Posted on June 25, 2024 in Federal Crimes

Being accused of a federal hate crime is a serious matter that requires immediate attention and expert legal guidance. If you find yourself in this situation, it is crucial to understand the charges, potential consequences, and steps you should take to protect your rights. An Illinois lawyer can help you potentially build a strong defense.

What to Know About Federal Hate Crime Charges

A federal hate crime involving damage to religious property is prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 247. This law prohibits intentionally damaging, defacing, or destroying religious real property or attempting to do so because of its religious character. The offense becomes more severe if it involves the use of fire, explosives, or other dangerous weapons. Key elements prosecutors must prove:

• The damaged property was used for religious purposes

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 Posted on June 20, 2024 in Federal Crimes

Immigration marriage fraud is a serious offense that can lead to severe consequences for both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. Entering into a marriage solely to obtain immigration benefits can lead to criminal charges and severe penalties for the couple involved. An Illinois lawyer can help you determine what constitutes immigration marriage fraud, the legal consequences, and how to protect yourself if you are facing such charges.

What Constitutes Immigration Marriage Fraud?

Immigration marriage fraud is when a U.S. citizen or permanent resident marries a foreign national solely to help gain legal status in the United States. This type of marriage is not based on a genuine relationship but rather on deception and the desire to circumvent immigration laws. Examples of immigration marriage fraud include:

• Entering into a marriage exclusively for the purpose of immigration advantages

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 Posted on June 13, 2024 in Identity Theft

If you face federal charges related to identity theft, the road ahead may seem like it is too much to bear. Identity theft is a serious crime that can carry potentially severe penalties under federal law. However, you do not have to face this difficult situation alone. An Illinois lawyer can provide the strong, strategic defense you need and protect your rights every step of the way.

What You Should First Know About Federal Identity Theft Charges

Identity theft happens when an individual uses someone else's personal information, like personal Security number or credit card details, without consent to engage in fraudulent activities or other criminal acts. While many identity theft cases are prosecuted at the state level, identity theft becomes a federal offense when it involves certain aggravating factors, such as:

• Stealing the identity of a deceased person

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 Posted on June 10, 2024 in Federal Crimes

Committing credit card fraud is a significant crime that carries severe consequences. You could face hefty fines and extended imprisonment. An Illinois lawyer can help you understand what constitutes federal credit card fraud and the potential consequences for those convicted.

What Exactly is Federal Credit Card Fraud?

Federal credit card fraud occurs when an individual knowingly intending to defraud uses, attempts to use, or conspires to use a counterfeit, altered, forged, lost, stolen, or fraudulently obtained credit card. It also includes the unauthorized use of a credit card obtained through fraudulent means, such as identity theft. Credit card fraud is a federal charge when the fraudulent activity crosses state lines or international borders. For example, if you stole someone’s credit card in Illinois to make online purchases at a retailer in Florida, this turns into federal credit card fraud.

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 Posted on May 30, 2024 in Mortgage fraud

There are several types of fraud that are considered white-collar crimes. What they share in common is the fact that the person committing them misrepresents the truth, leaves out some important facts, or engages in otherwise fraudulent behavior. One specific type that we will examine today is mortgage fraud. When someone acts fraudulently during a mortgage transaction that affects financial institutions that are federally insured, mortgage fraud becomes a federal crime. The severe implications of a mortgage fraud conviction include heavy fines and long prison sentences. If you are facing federal mortgage fraud charges, speak with a qualified Chicago, IL mortgage fraud defense attorney who can protect your rights, explain your options, and build a strong defense.

When Is Mortgage Fraud a Federal Crime?

When the alleged behavior affects the government, it becomes a federal offense. That means the fraud could involve FHA-insured loans, VA loans, or other federally insured financial arrangements. Depending on the specifics of the case, federal mortgage fraud might also involve bank, mail, wire, or securities fraud.

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 Posted on May 21, 2024 in Drug Crimes

Most people are aware that marijuana has been treated by law enforcement officials as an illegal drug for quite a while. A fairly new challenge in recent years is related to what happens when something is considered legal in a state but still considered an illegal drug according to federal law. Specifically, marijuana has been legalized in the state of Illinois, but possession of it remains a federal offense. This discrepancy has caused a great deal of confusion and unexpected implications. This article will explain a bit about marijuana-related laws in Illinois and how you might get into trouble with federal law. Of course, if you are concerned that you might be in legal trouble, speak with a skilled Chicago, IL criminal defense attorney who can review your case and offer you sound advice.

State and Federal Legal Questions about Marijuana

In recent years, several states passed laws legalizing the use and possession of marijuana. However, it is still an illegal drug according to federal law. The Controlled Substances Act still has cannabis listed as a Schedule 1 drug, which means that there are serious implications. People who live in a state like Illinois, where marijuana is legalized, might assume that using it is not a problem, and that is the source of a lot of confusion and federal charges against people who have no idea they are doing something wrong.

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 Posted on May 10, 2024 in Fraud

There are laws protecting individuals, organizations, and businesses from suffering financially as a result of someone else’s false claims. The United States federal government takes accusations of fraud very seriously. A wide variety of actions can be included under the umbrella category of “federal fraud” and can result in a wide range of penalties and sentences. If you are concerned that you might be accused of federal fraud, speak with a skilled Chicago, IL federal fraud lawyer to review your options.

Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Mail Fraud

Three types of fraud can be punished with up to a $1,000,000 fine and up to 30 years in prison. These include:

• Wire fraud: When you conduct fraud by wire, radio, or television. Additionally, there is no federal law specifically addressing mortgage fraud, so that type of offense is often prosecuted as wire fraud.
• Bank fraud: Deceiving banks and other financial institutions

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 Posted on May 08, 2024 in Hate Crime Statute

Simply put, a hate crime happens when both hate and crime are involved, but those two terms have specific definitions in the context of a hate crime, which will be explained below. However, since America grants its citizens the right to free speech and freedom of religion, the topic of hate crimes can be confusing. You might feel threatened by someone else’s beliefs or actions, which can feel directed against your religion. However, if you act to defend yourself against what you perceive as threatening actions, you might find yourself facing an accusation of hate crimes yourself. The possibility of a federal hate crime conviction can make you afraid, anxious, and stressed. If you are accused of a federal hate crime, speak with an experienced Chicago, IL hate crime defense attorney to understand what options you have.

What is Considered “Hate”

When used to characterize a type of crime, “hate” does not mean strong dislike or the opposite of like or love the way it does outside of a legal context, but rather it refers to a bias against people who share some characteristics. Most states define hate crimes as those committed on the basis of the perceived or actual sexual orientation, religion, race, nationality, gender, gender identity, or disability of the target.

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 Posted on April 25, 2024 in Fraud

Characterized as crimes committed by businesspersons and politicians, a white-collar crime is a non-violent offense that generally has a financial motive. Although white-collar crimes account for only 3% of federal prosecutions, a conviction carries severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, or potentially both. 

If you are facing accusations of a white-collar crime, you need to speak with our Chicago white-collar crime defense attorney immediately.

Wire Fraud

The offense of using electronic communications to defraud someone else is known as wire fraud. To be charged at the federal level, the following elements must be satisfied:

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 Posted on April 18, 2024 in Identity Theft

Identity theft is a growing concern in our country and the federal government comes down harshly on offenders. Even minimum penalties for a federal offense are severe.

Identity theft charges must be dealt with immediately. If you suspect that you are under federal investigation for identity theft or have already been formally charged, you need to speak with a Chicago identity theft lawyer today. 

Overview of Identity Theft 

Federal law makes it a crime to steal and use another person’s personal data for economic gain through fraud or deception. Identity theft can involve taking a personal identification document, falsifying a document, or retrieving someone’s personal data.

While the majority of identity theft cases are prosecuted in state court, the federal government may prosecute an offender if the person is stealing large sums of money or numerous victims are involved. 

Personal information can include any of the following:

• Social security numbers

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