Posted on September 13, 2017 in Money Laundering

Money laundering is a serious crime that involves the misuse of finances from certain properties. There are several ways that money laundering can occur, and this act can lead to unwanted consequences for both the person who committed the crime and the person affected by the crime.

What is Money Laundering?

Money laundering is the act by which a person knowingly disguises proceeds of criminal conduct by making them appear to have been acquired from a legitimate source.

For example, a person commits the offense of money laundering when he or she conducts or attempts to conduct a financial transaction which involves criminally derived property and intends to promote the "carrying on of the unlawful activity from which the criminally derived property was obtained."

Additionally, a person commits money laundering when he or she knows or reasonably should know that a financial transaction is designed (in whole or in part) to hide the "nature, the location, the source, the ownership, or the control of the criminally derived property."

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 Posted on September 06, 2017 in Drug Crimes

Drugs have been a major concern in Chicago and the surrounding Cook County suburbs for decades. One issue that many do not take into consideration is that drug possession and selling drug paraphernalia can lead to serious consequences.

Drug Paraphernalia Defined

Drug paraphernalia is defined as any equipment, products, and materials intentionally used to plant, cultivate, grow, manufacture, store, conceal, and ingest in an unlawful manner. Objects used to unlawfully ingest, inject, or inhale drugs include but are not limited to:

• Cocaine spoons and vials
• Bongs;
• Carburetion devices;
• Electric and air-driven pipes; and
• Chillers.

What Charges Will a Person Face When Possessing Drug Paraphernalia?

If a person possesses any drug paraphernalia with the intent to inhale, ingest, or inject the product, then he or she will be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and will need to pay a minimum fine of $750 with any other penalty prescribed. If the person prepares marijuana or other controlled substances, then he or she will also be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and a minimum $750 fine.

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 Posted on August 28, 2017 in Sex Crimes

College students are returning to their campuses and parties will soon begin. Unfortunately, where there are parties there are also instances of sexual assault and violence. However, these instances can easily be prevented by abiding by college rules and policies.

Sexual Assault Statistics

In Illinois, as many as 20 percent of female students and 6 percent of male students experience some type of sexual assault or violence while enrolled in college. Moreover, nearly one quarter of female students are affected by sexual assault and violence, and therefore need to turn to certain organizations for help to return to a better life.

Across the United States, there have been several concerns over the higher rates of sexual assault and violence, therefore generating public interest, new federal regulations, and intense focus on such matters. Over several years, state coalitions nationwide have partnered with college campuses to bring awareness of sexual assault and violence to college students.

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 Posted on August 17, 2017 in Identity Theft

The Internet has become the main hub for most Americans who rely on its convenience for shopping, interacting with others, and even researching specific topics. While the Internet is deemed mostly safe, and its use is becoming more common, ways to access personal information have become easier.

Identity Theft and its Effect 

When a person uses another person’s information—one's name, address, social security number, banking information, etc.—to commit fraud or theft, then identity theft is committed. These people, commonly known as identity thieves, often gain access to personal information by the following methods:

• Stealing ID and bank cards;
• Stealing mail with personal banking information listed in the content;
• Buying personal information from stores, restaurants, and hospitals;

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 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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