Your Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial is among the most important protections that you have if you have been charged with a crime. The right to a speedy trial not only prevents the government from dragging its feet after charging you with a crime, but also eliminates the possibility of them charging you… Read More
Federal Pleas And Sentencing
Getting the Best Outcome at Sentencing
If your recent trial has resulted in a conviction, your attorney’s job is far from over. Having a skilled attorney involved during the sentencing phase can make all the difference when it comes to getting the best outcome at sentencing. With many years of post-trial law experience, Marcia Shein is an authority on this subject,… Read More
What Are My Plea Options?
“How do you plead?” It’s not just a phrase we hear on popular court television programs. The defendant’s plea to the charges is a pivotal moment in any criminal court case, and can have a profound effect on the outcome. From the moment you are charged, you should be asking an experienced attorney, “What are… Read More
What is a Federal Indictment?
In simple terms, a federal indictment is when the United States Government formally accuses a person of a crime. Crimes, of course, can be committed against either/both the federal government and the states, usually with some overlap. In most cases, crimes are tried at the state level, but the federal government may choose to press charges… Read More
What Are The Consequences For Breaking Parole or Probation?
Parole and probation are two different things, but they are similar in that they involve monitoring your activities and following certain rules established by the court as an alternative to incarceration (or a return to incarceration). The consequences for breaking parole or probation may differ greatly according to state and the specific circumstances, ranging from… Read More
Ann Marie Howard Aguiar of Jacksonville Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Charges
A 47-year-old Jacksonville, FL woman named Ann Marie Howard Aguiar entered a guilty plea earlier this month in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as part of her participation in a national tax refund fraud scheme originating in Nashua, New Hampshire. In her admission of guilt, Aguiar confessed to being… Read More
Can the Defense Offer a Plea Agreement?
When it comes to plea agreements, there is no hard and fast rule concerning who might offer the agreement. The reason that plea agreements are used so frequently is because they allow for cases to be resolved without the cost of a jury trial. That means that the prosecution as well as the defense have… Read More
How Often do Appeals Result in Dismissal?
If you’re thinking about appealing your recent conviction in a federal criminal case, you might be echoing a commonly asked question: how often to appeals result in dismissal? The answer is more difficult to determine than you might think. There are definitely “number crunchers” out there who can provide some statistics, but these are unable… Read More
Could Private Prisons Alter the Judicial Process for your Case?
Privately run prisons have been playing an increasingly prominent role in the American penal system since they were introduced in the 1980s. Although the total US prison population only grew by 18% between 1999 and 2010, the population incarcerated in for-profit prisons grew by 80%, according to a 2012 report by The Sentencing Project. In… Read More
Is There a Way to Avoid Mandatory Minimum Sentences
The definition of a minimum mandatory sentence is a minimum prison sentence that a judge must impose. This type of sentence is used for specific crimes, and the judge is required to impose the sentence without considering any mitigating circumstances. In US federal court, there are only two two ways for an individual facing a… Read More