Posted on January 01, 2023 in Federal Crimes

Many people are entirely unaware of the vast number of crimes that can be committed online. Even more shocking to learn is that many crimes committed via the internet can reach the level of being a federal crime. There is often an incorrect notion that just because a crime is committed online does not make it as serious. This could not be further from the truth. Cybercrime is serious and must be treated as such. 

 Today, we will look at examples of some of the more shocking federal crimes that can be committed on the internet. First, it must be noted that if you are charged with an internet crime, your best bet for an outcome in your favor is hiring a highly experienced internet crimes attorney. Experience is essential when selecting an attorney, particularly for internet crimes.

 What Federal Crimes Can Be Committed Over the Internet?

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 Posted on December 19, 2022 in Federal Crimes

When someone is convicted of a federal crime, their life, as they knew it, is irrevocably changed forever. The immediate consequences of being convicted of a crime may be prison time, probation, or monetary fines. Regardless of the immediate consequences, it may be argued that the most severe of consequences are not set by a judge but by the drastic changes you may experience in your life as a result of being convicted of a crime. In addition, as many convicted individuals discover, there are “collateral consequences” that they may encounter. These consequences are related to changes imposed on your life not by a court but by the crime you have been convicted of.  

The collateral consequences of a criminal conviction can have a devastating impact on your life. Sometimes, you do not need to be convicted to feel collateral consequences. Sometimes, being associated with allegedly committing a crime can be enough for some people to feel the repercussions of being accused of committing a crime. The most effective thing someone can do to prevent or lessen the collateral consequences of a crime is to hire a highly knowledgeable attorney to work with as you navigate the particulars of your case.  

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 Posted on December 14, 2022 in White Collar Crime

You have probably heard of the term “white-collar crime.” This term refers to non-violent financial crimes, often committed by people, businesses, or government entities to unlawfully conceal or obtain money to benefit themselves or a business. White-collar crimes may include mortgage fraud, bank fraud, internet crimes, wire fraud, money laundering, identity theft, and credit card fraud. Today, we will delve deeper into what credit card fraud is and what activities can lead someone to be arrested and charged with credit card fraud.

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 Posted on December 06, 2022 in Federal Crimes

You may be aware of the term “white-collar crime.” Generally, white-collar crimes involve the theft or misuse of a person or organization’s financial information to deceive the person or organization of capital or property. The crime of identity theft is a perfect example of a white-collar crime. Unfortunately, many people incorrectly believe that since white-collar crimes are generally non-violent, they are, therefore, not very serious and are something not to worry about. This could not be farther from the truth.  

If you have been charged with identity theft, you may face state and federal charges. Understand that if you are convicted of identity theft, you are likely facing stiff monetary penalties and extended prison sentences. To give yourself the best opportunity for a positive result in your case, you must consider hiring an experienced identity theft attorney who knows the law and will be able to inform you of your rights and ensure that your rights remain protected.

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 Posted on November 30, 2022 in Federal Crimes

An Episcopal Church priest and a businessman are facing federal charges after allegedly defrauding a foster care organization of approximately $10 million. A federal grand jury indicted both men, with the priest facing one count of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and 15 counts of wire fraud while the businessman is charged with three counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and 10 counts of wire fraud.

Whereas mail fraud encompasses crimes committed using physical mailing systems, wire fraud charges rely on electronic systems and can thus be much more expansive. Wire fraud is a serious federal crime because a conviction is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. However, an alleged offense involving a financial institution could be punishable by up to 30 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1 million.

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 Posted on November 22, 2022 in Federal Crimes

A suburban Chicago man who was convicted of laundering illegal narcotics proceeds was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. The man schemed to receive about $1.5 million in narcotics proceeds and send money back to traffickers in Mexico.

Federal criminal cases such as these call attention to how easily money laundering charges can arise in connection to all kinds of illicit activity, so many people can quickly find themselves accused of these offenses. In addition to the 20 years in prison, an alleged money laundering offender can also be ordered to pay a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in a transaction for money laundering.

Possible Money Laundering Defenses

When you are facing federal money laundering charges, you are going to need to invest in a criminal defense attorney who will know how to best develop a defense that can help create reasonable doubt in the mind of a juror. In many cases, alleged offenders may be able to argue that the money involved in their transaction was not obtained from any illegal activity and the episode did not involve any unlawful conduct.

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 Posted on November 14, 2022 in Federal Crimes

The United States Department of Justice and various United States Attorney’s Offices throughout the Illinois area were very busy in October detailing multiple stories of major drug charges in and around Chicago. On October 20, the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced 10 people were charged with federal drug conspiracy for allegedly conspiring to distribute at least 35 kilograms of fentanyl-laced heroin and crack cocaine on the West Side of Chicago.

The day before that, the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin announced that a Chicago man was charged with drug offenses involving heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine that were punishable by several decades up to life in prison. Lest anyone think they can just run away from federal drug charges, the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced on October 14 that a 53-year-old man was arrested in Panama City on a flight from Colombia after failing to appear in federal court in Chicago before his 2009 drug trial.

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 Posted on November 03, 2022 in Federal Crimes

Late last month, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a 33-count indictment showed that seven Chicago-area residents engaged in fraud related to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) and allegedly fraudulently obtained at least $16 million in small business loans and grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. Each wire fraud and money laundering charge is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.

Just two days before that, a United States District Court Chief Judge imposed a 21-month sentence on a 28-year-old Merrillville man for stealing money from customers’ accounts. He pleaded guilty to white collar federal criminal charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.

Possible Consequences of Federal Fraud Crimes

The federal government pursues a great many kinds of fraud cases, and fraud can involve many different aspects of everyday life. The United States Attorneys' Office will aggressively pursue convictions in these types of cases and all alleged offenders will need to invest in having experienced legal representation capable of providing a solid defense against the charges in court.

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 Posted on October 27, 2022 in Hate Crime Statute

In May of this year, ten people were killed, and three others were injured when a 19-year-old man opened fire at a grocery store in downtown Buffalo, New York. All of the victims were Black, and officials say the evidence indicates that the shooting was racially motivated.  As a result, when a federal grand jury indicted the young man in July, the charges included 14 counts of federal hate crimes. The alleged shooter could face the death penalty if convicted.

Federal hate crime law prohibits certain crimes motivated by bias against race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity. This means that if you commit a crime against someone because of their protected status, you could be charged with a hate crime in addition to the underlying offense.

What Is a Hate Crime?

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 Posted on October 24, 2022 in Federal Crimes

In the United States, every person who is charged with a crime—including a federal crime—has the right to remain silent. This right is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects individuals from self-incrimination. "Self-incrimination" means saying something that could be used as evidence against you in a criminal trial.

The right to remain silent is a fundamental constitutional right that has been recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States for over 150 years. It is important to understand that the right to remain silent is not absolute; there are circumstances where an individual may be required to provide information to law enforcement. However, if you are ever questioned by law enforcement, you should always exercise your right to remain silent and speak to an attorney before answering any questions.

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