey is unemployed, out school, and neighbors say he hung out with the local want to be branch of the crips gang.

Anthony Hall, 51, father of Harvey said, “I don’t know anything about any gun. He’s not such a bad boy … he didn’t deserve this.”

Weapons charges can be serious charges especially when compounded with fleeing and threatening police. In order to protect your rights, you should hire an experienced Georgia and New York weapons charge attorney from Conaway & Strickler immediately. Client service is always their mission. Winning is always their goal. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com website reported in an article on February 11, 2009 that two men began shooting at each other outside the entrance to the Gun Hill Rd. No. 5 train station located at the busy intersection of DeWitt Pl. and East Gun Hill Rd. Occurring just before 9 a.m. the sidewalks were full of people who scrambled for cover when the shooting erupted. According to the police, an unidentified woman was shot in the arm while an unidentified man was slightly grazed by a bullet in the leg in this violent crime in New York.

Mohammed Hayan, manager of the Best Stop Deli on Gun Hill Rd. said, "A lady came in holding her arm [and] said she was shot. She kept saying 'Call an ambulance, call an ambulance - I'm shot, I'm shot.’ We gave her the phone...I didn't see any blood [but] she was holding her arm."

Witnesses say the women had gotten close to the store window to appreciate a picture of President Barack Obama when she was shot. She was taken to Jacobi Medical Center where she was listed in stable condition. Relatives identified the other victim as Darnell Cooper, 18, who was also treated at Jacobi. Police were able to arrest one of the gunmen who may have also possibly suffered a gunshot wound. His identity was not immediately disclosed. Police claim the other gunman ran into the subway station and disappeared.

Hayan said, "It's a good neighborhood but you have to be careful.”

No matter what your specific situation, if you have been accused of a violent crime in New York or Georgia, consider hiring an aggressive violent crime defense attorney at Conaway & Strickler, P.C. Being arrested for any type of violent crime is very serious, and you should not take action on your own. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation with one of our skilled New York violent crime defense attorneys.

The cbsatlanta.com website reported in an article on March 13, 2009 that Whitfield County officials in Dalton Georgia will be charging Joshua Bedwell, 26 from Cleveland Tennessee with rape and child molestation of a 15 year old relative. According to Rick Swiney, Sheriffs Captain the charges include statutory rape and several counts of Georgia aggravated child molestation. Bedwell was taken to Whitfield County jail.

There are many types of sexual assault or sexual abuse, including the following that carry severe punishments: Rape, Sexual Battery, Solicitation, Lewd Conduct, Pandering, Indecent Exposure, Public Indecency, Child Molestation, Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes, Sexual Exploitation of Children, Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material To Minors, and Aggravated Sodomy.

If you have been charged with a sex crime charge in Georgia, you are facing serious consequences which may carry life-long penalties. These circumstances could ruin your reputation within your community and your chances to pursue certain personal and professional endeavors. If you are convicted of committing a sexual offense, you are facing a long prison term and monetary fines, and you may have to register as a sex offender with State and local law enforcement agencies for the rest of your life.

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