Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Blog

Understanding the impact of tax evasion on your future

Published on: July 29, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

If you are actively employed in Georgia and are a recipient of income each on a consistent basis, you are required to fill out a tax return each year. The information you provide will be processed and verified by officials with the Internal Revenue Service who will verify that you are not missing anything on your forms that could indicate you are not filing your taxes properly. At Conaway & Strickler, PC Attorneys at Law, we are committed to advocating for people who have been accused of federal crimes.

Tax evasion is an example of a federal crime that can leave you facing serious legal consequences for failing to properly file and claim your taxes with the IRS. While seemingly insignificant, your decision to avoid paying your taxes can actually have detrimental consequences. According to Financial Web, if you miscalculate your taxes or fudge numbers in your favor and what you are reporting cannot be effectively backed by supporting receipts, you could be accused of tax fraud or evasion. For this reason, it is critical that you double-check your work if you are filing your own taxes, and even compare your records with the paperwork you have received if you had your taxes filed by a professional.

If you have deliberately refrained from paying your taxes, you could be fined anywhere from $100,000, to $25,000 for every year that you were delinquent on your taxes. Additionally, depending on the length or severity of your crimes, you could be sentenced to serve time in prison.

Why mail fraud is considered a serious offense

Published on: July 26, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Just as in every state, people in Georgia utilize the USPS on a daily basis. While it is generally a very ordinary activity, sometimes the mail is used as a venue to facilitate a crime. Charges for mail fraud are very serious and a conviction can come with stiff financial penalties and prison time. But why might just a small aspect of crime be considered so seriously?

According to the United States Postal Service, mail fraud is any kind of fraud that uses the mail. It does not matter whether it begins on the telephone, online or through the mail. Once any part of the commission of a crime goes through the mail system it is considered a federal offense known as mail fraud. The most common categories of mail fraud are financial, employment, telemarketing, sweepstakes, telemarketing and fraud against veterans or the elderly.

In fact, The New York Times reported that mail fraud charges were included in a list of criminal charges in the recent college bribery admissions scandal involving actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman. Fifty people were charged with various crimes in this complicated criminality. In addition to the television stars, others implicated were college consultants, parents and college athletic coaches. Although the sheer sum of money made bribery appear to be the most important aspect of the scandal, the list of criminal charges included conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

An arrest for vehicular homicide can happen to any motorist

Published on: July 21, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

You probably never image your involvement in white-collar crime such as identity theft, embezzlement or cyberstalking.

However, vehicular manslaughter also falls into this category. Given the right set of circumstances, anyone who drives could face arrest for this kind of crime—even you.

Vehicular manslaughter explained

A look at what the future of cybersecurity looks like

Published on: July 13, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

A lot has changed since the internet was first created and the profound innovation of such an incredible technology took the world by storm. In today’s world, an ever-growing technological challenge is the growing danger of cybercrime. For many industries in Georgia, protecting their intellectual property is not simply a matter of restricting access to its accessibility, but carefully crafting strategic methods for keeping unwanted viruses and criminals from exposing confidential information.

Some interesting research that examined what the future of cybersecurity is going to look like, uncovered some interesting facts that may help people to better understand the risks they are facing. One development that businesses may notice is the incorporation of highly trained, often-retired military members who have experience in working with cybersecurity, being hired to take leading roles in providing security in the virtual world. They may also notice an increase in roles such as that of a security data scientist who will analyze data and its utilization in discovering ways to protect it without constricting its use.

In an ever-growing business world, applications as a resource for optimizing transactions between consumers and companies, as well as between business-to-business, will continue to provide assistance in revolutionizing how business is done. However, thoroughly implemented security measures will be critical so long as applications are in use. Another development will be the way that social contracts are leveraged. While they will still be widely used, they may begin to include cybersecurity agreements as a way to solidify promises between data systems and humans.

FDA paves the way for easier access to opioid overdose treatment

Published on: July 12, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

The opioid crisis has rocked the nation over the past few years and Georgia is no exception. While many people view addicts as junkies who make bad decisions and abuse illegal drugs, this is not the case for all people with a substance abuse disorder. Some people were introduced to these medications via their doctor’s prescriptions, usually to treat pain. Because these are so addictive, it can quickly spiral into an out-of-control drug habit.

CNN estimates that 1.7 million individuals in America suffer from substance abuse problems related to the use or abuse of prescription medication with opioids. These include the following drugs:

Hydrocodone

Will you be required to pay restitution for your crime?

Published on: June 29, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

If you have been convicted of committing a crime in Georgia, you could be facing a significant array of consequences depending on the seriousness of your offense and the consequences that resulted from it. Once you have been formally charged in the legal system, you may also face the requirement to pay restitution to anyone who was affected by your misdeeds.

Restitution is most commonly awarded in monetary form, but you could also be required to pay back compensation for damages in other ways too. The restitution you give back is often used in helping any victims recover from the trauma they may have endured because of your behavior. Restitution is not always required but can be requested from victims even after your formal sentencing. Failure to pay restitution that has been required by the courts could leave you in danger of facing even more legal consequences.

According to the United States Department of Justice, how much restitution you may be required to pay is determined after the courts evaluate the impact that the crime you committed has had on any victims in the case. In a majority of cases, legal fees are not part of what you will be required to pay in terms of restitution. This means you will most likely not be financially responsible for any attorney’s fees or legal fees the victims had to pay in regards to your case. If the process for determining an amount for restitution is too complicated, the court may dismiss the possibility of repayment altogether.

Common forms of white collar crimes

Published on: June 25, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

White collar crime in Georgia is fairly common, and it typically refers to a committed crime that has a financial gain. While there are numerous scams and types of fraud that constitute white collar crimes, there are some common types and all of them have associated penalties.

According to the FBI, financial reasons are what motivates the people who commit these crimes. The reasons include making money, obtaining property and avoiding financial loss to gain an advantage either personally or for a business. One of the most common types of this nature is corporate fraud. This activity not only affects investors but it also can cause irreputable harm to the United States economy.

The main areas of corporate fraud investigation include:

Think twice before misusing that credit or debit card

Published on: June 23, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

The cost of living in New York is skyrocketing. Times are tight, money is getting harder to come by and you may feel you can get away with using the ATM to make a few fraudulent check deposits or skimming device to make a little extra money to get by. Before you make a decision that could land you in prison, take a few moments to consider the impact of such actions.

ATM fraud is a serious crime that, at minimum, is prosecutable at the state level. It carries serious penalties. There is a good chance you could even face federal criminal charges because it is also bank fraud. It does not matter what your intent is or that you mean to repay the funds. Once you misuse/abuse a debit or credit card to illegally access unauthorized funds from a financial institution, you could end up facing criminal charges for bank and ATM fraud.

How ATM fraud can result in additional criminal charges

What is tax evasion?

Published on: June 19, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

The thought of paying taxes may not be anyone’s idea of a good time, and some people in Georgia make decisions to purposely report improper information on their tax returns so they do not owe as much money. This is known as tax evasion. This is different than tax avoidance, and there may be serious federal charges for those who intentionally fool the Internal Revenue Service.

According to Investopedia, tax evasion, also known as tax fraud, costs the government millions of dollars every year. As a result, the consequences for getting caught may include fines, interest, penalties and potential imprisonment. The IRS understands the tax code can be complicating and confusing, and they know some tax preparers make mistakes, so this is not the same as tax evasion. Examples of fraud include:

Claiming personal-related expenses as business ones

Drug charges and mental illness

Published on: June 9, 2019 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

When people are taken into custody over a drug-related offense, there are many different factors to consider, some of which could have a major impact on the outcome of their case. Some people are falsely accused of a drug crime, while others may be able to secure a better outcome by shedding light on key details surrounding their case. Some people are apprehended for a drug offense due to an isolated incident, even though they do not regularly use or sell drugs, while others may struggle with long-term drug addiction. Moreover, some people are simultaneously dealing with drug charges and mental illness.

If you are facing drug charges and also have difficulty with a particular mental illness, it is important to assess the unique details that surround your circumstances and figure out the best way to handle your case. Moreover, if you have a loved one who is mentally ill and facing drug charges, it is important to help them understand their options and you may want to assist them throughout their case. Some people benefit from consulting a legal professional who has handled many drug cases and knows how certain details can shape the outcome of a case.

For someone who is struggling with mental illness, a drug-related arrest can be especially difficult and they may face additional difficulties down the road. Unfortunately, many people have found themselves in this position, and our law firm knows how difficult it can be for people who are going through these issues.