Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Two men are facing credit card fraud charges in Riverside County after being accused of using fraudulent credit cards at four casinos, the Orange County Register reported.

The men, ages 42 and 27, were arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of fraud and burglary. Both are on parole and one is reportedly a previously deported felon. They were both being held in Indio Jail. Both men were allegedly recorded withdrawing large amounts of cash at a Rancho Mirage Casino after authorities arrived in response to a call from Nordstrom Visa. Authorities say they were arrested trying to make a cash withdraw at an Indio casino and are believed to have attempted to use the credit cards at two other casinos.

ATMs and the Internet have led to a host of fraud, identity theft, credit card theft and Internet fraud charges in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. These are often complex criminal cases and should always be handled by a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer experienced with handling financial crimes and criminal cases in federal court.

Police say the men were using cards with their names printed on them and fake account information. Police reportedly found equipment used to make counterfeit cards, along with fake identification, in a search of one of the defendant's houses in San Juan Capistrano.

An experienced defense lawyer may also challenge the legality of such a search. In cases where illegal search and seizure can be proven to have resulted in the collection of evidence, such evidence is frequently thrown out of court. In such cases, a reduction or dismissal of the charges often results.

Continue reading "Los Angeles arrest alleges credit card fraud charges in Southern California" »

A Granada Hills highs school teacher is facing sex crimes in Los Angeles after being charged with having sex with an underage female student, the L.A. Times reported.

Consulting with an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney is vital from the moment you believe that you or a loved one is the target of such an investigation. The zero tolerance policy in today's school system often subverts all common sense and leads to a situation where a respected teacher or coach is guilty unless proven innocent.

In this case, the 8-year veteran of Hillcrest Christian School in Granada Hills was arrested and booked on suspicion of multiple sex crimes. Detectives have appealed for other possible victims to come forward. The defendant, who was a health teacher, athletic director and assistant coach in boys basketball and baseball, allegedly had an ongoing sexual relationship with at least one female student since the beginning of the school year.

If you are the subject of such an investigation, DO NOT TALK TO AUTHORITIES. PERIOD.

Unfortunately, the potential for shame and embarrassment frequently lead a suspect to attempt to talk his way out of trouble. Detectives know this and will play on it. In other cases, an investigator may approach a suspect as if the allegations are little more than a nuisance. In short, no amount of deception is beyond the limits of authorities in such cases.

These cases are typically decided based on the testimony of the defendant and the victim. Frequently, it comes down to he-said, she-said and who is most believable. In cases where authorities fail to get a statement from a defendant, there may not even be enough for criminal charges. And any statement a defendant does make, could contradict a future defense strategy.

If you are being questioned under such circumstances, you are very likely going to be arrested and your chances of talking your way out of being charged are virtually non-existent.

Our Los Angeles sex crime lawyers understand the embarrassment of such charges. We also understand that the only adequate defense is a knowledgeable and aggressive offense.

Continue reading "School sex charges in Los Angeles require aggressive criminal defense" »

As Southern California prepares for Thanksgiving week and the busiest travel weekend of the year, our Los Angeles drunk driving defense lawyers want to remind motorists to stay safe and to call an experienced attorney if they get into trouble.

Last year the L.A. Times reported that 30 motorists were killed on California freeways over the Thanksgiving weekend, up from 24 in 2008.

-The California Highway Patrol arrested more than 1,300 drivers for suspicion of drunk driving -- at least 225 were DUI arrests in L.A. County.

-And the patrol made more than 1,300 additional arrests.

Law enforcement roadblocks -- or "sobriety checkpoints" -- will be a favorite of law enforcement's again this holiday season. Police must obey specific rules when conducting such checkpoints and the resulting arrests are often beatable in court.

Too often, motorists fail to take a drunk driving charge serious enough. The average cost of a conviction has been estimated at more than $10,000. Loss of your driver's license, jail time, probation, community service, alcohol counseling, fines and court costs are commonplace. And a conviction on your record makes it that much more likely that you will be stopped, questioned and cited again for a future violation. A second DUI offense carries the requirement of a week in jail -- 4 months are required for a third offense.

Drunk driving accidents in Los Angeles can also lead to very serious criminal charges. Unfortunately, law enforcement frequently stops any thorough investigation of an accident once it has been determined one of the parties is intoxicated. At that point, the focus often shifts to collecting evidence of your guilt. It is therefore critical to consult with an experienced and aggressive DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible after the accident.

Additionally, a DUI conviction can impact your ability to get certain jobs or qualify for certain occupation licenses. Just the embarrassment and hassle of being forced to disclose a drunk driving conviction on job applications for years to come is reason enough to consult an attorney.

The truth is, enforcement blitzes frequently lead to marginal or questionable arrests around the holidays. Consulting an experienced attorney is money well spent.

Continue reading "Holiday checkpoints, enforcement, increase risk of DUI arrests in Los Angeles" »

Fourteen people are facing federal drug trafficking charges in Los Angeles, according to an L.A. Times report.

Authorities allege the Hollywood-based ring used chartered planes to ship hundreds of pounds of cocaine and millions of dollars between Los Angeles and Baltimore. Fourteen people have been charged with trafficking and money laundering by a federal grand jury.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Snow Bird," alleges that the defendants shipped 390 kilos of cocaine and over $4 million in cash during one six-week stretch. About 298 kilos of cocaine and just over $1 million was seized as a result of the investigation.

The government contends that members of the ring would fly to Baltimore, oversee the drug sales, and fly suitcases of cash back to Los Angeles. Five of the 14 under indictment are in custody, while the remainder are being sought by authorities.

The alleged leader of the group was identified as Ricky James Brascom, 28, a Woodland Hills resident and chief executive of Behind da Scenes Entertainment. His brother, Jerome Mondale Brascom, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was also indicted. Two others taken into custody were Steven Velazquez, 31, of San Fernando and Alberto Cruzado, 57, of Sylmar. And a fifth person, Leonardo Concepcion, 50, of Downey, allegedly worked as a pilot.

Among those still being sought by authorities is Darrin Ebron, identified as a 43-year-old DJ and clothing designer from Washington, D.C., who allegedly served as a distributor.

Authorities also report the seizure of several luxury vehicles, including Aston Martins, a Mercedes and a BMW. Charges include conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to launder money and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to the U.S. District Attorney's Office.

Continue reading "Feds charge 14 with cocaine trafficking in alleged ring between Los Angeles and Baltimore" »

Four men are facing federal kidnapping charges in Los Angeles after authorities allege the defendants engaged in a bizarre plot to kidnap an L.A. businessman, FOX News reports.

A Los Angeles federal criminal defense lawyer should always be hired to defend clients facing charges lodged by the federal government. The laws and rules of federal court are different than those of state courts and require specific knowledge, training and experience. In this case, the charges are very serious because the defendant's allegedly planned to commit the crime for $5 million in ransom.

The men, ages 35 to 70, are from Austria, Hungry and Arizona. They are charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats and violence, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

One of the defendants is also charged with being a felon alien in possession of guns and ammunition; transfer of a gun for use in a crime of violence; and being in the United States illegally following deportation.

The men allegedly planned to kidnap the owner of a medical marijuana dispensary and several Los Angeles jewelry stores in order to obtain access to a safe in his home which they believed contained $5 million in cash and jewelry.

If convicted, the defendants face prison sentences ranging from 20 to 60 years.

Continue reading "Men facing federal charges in Los Angeles for allegedly plotting to kidnap jewelry store owner for ransom" »

Nearly 100 people have been arrested in a variety of Los Angeles prostitution charges at a downtown hostess club, the L.A. Times reported.

Consulting a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer is your best move when facing solicitation or prostitution charges. While typically charged as a misdemeanor, jail time and other serious penalties can result. Unfortunately, shame and embarrassment sometimes prompt a defendant to quickly and quietly enter a guilty plea in an effort to put the incident behind them. We believe that's a mistake -- having a conviction for solicitation or prostitution on your criminal record can impact your life for years to come.

Ninety people, mostly women, were taken into custody during the raid. Charges range from suspicion of prostitution and lewd conduct, to gambling and the use of counterfeit identification.

Three dozen officers from the LAPD's vice unit led the raid on the club at 9th and Hill streets on Friday. They reportedly found 400 people in a space with a permitted capacity of 250. Police regulate clubs and report that the raid came after conditions found during an inspection several months ago, when they reported finding dancers using false IDs and allegedly engaging in prostitution.

Hostess clubs are permitted by police but are prohibited from serving alcohol or allowing nudity. The club charges $30 an hour for "time and companionship."

The Times reports officers witnessed no illegal conduct during Friday's raid.

Continue reading "Los Angeles prostitution charges should be fought by experienced defense lawyer" »

Two doctors are facing criminal charges in Los Angeles after authorities accuse them of a $5 million fraud scam involving mentally ill homeless patients, the Washington Post reported.

The Medicare and Medi-Cal fraud case is the latest in a long string of cases against doctors, home-health care businesses, clinics and others in the medical profession. These cases are frequently complex and can be devastating to the reputation of legitimate doctors and health care workers. Consulting an attorney at the earliest stage of a case -- even before charges are filed, is frequently your best course of action. The fact that the charges were filed as misdemeanors by city prosecutors likely means that state and federal authorities decline to pursue more serious charges. Whether the charges lack merit, we cannot say. But they still carry the possibility of substantial jail time. And the loss of professional reputation is often irreplaceable.

The doctors, ages 58 and 72, were charged along with five others of misdemeanor conspiracy, fraud and taking illegal kickbacks. Each faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted.

City prosecutors allege homeless people were recruited from throughout Los Angeles County. Each patient was given $100 to permit ultrasounds to be conducted and to allow blood to be drawn. The clinic then allegedly charged medical programs up to $1,000 per doctor for between 30 and 50 patients a day from December 2009 until June.

It is the latest patient-recruiting scam to be alleged in Los Angeles. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors charged more than 70 defendants with a scam they say defrauded Medicare of $163 million.

Earlier this year, a doctor was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of paying homeless people to fill prescriptions in exchange for cash.

Continue reading "Health care fraud allegations best handled by experienced White Collar criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles" »

Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers were amused to see the report of a man being charged with tampering with evidence for allegedly picking up stolen bank proceeds at the side of the road.

Evidence of what? That someone lost money? Maybe he was going to take it to authorities. Maybe he was going to be the good Samaritan. Maybe he was going to put it in his pocket and go home on the luckiest day of his life! So what!

Like a charge of receiving stolen property in Los Angeles, tampering with evidence, aiding and abetting and other similar charges are frequently filed when a defendant fails to cooperate (which is his or her right) or otherwise annoys authorities in some fashion.

As we say here frequently: It just goes to show that authorities can charge you with anything they want -- it's what you are convicted of that counts. Unfortunately, detectives use such charges frequently in an effort to get someone to talk. Typically, talking only solidifies the charges you already face and often lands you and your friends in even more trouble.

That doesn't appear to be the case here, where the charges seem to fall squarely into the "annoyance" category. The Los Angeles Times reports that a man picked up a discarded money bag, which was involved in a bank robbery in Marina del Rey. While the bank robbers were apparently smart enough to jettison the trap, the defendant who thought he made a lucky find was not so lucky after all.

The dye pack in the money bag exploded inside his pocket, causing him to drop the bag and flee. A woman who saw the paint explosion wrote down his license number and called police. He was arrested at his Marina del Rey home a few blocks away.

Who among us would not stop to investigate a money bag sitting at the side of the road? Police can charge him with whatever they want but our guess is that an experienced defense lawyer will make quick work of this case. We can't even see a prosecutor moving forward with such a bogus charge.

Continue reading "Case of tampering with evidence illustrates need for L.A. defense lawyer to fight ridiculous charges" »