Georgia Criminal Defense Blog

"Should Michael Jackson be blamed for his death?" that is what many people are asking because the Conrad Murray trial is starting tomorrow in Los Angeles. Does the public understand this case is much ado about nothing? Dr. Murray is ONLY charged with involuntary manslaughter which carries a maximum sentence of just FOUR years. The jails and prisons are so overcrowded, that even if Murray was convicted, he is more than likely to not serve a day.

What the media should focus on is prescription drug abuse and ALL of the doctors who prescribe it like candy. Why is it even remotely okay to have a doctor on personal salary for $150.000 a month? A cardiologist with money problems. Good choice, Mr. Jackson. Yes, Dr. Murray should be convicted. He was prescribing and dispensing medicine to Mr. Jackson at shocking levels.

We should put all of the doctors who are prescribing such hideous levels of medicine on trial. Please put them in prison.

I have represented so many clients charged with prescription drug possession. One tiny pill of Xanax and off you go with a felony conviction. The addicts are being thrown in prison, not the prescribers or the manufacturers.

Why can't Big Pharma or the government take actions against addiction to begin with?

Everyone is up in arms about "blaming the victim" in the Conrad Murray case. Michael Jackson was an addict. Anyone who wants to delude themselves into any other thought process needs to get a clue.

It has been written that Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson's dermatologist, gave him Demoral 51 times in the last 3 months of his life.

I delivered a baby on Demoral. There is no worse pain. I only needed one dose.

Please put the enablers on trial. Who wrote all of those prescriptions to get Michael Jackson to that level of addiction?

I am not being a "clever defense attorney" trying to defend Dr. Conrad Murray. There is no defense. As a doctor friend of mine said, "Simply put, Murray was giving him benzodaizepines and sedative-hypnotics that any MD in his right mind would not have given, especially IV. A good MD would have had the singer evaluated for sleep problems, polysubstance abuse, and if the singer refused, would have resigned from the case."

But Dr. Murray only began his employ with Michael Jackson 2 months before this death. Where was everyone else?

Going into law enforcement is no easy task. Police officers and public safety officers alike have important responsibilities to uphold in helping prevent crime and keeping a community secure. In fulfilling these duties, officers are also expected by law to not cause any unnecessary harm to others or commit any illegal action themselves. What are we to believe, then, as citizens of Georgia, when officers are accused of using excessive force and exercising other forms of misconduct?

A recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution article reports that subpoenas have been given to four police officers by an Atlanta City Council committee. Apparently, the offices failed to provide answers to questions posed by the city’s Citizen Review Board regarding complaints filed for excessive force. The alleged incidents of unwarranted contact of force occurred in September, October and December of last year. The article did not mention how many complaints were filed, nor did it mention if those making the accusations experienced any sort of physical harm or emotional trauma.

The Citizen Review Board was created by Atlanta’s City Council back in 2007 in order to provide the means for investigations of public safety officer misconduct. A drug raid gone awry prompted the creation of the board after a 92-year-old woman was fatally shot by police in 2007. Even with the installment of this board, fewer police officials than expected are willing to take part in some of the board’s investigations. The reason for this is that some officers are concerned that their involvement would negatively affect their own internal investigations if certain information were to be revealed.

Continue reading "Atlanta Public Safety Officer Misconduct and Excessive Force" »

The Aiken Standard reports that an Evans, Ga., man was arrested on charges that he attempted to lure a 14-year-old girl he met on the internet to meet him for sex. According to South Carolina's attorney general, the man was arrested on February 18, 2010 during an Internet predator investigation conducted by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. The man was cited with criminal solicitation of a minor, which is a felony offense that can lead to up to 10 years of jail time.

The arrest warrant indicates that beginning in mid-January, 2010 the man used MySpace to make arrangements to meet with a person identifying herself as a 14-year-old girl for the purpose of a sexual tryst. The situation was turned over to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office before any encounter took place. A subsequent inquiry to MySpace provided information which lead to the suspect. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at the man's home and deputies removed three computers.

Continue reading "Police Nab Georgia Man on Internet Sex Charges" »

The U.S. Attorney announced recently that the sexual assault investigation against David Copperfield has been dropped. The woman who accused David Copperfield of sexually assaulting her had made a similar claim against another man, and police say there is evidence that she gave false statements to a police officer and engaged in prostitution. According to The Seattle Times, the woman was questioned by cops after a man claimed she tried to charge him for sex.

The police report states that the man claimed she performed oral sex on him in a hotel room in Bellevue, Washington on December 2. According to the report, the woman then told him, "Put $2,000 in my purse and you can have it all."

Continue reading "U.S. Attorney Drops Sexual Assault Charges against David Copperfield" »

Legislature on Monday approved a bill that would make New Jersey the 14th state to allow chronically ill patients access to marijuana for medical reasons. The bill allows patients with ailments such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis to buy up to 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana a month at state-monitored dispensaries.

New Jersey's legislation authorizes the Department of Health to issue to patients with "debilitating medical conditions" registry ID cards that allow them to use marijuana. Patients with specified diseases such as cancer and glaucoma must also demonstrate severe or chronic pain, nausea, seizures, muscle spasms or wasting syndrome to qualify. Patients with registry cards would be immune from arrest or prosecution for the medical use of marijuana.

Continue reading "New Jersey Legislature Approves Bill to Make State 14th New Jersey Legislature Approves Bill to Make State with Medical Marijuana" »

The Clayton County school board voted to fire a teacher accused of ordering a “hit” on a student, officials said. In a unanimous vote, the nine-member board decided to uphold the recommendation made in December by a tribunal to terminate the Mundy Mill High School teacher.

The teacher was arrested and charged in October with making terroristic threats against an 11th grade student in one of his classes. Authorities allege that the teacher asked whether the student was gay, then offered $50 to a classmate to "put a hit" on the student.

The student's attorney said the school didn't take action early enough to address the situation between his client and the teacher. The student is currently under psychological care and he had to change schools.

Continue reading "Clayton Teacher Fired for Allegedly Putting "Hit" on Student " »

A Cobb County judge ordered the suspect in a shooting spree at a Kennesaw truck rental company to be held without bond. An official of the company, Penske Truck Rental and Leasing, said that four of the five shooting victims were employees, and one was a customer. He said the victims were apparently chosen at random.

Police say the suspect opened fire at the truck rental company on January 12, killing two men and critically wounding three others. The suspect faces two counts of murder and five counts of aggravated assault.

Workplace violence is not new in Georgia. The Atlanta area has dealt with workplace violence on a much larger scale. In 1999, day trader Mark Barton shot 22 people, killing nine, at two different metro locations, this while also murdering his wife and two children.

Continue reading "Bond Denied for Suspect in Cobb Shooting Spree" »

Recently, deliberations of R&B singer, Ashanti, and her alleged stalker began in New York City. The man claims that he was just “sex texting” as a joke when he sent more than 30 messages with photos of male genitalia to the singer’s mother. The singer’s manager testified that the mother pulled Ashanti out of a rehearsal after receiving a text indicating that the sender had seen Ashanti’s car arrive at the theater.

The man is being charged with stalking and harassment. One juror said yesterday that the accused “clearly seemed delusional.” The juror was released from the panel last night, but still hopes that the defendant does not receive a conviction and gets the help he needs. The defense claims that it is not a crime to send pictures and text messages and that the accused was misunderstood.

Continue reading "Juror in Stalker Case Believes Accused to Be Delusional" »

New research indicates that New York’s juvenile detention centers fail to keep the youths secure and do not meet their treatments and services needed for recovery. This new information has underlined many juvenile justice advocates’ sentiments that the state needs to rethink its actions and responses to troubled youth.

Policymakers and prosecutors alike agree that New York should limit the number of juveniles sent to prison-like facilities and create more community-based programs for reducing youth crimes. These programs have statistically shown to be less expensive and more effective than the residential facilities. A shocking 89 percent of juvenile boys placed in residential facilities go on to commit further crimes. Roughly 1,600 youths are sent to these facilities each year, however, the majority of these youths have not committed serious felony crimes.

Continue reading "New York Juvenile Justice Under Review" »

Dodge County sheriff’s deputies broke an alleged identity theft ring that has been operating in four counties. The 37-year-old man arrested is accused of receiving stolen property by using a license plate to conceal or misrepresent a vehicle’s identity. He is being charged with 56 counts of identity theft and two counts of receiving stolen property. Another possible conspirator was also charged in the case.

During the bust, Dodge County deputies discovered that the accused had several stolen vehicles as well as access to the owner’s Social Security and account numbers and keys obtained through his job as an auto parts delivery driver. The theft came to light when a Georgia state trooper saw that the vehicle identification and tag numbers did not match the 2008 Ford F-150 the man charged was driving when he had gotten into an accident.

Continue reading "Dodge County Sheriffs Uncover Identity Theft Ring" »

Despite the strict laws intended to monitor registered sex offenders, Georgia has lost track of, or absconded, nearly 250 sex offenders from metro Atlanta. In an article by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, many of these missing offenders were convicted of rape, kidnapping, molestation, as well as people who engaged in consensual sex acts with minors.

Over the years, there has been a growing controversy over Georgia’s sex offender registry in that the restrictive rules govern where offenders can live and work. Many advocates against sex crimes are concerned with the high number of missing offenders, especially since they feel that monitoring offenders deters attacks on new victims.

The sex offender laws are currently under review in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta. Lawyers prosecuting these laws declare that the state imposes vague and arbitrary restrictions on sex offenders that are unconstitutional. The law currently bars sex offenders from living within 1,000 of churches, parks, schools and day care centers, which some feel could be anywhere.

Continue reading "Atlanta Police Fail to Locate Over 200 Registered Sex Offenders" »

According to an ajc.com article, an uncommon method was used by a judge in Cobb County as he by-passed the jury and issued a directed verdict. Based on the article, a 36-year-old teacher who confessed to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student was determined to be not guilty of sexual assault. In supporting his decision based on witness testimony and other evidence, the judge declared that the relationship was “consensual.”

If the man in this case had been convicted of sexual assault, he would have faced 10 to 30 years in prison. The article reminds readers that the Georgia Supreme Court ruled in June that, in the event that a student is a willing participant, and, is 16 or older, the fact that the student consented can be a strong defense for a teacher facing a charge for sexual assault. The judge who issued the not guilty ruling stated that he suspects the Georgia Legislature to amend this law.

Being accused of a sex crime can have serious consequences on a person’s life, even before a case goes to trial, and perhaps even after a not guilty verdict is declared. Social scorn and loss of employment are some repercussions of a sexual assault charge, which can be especially harsh when minors are involved.

Continue reading "Teacher Charged with Sexual Assault Not Guilty in Cobb County" »

On November 18, 2009, the bill supporting Leandra's Law was signed, now making it a felony to drive drunk while a child is in the car. The new legislation is named after an 11-year-old girl who was killed as a passenger in a vehicle driven by a drunk driver. According to a nydailynews.com report, the signing of Leandra’s Law has been referred to as one of the most difficult bills to turn around in the nation. In fact, it even stalled for weeks in the Democrat-controlled Assembly.

Residents and visitors of New York should also note that in addition to making it a felony to drive drunk with a child 15 or younger in the vehicle, Leandra’s Law also makes it mandatory for ignition locks to be installed in the vehicle of any convicted drunk driver. After an individual blows into the ignition lock device, it is able to detect whether that person has consumed alcohol. If the device picks up any trace of alcohol, then the driver will not be allowed to start their vehicle’s ignition.

In signing the bill, Governor Paterson stated, “These are the types of penalties that this state has needed for a long time.”

Continue reading "Leandra's Law Approved: Drunk Driving Penalties More Severe" »

According to an 11alive.com article, an unnamed accomplice and numerous Eastern Europeans have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly hacking into an Atlanta-based credit card processing company (RBS WorldPay) computer network and thieving $9 million. Some of the charges filed in the indictment included:

• Conspiracy to commit computer fraud


• Computer fraud


• Conspiracy to commit wire fraud


• Wire fraud


• Aggravated identity theft

In relation to the above charges, the indictment alleges that the group utilized refined hacking techniques to create the data encryption that was implemented by RBS WorldPay to protect customer data on payroll debit cards. Atlanta’s RBS WorldPay and many other companies across the United States use payroll debit cards to pay their employees in which they can withdraw their regular salaries from an ATM.

Continue reading "Hackers Arrested for Stealing $ 9 Million from Atlanta Based Credit Card Processing Co." »

There was much media attention over the recent search for a drunk driving suspect who was wanted for allegedly running over a deputy. According to a wtoc.com article, the man was found and arrested in Effingham County. Based on authorities’ statements, the man was stopped on US 1 for suspicion of drunk driving and allegedly failed a field sobriety test.

Before the deputy could arrest the suspect for DUI, the suspect reportedly jumped in his truck. When the officer tried to reach into the truck while the man began to drive away, the officer lost his balance and was run over by the truck after falling to the ground. Apparently, the deputy suffered major injuries and said that he had arrested this particular suspect many times before on alcohol-related charges. This time, the man may face charges relating to battery, aggravated assault, DUI, and perhaps even more offenses considering that he fled the scene of an accident and Police.

Drunk driving incidents in Georgia are not as clear-cut as many people may think. First of all, field sobriety tests can be unreliable in providing an accurate determination that a motorist is in fact intoxicated. In any case, if you find yourself pulled-over and are asked to perform a field sobriety test, you may have to perform the one leg stand, the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, and the walk and turn test. However, these tests are often left to the subjective interpretation of an officer. In some situations, a driver may not fully understand a test’s instructions or may have problems with all or at least one of the tests due to a physical disability, yet, he or she may still be arrested for drunk driving.

Being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be an intimidating experience, especially when a person is not thoroughly familiar with his or her legal rights. In such situations, it may be in the best interest of a suspect arrested for DUI in Georgia to obtain the legal advice and representation of an experienced Atlanta DUI defense attorney.

Continue reading "Effingham County Arrest of DUI, Deputy Hit-and-Run Suspect" »

A report from foxnews.com discusses the recent events of the largest drug bust of the last 10 years conducted by the Justice Department, in which New York State and many other U.S. states were main sites for receiving the shipment of illegal substances. According to the article, over 400 members of an alleged Mexico-based cartel have been taken into custody for charges of distributing tons of methamphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana in the U.S.

Aside from New York, other locations that are suspected of receiving the drug shipments include the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles, and the states of Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, North Carolina , Florida , Oregon and Washington.

Apparently, the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the assistance of more than 100 federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies, spent 20-months investigating the drug ring that is allegedly based in Sinaloa, Mexico. The investigation, referred to as “Operation Imperial Emperor,” led to the seizure of an estimated $45.2 million, 27,229 pounds of marijuana, 9,512 pounds of cocaine, 705 pounds of methamphetamine, 227 pounds of pure methamphetamine, and 11 pounds of heroin. $6.1 million in assets and property was also confiscated, in addition to approximately 100 weapons and 94 vehicles.

Drug trafficking is a serious criminal offense, and although incidents are usually not as widespread as the recent bust of the alleged Mexico-based cartel, these types of cases are some of the most complex. If a person is convicted of drug trafficking, he or she may face spending years in prison, having valuable assets taken away, and paying hefty fines, all in addition to having his or her own personal reputation and relationships compromised.

Continue reading "Mexico-Based Cartel Bust: New York One of Many Drug Shipment Sites " »

A recent wsbtv.com news article reported that during an audit, it was discovered that $275,000 was stolen from the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Atlanta Branch. According to the article, the Atlanta NAACP Branch President stated that the organization’s former executive director and her assistant are suspected of stealing the money from the association over a period of six years. Apparently, they used the money for a wide range of personal benefits including paying for dental work and buying furniture.

Law enforcement also suspects that the duo applied for credit cards with American Express using the organization’s name and marked themselves as authorized uses. They are also suspected of receiving credit cards in their own names and using checks belonging to the NAACP to pay their own personal bills. The report confirmed that the two suspects are no longer employed by the association.

Theft-related offenses in Georgia are very serious matters due to the various strict penalties laid out by Federal and Georgia State law. The legal consequences of such crimes are even more severe when an employee is accused of stealing from the company or association that he or she works or worked for. These offenses are referred to as white-collar crimes, and, if convicted, a person may face lengthy prison time, steep fines, loss of employment, loss of future employment opportunities, and much more. With these repercussions in mind and your professional reputation on the line, if you’ve been accused of a white-collar crime, it may be in your best interest to seek legal representation from a skilled Atlanta white-collar crime defense attorney.

Continue reading "$275,000 Stolen from NAACP: Ex-Employees Accused" »

According to a wsbtv.com report, a 21-year-old man has been arrested for murder and aggravated assault in Atlanta. The man is considered the only suspect in a shooting that took place on the campus of Spelman College on September 3, 2009. Apparently, police believe the man fired six shots into a large group of people, and that one of the gun shots killed a 19-year-old female student from Missouri. Police think that the arrested man was mixed up in a fight on campus at the time of the fatal shooting. The report also mentioned that the slain woman was most likely not an intentional target and was probably hit by a stray bullet.

This shooting incident has sparked concern amongst college officials in regards to the security on campus and the safety of teachers, staff, and students. However, law enforcement officials say that the death of the 19-year-old appears to be an isolated incident. Police also stated that although the Spelman College campus does border neighborhoods known for having high crime rates, the campus does not have history of violent crime, nor do any of the other nearby college campuses have such a history.

The article stated that it is not known at this time whether or not the arrested suspect has obtained an attorney, although it is safe to assume that it is in his best interest to seek the legal advice and representation of a skilled Atlanta violent crime defense lawyer as soon as possible. The fact that police do not believe this particular man deliberately meant to shoot and kill the deceased woman is a factor that may hold great strength in his potential case.

Continue reading "Man Arrested in Spelman College Shooting" »

After being pulled over for suspicion of DUI, a man decided his best option for escape wasn’t the allegedly stolen U-Haul vehicle he was driving, but the police car that had pulled him over for the possible infraction. According to an article, the main reason police did in fact pull the man over was because he left the scene after apparently striking another automobile, although the man claimed that he didn’t know he had hit another vehicle. Consequently, law enforcement determined that they could smell alcohol on the man’s breath upon closer examination. The man was then handcuffed, and finally placed in the backseat of a police cruiser.

So how did the suspect end up in the driver’s seat? In the report, one officer speculates that the man “was able to slip the handcuffs under his buttocks, get the window open and crawl through it…it can be done.” Police believe the man managed to pull off this impressive feat all while the on-scene officers checked on the passenger in the U-Haul. The man managed to successfully escape, and remains at large.

While police continue their hunt throughout Atlanta to locate the man, this incident serves as a good example of what not to do when pulled over for a traffic violation of any kind, especially one relating to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Just because you are arrested for DUI does not mean that you are guilty.

Continue reading "From a DUI Stop to a Stolen Police Car" »

Fingerprints are considered to be insurmountable evidence. However, in the case of a convicted Georgia man, a routine check of the supposed offender’s identification revealed the huge mismatch: his fingerprints were inaccurately identified as those of a criminal, and he had, consequently, been wrongly incarcerated for 17 months for a robbery that he didn’t commit. The question then is simple: Is $145,000 enough to compensate for a wrongful conviction? Many would believe it is, especially for a period of a mere 17 months. Perhaps it has brought the formerly-guilty-incarcerated-but-now-innocent-and-free man a little sense of justice.

The Georgia resident served 17 long months in Rikers Island, a sentence that still haunts him like a bad dream. According to an article, the man reportedly described it with a relatively jarring perspective. "It's just a nightmare knowing that someone that's innocent can be picked up off the street and held.”

These recent events undoubtedly raise many questions as to how such a false conviction could take place. According to the report, the falsely accused and incarcerated man was in Atlanta, a full 880 miles away from Howard Beach, where the robbery took place. He was arrested for the crime nearly a year after it was committed, when a partial index-fingerprint was supposedly deemed a match to the man’s own fingerprint that had previously been collected in Brooklyn during a traffic violation and arrest for driving with a suspended license.

Continue reading "Georgia Man Was Falsely Imprisoned for 17 Months Due to Mistaken Fingerprints" »

The growth of the Internet and its many uses is unprecedented; however, many communities are often shocked when someone within a neighborhood is arrested by law enforcement for using the Internet to sexually exploit children by arranging secretive meetings. An article recently reported that a Peachtree golf pro who teaches children group golf lessons has been arrested for child exploitation in Georgia. Apparently, the man had set-up a meeting via the Internet with someone whom he was under the impression was a minor, but that turned out to be a federal agent.

Before becoming an employee at Jonesboro’s Lake Spivey Golf Course, background checks were conducted on the 45-year-old man, but those background checks did not show any criminal record or signs of child abuse. The golf course’s financial officer said that the man accused always seemed like a devoted family man and that his teenage son worked at the golf course as well. The accused man had previously been named Lake Spivey’s head golf pro in March 2008.

Being accused of sexual exploitation of children is a serious offense with harsh consequences if convicted. As the above case demonstrates, a person has to simply be accused of a sex crime for his or her reputation to be in shambles, which greatly affects personal relationships and future employment.

Continue reading "Child Exploitation Charges against Peachtree City Golf Pro" »

The “All Hands Across the Border” campaign was announced as an effort to dissuade and prevent drunk driving during the upcoming holidays, such as Labor Day and other long weekends. The program began on Sunday, August 30, 2009 and will hopefully curb the DUI incidents that habitually pop up over 3-day weekends and the like. Georgia law enforcement will be taking part in the DUI crackdown along with its five bordering states. According to an article, the campaign has historically contributed towards a successful decrease in the number of DUI fatalities that occur during holiday periods.

According to the director of the Georgia governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the program “engages both sides of our borders amongst all our neighboring states to have similar policies and procedures to make sure our roads are safe.”

Whether the “All Hands Across the Border” DUI initiative will perform its said purpose as well as it has in years past is yet to be determined. It is our hope that there are indeed fewer fatalities on our roadways throughout the entire year, particularly during holiday periods where incidents of DUI in Georgia typically are on the rise.

Continue reading "Georgia Participates in “All Hands Across the Border” DUI Crackdown" »

A 25-year-old mother was shot and killed nearly three months ago by a disguised attacker whom investigators believe they now know the identity of. The Snellville Police Department stated in a report that they are “very close” to making an arrest and are waiting for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to analyze evidence that could bolster the strength of their case regarding the violent crime.

A witness to the murder in Georgia said that the shooter was wearing a wig and mustache as a disguise, and shot the young mother after they briefly got into a loud argument. Based on surveillance footage from the Target shopping center where the woman was killed, the shooter may have been a woman. Evidence that was sent to the GBI related to a truck belonging to the victim’s mother-in-law. Police said the mother-in-law drives a pickup truck comparable to the one that was seen at the location of the homicide.

According to the United States Uniform Crime Report, there were 47,075 violent crimes reported in Georgia in 2007, with 717 of those crimes being labeled as murders. Violent offenders are treated with some of the harshest penalties that exist. Being arrested for any type of violent crime is a serious matter and can very often leave the accused feeling overwhelmed, frightened, and confused regarding his or her future, as well as which rights he or she is entitled to under the U.S. Constitution.

Continue reading "Investigation Hints at Arrests in Snellville Shooting of Mother" »

A nydailynews.com story reported that a 22-year-old, male student from Pratt Institute suffered severe head injuries during an August 6, 2009 assault, and was placed into a medically induced coma as a result. Due to an anonymous tip from local CrimeStoppers, one teenage has been arrested in connection with the violent crime in New York, with police still searching for at least two others in connection to the assault.

Apparently, the student was walking from his apartment to campus when he was approached by five teens who demanded that he hand over his wallet. The student refused, was repeatedly punched and kicked, and, when he attempted to fight back, was hit in the head with a crowbar. The student remains in critical condition.

The one teen that has been arrested and charged with assault, robbery, and possession of stolen property is reported to be 16-years-old and has multiple, sealed arrests for crimes committed as a juvenile. The identities of two more of the student’s attackers are known to investigators, who expect they will be in custody shortly.

Continue reading "Brooklyn Assault Puts Student in a Coma: CrimeStopper Tip Leads Police to an Arrest" »

In a report issued by the Georgia Department of Public Safety on August 7, 2009, it was announced that after a week-long concentrated patrol, Georgia State Troopers arrested 267 people for DUI in Georgia. Four other Southeastern states, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi, participated in the “Take Back Our Highways Program.” During the seven-day-period from Saturday, July 25 to Friday, July 31, 2009, Georgia State Troopers also apprehended 44 wanted persons, recovered 7 stolen vehicles, arrested 127 people for driving on a suspended or revoked license, and gave out 2,162 speeding citations, 828 seat belt citations, 148 child restraint citations, and 64 citations to uninsured motorists.

It is an understatement to say that law enforcement was busy during the program’s seven-day period, and it raises the question as to the possibility of overzealous ticketing.

The “Take Back Our Highways” program was created by the Alabama Department of Public Safety to raise driver awareness both through enforcement of traffic laws and with driver education outreach explaining that risky driving behaviors create many dangers. One Colonel said, “The bottom line is preventing traffic crashes and saving lives.”

Considering the unusually large amount of tickets that were issued and arrests that were made over the last few weeks due to the “Take Back Our Highways” program, many Georgians are likely to find themselves in a challenging spot and many are probably unaware of their rights.

Continue reading "267 Georgia DUI Arrests Made in "Take Back Our Highways" Program" »

According to a recent report, illicit computer activity impelled Georgia Tech to contact law enforcement regarding an associate professor who became the target of a week-long investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The professor was arrested the night of August 12, 2009 and charged with a hefty accumulation of 15 counts of sexual exploitation of children.

A university spokesman released the following statement: “The alleged behavior, if true, is deplorable and falls far short of our expectations for how we believe faculty should behave.”

The professor had been previously suspended without pay for his suspicious and unlawful computer activity at Georgia Tech. It has not been determined whether he will be permitted to teach in the school of industrial and systems engineering following his trial. The article stated that the university will continue to comply with investigators and act appropriately based on the end result of the professor’s case.

Being charged with a sex crime in Georgia can alienate a person, especially when taking into consideration the unforgiving and strong potential of social stigma that person will face from family, co-workers, friends, and his or her employer.

Continue reading "Associate Professor at Georgia Tech Charged with 15 Counts of Sexual Exploitation" »

In what may be looked at by some as a desperation shot or even a “hail mary” attempt, the defense lawyers of a convicted hit-man called in a neuropsychologist and director of the Shepherd Center in Atlanta to testify that the convicted man functions at the level of a 12 year old child. Additionally the ajc.com report stated that the neuropsychologist findings explained that the accused had a temper and was reckless, and even had difficulty understanding transportation. Criminal defense lawyers are hoping that the findings will sway the jury to sentence the man to life and not to death.

The alleged hit-man was found guilty of choking and stabbing a 22 year old woman, all this while being watched by her crying baby, for the amount of $10,000 dollars. Shockingly the person who wanted this young woman dead was apparently her father-in-law. The woman’s father-in-law is a native of India who apparently was willing to do whatever it took to end his son’s marriage to an African American.

The law calls that when a case involves the death penalty, a jury can take into hand the convicted murderer’s young life, their families, and life events. The jury can also weigh the brutality of the killing and the consequences it has caused to the friends and family of the victim.

Continue reading "Hitman’s Lawyer Argues Client Functions at the Level of a 12 Year Old" »

A home invasion robbery in Mableton, GA ended with gunshots, according to a published report on 11alive News online. Police allege that the robber entered the home with his weapon at about 1pm and tied the two occupants up. One of them was able to get free of his restraints, retrieve his own pistol, and fire at the suspect, possibly injuring him before he escaped.
Police searched the area near the home which was on Nickajack Road near Fontaine Road in Mableton, but did not immediately find the suspect. They believe he may have been shot, but declared him still on the loose.

According to Georgia Code 16-8-2 "A person commits the offense of theft when he unlawfully takes or, being in lawful possession thereof, unlawfully appropriates any property of another with the intention of depriving him of the property, regardless of the manner in which the property is taken or appropriated."

Crimes involving the theft of another person's belongings are taken very seriously in Georgia and the legal repercussions are very harsh. Depending upon the accusations you are facing, and the monetary worth of the alleged stolen goods, you may be charged with a felony or misdemeanor and have to serve a jail or prison term and pay expensive monetary fines. In instances like this one, where theft was attempted at gunpoint by an individual who invaded another’s home, the Georgia theft charges are sure to be multiple felony charges.

Continue reading "Police Seeking Home Invasion Suspect after Gunfight" »

The website onlineathens.com reported in an article on June 27, 2009 that two DUI checkpoints in Georgia patrolled by the University of Georgia police, Athens-Clarke police, and Georgia State Patrol on the second night of AthFest resulted in the arrests of 48 people for DUI in Georgia. An additional 100 citations were given for lesser offenses.

Police also believe that they apprehended a burglary suspect when a keen officer unaffected by the late hour of 3:15 a.m. and, suspiciously late at night, noticed that a man age 39 had large amounts of beer and several cartons of cigarettes along with big packs of lighters. The officer called in to headquarters to see if there had been any calls for a robbery. Sure enough there had been a robbery at the QuickSpot located at 840 Hull Road and the stolen items were similar to the ones the officer noticed. Review of the store’s security tape revealed a man that appears to be the suspect throwing a rock through the front door and stealing all the items found in the suspect’s car.

Police had another big score when a 37 year old Lawrenceville man was arrested for possession of 25 pounds of marijuana. An officer going by the vehicle happened to get a hint of the aroma of marijuana. A drug sniffing dog working the checkpoints was summoned and verified the officer’s suspicions finding 21 gallon sized bags of marijuana and a large sum of cash. The suspect was detained and charged with driving without a license and trafficking marijuana.

Continue reading "Georgia DUI Sweeps Net 4 Dozen in One Night" »

A man is being held in Fulton County Jail and has been charged with sex crimes in Georgia including rape, child molestation and procuring for pimping by the Fulton County police. The underage girl who accused him of rape met the suspect at the West End MARTA station on June 6. The two exchanged phone numbers and met up again a few days later on June 10, according to a story.

During the second meeting, the suspect took the girl to a hotel on Fulton Industrial Circle. He then provided her with a fake ID and some marijuana and when she refused his proposition to have sex with five different men to pay off the money she owed him for the room, he allegedly attacked and raped her.

Authorities were able to use the cell phone number the victim provided to them to catch the accused. An investigating officer recognized the man’s voice from a voice mail recording and knew him to be a pimp in the area.

Rape and child molestation are some of the most serious crimes a person can commit. Child Molestation in Georgia is defined as "any immoral or indecent act to or in the presence of or with any child under the age of 16 years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person".

Continue reading "Man Held in Rape, Pimping of Juvenile" »

Atlanta placed 5th in cities with road rage in the country, and its surrounding areas must surely not fall far behind them, as the following story illustrates. A preacher was not intimidated when he faced a man who acted very aggressive and threatening. The 41-year-old priest was driving at night when a man sped past him illegally over the yellow line on the highway, according to an article.

According to the Church of God minister, he honked his horn as the man passed him. The driver who went around the vehicle illegally then made a vulgar gesture towards the minister. As the man who the authorities say is from Hull approached the Jackson County line, he pulled over and pointed his rifle at the preacher. Not only did the preacher not panic, but he was able to take down the license plate number of the truck and dial 911 to report the weapons violation. Police were able to trace the license plate back to a man from Hull and upon their arrival at the home; a mother answered the door and told the police that her son was in a Dahlonega drug rehab clinic. Authorities will end up filing criminal charges against the man who pointed the rifle at preacher.

We must always be presumed innocent. In this specific incident, the priest is accusing a man of aiming a weapon at him but the man was supposed to be in a rehab clinic. Surely there are many unanswered pieces to this story, and for the sake of the accused, he better have good answers as his word is going up against a minister’s.

Continue reading "Weapons Charges Filed In Road Rage Case" »

Police are seeking a man who attempted to rob a bank in Sandy Springs, according to a published report in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The man walked into the Bank of America, which was on Roswell Road, at 11:30am and presented a large envelope with a note to a bank teller. The suspect left before he got any money or before the police arrived.

Authorities treated the envelope as a suspicious package, calling in hazardous materials teams to determine if there was a threat or not. The suspect was described as a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing 180-200 lbs with blond hair and a thin beard. Police are asking for the public’s help in finding the man.

There are a variety of Federal and Georgia State laws which have been enacted to severely punish people convicted of theft related crimes. Crimes involving the theft of another person's belongings are taken very seriously in Georgia and the legal repercussions are very harsh. Depending upon the accusations you are facing for a theft crime in Georgia, and the monetary worth of the alleged stolen goods, you may be charged with a felony or misdemeanor and have to serve a jail or prison term and pay expensive monetary fines.

Continue reading "Man Sought After Attempted Bank Robbery in Sandy Springs" »

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 1-888-534-9106 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 888-534-9106 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 1-888-534-9106 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 1-888-534-9106 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 1-888-534-9106 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

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 1-888-534-9106 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 1-888-534-9106 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 1-888-534-9106 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 1-888-534-9106 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 1-888-534-9106 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.

Continue reading "Whitfield County Rape Charges against Tennessee Man " »

The nydailynews.com website reported in an account on March 14, 2009 that the Nassau County District Attorney reported that Heather Kennedy, 26 had been re-arrested for violating a court order. Kennedy was a math teacher in Long Island who was caught having sex with a 16 year old boy back in March 2008 in the school’s parking lot. Even after being caught for the sex crime in New York, Kennedy continued the affair with the boy. She was charged with additional charges in July. Now the former teacher is being thrown back in jail for writing love letters to her underage lover.

Kennedy apologized to the court but was convicted of statutory rape and given six months in jail in addition to her teaching license being revoked.

There are many types of sexual assault or sexual abuse in New York. Sexual assault, in most states, includes any type of unwanted physical contact with any sexual organ. All sex crimes, either felony or misdemeanor, are very serious charges and can carry life changing consequences.

Each year there are countless cases of individuals wrongfully accused of and charged with criminal sexual acts. If you find yourself in this situation, it is very important that you secure the representation of a top New York criminal defense lawyer from Conaway & Strickler, P.C. They are skilled in NY sex crime law and will be able to use evidence to show your good character, while using evidence which will show the lack of character of the accuser in the case. Please call 1-888-534-9106 for a free consultation.

The website ajc.com reported in an account on March 13, 2009 that Rhonda Sosebee Young, 43 was apprehended in Gordon County and charged with the murder of her husband. Young’s husband Stephen Young, was found lifeless in his own home. According to Howard Ensley, Sheriff, detectives say Rhonda Young had traveled extensively across the country including Missouri, Utah, and Tennessee, just within the last couple of weeks.

Upon finding out that the cops were hot on her trail, Rhonda Young jumped in her vehicle and tried to escape, but local, state, and federal officers were faster and got their in time to block her car resulting in her arrest for the homicide in Georgia. Ensley stated that Rhonda Young received treatment for a gunshot injury received prior to her arrest. Bond was denied and she is being held at Murray County Jail.

Homicide is a situation in which one person kills another person. If you have been arrested for, or charged with homicide in Georgia you may be facing very serious consequences and should hire an aggressive and experienced Georgia criminal defense lawyer from Conaway & Strickler, P.C. right away. There is a lot at stake, and depending upon your situation, you may be facing a life sentence.

At Conaway & Strickler, P.C. their skilled Georgia violent crime defense attorneys aggressively defend the rights of clients throughout Georgia, and are nationally recognized for their successful case outcomes. For more than a decade, their lawyers have successfully defended clients charged with various violent crime felony and misdemeanor charges. Please call 1-888-534-9106 for a free consultation.

They nydailynews.com website reported in an account on March 11, 2009 that Israel Weingarten, a Hasidic rabbi in New York, was found guilty by a jury in Brooklyn Federal Court of molesting his daughter for more than 7 years. Accompanied into the courtroom by US marshals, the victim sat down in the front row. Across from her were her six brothers and sisters between the ages of 13 to 23 who took their father’s side.

Weingarten defended himself but was found guilty on all counts of molestation. After being found guilty of transporting the victim to Israel, Belgium, New York to commit sex crimes, he showed no feelings. He is due to be sentenced on April 3, 2009 by Judge John Gleeson and could face up to 50 years in prison.

Walking out of court, the victim was dressed in contemporary clothes, wore cosmetics, and no longer is a member of the Satmar sect. She was asked what it felt like to be cross examined by her father for the sex crimes in New York. She replied, “Like being molested again. He thought he still had power over me. I think it was cruel to do that to me. I wish he wasn't my father. I've been waiting my whole life for this. I didn't think the day would come when there would be justice, and I had to see it with my own eyes."

Sister Yakev Weingarten, 18, said, “My sister? I didn't look at her. She's not even human."

All sex crimes, either felony or misdemeanor, are very serious charges and can carry life changing consequences. If you or someone you know has been arrested for a sex crime in New York, you need advice from an experienced New York criminal defense lawyer from Conaway & Strickler, P.C. Protect your rights and your freedom. Please call 1-888-534-9106 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com website reported in an article on March 12th that New York City controller William Thompson released a report that the city paid out $35.2 million in settlements last year a 40 percent jump from just the previous year. Police procedures, such as false arrests and excessive force, are costing the taxpayers heavily in a time when all efforts and sacrifices must be made to use taxpayer money for critical services. It is also putting a great burden in defendants needing to seek experienced New York federal offense lawyers.

The payout number is only going to grow as a record number of lawsuits were filed last year against the NYPD for wrongful convictions involving drug crimes in New York and other criminal offenses.

Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said, ‘These are remarkable increases. They raise serious questions as to whether the NYPD is out of control."

Complaints against the NYPD have climbed 22 percent in the last 10 years to a record 6,274 complaints last year.

Reports say that New York City paid out $536.9 in settlements, a 2 percent increase from the previous year.

Jeffrey Cofield said, “I wanted to be compensated because I served time in prison, but I feel like more should have been done to correct the officers' behavior." Cofield got $400,000 last year after doing eight months in jail on false drug possession charges.

Continue reading "New York Police Behaving Badly Cost City $35 Million" »

The gainesvilletimes.com website reported in an account on March 13, 2008 that Cornelio Zamites will plead guilty to the rape and homicide in Georgia of a 4 year old girl. Zamites agreed in order to avoid the death penalty and the district attorney agreed on this plea in order to secure a conviction.

Through an interpreter Esmeralda’s father Jesus Lopez Rios told Judge Kathlene Gosselin, “I live blaming myself sometimes because my daughter needed me as a father and I could not help her.”

The girl’s killer, Cornelio Rivera Zamites, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday to murder, rape, kidnapping with bodily injury and other offenses and was sentenced by Gosselin to life without the possibility of parole, plus three consecutive life sentences, plus 20 years.

Zamites agreed in writing that he would never appeal his Georgia sex crime and murder sentence. He declined to address the court.

Continue reading "Hall County Murder and Rape of 4 Year Old, Defendant Pleads Guilty " »

The ajc.com website reported in a story on March 10, 2009 that local, state, and federal agents had conducted a state wide sweep in Georgia which had resulted in the arrest of 27 people and more than 100 computers being confiscated. Two teenagers were amongst those arrested for possession of child pornography in Georgia. Now the forensic technicians will have to spend hour after hour searching for any trace of child porn pictures or video.

John Bankhead, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said the operation was called “Operation Shattered Innocence” and that for the most part, all arrests were carried out. However, more arrest warrants will most likely be issued, including some for teenagers after investigators go through the hard drives.

Investigators say that investigation did not center on an individual website but on the “peer to peer” sites that exchange videos and pictures. As arrest warrants were executed for these Georgia sex crimes, many were shocked to see law enforcement at their door. Agents found one man standing nude in front of his computer that had a camera connected to it.

Some computers were left behind even though they were suspected of sending or receiving child porn. According to Bankhead, the reason for this is that those computers were connected to the Internet with an unsecured connection. This means that anyone within reach of your signal can be downloading those images aside from the owner of the computer.

Continue reading "Georgia Child Porn Sweep Nets 23 " »

The wbstv.com website reported in an account on March 13, 2009 that Ken Tippins, former Atlanta Falcons player from 1990-1995 will serve four years in jail after pleading guilty to a cocaine charge according to Charles Stines, Alapaha Chief Assistant District Attorney. A marijuana possession with intent charge was dropped in exchange for a guilty plea. A motion has been filed to reconsider the notion of the drug possession with intent to sell in Georgia. It is scheduled for April 15, and will be heard by Alapaha Judicial Circuit Judge Howard McClain.

The Controlled Substance Act is a consolidation of laws that regulate the possession, manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled substances or illegal drugs.
The Act breaks down narcotics into 5 different categories or "schedules", the most serious being "Schedule 1" offenses for drug crimes in Georgia.

Some examples of "Schedule 1" narcotics are:
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Methamphetamine
• Ecstasy
• PCP
• LSD

Penalties for schedule 1 narcotics offenses are severe and may require the assistance of a top criminal defense attorney in Georgia. Depending on the amount of narcotic seized, a first offense conviction could mean a prison term of up to 20 years plus fines; and, if you have been convicted of 2 previous offenses, you could be facing life in prison.

Marijuana laws vary slightly from the above and are generally based on the amount of marijuana or hashish seized. However the penalties for marijuana and hashish can be equally as severe, depending upon the quantity.

Conaway & Strickler, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia. For more than a decade, their aggressive and skilled Georgia criminal defense lawyers have successfully defended clients charged with serious felony and misdemeanor charges, including drug trafficking, drug possession, and possession with intent to sell. Please call 1-888-534-9106 for a free consultation.

The nydailynews.com website reported in a story that there is a correction from their original story on March 13, 2009 that Officer Rafael Lora faces first degree manslaughter charges in New York for the deadly shooting of Fermin Arzu, 41, in May 2007.

According to reports Arzu was driving while intoxicated and hit parked cars outside Lora’s Longwood home. Awoken by a loud bang, the off duty Manhattan traffic officer went outside with his glock 26 to investigate. He claims to have identified himself as an officer as he approached the vehicle.

Lora said, ‘I saw a dark colored minivan with steam coming out of it."

Lora’s account states that when he opened the passenger door Arzu attacked him in the face with something he had gotten from the glove box. Then Arzu attempted to close the door and drive away.

Lora testified, "He squeezed me to the frame of the door. He put the car quickly into gear and drove away. I fired my weapon and was released from the vehicle."

Continue reading "Bronx First Degree Manslaughter Charge against Officer" »

The nydailynews.com website reported in a story on March 13, 2009 that Paul Casson, 28, an EMT was arrested and charged with forging a nurse’s signature and abandoning a five year old at the hospital. A spokeswoman for the Department of Investigation said that Casson did not want to wait and fill out the necessary paperwork so he forged the necessary documentation required before he left the hospital. ETM’s are required to fill out Patient Care Reports and have them signed by a corresponding nurse.

Casson is accused of endangering the welfare of a child in New York when he left a five year old at Lincoln Hospital. Casson was called to a vehicle accident scene on Deceember 31, and was transporting the child who did not sustain life threatening injuries to the hospital.

In a rush to make it to his New Year’s engagement, he lost all regards of professionalism and compassion. He now sits in jail awaiting trial. If convicted, Casson faces seven years in prison.

Forgery in New York is defined as "knowingly and with the intent to defraud, making, altering, or possessing any writing that purports to be made by another person, at another time, with different provisions, or by authority of one who did not give such authority and utters and delivers such writing".

Continue reading "Bronx Forgery and Abandonment of Five Year Old" »

The wrdw.com website reported in an article on March 13, 2009 that Richmond County investigators were searching for one suspect who committed armed robbery in Georgia. Police say that they were able to apprehend one of the suspects, Maurice Overstreet who is now in jail.

According to police investigators, the crime scene was Jack’s Grocery at 4630 Padgett Highway just after 9:30 p.m. Investigators say Maurice Overstreet and Johnny Mack went into Jack’s Grocery asking for cartons of cigarettes, money, and they also carried a duffel bag which they filled with beer. Two customers and two employees were in the store at the time of the robbery.

A most foolish mistake was committed by Overstreet as he was chased into the woods by one of the customers and dropped his bag that contained a luggage tag with information on it. Investigators later recovered the bag with the stolen cartons of cigarettes and beer. With the information on the bag the police were able to track him down.

Police are still searching for Mack and are charging Overstreet with armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Georgia.

Continue reading "Augusta Armed Robbery Nets One, One Wanted" »

The nydailynews.com website reported in a story on February 10, 2009 that Dr. Richard Lucente, 37, had been arrested on charges that he illegally sold 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. New York 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.”

Continue reading " Staten Island Drug Charges Against Dr. Arrested For Prescribing Steroids" »

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 New York. 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?

Continue reading " New York Domestic Violence Case of Soprano’s Vincent Pastore Settles Out Of Court" »

A report from nydailynews.com stated that a convicted NYPD cop killer may have to go back to prison to finish his remaining 25 to life sentence for violating his parole. Albert Victory, 68, was convicted in 1968 for the murder of NYPD officer, John Varecha, outside a disco located in Manhattan. A judge took mercy on Victory; and he was lucky to have been released from prison in 1999, even after previously breaking out of prison. Victory was put on parole since his release and was ordered to stay away from bars and alcohol and to follow strict curfew hours remaining in his Brooklyn apartment between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Victory was observed going down the wrong direction on a one way street in Brighton Beach at about 5 a.m. Upon approaching Victory, officers came across an overwhelming stench of alcohol. Victory was taken into custody after he declined to take a field sobriety test. If convicted of drunk driving in New York, he could face a year in jail

Continue reading "New York DWI Of Cop Killer May Go Back For Life " »

The nydailynews.com website reported in an article 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 in this New York violent crime. 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.”

Continue reading "New York DWI Manslaughter Leaves One Alive " »

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.

Continue reading "New York White Collar Crimes, Modern Crooks “Never Steal Anything Small”" »

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.”

Continue reading "Man's Body Dragged Through Queens and Brooklyn" »

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:

• 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

Continue reading "Queens Violent Crime Kills Landlord" »

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.

Continue reading "New York Sex Crime Offender Russell Harding Fights To Stay Off Sex Offender List " »

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."

Continue reading "Bronx Violent Crime Shooting On Sidewalk Injures Pedestrians" »

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 incident 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.

Continue reading "Brooklyn Weapon Carried By Teen Results In Cop Shooting Him" »

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 criminal 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 1-888-534-9106 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.”

Continue reading "Brooklyn Hit And Run Critically Injures 2" »

The NY Daily News website reported in a story on January 30, 2009 that Mohammad Ishfq Ahmad, 50 was shot and killed at a gas and deli station on Staten Island located on Victory Boulevard. Ahmad had moved from Pakistan to the United States in search of a better life. He was shot in the back near the pumps at the Gulf Station in what appears to be a robbery attempt in this New York violent crime.

Fatally wounded, Ahmad was able to stumble into a neighboring convenience store before he died.

Tompkinsville owner, Zahid Cuaudry said, "He told the attendant to call the police, then he fell to the ground."

Continue reading "Staten Island Attendent Killed, No Witnesses" »

A report on the NY Daily News website dated January 29, 2009 stated that E. Thomas Boyle, Federal Judge, ruled that Ponzi scheme con-man Nicholas Cosmo, 37 can be freed on bail but will have to come up with more money first. Ordering Cosmo back to jail, Boyle stated that he did not believe that Cosmo, aka as “little Bernie Madoff,” was a flight risk.

Boyle said, "Bail must be substantial," and also suggested that Cosmo be placed under intense surveillance. Bail conditions for Cosmo in the $350 million fraud case will be set in a hearing set for next week.

Cosmo fidgeted uneasily in an orange jumpsuit throughout the hearing then sat motionless as the Judge denied his lawyer’s bail proposal.

According to the prosecution, Cosmo duped 1,500 investors out of millions with guarantees of 4% a month in returns on loans to companies in this NY white collar crime case.

Cosmo made bad commodity wagers and lost millions paying brokers $50 million more.

Continue reading "Ponzi Scheme Con-Man May Be Freed On Bail" »

The website 11alive.com reported in a story on January 31, 2009 that police will be charging Kecia Whitfield with reckless conduct and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Garrett Reed was among those consuming the alcohol that, in the end, was a direct cause for the car accident that killed him. Authorities concluded after their investigation that Whitfield bought alcohol for her stepson along with several others including minor Garrett Reed.

Authorities claim Reed consumed the alcohol and got behind the wheel of a car when he hit another vehicle at high speeds. Reed crashed into Richard Reyes, 25, killing Reed and sending Reyes to the hospital with leg injuries. Police believe high speeds along with alcohol were the cause of the fatal accident. Reyes remains at the hospital with leg injuries and is in stable condition.

Bond for Whitfield was set at $10,000 in this non-violent crimes case.

Continue reading "Cobb Mother Furnished Alcohol To Step-Son Causing Fatality" »

The NY Daily News website reported in a story on January 28, 2009 that two police reports show that murder victim Daniel Malakov had been involved in a heated argument with Mikhail Mallayev, 51 and another nameless Russian man a day before Malakov was murdered. Police allege that a Queen’s mom employed Mallayev to kill her husband, who was a dentist, because of an ongoing custody battle over a 4 year old daughter.

Steven Scaring, attorney for Mazoltuv Borukhova, 34 and wife, vehemently requested the police reports to attempt to assist police in tracking down the “real killer.” Borukhova is alleged to have paid Malayev $20,000 to murder her spouse in this New York violent crime.

Continue reading " Queens Man Who Killed Dentist Identified" »

The 11alive.com website reported a story on January 29, 2009 that David Latimer, 52 has been taken into custody after police found three people dead in what appeared to be a shooting. Mike McKeel, Athens-Clarke Police Lt., said Latimer shot his two sisters and brother to death. The shootings took place at a mobile home park located on Spring Valley Road. The victims were identified as Janice Carol Patterson, 57, Thomas G. Latimer, 49, and Sara Kathleen Tatum, 57. Police said no motive was given for this seemingly senseless Georgia violent crime.

There are various types of homicide, which in the United States carry with them different penalties and consequences.

Continue reading "Athens-Clarke County Man Accused of Killing 3 Siblings " »

The NY Daily News website reported in a story on January 29, that 10 inmates described as thugs were charged with the deadly beat down of Rikers inmate Christopher Robinson, 18, who had been jailed for a parole violation. The inmates are accused of being in a jail club known as “The Program.” Shaddon Beswick and Anquant Bryant, each 18, were charged with manslaughter in linking them to Robinson’s death.

Charnel Robinson, mother, said, "It’s absolutely horrible to know that I'm living here every day without my only child."

Sanford Rubenstein, Robinson’s attorney, requested a federal investigation into the incident to find out whether the killing was an “isolated incident” or an indication of a system-wide abuse.
Prosecutors said a city investigation into Robinson’s death in this NY violent crime exposed that correction officers at Rikers jail united forces with a group of inmates in order to keep order.

Continue reading "Rikers In-House Jail Beatdown Kills Man " »

The NY Daily News website reported in a story on January 29, 2009 that Rodney Lewis, 17 was shot to death by his neighbor who did not want to return a television he had borrowed.

Authorities allege that Cloves Roche, 26 was confronted by Lewis to return the 32 inch television he had borrowed. The confrontation quickly escalated from words to punches in the fourth floor hallway of the Woodrow Wilson Houses located on E. 105 St. Roche ended the fight with two gun shots, one to the leg and one to the stomach in this NY violent crime case.

Yolanda Lewis, mother of the victim, lives a floor above her son's suspected murderer said, "He went to get one of his cousin's television back. No one in their right mind is going to kill somebody over a TV. I didn't expect Rodney to go out this way."

Lewis, who attended The Manhattan School for Career Development, was rushed to Metropolitan Hospital, but was tragically pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

Continue reading "Harlem Neighbor Shoots Teen Over TV" »

The NY Daily News website reported in a story on January 30, 2009 that Charles Carneglia is being accused of five murders in New York City. Marisa Seifan, Assistant United States Attorney, accused the alleged Gambino crime family hitman as being an “executioner” who murdered when he was ordered to or “felt he was disrespected.”

Carneglia sat motionless, eating gum in a courtroom packed with court officers and relatives of victims. Murdered victims in the NY violent crime case were the Court Officer Alber Gelb, an armored car driver, a gangster, and two alleged mob contacts.

Seifan said, "The defendant was an executioner. He chose murder as a way to punish Gelb for daring to stand up to a mobster. To the defendant, killing a court officer was a badge of honor." Gelb was shot in 1976, four days prior to him testifying against him in court. Dennis Quirk, State Court Officers President, came to the Brooklyn court with more than 60 officers looking for justice.

Quirk said, "He [Carneglia] is an animal. He belongs caged."

Continue reading "New York Gambino Crime “Executioner” On Trial " »

The NY Daily News website reported in an account on January 29, 2009 that police had arrested 17 people for dealing drugs at a seven story apartment building located at 135 Hamilton Place. According to officials they sold crack at all times from the grand building. Police claim that the boss was so bold that he even posted rollerblading videos on YouTube.

One tenant said, “I was afraid even to look out the window at the crackdown. I'm glad to have my building back."

Boschi (Bloodie) Pope, 22 is the alleged dope gang leader, who according to authorities, ran the gang from Rikers Island Jail. Authorities were able to tape incriminating conversations. Prosecutors say the tapes allegedly contain Pope’s voice instructing his girlfriend, Tiffany DuBois, 21 on how to restock the gang’s crack stash. DuBois, the mother of Pope’s child, was also arrested and put in the position of needing a skilled NY drug crime defense lawyer.

Continue reading "Harlem Crack Supermarket Shut Down By Cops" »

A report from the New York Daily News website on January 30, 2009 reported that Fu Xian Bao, 48 and Xiao Ping Luo, 41, both of Brooklyn, were arrested on charges of trademark counterfeiting, counterfeiting and other charges, and are facing up to 15 years in prison for their white collar crime.

Charles J. Hynes held a press conference at the warehouse of Ya Mei Trading and Wholesale, at 537 Johnson Avenue in Bushwick Brooklyn. He announced the results of a raid on a Brooklyn warehouse that produced an estimated $10 million worth of counterfeit goods, including worryingly realistic looking toy handguns, thus resulting in the need for a New York crime defense attorney.

Fake Chanel, Disney, and Yankee gear overflowed much of the two story warehouse. Without question, it was the toy guns and dangerous electrical items that troubled investigators the most. According to Hynes, a defective extension cord started to smoke when an official plugged it in.

Continue reading "Brooklyn Raids Find Fakes And Realistic Toy Guns" »

The NY Daily News website reported in a story on January 30, 2009 that Lucila Rojas, 27, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing her newborn son. Apparently, Rojas, a Bronx resident, is accused the violent crime of smothering her infant son on a city bus, then disposing of the body in a sidewalk trash can.

Richard Buchter, Queens Supreme Court Justice, said "You've expressed some remorse. I can only infer from the monstrosity of this crime that it is weighing on your soul.”

Continue reading "Bronx Women Gets 15 Years For Dumping Baby " »

Montgomery Cocaine Ring Busted; 16 Individuals Charged with Conspiracy

According to a July 10, 2008 federal grand jury indictment, 16 Montgomery, Alabama men and women were charged with a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute powder and crack cocaine throughout the region. The federal drug crime and conspiracy charges allege that during the first half of 2008, the 16 individuals along with other co-conspirators developed, financed, and maintained a drug-trafficking organization that supplied the Montgomery region with illegal narcotics. A spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Administration suggested that the dismantling the ring could have a significant and long-lasting impact on the Montgomery, AL drug scene.

If convicted, the 16 defendants could potentially serve a decade in prison and pay as much as $4 million in fines -- just for the conspiracy charge. A number of agencies and taskforces were involved in the investigation that yielded the cocaine distribution and conspiracy charges, including the Alabama State National Guard, the DEA, the Alabama Attorney General's Office, and a special Gulf Coast drug-trafficking force.

Continue reading "Cocaine Distribution and Conspiracy Charges in Narcotic Trafficking Ring" »

Two Modesto Residents Sentenced for Criminal Marijuana Conspiracy

On November 4, 2008, the United States District Court sentenced two Modesto, CA residents, Luke Anthony Scarmazzo and Ricardo Ruiz Montes, to two decades in jail on federal drug crime charges for their participation in a massive criminal marijuana manufacturing and distribution enterprise.

According to the prosecution, the defendants got a license from the city to run a business specializing in organic healthcare products. However, this enterprise, known as California Healthcare Collective, restricted its activities to selling and distributing marijuana.

Over the course of three years, from 2004 to 2006, the California Healthcare Collective brought in millions of dollars -- a low estimate suggests the figure at $4.5 million, while a higher estimate, corroborated by evidence, suggests that the number may have been as high as $9 million. Illegally, Scarmazzo and Montes used their earnings to buy personal property, such as a Mercedes valued at nearly $200,000.

Continue reading "Federal Drug Crime Defendants Receive 20 Years Imprisonment" »

DMV Employee and Nine Others Indicted on Charges of Marijuana Trafficking and Corruption

On December 2, 2008, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration unsealed an indictment of federal drug crime charges against 10 men and women involved in a massive inter-state conspiracy to distribute and sell marijuana illegally. The defendant, most of whom lived in Fresno, California, had (according to the indictment) concocted an elaborate scheme to export more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana throughout the United States.

One of the defendants under indictment, Michelle Meraz, worked for the California Department of Motor Vehicles and used her position as a government official to concoct a false ID by using a stolen identity and a picture of fellow-conspirator Haamid Alie Darcuiel. Charges in the case range from mail fraud to identity theft to corruption and conspiracy. Given the complexity of the arrangement and the sheer number of defendants indicted, the matter will likely take some time to settle out.

The case involved a handful of independent organizations that typically don’t work together on criminal matters. These included: the California DMV, the IRS' criminal bureau, the Fresno Police Department's narcotic division, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Eight of the defendants have been taken into custody. Two -- Jason Samuel and Haybe Dudeh -- are still at large, and authorities are currently searching for them.

Whether you have been charged as an accomplice to a criminal conspiracy, felony drug crimes or accused of some other federal crime, it’s important to recognize that your best options for justice lie in securing excellent legal representation. Fleeing from the law, retaining a second rate attorney, or otherwise under-representing your interests can result in much stricter penalties, such as heavy fines and jail-time. We at Conaway & Strickler, P.C. believe that every federal criminal defendant deserves a fair chance at justice. Our trial-tested, results-driven, nationally recognized federal crime defense attorneys can shed light on your legal options and help you prepare your best defense. Discuss your case with us discretely by dialing (888) 883-9091.

Illegal Alien gets Life in Prison for Role in Huge Drug Ring

A U.S. District judge sentenced defendant Olivar Martinez-Blanco to life in prison without parole on December 9, 2008 on Federal drug felony charges stemming from his role in a massive cocaine distribution conspiracy. Martinez-Blanco is an illegal alien who had been deported twice from the United States and had racked-up two separate drug felony convictions. He was convicted in mid-September of his third felony, for which the federal system allows no parole.

According to the prosecution’s case, Martinez-Blanco was working as a lookout for fellow-defendant Victor Giles-Morales when the Georgia State Patrol stopped Giles-Morales' van. Martinez-Blanco fled the scene while patrollers discovered 15 kilos of narcotics in the van. After collecting nearly $1 million in cash, Martinez-Blanco fled to a safe house, where he was later discovered by drug enforcement agents, who also found illegal firearms, several more kilograms of cocaine, half-a-ton of marijuana, and a major stash of methamphetamines.

Observers of the trial suggest that the harsh sentence of life in prison without parole for this third felony offense was meant not only as a punitive measure but also as a warning to other illegal aliens who might consider running drugs or otherwise getting involved in the narcotics trade.

In cases like Martinez-Blanco's, it's easy for criminal defendants to end up out-matched by the legal fire power of the federal government. If you or a loved one has been charged with a federal crime, either for some narcotics-related offense or for any other crime that falls under federal jurisdiction, you need an expert federal crime defense attorney in your corner to ensure your rights and give you the best options possible. Look to the nationally renowned legal firm of Conaway & Strickler, P.C. For over 10 years, the firm's battled for the rights of clients at both the state and the federal level, and we can handle complex litigation and high-profile cases. Discuss your concerns with us and set up an appointment by dialing (888) 883-9091.

Janet Jackson Super Bowl Case Makes its way all the way up to the Supreme Court

On November 20, 2008, the United States Solicitor General's Office filed a motion in a matter familiar to the vast majority of American sports fans. During the Super Bowl 2004 half-time show, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, two internationally renowned pop stars, were involved in a so-called "wardrobe malfunction" that resulted in the exposure of one of Ms. Jackson's breasts on national television. This incident sparked a series of legal actions and federal crime charges. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sought damages against the CBS Network for broadcasting public nudity, citing a previous case in which the FCC had sued Fox television stations for fleetingly broadcasting expletives to viewers and listeners. Initially, the Third Circuit panel sided with the FCC and levied a fine of more than half-a-million dollars against the network and its affiliates.

Depending on how the court responds to this petition for certiorari, the case may be pending for some time and may hold implications for the future of the FCC and the major broadcast networks.

If you, a family member, or a close friend has been indicted in a federal criminal case, you need to take fast and decisive action to retain an experienced federal crime defense lawyer to preserve your rights and build a strategy for defense. The firm of Conaway & Strickler, P.C., is an internationally recognized and respected legal force that has fought and won exceptionally tough criminal cases of high consequence. Whether you are dealing with the IRS, the FBI, the DEA or the FCC, we can provide the expert guidance you need to navigate safely to your most strategic defense. Call now at (888) 883-9091 to set an appointment with one of our associates for a free consultation.

The Georgia Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court got into a turf war regarding whether or not to allow convicted murder Troy Davis a stay of execution due to potential doubts regarding his guilt.

Despite the Georgia Supreme Court's attempts to push up Davis’ execution to prevent the U.S. Supreme Court from having a say in the matter, the high court intervened and postponed the execution by lethal injection with fewer than two hours left.

Davis was arrested nearly 20 years ago for murder in Savannah, Georgia of police officer Mark MacPhail on August 19, 1989. The case has sparked furious emotions from across the political spectrum. The Reverend Al Sharpton construed the matter as a civil rights case and was thrilled by the news of the reprieve of the death row inmate. Virginia Davis, Troy's mother, was similarly overjoyed for the reprieve. However, Annelie Reaves, the sister of the murder victim, was outraged by the high court's intervention and pushed resolutely for capital punishment to be carried out as soon as possible.

Continue reading "The United States Supreme Court Grants Troy Davis Last-Minute Stay of Execution " »

In a tragic story that illustrates the very real stakes that we all play with when we get behind the wheel of our cars, Craig Sumter, of Dekalb County, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian on Buford Highway. Sumter plead guilty to charges of vehicular homicide in the October 14th, 2007 death of Rebecca Jakubcin, 34. Rebecca was standing in a turn lane while walking home from dinner when she was struck by Sumter’s vehicle.

Sumter fled the scene following the accident, but police quickly apprehended him at his nearby apartment. At the time of his arrest, officers maintain that he appeared intoxicated. This was not Sumter’s first run in with the law. In 2006 he plead guilty to reckless driving after a prior drunken driving arrest. He had not complied with the terms of his probation in that case, according to a statement from the District Attorney. Under the sentence imposed Monday by Superior Court Judge Daniel Coursey, Sumter will have to serve 5 years probation upon being released from jail.

Continue reading "Dekalb County Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Hit-and-Run Death" »

Life can be messy. This is the fundamental truth that being an Atlanta criminal defense lawyer has taught me. We all know what living in modern American society is like. Stressed-out, overworked, we all strive to pay the bills, raise our families, find love and happiness, maintain employment, stay away from abusing alcohol or drugs, and somehow keep juggling all the balls of day-to-day life. When a Good Decent Law-Abiding Citizen is arrested, it often means that one of these balls got dropped.

Working with my clients has taught me better than any philosophy class that as human beings we are all innately fallible. As a criminal defense lawyer I have no need to be reminded that “to err is human”– I see it every day. My clients are people like these:

· Sasha, on scholarship to an exclusive private college in Boston. Under pressure to conform to the lifestyles of her wealthy friends, she succumbed to the pressure to shoplift a party dress “just this once.” The store’s policy against selective prosecution landed Sasha in jail and sent her parents frantically seeking legal advice.

· Joe, a contractor, family man, and supporter of his local law-and-order politicians. When the police pulled him over one evening for failing to stop completely at a stop sign, he failed a breathalyzer test and found himself in jail on a Georgia DUI charge.

· Martha, a single woman in her twenties who worked as a bookkeeper. When she resorted to “borrowing” from the company accounts to pay some overdue bills, the company fired her and had her arrested.

· Jerry, a long-distance trucker with a wife and two kids. The pressure to provide “just on time delivery” for his big corporate clients led Jerry to boost his drive time with crystal meth. Stopped for a moving violation, Jerry couldn’t hide the signs of habitual drug use from the officer, who arrested him and took him to jail.

· Bill and Dana, a married couple who got into a fight one night. She got so angry that she threw a glass at him. When he shouted and threw her onto the couch, she called 911. When the police came to find the fight had blown over, but because of a Zero Tolerance arrest policy they still charged Bill with battery and Dana with aggravated assault.

Continue reading "Good Decent Law-Abiding Citizens Not Immune to Facing Georgia Criminal Charges" »

Millions of American citizens are arrested by the police every year: detained, questioned, handcuffed, stuffed into the back of a police cruiser, and thrown in jail. Many of them never expected it to happen to them. These individuals are often shocked to find themselves fighting for their liberties, their reputations, and their futures in the clutches of The Beast – the impersonal, aggressive, bureaucratic, politically-charged, economically-motivated nightmare that is today’s criminal justice system. As America’s criminal justice system becomes ever larger and more powerful, it is time to ask ourselves: what should we be more afraid of? the criminals? or The Beast?

Popularized in a vast array of television shows – “Law and Order,” “CSI,” “Cold Case,” “COPS,” and “Nancy Grace,” to name a few – as white-knight police and prosecutors battling wily criminals with slick defense lawyers, the criminal justice system is widely misunderstood by the average American. The “good guy – bad guy” image is reinforced by politicians of every stripe vowing to be “tough on crime” and by special-interest groups promoting Zero Tolerance policies on the streets, in the schools, and in the workplaces. What most Americans fail to realize is that the effect of our law-and-order political philosophy has been the passage of many more criminal laws, broader definitions of what constitutes a crime, greater restrictions on civil liberties, and harsher punishments.

In the many years of defending individuals charged with crimes, Dan Conaway of Conaway & Strickler, PC has found that most of his clients have never been arrested before, or have had only minor previous infractions. Instead of hardened offenders who know how to “beat the system,” as they are portrayed on the television shows, many people questioned or arrested by the police are just ordinary individuals who have run afoul of the law. They are nearly always terrified, confused, and completely ignorant about what to do next. What’s more, because the ramifications of a conviction – even for a minor offense – have increased exponentially over the past two decades, a single misstep early on can lead to disastrous results.

Continue reading "Navigating the Criminal Justice System Minefield" »

A basic flaw in many people’s thinking is that they can go to court and “talk to the judge about it” or “work things out with the prosecutor.” They believe that because they are not “one of those criminals” and their “case is the exception,” they can convince the prosecutor or judge to drop the criminal charges against them. The truth is very different. Due to Zero Tolerance policing, just about everyone who has been caught doing something the least bit illegal is now ending up in the courtroom. As a result, your general good character is not going to convince a judge or prosecutor to give you a break. When you walk into the courtroom, no matter who you are, the judge and prosecutor see you as just another criminal defendant, another piece of meat to feed to The Beast.

First, courtrooms are more crowded than ever before, and judges and prosecutors are often overworked and overwhelmed. America’s criminal justice system has grown into a huge industry – the “prison-industrial complex” -- that provides millions of jobs and massive amounts of tax revenue for states and counties. Criminal justice is the one area besides the military where politicians today can advocate for bigger government and more taxes and get elected.

Second, prosecutors and judges no longer have the independence to exercise discretion in prosecution and sentencing that they had a generation ago. Powerful special interest groups spend millions of dollars monitoring conviction rates of judges and prosecutors across the country. Officials who do not live up to the conviction targets of organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) face a very real threat of losing the next election. If you appear in their courtroom and they show you any leniency, their jobs may be on the line.

Continue reading "Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys Give You Best Chance To Win Your Case" »

Thanks to the information superhighway, having even a single conviction on your record can make it difficult or impossible for you to get a job, a bank loan, or a place to live. Your record is easy to access and will follow you across the country and around the world. The idea that someone convicted of an Atlanta crime can be rehabilitated and “start over” has become a thing of the past.

Finding a job with a conviction on your record has become much harder than it used to be. Corporate employers and franchisers employ companies that specialize in doing computer background checks to “weed out criminals.” These big corporate employers are not like the local mom-and-pop businesses that once might have given you a second chance. If you have a crime on your record, there is an excellent chance you won’t be hired.

Even high-ranking government officials may have trouble reentering the workforce following a criminal conviction. Former Assistant Attorney General Webster Hubbell went to jail for refusing to testify against President Clinton. When he got out, his troubles were not over. He found that many companies will not hire a convicted felon because their insurers will drop their coverage if they do. Insurance companies also may decline to issue necessary coverage – such as property or malpractice insurance – to someone with a criminal record who wants to start their own business.

The Internet leaves those with a conviction – or even an arrest – on their record vulnerable to retaliatory attack. Today we are seeing the rise of the cyber-vigilante, who posts information about people’s private criminal information on-line. In cyberspace, there are no secrets and no second chances.

Call the Georgia Criminal defense attorneys at Conaway & Strickler, PC now to avoid a conviction.