Federal Crime Defense

Crime in South Bay Increases

A review of the overall crime in the South Bay and Harbor Area of Los Angeles County shows that crime has increased by one percent in the year 2012. According to an assessment of the California Crime Index by The Daily Breeze, homicides dropped from 54 to 45, including a drop of 12 homicides in the Harbor Division. Overall Robberies were up four percent, primarily because of significant increases in Carson and Gardena.

In the year 2012, there were 836,350 people living in South Bay. During that year there were:

45 homicides;
122 rapes;
1,177 robberies;
2,295 assaults;
3,996 burglaries; and
3,091 auto thefts.

Many wonder if the crime rates will increase substantially more this year as a result of the recent realignment program that has been put in motion. Because of overcrowding, many inmates in prison have been moved to county jails and a number of nonviolent individuals in jail have been released. There has been a lot of speculation, but it is unclear if releasing nonviolent individuals will actually increase criminal activity in Los Angeles County.

Mexican Cartel Plead No Guilty to Federal Drug Offense

Reported by Associated Press today, the U.S.-born man accused of being a drug cartel lieutenant, Armando Villareal Heredia, pleaded not guilty to federal racketeering and drug charges yesterday. He was extradited from Mexico to the United States to face federal racketeering (RICO) and drug offense in the Southern District of California after being held at a prison in Veracruz State for almost a year. Villareal is the lead defendant among 43 people charged with drug crime allegedly committed between 2008 and 2010 and if convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Most Mexican states, especially the ones along the border with the US, have witnessed a high level of drug-related violence in recent years as rival drug cartels fight each other for control of the lucrative smuggling routes. U.S. authorities continuously show efforts to work with the government of Mexico to combat organized criminal activity along the southwest border. In Mexico, smugglers often advertised work as security guards, housecleaners and cashiers, telling applicants they must drive company cars to the United States. New hires would then be told to drive company cars across the border, and when they arrive, they are often told there will be no work after all that day and must leave the car and walk back to Mexico after being paid a small amount. People are often tricked into this false advertisement and inclined to investigate prior if they are desperate for work. These cases can be challenging for prosecutors because drivers may not know they are smuggling drugs.

Border security in California and other states is meant to reduce crime and criminal charges. Raids of supposed criminal organizations can be especially problematic in a court of law. That is, while some individuals may in fact be guilty of the infractions of which they are accused, other individuals may simply be innocent bystanders having been lumped together with other, more serious offenders. If you’re facing a drug charge, the experiencedLos Angeles drug offense attorneys at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf can help you protect your rights and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. To learn more, call us today at 866-390-7373 for a free and confidential consultation.

Hate Crime and Same-Sex Marriage

President Obama has recently expressed his support for the Respect for Marriage Act. His view on the idea of marriage has evolved since taking office and President Obama has now confirmed that he supports gay marriage. In contrary, new research based on FBI data shows that gay men face higher rates of hate-motivated physical violence than lesbians, bisexuals or other federally protected groups with high rates of hate crimes. California hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation rose by 25 percent just last year. The most dramatic shifts took place in Palm Springs and San Francisco – both cities with significant gay and lesbian populations. The most recent case was a transgender woman gunned down in Oakland last month.

California and federal hate crime laws impose severe punishment for harming, threatening or harassing someone because of the person’s race, national origin, disability, religion, sex, gender, or sexual orientation. There are cases in which a perpetrator used religious texts condemning homosexuality to justify behavior, which at that point investigators have a case of competing rights — the right to religious belief and the right to be free from discrimination. And if the victim of a hate crime is not out already, simply laying a criminal complaint could out them as a victim of an anti-gay hate crime, putting them at risk for what is called “secondary victimization”.

With that being said, it’s not uncommon for people to get wrongly accused of hate crimes. This often stems from false accusations, misidentification, or a rush to judgment merely because the alleged victim is different from the accused. If you are arrested for a violent and/or hate crime, our experienced Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys can help you better understand the laws, penalties and legal defenses pertaining to the charges. To have your rights and your freedom protected, contact Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf, a highly skilled defense attorney in Los Angeles. Call [number type=”1″].

FBI Reports Crime Rate Decline in 2010

According to FBI statistics, as reported by The Los Angeles Times, approximately 10.3 million crimes were reported in 2010. Of these, 9 million were property crimes and 1.2 million were violent crimes. Although these are very large numbers, both violent crime and property crime rates declined from previous years. Violent crime decreased by 6 percent from 2009, continuing its declining trend for a fourth consecutive year. Property crime dropped 2.7 percent from 2009, making 2010 the eighth consecutive year it has decreased.

The data used for the FBI’s 2010 “Crime in the United States” report was compiled from over 18,000 federal, state, tribal, university and college, county and city law enforcement agencies. Other notable statistics for 2010 include:

Aggravated assault was the most common violent crime at approximately 62.5 percent;
Larceny-theft was the most common property crime at 68.2 percent; and
There were 13.1 million arrests made for crimes, excluding traffic violations.

In Los Angeles, there were 21,484 violent crimes, although, unlike the national statistics, robbery was the most common violent crime in 2010 with over 10,000 incidents. Aggravated assault was a close second, however, at over 9,000 incidents. In addition, Los Angeles had a total of 89,704 property crimes, the most common being larceny-theft.

Being arrested for a violent crime can be very confusing and overwhelming, especially when the alleged crime occurred under especially vague or convoluted circumstances. The aggressive violent crime defense attorneys in Los Angeles at The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf can build a strong defense on your behalf and ensure the protection of your legal rights. Contact us today for a consultation at [number type=”1″].

Computer Hackers Who Cause Financial Losses Face Bigger Sentences in California

Computer hackers who cause financial losses are prosecuted more harshly and given more severe sentences than those who merely commit “mischief,” according to a recent article in the International Business Times.

The U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act allows prosecutors who catch computer hackers to prosecute them if the hacker caused some kind of financial loss to the victim. Charges may be filed even if the hacker didn’t steal any information. For instance, a hacker who causes software damage that requires an experienced technician to fix may be prosecuted because the owner of the computer is out the repair costs—even if the hacker didn’t take the user’s bank account or credit card information.

Currently, the federal Justice Department focuses its efforts on prosecuting hackers who cause large financial losses and those who target government sites, even if no damage is done. While smaller losses may not trigger prison sentences, hackers who are convicted of them may face probation. For instance, a former contractor who had worked for PETA allegedly logged in to the animal rights organization’s website from his Los Angeles apartment recently. He didn’t steal any information, but he did delete over 500 different files. After being convicted of criminal activity for the act, he was sentenced to one year of probation and required to pay $1,400 in fines.

Crimes like theft and embezzlement increasingly involve computer use. Unfortunately, even though computers are now commonplace in most areas of the U.S., many state and federal criminal laws still provide harsher punishments for those who use computers than for those who don’t. If you are facing felony charges in California, the experienced Los Angeles felony crimes defense lawyers at The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf can help. Call us today at [number type=”1″] for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Alleged Members of Israeli Crime Family Charged with Drug Trafficking, Racketeering

Five individuals who are reported to be members of a powerful Israeli crime family were recently charged in Los Angeles with drug trafficking and racketeering, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The men have been accused of using a gang based in the San Fernando Valley to distribute ecstasy, and prosecutors also allege that they paid a gang member to kill a man who stole a shipment of drugs. The men were recently arrested in Israel and were extradited to the United States by U.S. Marshalls. They will be held in custody until after the trial, which is expected to last for two months, but a date has yet to be set. The men were denied bond because of their lack of ties with the community.

All of the men pleaded not guilty to all charges. If they are convicted, they could serve life in prison. Their prison sentences would be carried out in Israel under international treaties.

These charges are very serious. These defendants have been charged with federal crimes, rather than state crimes. Under federal sentencing guidelines, judges have to impose minimum mandatory sentences, even if the sentence seems excessive. There are over 100 federal crimes in the U.S. Code. In addition, any crime that is committed on federal property can be considered a federal crime.

Have you been charged with a federal crime in California? If so, contact the Los Angeles federal crime defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf. Our office has been helping defendants accused of federal crimes for more than 40 years. Call us today at 866-390-7373 to learn more about your legal rights under the federal system.