February 2013 - Federal Criminal Law Center

Radio personality says innocent of mortgage fraud charges

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 28, 2013
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A nationally syndicated radio talk show host and Chicago attorney was indicted in Illinois federal court late last month for his alleged role in a mortgage fraud ring. His attorneys say he is innocent and that it “is not a close case.” Warren Ballentine steadfastly denies his involvement in a fraudulent scam that investigators say […]

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 26, 2013
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Three-plus years ago, in January 2010, the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency stepped in to close the First National Bank (FNB) of Georgia in Carrollton after investigation into alleged acts of bank fraud committed there by bank officials. Several months later, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was named Receiver and took over […]

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 21, 2013
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The case of a man self-described as an “irritant” who was arrested on crime charges last month in Washington, D.C. and has an upcoming hearing next week is attracting considerable attention among free-speech scholars and advocates. The District of Columbia magistrate’s judicial order issued in the matter has touched off a lively debate concerning the […]

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 19, 2013
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The year-plus encouragement from the Georgia Department of Labor aimed at businesses across the state seeking employers to essentially “out” job hunters who failed a drug test as a prerequisite to employment has not yielded particularly impressive results. In fact, the name of just a single individual was passed along over that time, an outcome […]

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 13, 2013
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Juvenile criminal cases are routinely held out to be different from adult cases. For starters, they are typically tried outside the main trial court. They also have many differentiating parameters unique to the juvenile legal system and an ultimate aim that contrasts with the adult legal system, namely, one that is more centrally focused on […]

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 11, 2013
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Some of our past blog posts have revealed instances of participants in the criminal justice system abusing their positions. That is far from a singular occurrence across the country, with media accounts regularly relating instances in which the conduct of police officers, private investigators, prosecutors and even judges (please see our immediately preceding blog post […]

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 6, 2013
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Strong legal representation from an experienced criminal defense attorney can often make a material difference in the outcome of any case in which a client faces state or federal criminal charges. Proven defense attorneys can lend expertise in pre-trial proceedings, in helping to fashion plea bargains that best promote a client’s legal interests, in arguing […]

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 4, 2013
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A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia contrasts heavily with the momentum shown in a number of states across the country evidencing liberalized attitudes toward legalized marijuana. As we informed readers in a recent blog post (please see our December 20, 2012, entry), voters in both Colorado and […]

Posted by Marcia Shein
On February 1, 2013
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Congress enacted the Sentencing Reform Act in 1984, which in turn created the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC). In 1987, work done in that agency resulted in the nation’s first federal sentencing guidelines for felonies and serious (Class A) misdemeanors. One prominent and quickly observed byproduct of the system, as noted by a diverse group […]

Radio personality says innocent of mortgage fraud charges

First National Bank fraud case moves forward in federal court

D.C. magistrate’s order spurs debate over judicial overreach

Reporting failed drug tests yields paltry results for Georgia

Focus: Youth arrest records, the expungement process

Police officers indicted on drug conspiracy, trafficking counts

Indictment cites multiple judges for preferential treatment in scam

Federal appeals court sides with DEA on marijuana classification

After lengthy study, Sentencing Commission assesses guideline impact