Recent Blog Posts

TSA Drug Smuggling Case is a Significant Security Breach

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:05:00 GMT

Federal agents said a drug smuggling case in which TSA screeners allowed luggage with drugs inside through checkpoints at Los Angeles International Airport represents a serious security breach.

A man with eight pounds of methamphetamine in his carry-on bag stood in the security line at Los Angeles International Airport, when a TSA screener approached. According to federal prosecutors, it was not to stop the drugs, but rather it was to make sure it got through.

The TSA screener, John Whitfield, told the man to get to the back of the line so his luggage would get to the X-ray machines when his shift started. In this manner, he would be the one watching the methamphetamine appear on screen. He would allow the drugs to pass through in exchange for $1,200. This information was contained in the federal indictment.

Federal agents have filed drug trafficking and bribery charges against Whitfield and three other current and former Transportation Security Administration screeners. Thye claim they received thousands of dollars in cash bribes in exchange for allowing the drugs packed in suitcases to pass through.

The federal indictment details many incidents from January to July 2011 where TSA screeners allowed drug couriers to smuggle cocaine, methamphetamine or marijuana into airport terminals to be taken onto outbound flights. Also charged in the federal indictment are three suspected drug couriers who are accused of bribing the screeners.

The leader was Naral Richardson, a 30-year-old former TSA employee. He would arrange for the courier and the screener to meet ahead of time and give the screener a cellphone to be used to coordinate the pass-through.

Both state and federal law enforcement agencies can become involved in a drug trafficking investigation. Since drug trafficking is illegal under both state and federal law, either agency may file criminal charges. Federal agents and prosecutors may prosecute a Los Angeles drug trafficking case. What this means for the defendant is that they will face prosecution in Federal Court, by a federal prosecutor who will likely be more aggressive and experienced than a state prosecutor and the penalties in Federal Court are much more severe than in state court.

If you are facing state or federal drug crime charges of drug trafficking, you need to contact a premiere Los Angeles drug crime defense lawyer immediately. Drug trafficking is one of the most serious drug crime charges an individual may face and the penalties are severe. Drug trafficking refers to the entire illegal drug market, including cultivation, manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs.

At the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles drug defense lawyers have been defending clients who are facing any type of drug crime criminal charges. Located in Santa Monica, California, our law firm handles drug trafficking cases throughout Los Angeles County and the state of California. We offer a free, confidential consultation regarding your case, so we can give you an honest evaluation of your case and prepare the most effective defense strategy. Contact us anytime at 888-895-3607.

San Marino Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Bank Fraud Scheme

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:50:00 GMT

A San Marino, California businessman was sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison for operating a scheme to defraud banks, where he used straw borrowers with fake documents to obtain about $9 million in loans for homes and luxury cars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

Scott Dority, 54, was sentenced to prison by a United States District Court Judge at a sentencing hearing held under court seal. He pled guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy, aggravated identity theft and two counts of tax evasion.

The defendant, along with others, recruited individuals with good credit to act as straw buyers to purchase residential homes and expensive vehicles.

He created a package of materials that included false bank statements, fake pay stubs and tax returns in order to persuade a lender that a buyer had sufficient assets and income to repay the loans. The fake documents were submitted to lenders who used them to lend around $9 million in mortgage and vehicle loans. As part of the scheme, he used the identity of a real appraiser to secure loans on properties in cities such as Lancaster and Pomona.

As part of his federal guilty plea, he admitted fraud involving $4 million in losses to financial institutions that issued mortgages and around $5 million in losses for sports cars and recreational vehicles.

He also admitted that he failed to file tax returns for 2005 and 2006, in spite of earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in income. He must serve a mandatory two-year prison term for aggravated identity theft as part of his federal sentence.

Defrauding a federally insured bank is a federal crime which is taken extremely seriously by federal agencies, and no expense will be spared when prosecuting an individual charged with this offense. Bank fraud may be committed in a number of ways, including wire fraud or mail fraud involving a bank, falsifing loan documents, making false statements, forgery of checks, and counterfeiting loan documents.

If you are under investigation or have already been arrested for bank fraud or any other type of federal crime, it is vital that you consult a Los Angeles bank fraud defense lawyer as soon as possible. You will need a federal attorney who has experience particularly in defending cases in federal court.

At the law offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles federal criminal attorneys have decades of experience defending clients in all United States District Courts in Los Angeles. we work to thoroughly investigate their bank fraud charges in order to provide an effective plan of defense which is constructed in such a way as to stand up against even the most aggressive prosecution in federal court.

In working with a Los Angeles bank fraud defense lawyer at our firm, you will have the opportunity to see how we can make the law work for you, in your favor. You can contact us at 888-895-3607 for a free case evaluation.

Santa Ana Gang Member Gets Life for Teenager's Murder

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:10:00 GMT

A Santa Ana, California gang member was sentenced to life in prison without parole for his part in the 2010 death of a 16-year-old who was shot in the back as he fled semiautomatic gunfire, according to the Orange County district attorney's office.

Sarith Yin, 25, was found guilty in January 2012 of murder, street terrorism and being a felon in possession of a firearm, with sentencing enhancements for the violent crime connection to a street gang. The sentence adds 30 years on top of life without parole. he has previously been convicted of street terrorism and second-degree burglary.

Prosecutors said the defendant and John Saway were sent by fellow gang members after a confrontation between gang members and a group of teenagers in Tustin on in January 2010.

Both gang members drove to Tustin armed with semiautomatic weapons. When confronted, the teens fled to nearby apartments, but two 16-year-olds, a male and a female, tried to hide behind a tree.

Saway approached the tree and began shooting at the two, while Yin provided cover. As they tried to flee, Saway shot the male teenager in the back and the bullet pierced his heart.

A man in one of the nearby apartments came outside with a rifle and began shooting at the gang members, which allowed the female teenager to escape. Yin fired back as the pair fled to a getaway car.

Saway faces charges of murder, street terrorism, possession of a firearm by a felon, attempted murder and assault with a firearm, with the sentencing enhancements for gang-related violent crimes. He has prior convictions for vehicle theft and being a felon with a gun.

Murder is killing someone with malice. There are two types of murder: murder in the first degree and murder in the second degree. Murder is defined in the California Penal Code under section 187. Malice means to intend to kill or cause bodily injury or to act with gross recklessness. All murders require proof of malice. First-degree murder requires malice and premeditation.

First-degree murder is an unlawful killing that is willful, deliberate, and premeditated. Felony murder includes murder while committing or attempting to commit burglary, robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, rape, or a drive-by shooting. The punishment for first-degree murder is 25 years to life.

In all murder cases, prosecutors will use all their resources and influence to obtain a conviction. Without the assistance of an experienced Los Angeles murder defense attorney, defendants in homicide cases face overwhelming challenges. Any misstep in the criminal process, from pre-trial hearings, investigations, preliminary hearing, negotiations, motions, trial or sentencing , can have profound, lifelong effects for the defendant.

At the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles murder defense lawyers have successfully defended clients facing murder charges and any other type of violent crimes charges that include attempted murder, manslaughter, child abuse, among others.

For a free case evaluation, call one of our violent crimes attorneys at 888-895-3607 today.

Long Beach Police Officer Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:25:00 GMT

A Long Beach police officer has been arrested on suspicion of felony possession of child pornography after meeting a teenager while on patrol and soliciting explicit photographs of the youth through electronic messages.

Noe Yanez, 40, was arrested by Long Beach police after an investigation that began earlier this month. The victim had told a school officer about the messages and police were notified. Detectives served several search warrants of his home and for records of the communications.

He first came into contact with the minor during the course of his work as a patrol officer. He initially contacted the teen through text messages and solicited inappropriate photographs of the victim. He was suspended without pay pending the resolution of the sex crime criminal and administrative investigation.

Police detectives have not ruled out the possibility of other victims. Detectives have obtained computer data and phone records seeking to verify the extent of the sex crime.

This accusation comes one year after another Long Beach officer was arrested after his wife found him having sex with a minor. The officer, Erik Alvarez, resigned and was convicted of having a sexual relationship with the girl since she was 15. He received a two-year sentence in a California state prison.

Yanez is in custody on a $20,000 bail at the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail. Long Beach detectives are will present the sex crime case to the county district attorney's Justice System Integrity Division, which specializes in prosecuting police officials and lawyers.

Under California law, it is illegal to possess any visual depiction of a minor engaged in a sexual activity. Possession of child pornography is a serious sex crime criminal charge that may result in imprisonment in county jail or state prison, heavy fines, probation, counseling, and sex offender registration. Additional penalties may be imposed if on the basis of enhancements, such as a large quantity of child pornography in the defendant’s possession.

In many cases, the nature of a child pornography charge will cause a judge and jury to be prejudiced against a defendant. Because a minor is the alleged victim in these type of cases, the jury usually wants to hear what the prosecuting attorney has to say and is less inclined to believe the defendant's side of the story.

It takes a sex crime criminal defense lawyer who has the experience and expertise with child pornography cases in particular to break through this barrier and effectively represent a defendant accused of the possession of child pornography.

At the Law Office of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angles sex crime defense lawyers have decades of experience defending clients against any type of sex crime charges that include child molestation, statutory rape, lewd conduct, and more. Our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys are experienced with child pornography defense. You can count on our legal knowledge of this area of law and our extensive resources in investigating your charges and presenting your case in court.

Call our office at 888-895-3607 for a free case evaluation. All consultations are strictly confidential.

Baseball Star Lenny Dykstra Pleads No Contest to Lewd Conduct and Assault

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:25:00 GMT

Former baseball star Lenny Dykstra pleaded no contest to criminal charges of lewd conduct and assault with a deadly weapon involving women who responded to housekeeping ads he placed on Craigslist.

He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor crimes of one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of lewd conduct. Police said that the lewd conduct charge was a result of him exposing himself to the housekeeper. He was sentenced to 36 months of probation and three months in Los Angeles County Jail.

He allegedly told the women that one of the requirements of her job was to give him a massage, during which he would expose himself. During one of those incidents, he allegedly held a knife to the throat of one of the women and forced her to massage him. He was ordered by the court to stay away from the five victims in the case.

Dykstra helped the New York Mets win the 1986 World Series.

Lewd conduct is defined as any illegal act such as touching of the genitals, buttocks or breast that is executed by a person with the purpose of offending or achieving sexual stimulation, either for themselves of another person. This type of sex crime commonly occurs in cases of pornography, prostitution or indecent exposure, among others. When lewd conduct involves a minor, the crime becomes a felony offense and if convicted, the offender will be subject to stiffer penalties.

Assault with a deadly weapon is an attack upon another with a deadly weapon or instrument or by any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. This could include any type of firearm, knife, bat, car, or anything else that could produce significant harm to someone's body.

At the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, Our Los Angeles criminal lawyers understand just how much is at stake if you have been arrested, are facing criminal charges or are under investigation by the police in or around Los Angeles. We provide the tireless defense counsel that makes a difference in seeking the best possible results for their criminal case.. Though criminal charges may not have been filed against you at this point, taking preventative measures is crucial. If we are able to get involved to handle your case during the investigatory phase, we may be able to negotiate with the prosecutors to have your charges lowered or dropped altogether.

We have successfully defended clients against all types of violent crime and sex crime criminal charges that include attempted murder, robbery, child molestation, statutory rape, among others.

To speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at our firm, call 888-895-3607 for a free case evaluation. We are available to speak with you 24/7.

Misdmeanor Conviction Can Have Major Consequences for People Charged

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:45:00 GMT

In many cases, our criminal justice system is pronouncing people guilty without evidence, lawyers, or a chance to plead their case.

People across the United States plead guilty to crimes they did not commit. This is not anything new or out of the ordinary. Every year, our criminal system punishes thousands of people who are not guilty. These wrongful convictions never make it into the news because they are misdemeanors, petty offenses like trespassing, disorderly conduct, or loitering. Minor offenses are usually ignored because we are focused on the felony crimes, such as rape, murder, drug crimes, and robbery. But felonies are actually exceptional. Around 1 million felony convictions are entered every year, while more than 10 million misdemeanor cases are filed in the same time period. In most states, misdemeanor court dockets are four or five times the size of felony court dockets.

Because petty offenses are considered second-class, data about them are sparse. Some states like California do not even bother to count their misdemeanor convictions at all. One of the few reports was published by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. It concluded that the massive misdemeanor apparatus is informal, overcrowded, and sloppy. Petty defendants are routinely denied an attorney even when they are constitutionally entitled to a one. If a public defender is appointed, they carry so many cases, that they can devote only minutes to each one.

Once people charged with misdemeanors get to court, they are pressured by judges, prosecutors, and their own lawyers into pleading guilty, often in many with no knowledge of their rights or the nature of the charges against them. Bail makes it even worse. Around 80 percent of misdmeanor defendants who have bail set cannot afford to pay it. Innocent defendants routinely plead guilty just to get out of jail. In this way, millions of Americans are punished without due process and learn the lesson that, at least when it comes to minor offenses, law and evidence are not all that important.

There is an argument that minor crimes may not actually matter that much. Guilty pleas usually result in a fine or probation, not prison. Given the lack of resources, perhaps misdmeanor crimes should be handled in the quickest, cheapest way without a lawyer or due process. It is true that petty offenders may well get out of jail sooner if they plead guilty. It is widely assumed that these millions of misdmeanor defendants are actually guilty, so rushing them through the system probably won’t result in much of a miscarriage of justice. Maybe there are valid reasons to take the quick-and-dirty approach.

Nevertheless, we should not write off misdemeanor crimes. The consequences of a petty conviction can be anything but minor. These crimes are increasingly punished with large fines that low-income defendants cannot pay. A misdmeanor conviction of any kind can ruin a person’s job prospects. A petty conviction can affect eligibility for professional licenses, child custody, food stamps, student loans, and health care or lead to deportation. In many cities, a misdemeanor makes you ineligible for public housing.

Even though those charged with a misdmeanor crime usually avoid jail sentences, many spend a significant amount of time in jail while waiting for their cases to be resolved. The average arrestee that had been incarcerated can expect to spend between 30 to 60 days in jail before his case is resolved. Because jails are often a place where a defendant are exposed to rape, violence, and disease, the time they spand in jail can be as dangerous and unpleasant as any state prison.

Finally, many of those convicted of a misdmeanor may actually be innocent. Especially for classes of urban policing offenses, such as loitering, trespassing, and disorderly conduct, convictions can easily occur without any evidence that the person actually committed a crime. To understand why this is true, we need to look back to the beginning of the misdemeanor process, which is the initial arrest. All arrests require probable cause. There must be enough evidence to make it likely that the defendant actually committed the crime. For example, police routinely warn people to move on and arrest them for loitering when they don’t leave. The problem is that loitering is defined as interfering, impeding, or hindering the free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic after receiving a warning. A person who merely fails to leave when ordered to by police are not actually guilty, but thousands of arrests occur on this basis every year. The same is true in many cities throughout the United States.

Once someone is arrested, prosecutors decide whether or not to charge the person with a crime. The system depends on prosecutors to decline cases that lack evidence. But in many misdmeanor cases, prosecutors often fail to screen these cases because they are seen as insignificant, and instead charge all petty arrestees on whatever basis the police arrested them.

Once charged, misdemeanor defendants have little choice but to plead guilty. A NACDL study revealed that many of these suspects will not get lawyers, and courts rush cases through in order to clear crowded dockets. Jailed defendants can plead guilt just so they can go home. As a result, an individual arrested for a so-called urban disorder offense is likely to get charged with it and to plead guilty to it, even if there was no real evidence.

This dynamic represents a breakdown in basic principles of justice. First, arrests are permitted to convert directly into criminal convictions without scrutiny of the facts by prosecutors or defense attorneys. Police are not supposed to decide who gets convicted. That’s what trials and plea bargaining are for. Moreover, where arrests themselves are generated not by evidence of crime but by other law enforcement tactics like order maintenance and street sweeps, the resulting convictions lack an evidentiary basis. That’s a fancy way of saying that defendants are innocent.

The criminal justice systen is not working the way is is suppose to work, because the misdemeanor process is not equipped to check the evidence, it mechanically imposes criminal convictions, punishment, and stigma regardless of whether individuals are guilty. It turns out that the lowly misdemeanor process is also an important contributor.

Today, the status quo of the criminal justice system is being reconsidered from many angles. The United States Supreme Court is taking a fresh look at state prison overcrowding. Any rethinking of our current system needs to include the millions of Americans who experience the criminal justice system for the most minor crimes. It’s time to give misdemeanors their due.

There are many types of crimes that are charged as a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor conviction can have heavy consequences, and in some cases the penalty includes up to a year in jail. This can be a life-changing situation. Therefore, if you have been charged with a misdmeanor crime, you should contact a Los Angeles criminal lawyer to protect your rights. You should never take a chance with misdemeanor charges, no matter how minor they may appear.

At the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles criminal attorneys have decades of experience defending clients who have been arrested for all types of misdmeanor crimes, including shoplifting, DUI, disorderly conduct, reckless driving, trespassing, driving without a valid driver's license, violation of a restraining order, among many others.

We serve clients in all misdmeanor courts throughout Los Angeles County. Call one of our Los Angeles misdmeanor attorneys today at 888-895-3607 for a free case evaluation.

Federal Agents Bust Online Drug Market in International Sting

admin — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:50:00 GMT

Drug operators running an online narcotics marketplace through a virtual network facilitated sales of illegal drugs to 3,000 people in 34 countries and every single state in the United States, according to a federal drug crime indictment unsealed in Los Angeles. Federal agents made arrests on three continents in connection with the drug crime case.

The online narcotics network was known as “The Farmer's Market.” They processed more than $1 million in drug sales in about three years and offered many narcotic substances including Ecstasy, LSD, and marijuana. The drug trafficking network was operated on Tor, which is an online network that allows users to mask IP addresses through encryption, which kept them and their customers anonymous.

The operators of the drug trafficking network screened the suppliers and guaranteed delivery of the drugs and then received a commission from the sales. This information was obtained from the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles.

The lead defendant, Marc Willems is a Dutch national. He was arrested by local policeat his home in Lelystad, Netherlands. A second defendant is an American living in Argentina. He was arrested as he was leaving Bogota, Colombia.

There were six others indicted that were living throughout the United States. Those six either acted as suppliers of the illegal narcotics or as cash drops for money laundering proceeds. Payments were made through services including Western Union and PayPal and routed through overseas locations such as Budapest, Hungary, and Panama.

The defendants face federal drug crime charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to launder money. The drug distribution charge carries a maximum of life imprisonment. During the arrest, police seized hashish, LSD and, Ecstasy and found plots of psychotropic mushrooms and marijuana.

Federal drug crime criminal charges can be much more serious than drug charges levied against you at the local level. Prosecutors who are pursuing federal charges usually do so due to the crime being committed on federal property or because the drug offense involved transportation of controlled substances or illegal drugs across a state line. Certain drug crimes such as drug trafficking, drug distribution or importation are often charged as a federal drug crime.

If you find yourself facing these types of federal charges, contact a Los Angeles federal drug crime attorney immediately so that we may begin to prepare your defense. At the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, we provide our clients with the seasoned legal representation needed to protect your rights.

Don't let a drug conviction ruin your future. A criminal record can seriously impact your life, keeping you from job opportunities, educational loans, as well as the social stigma from having a criminal background. Call us today for a free case evaluation at 888-895-3607 to find out how we can help you with your federal drug charges.

Ex-LA Sheriff's Deputy Faces Trail for Sexual Assault and Torture

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:55:00 GMT

A former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy is set to go on trial on violent crime charges he tortured, beat and sexually assaulted his wife and another man he believed to be her lover. The man suffered brain damaged, and both victims were mutilated for life.

Robert McClain's trial is scheduled in a Santa Ana, California courtroom more than three years after he was accused of tricking his wife into introducing him to the man. He held the couple captive overnight at an Irvine apartment complex, where he beat them, forced them to undress at knife point and ordered the woman to castrate the man.

In 2008, he was a sworn sheriff's deputy when he allegedly sodomized his wife and cut off her hair with the knife. The ex-Marine is facing multiple life sentences if convicted of the mayhem, torture, kidnapping and sexual assault charges.

He entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. Therefore, the trial will be held in two phases. During the initial stage, jurors will hear testimony about the violent crimes and the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of those crimes. If he is convicted, the case would go to the sanity phase, in which the same jury considers evidence to determine if he was legally sane at the time of the crime.

For him to be considered legally insane, his attorneys must prove that the defendant had a mental disease when he committed the crime and that this defect kept him from understanding the nature of his criminal act or that it was morally or legally wrong.

Prosecutors claim that the nine-hour ordeal began around 9 p.m. on September 28, 2008, when his wife told him she was leaving him for the man, whom she met while working in the office of the apartment complex where he lives. He then tricked her into introducing him to the younger man.

During the attack, he forced both victims to undress and then tried to force his wife to orally copulate both him and her lover. He also threatened them with a gun during the attack. He then ordered his wife to castrate the younger man. The younger man suffered several knife wounds to his groin area. He also allegedly urinated on the victims and sodomized the man with a knife.

After cutting the man's face with the knife, he fled the scene and forced his wife to go with him. He then sexually mutilated his wife with the knife, chopped off her hair, and ultimately drove her back to their home.

Early the next morning, his wife was able to escape the house with the couple's four children and drive to a nearby hospital for medical help. A cleaning crew discovered the injured man in the office of the apartment complex about two hours later and called 911.

Both victims are still suffering the from the attack. The man suffered brain damage, several bone fractures in his face, excessive blood loss and numerous stab wounds. His mouth had to be wired shut and he spent months re-learning to walk and talk. The wife also suffered several physical injuries.

Being arrested or investigated for a violent crime can be a very frustrating legal matter. A violent crime involves the use of force, violence or threats against a person. It can be committed with or without the use of a weapon and may leave its victim with severe injuries or even result in death.

Violent crimes involve unlawful commission of a violent act or threat of a violent act against another individual.
A violent crime generally a felony offense in California and will be aggressively prosecuted.

At the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles violent crime lawyers have decades of successful defense against all types of violent crime criminal charges that include murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, domestic violence, and more.

There are several defenses that our LA violent crimes attorneys may assert on your behalf some of them being self defense, necessity, duress, lack of specific intent, insanity defenses.

At our law firm, our Los Angeles criminal lawyers will aggressively fight to defend your rights and look to obtain a successful outcome for your violent crimes case. We use strong defense tactics and can guarantee that your case will receive the personal care and dedication needed to defend you properly in either a state or federal court of law.

Contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at our frim at 888-895-3607 today for a free consultation and evaluation of your case. We will review the facts of your case and answer any questions that you may have.

20 Indicted in Inland Empire Heroin Investigation

admin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:30:00 GMT

A rise in deaths from black-tar heroin overdoses in Redlands, California in late 2010 led police to an investigation that has resulted in the indictment of 20 people who made up a large group of drug traffickers in the Inland Empire. Thus far, 15 of the 20 people indicted have been arrested. The remaining five named in the federal indictment are still at large.

Redlands police said the drug trafficking group was bringing in a pound of heroin a week into Redlands, Highland and Yucaipa, all of it supplied from Mexico. The group operated in pyramid fashion, with a local drug supplier and runners who supplied street-level dealers who sold to local addicts.

The drug crime investigation began after a series of deaths in the area between August 2010 and January 2011. It was conducted by Redlands Police, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Press-Enterprise newspaper has reported that 11 people, many of them high school students, have died of heroin overdoses in recent years in the Redlands area. Some were first addicted to Oxycontin, a prescription drug opiate pain reliever, and switched to black-tar heroin because it was cheaper. Black-tar heroin is a semi-processed form of heroin, which is dark and sticky and manufactured in several northwest Mexican states.

Drug trafficking is the criminal act of importing illegal drugs or narcotics across state lines or international borders. Because Los Angeles is in close proximity to Mexico and international waters, it is a hot spot for illegal drug cartels from all over the world, especially Mexico.

In an aggressive effort to combat the amount of drug trafficking that takes place in Los Angeles, both the state and federal government use their top agencies to investigate this federal drug crime. Only after police has spent sufficient time building their case and collecting evidence will they place you under arrest and file drug trafficking charges against you.

If you have been arrested for drug trafficking in Los Angeles or anywhere in the state of California, you need to speak with an experienced drug trafficking defense lawyer immediately. You need a Los Angeles drug crime defense lawyer who can stand up to the prosecution and provide you with the skilled defense needed to fight these types of charges. Without the defense an experienced Los Angeles drug trafficking attorney, you may find yourself quickly convicted of the charges and sentenced to years in state or federal prison, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, probation, and much more.

At the Law Office of Cron, Israels & Stark, we have decades of experience defending clients facing state or federal drug crimes, including possession of drugs, drug transportation, prescription drugs, among others.

For a free and strictly confidential case evaluation, call one of our drug defense lawyers at 888-895-3607.

Governor Jerry Brown Commutes Grandmother's Murder Sentence

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:35:00 GMT

California Gov. Jerry Brown commuted the prison sentence of a 51-year-old woman convicted of shaking her infant grandson to death 15 years ago, citing significant doubts about her guilt.

Shirley Ree Smith had already served 10 years of the 15-years-to-life sentence she was given after a Van Nuys jury convicted her of murder in the death of 7-week-old Etzel Glass. The jury relied on testimony by two coroner's officials.

She was the subject of a five-year legal battle between the United States Supreme Court and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which struck down her murder conviction three times saying there was no demonstrable support for the prosecution's theory that she must have shaken the baby to death.

She was freed by the 9th Circuit action in 2006 when the 9th Circuit said the evidence presented at her 1997 trial was simply not the evidence from which guilt beyond a reasonable doubt could be established. However, the Supreme Court reinstated her conviction five months ago, saying the jury's conclusions about the evidence had to be respected. She was to be returned to California and reincarcerated as a result of the high court's final ruling.

Her attorney said he had reached her with the news and that she was jubilant over the commutation but might still pursue overturning of her second-degree murder conviction.

In the divided opinion issued by the Supreme Court on October 31, 2011, even the six justices in the majority observed that doubts about whether she is in fact guilty are understandable and that clemency might be appropriate for her. A spokesman for the governor said the commutation of her sentence to time served was Brown's first grant of clemency in this term as governor and that he granted only one other during his first two terms as governor.

In all murder and homicide cases, prosecutors will use all their resources to obtain a conviction. Without the assistance of an experienced Los Angeles murder criminal attorney, defendants in homicide cases face serious overwhelming challenges. Any misstep in the process, from pre-trial hearings, investigations, preliminary hearing, negotiations, motions, trial or sentencing , can have lifelong effects for the defendant.

At the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles violent crime lawyers have decades of experience handling any type of violent crime cases, including manslaughter, attempted murder, child abuse, among many others.

If you have been charged with a homicide, it may appear like the prosecutors have the advantage. Having an experienced and skilled murder attorney is critical. At our Los Angles criminal defense law firm, we will put our decades of combined criminal defense experience to work for you. For a free case consultation, call our office at 888-895-3607 today.

Modesto Teacher Arrested for Sexually Abusing a Minor

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:40:00 GMT

A former Modesto, California high school teacher who recently made headlines for leaving his wife and family for a student was arrested charged with sexually abusing a minor.

The sexual assault arrest involves a 17-year-old student whom Christopher Hooker, 41, become friends with and sexually assaulted in 1998 when he was a teacher at Davis High School in Modesto. He is being held on $50,000 bail at Stanislaus County Jail. He is facing sex crime charges of one count of oral copulation with a minor. The Modesto Bee reported that he appeared in court and pleaded not gulity.

In February 2012, he resigned from his teaching position at Enochs High School and moved in with Jordan Powers, an 18-year-old student he met while working at the school. The couple met when she was a freshman. However, both have said their relationship did not begin until months after she turned 18.

Police detectives initially began investigating him after her mother reported that the teacher had an inappropriate romance with her daughter. During the investigation, police found a separate victim whom he was allegedly involved with in 1998.

Oral copulation with a minor is a serious sex crime criminal offense. When an adult has any form of sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 18 criminal charges are a real possibility, even when this was consensual. A minor is considered to be incapable of giving legal consent and therefore even if the minor agreed to the activity or initiated it, the adult may face misdemeanor or felony charges.

The specific penalties that a defendant may face for oral copulation with a minor will vary depending upon the jurisdiction, the age of the victim, the age of the defendant, the circumstances of the offense itself and whether the defendant has any prior offenses.

If you are facing allegations of any type of state or federal sex crime criminal charges, you will need to immediately consult and attorney who has experience in dealing with these type of criminal cases.

At the Law Offices of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles sex crime lawyers have decades of success in defending our clienst against any type of felony sex crime charges, including child molestation, child pornography, statutory rape, among others.

Do not hesitate in consulting one of our Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys at our firm if you have been accused of or arrested for having oral sex with a minor. Your future is at stake, and a skilled attorney will be necessary if you are to have any chance of avoiding a conviction and serious penalties.

We offer a free and strictly confiential consultation anytime 24/7. Call our office today at 888-895-3607.

3 Arrested at Long Beach Home with Marijuana Growing Equipment

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:40:00 GMT

Long Beach, California police arrested three men after finding drugs and a marijuana-growing operation at a home that later caught fire.

Police were on the 1900 block of Caspian Avenue, searching for a felony suspect when they noticed a home that showed signs of marijuana cultivation. When they returned to the house later to serve a narcotics warrant, they found a marijuana-growing operation and what police believe to be peyote.

The operation involved several rooms, according to the Long Beach Police Department. They also found a scorpion, three tarantulas and four boa constrictors. The three men were arrested and booked on a variety of drug crime criminal charges.

Under California Health & Safety Code Section 11358, it is a felony drug crime offense to plant, cultivate, harvest, dry, or process any marijuana or any part of the marijuana plant. The exception to this law is those who have a legal permit to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Marijuana cultivation is a felony crime that is punishable by up to three years in prison and large fines. In addition, having a criminal conviction of any kind on your record will be highly damaging to your personal and professional reputation.

At thelaw office of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles marijuana cultivation lawyers represented many clients in the Los Angeles area who have been been charged with marijuana cultivation, and know of effective defense strategies for fighting these types of charges.

A valuable defense strategy in a marijuana cultivation cases is whether or not the police conducted a lawful search and seizure. Under federal law, it is illegal to search your property without a valid search warrant or just cause. If the police violated search and seizure laws by conducting a search without a warrant, any evidence they found must be dismissed from the court. Without sufficient evidence, it’s very difficult for the prosecution to continue with their case.

Over our many decades of successful criminal defense practice, we have defended clients facing all types of drug crime charges, including possession of drugs, drug sales, federal drug crimes, and more.

When you come to our law firm, you can be sure that an experienced Los Angeles drug crime defense attorney will thoroughly look into your charges to determine if the police violated your constitutional rights, or conducted an unlawful search and seizure. If we find any evidence that may indicate the police violated the law, we will make it known to the judge immediately, and we will submit a motion to have the charges dropped.

To discuss your drug crime charges, you can call our office at 888-895-3607 for a free case consultation.

LA Man Sentenced for 'Chopping' John Travolta's Classic Mercedes

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:40:00 GMT

A Los Angeles man who stole and chopped more than 30 classic cars, including actor John Travolta’s classic Mercedes-Benz, was sentenced to 14 years in a California state prison after police detectives linked him to the theft using surveillance techniques.

Police said they began watching Michael Green, 58, of Los Angeles, after Travolta’s classic 1970 Mercedes Benz 280 SL convertible was reported stolen in September 2011, in Santa Monica. Police were seeking numerous missing Mercedes-Benzes in Los Angeles County since 2010.

Police were able to link the defendant to a Los Angeles repair facility acting as a “chop shop” where stolen vehicles are disassembled and the parts are sold. They also linked the theft of Travolta’s Mercedes to another Los Angeles man.

After police detained the defendant in December 2011, he confessed to stealing numerous vehicles and cutting up Travolta’s vehicle for parts. He also admitted to stealing more than 30 classic cars over a two-year period and said he was already on felony probation for auto theft.

The other individual involved was arrested in December and admitted to helping steal and hide Travolta’s car. He was recently sentenced to 1 1/2 years in state prison on grand theft automobile charges. Green was sentenced and faces 14 years in state prison for owning and operating a chop shop.

Grand theft is a theft crime of property valued at more than $400. An example of this crime is grand theft auto, which is the stealing of a car that is worth more than $400. Grand theft can be charged as a felony offense, where you will face time in state prison, fines, restitution and more.

You will need an experienced criminal defense attorney to defend you if you have been arrested for grand theft in Los Angeles. Under California law, you could face up to 16 months in state prison for grand theft and up to 3 years in state prison for grand theft auto.

A skilled Los Angeles grand theft criminal defense lawyer at Cron, Israels & Stark can provide you with the representation you will need in order to avoid these harsh penalties. By conducting an evaluation of your unique grand theft case and charges, a lawyer at our firm can begin working on building a defense strategy that will be strong and effective.

Over our decades of criminal defense practice, we have successfully represented clients facing all types of theft crimes, including identity theft, insurance fraud, burglary, among others.

Whether you have been charged with grand theft or grand theft auto, there is no question that a lawyer will make all the difference in the outcome of your case. At our firm, we have all the qualities you should look for in your defense lawyer and we always strive to provide only the best level of service and representation.

To speak to one of our Los Angeles theft crime defense attorneys, you can call our office at 888-895-3607 for a free case evaluation.

Ex-Campaign Treasurer in California Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud

admin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:05:00 GMT

Kinde Durkee, who used to be a campaign treasurer for Democratic candidates in California, pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud after an FBI investigation found she pilfered more than $7 million in political funds from at least 50 clients, which included Senator Dianne Feinstein.

A United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller delayed a decision on how long the prominent campaign worker will spend in a federal prison..

This federal white collar crime is the largest embezzlement case involving political funds in California history. She took money from campaign committees she managed for prominent Democrats. This includes Reps. Loretta Sanchez of Garden Grove, Linda Sanchez of Lakewood and Susan Davis of San Diego, and state Sen. Lou Correa and Assemblyman Jose Solorio, both of Santa Ana.

Federal proescutors said that money withdrawn without authorization helped her pay her mortgage, business expenses and medical services for her mother as even the purchase of Dodgers baseball tickets, Disneyland passes, Amazon.com gift cards and Baskin Robbins ice cream. She controlled more than 700 bank accounts for nearly 100 political candidates and nonprofit groups.

Mail fraud is a federal crime which involves using the mail as a means of conducting a scheme to defraud others of property or money. Mail fraud can result in a fine of up to $250,000, along with imprisonment. If the fraud was against a financial institution, the defendant may face a prison sentence of up to 30 years, along with a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Embezzlement is defined as stealing funds which are under the control of a party besides the owner. One who is charged with embezzlement is often charged at the federal level. Embezzlement is considered a white collar crime. Financial crimes are increasing throughout the state of California, and federal task forces are seeking out offenders at both the state and federal levels. Prosecution will be aggressive in an attemopt to convict you.

At the law office of Cron, Israels & Stark, our Los Angeles mail fraud defense lawyers are experienced in dealing with cases in federal court. Even in the face of serious federal charges, our defense attorneys will use all their resources and experience to fight for your rights. We understand just how serious mail fraud charges can be, and as such we take care to provide aggressive legal counsel for these federal offenses.

A Los Angeles federal crime defense lawyer at our firm can meet with you to discuss your charges and determine how we can help. We can review your situation, as well as what information federal agencies and prosecutors have gathered against you. When you work with a federal defense lawyer at our offices, you will experience first-hand our true commitment to our clients and our perseverance in handling federal cases.

We have successfully handled a wide variety of federal criminal cases, including wire fraud, healthcare fraud, mortgage fraud, aong others.

Contact our office today at 888-895-3607 for a free case evaluation to discuss your criminal defense issues with one of our federal criminal attorneys. You can rest assured that you are important to us and that we will treat you with the respect you deserve.

Woman Cited for Speeding 3 Times in an Hour is Arrested for Reckless Driving

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:45:00 GMT

A San Francisco Bay Area woman who was pulled over for speeding three times in one hour on the same highway has been released from the Yuba County jail. Lynne Cahill-Gomez, 53, was arrested for reckless driving. It took three speeding tickets within minutes of each other to finally put the woman in jail.

Police said that she was first clocked at 103 mph zipping northbound on Highway 70 north of Sacramento in her grey 2007 Hyundai SUV. Police pulled her over and issued a citation.

Twenty minutes later, another California Highway Patrol officer saw her on the same highway and clocked her at 105 mph. He pulled her over and issued her a second citation.

About thirty minutes later, a third CHP officer stopped her because she traveling 76 mph in a 55 mph zone. At that point, she was was arrested after a brief struggle and booked for reckless driving in the Yuba County Jail. She was released from custody after posting $1,000 bail. She told a news station that she was rushing to help her 79-year-old mother, who had fallen on her bad knee. But police said there is no justification for driving at such high speeds.

A reckless driving criminal charge is more serious than just a traffic violation. Reckless driving is defined as driving in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. This is treated as a criminal charge and can carry with it fines, points added to you driving record, a misdemeanor charge and jail time. California treats a reckless driving charge seriously and can have more severe penalties if any bodily injury is caused due to an accident.

Reckless driving can cause a great stress because you are facing a criminal charge or the risk of having your insurance premiums raised or policy cancelled. The risks to your future can be long lasting, including loss of a job and inability to qualify for certain positions.

At Cron, Israel & Stark, our Los Angeles reckless driving lawyers have decades of experience working on all types of cases that can be related to reckless driving, such as, DUI, drunk driving, disorderly conduct, evading arrest, resisting arrest, among others.

Contact our office today at 888-895-3607 for a free initial consultation.