Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Last Tuesday, a jury convicted Pastor Christopher Iruke in a multimillion dollar Los Angeles healthcare fraud case. Iruke, an employee, and Iruke’s wife were nailed on charges of healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud for devising and carrying out a scam that bilked Medicare for $14 million.

A story last week in the Los Angeles Times painted a vivid picture of Iruke’s last moments before his arrest. As federal authorities zeroed in on his fraud ring, the pastor of a South LA storefront church started to “shove pages upon pages of incriminating evidence into a shredder until the machine overheated. He then stuffed papers into the toilet and tried flushing his problems away…the documents linked him to bogus prescriptions for power wheelchairs for which he billed the government about $6,000 a piece, prosecutors alleged.”

Prosecutors said that the pastor collected about $6.6 million in reimbursements from the false claims (out of $14.2 million in claims filed) and that “the money funded a lavish lifestyle, including several luxury cars, international travel, and about $0.5 million remodeling on his Baldwin Hills home.”

So this story has touched nerves on many levels. First of all, no one likes to read about these blatant cases of South California Medicare fraud, Los Angeles insurance fraud, Burbank identity theft, and the like. Even if you participated in a scam, you recognize that these crimes corrode our social contract.

We also expect clergy members to adhere to a higher moral standard. So when we read about pastors allegedly bilking Medicare out of millions of dollars to furnish their homes, buy fancy cars, and travel abroad, we get righteously riled up.

This kind of ire can be a double-edged sword. Especially if you’ve been falsely accused of a crime like Medicare fraud – or even if you did commit a crime – the fallout can be difficult to manage. People who once trusted you may now scorn you. You might even have trouble relating to friends and family members. The path to redemption (so to speak) may be complicated. But an experienced Los Angeles Medicare fraud defense attorney will help you figure out what to do. Connect with former prosecutor and Harvard Law School-educated lawyer Michael Kraut to get a free, systematic, and strategic evaluation of the possibilities for your defense.

On Tuesday, a shocking "not guilty" verdict was handed down in the "Trial of the Century" murder trial of Casey Anthony, stunning the Los Angeles violent criminal defense community along with the rest of the world.

In case you have been living in a cable news vacuum (in which case, good for you), here's a quick recap. In 2008, the defendant, Casey Anthony, allegedly killed her two-year-old daughter, Caylee, and then went out partying right afterwards.

Motivated by the particularly grisly inhuman-ness of the alleged crime, prosecutors sought to convict Ms. Anthony on a capital murder charge. This could have resulted in her execution, had she been convicted. But the jury found her not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter (although she was convicted for several lesser offenses).

Without dissecting the case any more than the blogosphere and media already have -- Jay Leno, for one, stuck his foot in his mouth the other day by making a tone deaf joke about the trial -- let's take a look at lessons the case can teach Los Angeles criminal defendants.

#1. The "reasonable doubt" standard is alive and well.

Prosecutors struggled to convict Ms. Anthony because evidence connecting her with Caylee's death was primarily circumstantial. If your Los Angeles domestic violence attorney can highlight a similarly vigorous "reasonable doubt" defense for you, the jury should acquit, even if the majority of evidence (technically known as the "preponderance of the evidence") stacks up against you. Note that, in a civil case, the bar for prosecutors is far lower. The preponderance of the evidence rule applies. So even if you are just 50.001% guilty, then you are guilty.

#2. A "fair and just" result is often in the eye of the beholder.

The Southern California justice system is set up to mete out justice in a fair, rule-driven process. But does this process approach its Platonic ideal? Does it deliver justice 100% of the time? No way. The system is run by human beings. Human beings charged with interpreting complex, highly technical laws and processes. Mistakes get made.

Furthermore, the determination of whether an outcome is just or not hinges on subjective features of the decision. More simply: whose side your own influences your judgment WAY more than you think.

Most people who followed the Anthony trial wanted -- practically begged -- for a conviction. They found the decision unjust. But Anthony supporters found the decision fair and just. This all suggests that the very notion of fairness cannot be defined in the abstract -- it must take place within a cognitive and cultural context.

#3. The quality of your attorney can make an enormous difference.

An experienced Los Angeles criminal defense and homicide lawyer, such as Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group -- particularly someone who has worked as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, like Mr. Kraut has -- can anticipate the other side's arguments, develop a strategy to defuse or circumvent them, and help you stick to a smart game plan.

A new Minnesota Public Radio report has public health authorities, economists, and bloggers who focus on issues like Southern California Medicare fraud alike analyzing and chatting about powerful charges against a couple from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Anita and Stephen Soledolu -- co-owners of a home healthcare service -- allegedly submitted Medicare claims that did not have documentation. Prosecutors allege that the couple bilked Minnesota for over $864,000. The Soledolus face indictments on six felony counts. Each one could be hit with six decades behind bars and penalties of $300,000.

According to a Minnesota Public Radio report: “The Soledolus submitted claims for home care of Medicaid recipients when investigators found clients weren’t home.”

The Commissioner of the MN Department of Human Services, Lucinda Jesson, discussed the prevalence of Medicare fraud in the state. According to her counting, fraud in MN leads to a loss of upwards of $670 million – or 10% of the annual amount paid out by the state ($6.7 billion) for claims put in by pharmacists, doctors, and other healthcare providers. All told, Jesson estimates that MN recovers just $7 million in fraud payments.

Minnesota is clearly grappling with problems similar to those that California investigators face. Los Angeles Medicare fraud is an enormous problem – as is Southern California credit card fraud, Los Angeles insurance fraud, and other Southern California white collar crimes.

Both Federal and state governments are doing everything in their power to recoup losses and clamp down on budgets in the wake of the extended economic downturn. Thus, even innocent (or partially innocent) healthcare providers may be caught up in the dragnet.

Furthermore, if you did commit a Southern California white collar crime, like Medicare fraud, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can help you design and follow through on a sturdy defense. The quality of your preparation and the experience of your legal representative can have an incredible bearing on your outcome – and your potential penalties. If you do not take advantage of excellent legal resources, you could wind up with a much longer jail sentence, much higher fees, and a complete obliteration of your professional reputation.

To that end, if you or someone you care about has been accused of a white collar crime – whether sophisticated or simple – connect with attorney Michael Kraut of Los Angeles’s Kraut Law Group. Mr. Kraut is actually a former prosecutor – he spent over 14 years of his life working to put defendants in cases like white collar crime behind bars. Now serving in the capacity of criminal defense attorney, Mr. Kraut has the resources, knowledge, skills, and relationships to deliver superior results for his clients.

As regular followers of this blog’s ongoing series on Los Angeles Medicare fraud know, the Federal Government has been stepping up its campaign to bust up Southern California insurance fraud and other white collar crimes – particularly Medicare and Medicaid related schemes.

Today, we'll focus on a major news story out of Detroit, Michigan. According to the AP, Oscar Linares, a 53-year-old Michigan doctor, allegedly fraudulently billed Medicare for $5.7 million between 2008 and 2010. The Wednesday before last, authorities broke into Linares’ clinic, The Monroe Pain Center, and arrested the doctor.

According to reports from the Monroe Evening News, Linares’ Medicare fraud was unusually intense. He allegedly saw 250 patients a day – actually, he didn’t specifically "see" the patients, he had proxies see the patients and dole out prescriptions for controlled substances like OxyContin. Indeed, if more than 200 patients came in a day, employees allegedly would get bonuses!

The AP says that Linares “had patients get medical tests without regard to their symptoms and medical conditions.” Authorities seized 7 luxury cars Linares owned as well as four bank accounts that he allegedly stuffed with money from the Medicare fraud.

Obviously, the superficial evidence suggests the government might have a strong case against Linares. But it’s important not to rush to judgment when you read reports about Southern California white collar crime, Medi-Cal fraud, Los Angeles credit card fraud, and the like. After all, situations that appear from news reports to be “black and white” – as in, “this guy is obviously guilty” -- may turn out to be far more nuanced upon deeper examination.

This isn’t to say that a doctor, chiropractor or dentist accused of Southern California white collar crime will be totally innocent of the charges – but rather that news reports can artificially “gin up” our tendency to prejudge defendants.

Note also: We are not saying that white collar crime and Medicare fraud are not huge problems for this country and that perpetrators should not be stopped. Rather, the argument is that it’s important to holistically examine fraud cases instead of demonizing individual defendants. In other words, is there really an epidemic of fraud? What’s driving it? And how best can we motivate doctors and others to play within the rules?

When dealing with complicated issues like prescription narcotic addiction and Medicare fraud, it’s temptingly easy to draw lines between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” – but this a lazy way of approaching the problem. Instead, let’s have the collective courage to understand the root causes driving addiction, abuse of medical power and waste in government entitlement programs.

If you or a family member stands accused of Los Angeles Medicare or Medi-Cal fraud, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can be an invaluable asset. Mr. Michael Kraut (of the Kraut Law Group based in Los Angeles) is a former senior level city prosecutor who now represents defendants like you. He has an amazing record at jury trials and has won respect not only from his peers but also from judges and other prosecutors.

Last week, 700 FBI and Health and Human Services agents rounded up 111 suspects in nine cities – including five people suspected of Los Angeles Medicare fraud – in the “largest-ever Federal health care fraud takedown” in the United States, according to government officials. The Los Angeles Times reports that five LA defendants “cheated the government out of more than $225 million in false billing schemes that included fraudulent claims, kickback operations, money laundering and identity theft.”

A spokesperson for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, said “our message is clear… we are determined to put Medicare fraudsters out of business.”

The Justice Department’s task force has really revved up, since its inception in early 2007. So far, nearly 1,000 people have been charged for false billing schemes – approximately 75% of these people have been convicted. The average prison sentence has been quite substantial – 43 months (more than 3.5 years). In 2010 alone, national, state, and local task forces raked in about $4 billion in fines and recovery payments.

A February 17 L.A. Times article summarized the situation this way: "The charges brought Thursday run the gamut of offenses. Some are accused of submitting claims to Medicare for treatments that were medically unnecessarily or never provided. Some are suspected of recruiting patients for hospitals and doctor's offices, and then pocketing lucrative cash kickbacks.” A Detroit area podiatrist charged Medicare for toenail removals that never occurred. In addition to Los Angeles Medicare fraud busts, authorities made arrests in Dallas, Miami, Baton Rouge, and Brooklyn, New York.

Given the government's crack down on crimes like Southern California insurance fraud, Los Angeles credit card fraud, and Southern California white collar crimes, defendants need to pay attention to their rights and identify resources to help them respond judiciously to charges.

An experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, such as Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group, can bring to bear an arsenal of strategies and resources to guide you through the legal maze. Attorney Kraut is an ex-prosecutor who has dealt with many sophisticated Los Angeles white collar crime cases, and his amazing success rate at jury trials (99%) and deep connections with (and abiding respect from) local prosecutors and judges should encourage any prospective clients – even clients facing difficult and complex charges.

When you picture Southern California medical, dental, or chiropractic fraud arrests, you might envision a surly doctor conspiring with a criminal cohort to develop sophisticated white collar crime techniques.

You might not imagine that eight nurses (between the ages of 32 and 55) would be capable of pulling off a scam that bilked Medicare out of nearly $19 million.

But that’s exactly what the Department of Justice has alleged against eight RNs in Miami. The owners of two health care agencies, Florida Home Health Care Providers Inc. and ABC Home Health Inc., allegedly charged Medicare for unnecessary services (or services that never got provided) to the tune of $18.7 million. Last Tuesday, the eight nurse-owners – Diana Sanabia, Daisy Santos, Roberto Rodriguez, Marlene Magadan, Maria Perez, Alberto Alvarez, Yanisley Chao, and Leonardo Malagon -- got sentenced to prison time as well as forced restitution (upwards of $700,000) for their roles in the Medicare scam.

Developing a defense to Los Angeles credit card fraud, insurance fraud, or health care fraud charges can be excruciatingly challenging. After all, Southern California white collar crime law is complicated, and many different laws may or may not apply, depending on what you allegedly did or did not do.

Designing a best fit defense means understanding not only precisely what the charges against you mean, but also how the prosecution will likely argue its case. Given that your medical and professional license, reputation, and even personal freedom may be on the line, it behooves you to get in touch with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, such as Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group, to come up with and execute an appropriate white collar crime defense.

Attorney Kraut understands how prosecutors think because he actually was one for 14 years. He has the education (Harvard Law School) and respect from his legal peers (often featured as a guest analyst on CNN, New York Times, KTLA Los Angeles, etc.) to give you an optimized defense, even if you face complicated and highly technical counts.

On June 7, a Riverside, California man named Rene Montes entered a guilty plea for dozens of counts of Southern California insurance fraud. The California Department of Insurance reported that Montes pled guilty to felony conspiracy, three counts of felony tax evasion, 59 counts of felony insurance fraud and 59 grand theft felony counts. Sentencing has been set for the end of July. Montes allegedly bilked insurance companies out of $1.5 million by perpetrating a scam to collect funds from AIG Claim Services with respect to outstanding workers’ compensation medical liens.

According to reports, Montes perpetrated the scam from around August 2003 through January 2006. Three other people have also been charged in connection with this Southern California insurance fraud: 47-year-old Cara Cruz-Thomson, 46-year-old Hector Porrata, and 43-year-old George Martinez. The three co-defendants were sentenced in the beginning of May for their connection with the scam. Porrata pled guilty to 50 counts each of grand theft felony and felony insurance fraud as well one felony count of conspiracy. The court ordered him to pay out $1.2 million and serve an 8-year prison sentence. Cruz-Thomson pled guilty to 11 counts each of grand theft and insurance fraud as well as a conspiracy count. She received a two-year prison sentence and an order to pay more than $220,000 in restitution. Martinez also pled guilty to 11 counts of grand theft and insurance fraud as well as a count of conspiracy. He also got a two-year prison sentence and an order to pay around $300,000 in restitution.

The Orange County District Attorney’s office and California Department of Insurance worked together for months to unpack all the subtleties of this Southern California white collar crime.

If you or a loved one faces similar charges, you’ll likely need an attorney who has experience and facility with complex civil and criminal matters to develop a winning strategy.

Attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group in Los Angeles has ample experience with Southern California white collar crimes. In his former career as a senior Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles, he boasted a 98% success rate at jury trials. He is Harvard Law School educated, and he leverages his connections from his stint as a prosecutor to advocate for the best interest of his clients.

The charges you face are real. Get real about your defense by connecting today with Attorney Kraut to build your best defense.

Last Wednesday, a Federal Judge gave a Pennsylvania doctor, John Kristofic, a year and a day in prison pursuant to a healthcare scam that lasted from 2003 to 2008. Southern California healthcare fraud experts have been poring over Judge Ambrose’s decision to determine whether and how the decision might be impact local cases.

The perplexing saga of Dr. Kristofic

The 62-year-old Dr. Kristofic (of Shadyside, PA) has a long and tumultuous history with the law. Back in the 1980s, he was brought up on charges under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act of stealing more than a $1 million by billing for non-medically necessary tests. He allegedly invested the proceeds of this scam into private commercial real estate. The doctor settled that case for $0.75 million. He was later arrested and convicted of driving under the influence, AND he got probation for lying about his asset portfolio in 1991.

His latest arrest pertains to similar charges. From 2003 to 2008, Dr. Kristofic allegedly unfairly billed Medicare and other private insurers for services he never provided to his patients. Many Southern California healthcare fraud experts -- at this point reading about Dr. Kristofic’s bio --would feel pretty confident that his repeated chronic violations of the law should merit a harsh sentence.

But… the story thickens.

It turns out that Dr. Kristofic has another side -- an altruistic and giving one. Among other things, he provided free medical care for organizations like Operations Safety Net, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Catholic Charities. In a 2006 trip to Haiti, he gave out free care to the sick, an act which a local Reverend said “exuded a sense of compassion… it was extraordinary.” And Judge Ambrose received 60+ letters from various people and organizations commending Dr. Kristofic for his charity and extraordinary givingness.

As you can see, cases of Southern California insurance fraud can be a lot more complicated than they first appear in the headlines.

If you or a family member has been charged with healthcare fraud or any other white collar crime in Southern California, consider protecting yourself by retaining high quality legal counsel.

Continue reading "Southern California Healthcare Fraud Experts Scratch Heads over Double-Edged Decision in Pennsylvania Case" »

The Department of Justice emerged victorious on Tuesday in a case against Alan M. Ralsky, the self-titled Godfather of Spam. The 64 year-old Ralsky was sentenced to jail time as well as substantial fines for computer fraud in southern California and elsewhere.

The DOJ had argued that Ralsky -- in conjunction with a ring of associates -- violated the CAN SPAM Act and engaged in money laundering, mail fraud, wire fraud, and illegal use of emails and computer networks. Court documents said that his spammer ring worked for about a year and a half (from 2004 to mid 2005) to artificially jack up the prices of certain stocks by sending out bulk spam emails to people. After the stock prices went up, other individuals in the white collar crime syndicate traded on those stocks. Collectively, they thus managed to rake in millions of dollars in illegal gains.

The spammers used sophisticated software to avoid detection and conducted their operations not only here in the United States but also in China and Hong Kong.

Microsoft, in particular, seemed delighted by the news of the conviction of these white collar criminals. A company spokesman remarked: “Yesterday’s sentencing is a significant success and sends a clear message that the courts take this type of illegal conduct seriously.”

As a good white collar criminal defense attorney in Southern California might note, Penal Code sections 502(c) and 530.5(e) respectively cover computer access and fraud and mail fraud. Of course, with intricate computer fraud cases like this one, the issues of law can get quite complex. For instance, to prepare for the Ralsky matter, prosecutors no doubt had to consider not just applicable federal and state laws but also international laws.

Putting together a strategic battle plan for a fraud case can get incredibly technical. Both sides must assemble complicated cause-and-affect arguments. The prosecution, for its part, has to identify the mechanisms by which the alleged fraud acts were committed -- no small task, particularly when you're dealing with sophisticated spammers and computer gurus. The defense doesn’t have it easy either. In order to combat charges of computer fraud, the defense must aptly challenge the logic of the prosecution's arguments and cite relevant laws and cases.

If you or a family member or friend has been charged with a white collar crime, like computer fraud in Los Angeles, you may want to speak with veteran criminal defense Attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group. Attorney Kraut has impressive intellectual firepower -- he is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He also has lots of experience "in the trenches" -- he served for years as Deputy District Attorney for the City of Los Angeles prior to representing white collar defendants. He has a knack for anticipating and deftly deflating prosecutorial arguments -- arguments that often leave even experienced defense attorneys confused and helpless.

With so much on the line -- not just for you but also for your family -- it makes sense to work with one of Southern California’s most trusted fraud defense attorneys.

Continue reading "Alan M. Ralsky, the "Godfather of Spam," Convicted of Fraud in Southern California (and elsewhere)" »

Nicholas Cage has long been one of Hollywood's leading lights. Unfortunately, a combination of overspending and possible Los Angeles embezzlement -- along with the collapse of the global markets in 2008 -- has beset the A-lister with serious financial problems.

Cage will soon face off against his former business manager, Samuel Levin -- the two parties have sued and countersued each other -- over charges that include embezzlement in Los Angeles.

According to an AP story, Levin has accused Cage of engaging in no-holds-barred spending sprees -- against his counsel -- over the course of many years leading up to the banking collapse in the fall of 2008. The actor allegedly purchased 15 houses, 22 cars (including nine Rolls-Royces), a "flotilla of yachts," a pair of European castles, a Gulfstream jet, ornate jewelry and pieces of rare art, and other "exotic items." In addition, the actor allegedly spent lavishly on "Gatsby style" affairs at his various estates, further undermining his cash flow. Cage maintains that his business manager kept him in the dark about the state of his finances.

The legal battle between the actor and his former manager will surely soak up a great deal of media attention when it commences in February 2010.

Even an experienced white collar criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles might be challenged by a case as complex and as public as this one. An extensive investigation into financial practices, accounting ledgers, and other records may be required to build a solid defense; and it can be quite difficult -- even for experienced investigative teams -- to determine the "truth" about such convoluted financial situations.

Charges of embezzlement are relatively common in Hollywood, where individuals with lots of liquid cash -- such as movie stars and studio heads -- rely on proxies to manage their day-to-day financial operations. If someone's convicted of embezzlement in Los Angeles, he or she can be charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor. Common punishments can include:

• forced restitution
• fines
• jail sentences
• loss of professional credentials and licensing

If you or a friend or family member has been charged with embezzlement in Southern California or a Los Angeles DUI, it may behoove you to speak with attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group. Attorney Kraut boasts extensive experience with white-collar crimes in Southern California. He's worked on literally dozens of relevant cases -- including a jury trial, which he argued successfully. He's a Harvard Law School alumnus and a former prosecutor for the city of Los Angeles. He has a natural acumen for the law, and he provides each client with compassionate and proactive representation.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Bankruptcy Case Pits Actor Nicolas Cage against His Former Business Manager" »

Prosecutors and top rated defense attorneys faced off in court today over the allegations of sex, lies and screenplays in the David Letterman extortion case. Extortion is a serious crime. A person convicted of this offense will most likely be sent to state prison for many many years. Extortion is defined as the use of either threat of violence or some other criminal means to cause any harm, including financial, to another person or their reputation, to obtain property from someone else with their consent.

In this case, Halderman is accused of threatening to divulge personal information about Letterman that could cause harm to the entertainer's reputation.

The case revolves around Halderman, a well known TV producer,whose wife had a long running affair with Mr. Letterman. Halderman is the accused extortionist who wrote a screenplay about Letterman's sex life with female staffers. The case stems from Halderman, who was angry over his wife's affair could not find any way to make his wife stop the relationship with the late night comic. Records indicate that he continually confronted his wife about ceasing the affair. She apparently apologized and committed to her relationship with Halderman. Things seemed to be mending between the couple until he found that she had not stopped the affair.

Halderman decided to take his revenge out on the keyboard. Penning a script about Letterman's hostile work environment. Then on September 9, 2009, Halderman delivered a portion of the script, which contained changed names, to Letterman's driver, with documents which corroborated Halderman's facts in the script. He then gave Letterman an opportunity to buy the script rather then see it made into a movie. Halderman met two times with Letterman's lawyers and in taped conversations in which he was recorded demanding money. Afterward, a check for $2 million was given to Halderman.

Halderman's criminal defense attorney indicated that their client was merely selling a screenplay and by filing the charges, the prosecutors were infringing on his First Amendment right of free speech.

Continue reading "David Letterman Is Informed That The White Collar Fraud Was Not What Halderman Intended When He Demanded Money To Keep His Mouth Hush" »

As we see the beginning of a new President and Vice President for the United States, we will most likely see a new beginning for criminal prosecutions for Los Angeles DUIs and Southern California criminal law.

Already the new administration has claimed that there will be a clamp down on crime. The local administrations have also claimed that they will vigorously prosecute even minor offenses. It will not matter if you are arrested for a Los Angeles DUI, a Long Beach crime, a San Fernando robbery, or a Pasadena DUI, the police will be trying to enforce the law to the fullest. For that reason, it is important to hire a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who has the experience and knowledge to defend you.

The new emphasis on punishment for minor offenses is going to put regular citizens in a bad position. In the past, judges and prosecutors understood that there is a clear difference between people who are law abiding but who make a mistake, and those who a repeat offenders. Now, even minor offenses are going to punished more severely.

As a former prosecutor, Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Michael Kraut, handles criminal matters in the Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. His Harvard Law School training and over 14 years experience as a senior trial prosecutor has put Mr. Kraut in a unique position to defend individuals arrested and charged with Los Angeles based crimes.

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime and or you need to hire a Los Angeles pre-filing defense attorney or you are under investigation for violent crime in Southern California, please contact Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Michael Kraut for 24/7 assistance by phone at (323) 464-6453 or toll free at (888) 334-6344 or online.

In a shift from a decade ago, violent crime in Los Angeles has declined for 6 straight years. Police in this Southern California city are thankful in the decrease. Others worry that the decline will reversed due to the failing economy.

Los Angeles homicides decreased about 5% from the previous year. While that number is not that impressive, the total total drop of 27% in 5 years. Law enforcement claim that the decrease is due to the severe push in gang eradication.

Violent crime has also dropped for other Southern California cities. San Diego saw a slight down turn, while San Bernardino had a 7% decrease, and Orange County also saw a drop in violent crimes

Continue reading "Violent crime down in Los Angeles and Southern California in 2008" »

I want to wish everyone in the Los Angeles and Southern California area who reads or is redirected to this Los Angeles and Southern California Criminal Defense Blog a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. This blog is now six months old and I am pleased that it seems to have helped so many people. I have received many comments from people around the area that they have been helped by the information here.

In an attempt to wrap it up for the year I want to make sure that people are safe for this holiday season. I also want those people people who get into a Los Angeles DUI that if they should be stopped by the police in at a Southern California DUI checkpoint, or by Los Angeles law enforcement, that a Los Angeles DUI defense attorney is available 24/7 to assist if you or a loved one.

Because Southern California DUIs are taken so seriously, you need to know your rights and responsibilities. Remember you do not need to take the Los Angeles Law Enforcement PAS test in the field. If you are stopped by the police make sure to be polite. If they ask you to take the Los Angeles field sobriety tests you must comply. But if they ask or demand that you take a PAS test you are allowed to refuse. It is the recommendation of this Los Angeles DUI defense attorney to refuse this test. It can only be used against you. If you blow a significant BAC then you will be arrested. If you are taken to the police station you will be offered a choice of the breath or blood test. The choice is yours. But try to delay the test as long as possible. The law requires that the blood test must be taken with a specific time. If it is not done within the allotted time then the results will be thrown out in court.

Continue reading "Christmas and Holiday Wishes From Los Angeles and Southern California" »

The verdict that was heard around Los Angeles and Southern California ended today with the judge sentencing OJ Simpson to serious prison time. The jury returned verdicts for the robbery at a casino near the Sunset Strip, in Las Vegas.

Oddly enough, the man who captivated a world during the "trial of the century," was no longer being idolized. Today one of Las Vegas' toughest judges sentenced 61 year-old Simpson to a maximum of 33 years in prison. However, he will be eligible to be released on parole in as little as 9 years.

This case ended with verdict exactly 13 years to the date that the Los Angeles jury acquitted Simpson of the double murder of his wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ron Goldman. Feelings around of satisfaction rang clear from San Bernardino to Orange County to Long Beach. The general feeling in that the imprisonment of OJ was a long time coming.

A multi-cultural reaction of both African Americans and whites seemed to be almost universally satisfied with the verdict. Most felt that justice was served to Simpson, if not for this crime alone, then for the double murders in 1994.

The case that lead to his prison sentence involved a failed robbery attempt to get sports memorabilia that may or may not have belonged to Simpson. In 2007, Simpson and some of his friends brought weapons and a bad attitude to a hotel room where much of the activities were caught on audio and video recordings. Simpson denied there was a gun, but the evidence and jury disagreed.

Appeals will be filed, but for the next 9 years, Simpson will be in custody, most likely in solitary confinement for his safety.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Sees an End to the OJ Simpson Saga as OJ is Sentenced to Prison" »

Only a few minutes ago OJ Simpson , and his co-defendant were convicted of 12 different felonies. As most people know 13 years ago the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office unsuccessfully tried Simpson on double murder charges. He was acquitted of all charges and was immediately set free. Soon thereafter he moved to Florida.

Simpson was never able to stay out of the news. Repeatedly he was hauled into court to face one charge or another however there was never a conviction. That all changed today. Simpson and his co-defendant, Mr. Stewart, now face a minimal of 15 years to life for the crimes that occurred at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino. Simpson is currently 61 years old. That means that Simpson will be at least 76 years old before he is eligible for parole.

Simpson faced a dozen charges stemming from a conspiracy between Simpson and five associates . They all stormed into the room of a sports memorabilia collectibles dealer. Many of the items that Simpson was convicted of stealing were given by Simpson to the dealer to avoid paying the multi-million dollar civil judgment . That Judgment was owed to the Goldman and Brown families after he was convicted in civil court in the deaths of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. All but one of his associates pled prior to trial, many of them ended up testifying against Simpson.

Continue reading "OJ Simpson Convicted 13 Years To The Day He Was Aquitted In Los Angeles of Double Murder" »

This past week there was a new turn of events on the recent crime wave of robberies on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. For the eighth time in recent weeks a group of young men have held up shoppers taking their personal possessions and scaring these victims. Some news reporters have incorrectly stated that the culprits were committing armed burglaries.

In California, robbery is defined by Penal Code Section 211 as the taking of personal property of some value, no matter how slight, from the immediate presence of another person, by the use of force or fear. The force could be a gun or other weapon. The fear element means that the person being robbed felt fear for their safety, or the safety of another person. It is punishable by jail or prison and and fines.

There are two types of robberies, first degree robbery and second degree robbery. Robbery of the first degree is when the person commits a robbery as defined previously, but the robbery occurs either at an ATM, in the home of a person, or of a taxi or bus driver. The more common form of robbery is robbery of the second degree. These are all other types of robberies, such as street muggings.

Continue reading "Robbers attack shoppers on Melrose in Los Angeles" »