South Carolina Federal Defense Attorneys For the past several months, the Federal Government has been cracking down on online counterfeit product sales. The results of the ongoing investigation were announced on Cyber Monday, revealing that over 350 websites have been seized since June 2010. Although these knock-off items may be easy on your wallet and look as good as the real thing, willful copyright infringement is a Federal crime. Immigration and Customs enforcement Director John Morton announced Monday that the government has shut … [Read more...]
Man sought after reported shooting near White House
November 14, 2011 by
South Carolina Federal Defense Attorneys Washington, DC- CNN is reporting that Washington police have issued an arrest warrant for a 21-year-old man they say was involved in a recent shooting that occurred between the White House and WashingtonMonument. According to a news release Sunday from the United States Park Police, the suspect, Oscar Ortega, is wanted in connection to Friday night's shooting, which did not lead to any injuries, but did rattle people in a district often full of tourists and government buildings. Police said the … [Read more...]
Former Councilman E.W. Cromartie Released From Prison
November 8, 2011 by
WLTX-TV is reporting former that Columbia City Councilman E.W. Cromartie has returned home after serving 10 months in federal prison for tax evasion. The former Councilman was released from incarceration in Williamsburg County last Friday. Cromartie's attorney said his client is currently on home confinement, but is unsure how long he will remain under those terms of release. In September last year, a judge sentenced Cromartie on charges of tax evasion. In March of that same year, prosecutors announced that Cromartie made false … [Read more...]
Defending Mail Fraud
November 7, 2011 by
South Carolina Mail Fraud Attorneys Fighting An Allegation of Mail Fraud The United States Code criminalizes, “any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses” involving the U.S. Mail system. The problem with an allegation of mail fraud is that each act committed in a post office of taking out or putting in a letter that furthers the scheme, is a distinct and separate violation. Accordingly, with a mass mailing, hundreds of violations may have been committed. Defending a … [Read more...]
Reduction in Federal Crack Cocaine Sentences Could Release 12,000 Inmates
November 2, 2011 by
South Carolina Federal Defense Attorneys A reduction in federal prison sentences for crack cocaine took effect on November first in a move that could release an estimated 12,000 inmates get reearly. The changes reduce federal penalties for the more addictive crack cocaine to bring them more in line with those for powdered cocaine. The sentencing disparity had long been criticized as racially discriminatory because it disproportionately affected African American defendants. Chris Burke, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons said, "Up … [Read more...]
Theft on the Rise in SC
October 26, 2011 by
South Carolina Federal Defense Attorneys State 2nd in nation; increase partly blamed on recession According to the Greenville News, the state of South Carolina is second in the country for property crimes, with only Washington, D.C. having a higher rate. The state has above-average rates in all the categories of theft, including larceny-theft, burglary and motor vehicle theft. Many South Carolina residents found this surprising, many of whom stay in or moved to the state because of the perceived low crime rates. Greenville County … [Read more...]
Connecticut Man Claims to have killed 17 People
October 24, 2011 by
South Carolina Federal Defense Attorneys Fox News is reporting that a Connecticut man convicted in a deadly home invasion bragged in a letter from death row that he has murdered 17 people and collected victims' sneakers as trophies. He also ridiculed his accomplice as "not even worthy" of being his partner in crime. The New Haven Register reported over the weekend that it had obtained a letter that Steven Hayes allegedly wrote from prison, where he has been sentenced to death for the 2007 home invasion that resulted in the death of a … [Read more...]
ICE Deports Record Number of Immigrants in Year
October 19, 2011 by
South Carolina Federal Defense Attorney (Miami, Fl) Director John Morton of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said yesterday his agency deported nearly 400,000 individuals during the fiscal year that ended in September, the highest number of removals in the agency's history. Morton announced said a little more than half, or approximately 55 percent of those deported, had felony or misdemeanor convictions. Officials stated the number of illegal immigrants convicted of a crime has risen 89 percent from 2008. Authorities could … [Read more...]
Is the IRS After You?
October 17, 2011 by
South Carolina IRS Tax Lawyers Aggressive IRS Criminal Tax Fraud Defense Signs An Indictment for Criminal Tax Fraud is Looming: The IRS Revenue Officer who has been pressing you for payment suddenly disappears and won't return your phone calls. This is not necessarily a stroke of good luck. Instead, he may be back at the office writing up a referral to his friends in the Criminal Investigation Division. The IRS Revenue Agent who has been auditing your tax returnsdisappears for days or weeks. Again, this isn't cause for celebration. … [Read more...]
10 Facts to Consider When the SEC Knocks
September 26, 2011 by
As we have repeatedly told you, speaking with an investigator before talking to your attorney is never a good idea regardless of your innocence. There is a lot at state if you are under investigation for criminal fraud. Consider the following: 1. Federal criminal investigations are conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the grand jury. A Federal criminal investigation may or may not occur simultaneously with an SEC investigation. 2. Generally, you client can assert your Fifth Amendment privilege against … [Read more...]
