Articles Posted in federal criminal investigation

Fraud is a concept that has been in the criminal justice system forever.  Google defines it as an intentional deception used to gain an unfair advantage or benefit, often involving financial gains.  How does the Department of Justice prosecute fraud?  Below is a non exhaustive list of charges that the DOJ can bring. The FBI…

Cryptocurrency fraud has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. The lack of a centralized authority governing crypto along with the relative anonymity of transactions has contributed to this rise in digital financial crime. Specifically, cryptocurrency money laundering has grown significantly in recent years with billions of dollars stolen through hacks, Ponzi schemes, mixers. A recent…

Milan Patel and four other defendants were charged both by the SEC and the Department of Justice for their role in an options trading scheme in the Northern District of Georgia.  Another defendant, Bart Ross was sentenced a few years ago for the same scheme.  In total, In total, the defendants executed more than 500…

A federal criminal trial consists of several different stages.   The below will analyze a ONE defendant trial.  But, more often than not, trials can consist of multiple defendants at trial.  This just augments the time needed for each stage. Jury Selection also known as Voir Dire Jury selection is one of the most important parts…

Recently, Robert Purbeck of Idaho, also known as “Lifelock,” and “Studmaster,”  was sentenced to ten years after pleading guilty to federal charges of computer fraud and abuse.  He hacked into the computer servers of the City of Newnan, Georgia  and a Griffin, Georgia medical clinic, and then targeted at least 17 other victims across the…

As we explained in our prior post about federal child pornography laws, the consequences of a child pornography or CSAM (“Child Sexual Abuse Material”) conviction are severe and life-altering. And the collateral consequence of being on the sex offender registry can be devastating. Early on, Conaway & Strickler defended cases that stemmed from activity on…

In recent years, unruly behavior on flights has become a growing concern, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to escalate its enforcement efforts. Since 2021, the FAA has referred over 310 cases of severe incidents to the FBI for criminal prosecution. These cases involve dangerous acts like physical assaults, attempts to breach the cockpit, and…

In the world of banking and finance, the term “Suspicious Activity Report” (SAR) may sound intimidating—especially if you’ve been notified that a bank has filed one concerning your transactions. For individuals and businesses alike, it’s essential to understand what a SAR is, what activities can trigger these reports, and the potential legal consequences that may…

The federal criminal appellate process begins when a person is convicted at the district court. A conviction can occur after a jury trial or after a plea of guilty. If a person has entered in to a plea agreement, the person may have agreed to waive many of their rights to appeal. If a person…

Here is the definition from the statute, cut directly from the 11th circuit’s jury instructions: It’s a Federal crime to commit aggravated identity theft. The Defendant can be found guilty of aggravated identity theft only if all the following facts are proved beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) the Defendant knowingly transferred, possessed, or used another…