Posted on August 10, 2017 in Sex Crimes

Prostitution is a serious crime and carries significant consequences. Prostitution is defined as the act of a person who performs or offers to perform sex acts of any kind for money, property, or anything else of value. Prostitution can also be defined as the act of a person offering to touch or fondle the sex organs of another person.

If a prostitute is not directly offering to perform sexual acts with another person, solicitation may take place. This occurs when one person communicates with another person about performing sexual acts with a prostitute, arranging a meeting for two people for the purpose of prostitution, or knowingly directing a person to a place where prostitution is likely to occur.

• Advances prostitution;

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 Posted on August 04, 2017 in Sex Crimes

Child pornography is a serious federal crime. Moreover, the use of child pornography can negatively impact all parties involved.

A child who is forced into this act is often left with depression as he or she grows older. The person who obtains child pornography can face serious consequences and even years in prison.

When does a Person Commit Child Pornography?

A person commits child pornography who films, photographs, or portrays any child under the age of 18 or any person with a severe intellectual disability. The individual affected is typically shown engaging in the acts of:

• Sexual penetration or conduct with another person;
• Masturbation;
• Lewd fondling, touching, or caressing with another person;
• Excretion in a sexual context;

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 Posted on July 25, 2017 in White Collar Crime

Bank fraud is a very serious crime that affects thousands of people, with the intention to allegedly benefit the culprit and take away from the victim, financially and emotionally. Bank fraud is very important to understand thoroughly so that one can avoid being the victim of this crime and to protect his or her banking information and quality of life.

Bank Fraud Defined

Bank fraud can come in three different forms:

• False statement bank fraud;
• Possession of stolen or fraudulently obtained checks; and
• Possession of implements of check fraud.

False statement bank fraud is defined when an individual intentionally makes any false statements to obtain an account or credit with a bank or other financial institution, or services from a currency exchange.

Possession of stolen or fraudulently obtained checks is defined when an individual intends to gain access to funds from another individual’s bank account, makes a false statement or a misrepresentation to the financial institution, or presents an unauthorized transaction to the financial institution.

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 Posted on July 18, 2017 in Uncategorized

Over the past few years, there has been a wave of civil rights protests in the wake of jury decisions in different criminal cases across the country. Protesters, community leaders, activists and even some local politicians refer to these events  as miscarriages of justice and violations of civil rights. But what exactly are “civil rights,” and what constitutes a violation of these rights?

Defining “Civil Rights”

Generally speaking, “civil rights” refer to an individual’s right to be free from unequal treatment or discrimination in a variety of settings. Some of these settings include housing, employment, education, and treatment by law enforcement and the judicial system. A violation of one’s civil rights occurs when one individual is treated differently by another individual or a local, state, or federal agency on the basis of some “protected” classification. For instance, the following would be considered violations of a person’s civil rights:

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 Posted on July 11, 2017 in White Collar Crime

Embezzlement is defined as theft of funds that have been placed in a legal trust or to an employer, adversely affecting businesses and people worldwide. Those who are involved in this federal crime often exhibit certain behaviors, such as living beyond their means, complaints about lack of authority, excessive family or peer pressure for success, instability in life situations, and control issues.

Embezzlement Red Flags

Embezzlers often exhibit behaviors that should be interpreted as red flags, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. In over 80 percent of the reported cases, the embezzler has exhibited at least one of these additional behavioral traits in the period before the embezzlement was discovered:

• Financial difficulties;
• Unusually close relationship with vendor or customer;
• Divorce or other family problems;
• Wheeler-dealer attitude, defined as the attitude of someone who engages in commercial scheming for his or her own benefit;

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 Posted on July 04, 2017 in Weapons

If you have a felony conviction, the last thing you want is to find yourself standing in front of a judge again. After serving a punishment, individuals with prior felony convictions find themselves obeying the law down to the speed limit to avoid being separated from their family and friends for any duration again. Unfortunately, others find themselves back in trouble with the law because they were unaware that certain aspects of life might have changed for them due to their record. One change includes the loss of the ability to own firearms. Being found in possession of a firearm with a felony conviction is the most severe of weapons-related charges.

Firearms and Ammunition Are Off Limits

Once you have a felony conviction on your criminal record, you are no longer eligible for the Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card required by the Illinois Department of State Police. DSP reserves the right to deny, revoke, or seize a card at any given time if they find they qualifications are not met. Instances in which disqualification occurs include:

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 Posted on June 27, 2017 in Criminal Defense

Those Illinois residents who have either had experience with the court system or who are casual followers of court cases know that the vast majority of criminal proceedings end in a verdict (either as the result of plea negotiations or a trial) wherein the court either finds the defendant guilty or not guilty of the charged offense. There are a few trials, however (most recently and notably, the criminal trial of comedian Bill Cosby), where the case does not end with a verdict. Instead, the court finds that a mistrial has occurred.

While it may seem like a trial that results in no verdict may be beneficial for you, the defendant charged with the crime, such a finding may not be as advantageous as may first appear.

When Is a Mistrial Declared in an Illinois Criminal Case?

Most mistrials occur because of one of two reasons: either the jury is unable to come to a unanimous decision concerning the guilt or innocence of the accused, or some fundamental error occurred during the trial that made it impossible for the defendant to receive a fair trial. Some examples of the latter might include:

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 Posted on June 20, 2017 in Identity Theft

Among the many identity theft activities that fall under the federal crime umbrella, child identity theft seems especially brazen, although the benefits for those who commit this type of crime are no different than the advantages made possible by other forms of identity-related crimes. Any form of identity theft enables an offender to access stolen funds and services. Just as with an adult’s social security number, a child’s social security number can allow an offender to apply for a host of governmental benefits, as well as open a variety of credit card and bank accounts. It can also be used to apply for loans, obtain health care services, and even rent a place of residence.

Common Sources Used to Retrieve Personal Information

When children are enrolled in school, their educational records are often sourced by identity thieves to obtain sensitive personal information, particularly social security and address details. System security breaches as well as instances of improper filing, storage, and disposal of both electronic and paper educational records on school property can place such information at risk.

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 Posted on June 13, 2017 in Identity Theft

In today’s technology-driven world, it comes as no surprise that a majority of identity theft crimes stem from our use of the internet, laptops, and other communicative devices. We keep an overwhelming amount of personal information on such devices, making identity theft opportunities all too easily accessible to those looking to take advantage at any given moment. The forms of identity theft crimes committed on a daily basis are vast and plentiful, as are the mediums through which they take place.

Personal Technology Weak Spots

If you or someone you know has been accused of being involved in an identity-theft related crime, there is a good chance the claim was prompted by an illegal breach of personal information, derived from an insecure technological source. There are a number of unsecured technological devices, networks, and online scams that are often the source of stolen personal information, including the following:

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 Posted on June 06, 2017 in Mortgage fraud

Purchasing a home is one of the largest investments most people make within their lifetime. By entering into a mortgage with a lending company, you agree to make regularly scheduled payments for a set duration of time, typically around 30 years. The decision is a substantial one with long-lasting repercussions, which lends itself to high-stress during the application process. When stress levels rise, our brain can sometimes cease to function as clearly as we would like causing an increase in mistakes. Errors on mortgage documents are something to avoid. Otherwise, you may face federal mortgage fraud charges.

What Is Mortgage Fraud?

Mortgage fraud applies to individuals and professional brokers, alike. Deception occurs anytime a party misrepresents the facts on a mortgage application or document with the intent to obtain a mortgage that would otherwise have been obtainable had the opposing party known the truth. The deceptive practice from either side is punishable at a federal level.

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