Articles Posted in federal criminal investigation

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…

Schools across the state of Georgia are facing an increase in threats of violence. It has led schools to step up security. Each and every threat must be taken seriously. Some of these threats turn out to be real, so officials have beefed up security everywhere, including for example, Fulton County Schools implementing license plate…

The Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and the Non-Residential Abuse Program (NRDAP) are offered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) to assist inmates suffering from substance abuse issues. RDAP consists of 3 intensive phases, totaling over 500-hours of voluntary individual and group treatment, and it is about 9-12 months long. This program offers prisoners…

On April 11, 2022, the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta announced the creation of a new pretrial diversion court, the Accountability, Treatment, and Leadership Court “ATL Court“. It is formed with the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Defender Program, and will be run by…