Category Archives: Federal Crimes
Four IRS employees will be interviewed in a Congress probe
IRS employees John Shafer, Gary Muthert, Liz Hofacre and Joseph Herr will all be interviewed by Congressional investigators as a part of the probe. One employee, Holly Paz, has already been questioned. It has not yet been determined who, exactly, was targeting groups with “Tea Party” or “patriot” in their names. This is what the … Read More
The California Supreme Court deals with insulin-administration case
The California Supreme Court will be hearing a case that will determine whether school employees can administer insulin to diabetic students, rather than only licensed nurses. This case will set a precedent for protecting the rights of schoolchildren with diabetes or other medical conditions. The problem here is that insulin is a tricky thing. The … Read More
Tax Preparer Accused of $1M in IRS Fraud
A tax preparer from Lemon Grove was arrested Monday in Arizona on suspicion of carrying out a scheme to steal Social Security numbers, file false tax returns and defraud the Internal Revenue Service, authorities reported. IRS agents took Cynthia Lozano, 31, into custody in Phoenix, where she will make her first appearance in federal court on … Read More
Wrongly Convicted Man “Truly Happy” After 14 Years in Prison
An Alameda County judge has overturned the conviction of an East Oakland man who served 14 years in prison for an attempted rape he did not commit. He spoke publicly for the first time. Through the use of DNA, a team lawyers and students were able to prove that the 37-year-old was not guilty. The … Read More
POT DEALER TO DO 8 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON (Sam Spital)
COMMENTARY BY SAN DIEGO CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER, SAM SPITAL: “On January 24, 2013, according to the UT San Diego electronic news, U.S. District Judge Irma Gonzalez sentenced 32 year old Joshua Hester after a guilty plea to more than eight years in Federal Prison for money laundering, maintaining a drug-related business, conspiracy to distribute more … Read More
Smith v. United States (Sam Spital)
Commentary by San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Sam Spital: “On January 9, 2013, the United States Supreme Court in a unanimous 9-0 opinion written by Justice Scalia in the case of Smith vs. U.S., (Case No. 11–8976 https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-8976_k5fl.pdf), affirmed the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that held a defendant … Read More
Teen Recruits Smuggling Drugs Across Border: Feds (Sam Spital)
COMMENTARY BY SAM SPITAL, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAN DIEGO: “Channel 7 San Diego online news on November 16, 2012 reported both Mexican and American teenagers, as young as 12 years old, are being recruited by drug cartels to smuggle drugs (referred to as “mules”) across the border. Federal Agents of the Homeland Security report that … Read More
Trial ordered for alleged ‘Be Cool Bandit’
COMMENTARY BY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER SAM SPITAL AND ASSOCIATES: ”KFMB Channel 8 TV online edition updated its post on October 25, 2012 regarding what has been described as the ‘Be Cool Bandit’ who was charged with ten (10) separate robberies of gas stations and convenience stores, displaying a semi-automatic weapon and after his Preliminary Hearing … Read More
Feds charge 27 in California-Mexico meth ring
The continuing scourge of major crime represents a challenge for law enforcement and the judicial system that has limited resources, but the unintended consequences to those that are easily addicted to Meth often suffer life-long very complex and serious issues as well. For defense lawyers, their role is to challenge law enforcement’s procedures and protocols … Read More