Category Archives: Federal Crimes
Boston Bombing – A Fortuitous Event?
On the anniversary of the Boston Bombing, April 15, 2013 in which three innocent victims were killed and nearly 300 others were injured, many are asking whether this was a fortuitous event, or calculated killings by terrorists using weapons of mass destruction. Even more compelling is the surfacing of information that one of the bombers … Read More
Senate Committee Approves Eliminating and Reducing Certain Criminal Sentences
On January 30, 2014, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would abolish mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenders who do not have a prior criminal history, as well as reducing by 50% mandatory minimum sentences for specified nonviolent drug offenses. The proposed law among other things eliminates mandatory minimum sentences if there is … Read More
Former BP Engineer Convicted of Obstructing Justice
In New Orleans today, there was a jury verdict after the U.S. Department of Justice charged Kurt Mix, a former BP engineer, of deleting hundreds of text messages from his iPhone, thereby thwarting the investigation of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Although none of the top executives of BP have … Read More
Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs Charged with Corruption and Civil Rights Violations
Charges were filed yesterday that involve approximately 17 current and 2 former deputies who have been accused of beating inmates and visitors, falsifying reports, as well as obstructing justice, conspiracy and corruption. The criminal complaint and grand jury indictments contain, among other charges against the deputies, allegations that records were falsified, visitors to and inmates … Read More
Did San Diego Sheriffs Use Excessive Force When They Killed a Suicidal Suspect?
On December 2, 2013, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of CHELSEY HAYES V. COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, Case #09-55644 , heard this civil rights Complaint brought under the Federal statute 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and California law wherein a minor daughter alleged violations of her 14th and 4th Amendment rights and … Read More
What Evidence is Required to Establish Aiding and Abetting a Crime?
On November 12, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Rosemond v. United States, #12-895, on Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, heard oral arguments. The underlying case involved the issue of whether the jury instructions were adequate and the offense of aiding … Read More
Undercover Law Enforcement Operations
On October 23, 2013, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of UNITED STATES vs. BLACK, #11-10036, held a reverse sting operation by the government was not so outrageous and shocking to be barred by elementary principles of due process and fairness and, therefore, affirmed the U.S. District Court conviction of multiple defendants. … Read More
Fort Hood shooter receives death sentence
Maj. Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death for his 2009 shooting spree at Fort Hood after mounting barely any defense while representing himself. Some posit that Hasan seeks to be a martyr, which is why he represented himself and did not call witness, give a testimony, or make any statements other than taking responsibility for … Read More
$1-million arrest warrant issued for suspected killer
Authorities are searching for Dantjier Domenick Powell, who is wanted in connection with the murder of YouTube reality show star Domonique Newburn. Newburn was found dead in her apartment on August 20. The transgender woman appeared in the premiere episode of “Hollywood Houseboys,” a program following the lives of young, gay black men trying to make … Read More
Fort Hood trial resumes
The soldier on trial for the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood is continuing to represent himself after his standby attorneys claimed that he was trying to get the death sentence for himself. The judge refused the attorneys’ request to be either removed from the case or be allowed to take over, saying that the lawyers … Read More