On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crime on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Financial struggle is nothing new in this day and age, and when someone is pushed to their limits they often make questionable decisions. Some of these decisions could even lead to accusations of illegal activity. A 39-year-old sporting goods store owner has become the target of a Michigan larceny investigation after police say he entered into supply deals he did not intend to pay for.
Michigan State Police began investigating the man's activities in 2011 when they received a tip that the man was not paying the retailers he purchased the goods from. The businessman allegedly purchased the products in a 30-day plan to turn a failing business around. When police confronted him about the alleged scheme, he said that he had already paid back the retailers located mostly in the Midwest and some in Canada.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Criminal Defense on Monday, May 14, 2012
Most of us are familiar with the presumption of innocence in America's criminal justice system. This principle is sometimes expressed as "innocent until proven guilty." That principle may come into play for a man spotted recently in Grand Rapids, who is wanted by federal authorities for questioning in a homicide case.
The man was spotted in Grand Rapids by a friend and former neighbor. In fact, the possible suspect spent the night at the neighbor's house. The neighbor was not aware that the man was wanted by the U.S. Marshalls Grand Rapids Fugitive Task Force, which has issued a public notice asking local residents to be on the lookout. The man is reported to have previous convictions for burglary, fraud, escape and extortion.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Drug Charges on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a familiar name when it comes to federal drug investigations in Grand Rapids and other cities across the nation. DEA officials make arrests all of the time, but a group of agents recently crossed the line when they forgot about a 23-year-old student for a total of five days.
The college student was taken into custody on suspicion of marijuana-related drug offenses after DEA agents broke up a gathering of friends at an off-campus residence on April 20 -- a day known for marijuana use. The student was taken into custody and questioned. He was told that no criminal charges had been filed against him and that he would be free to go home, but that was not where he spent the next five days.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Felonies on Monday, May 7, 2012
When our forefathers envisioned the future of our country, they sought to keep a healthy separation between church and state functions. While the definition of separation has been debated over the years, it is clear that sometimes the two paths are forced to cross. After an audit of the books, officials from one Grand Rapids church enlisted state assistance to investigate the possibility of embezzlement.
The pastor of the church was arrested earlier this year and charged with a felony theft offense for the white collar crime. He was accused of taking anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 from the treasury and using the money for personal purchases. His trial is scheduled to start this upcoming week. He may not be the only one from the church facing felony charges. The church's former bookkeeper recently came under scrutiny, and an arrest warrant was issued against her by the Kent County Prosecutor's Office.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Criminal Defense on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Theft can happen wherever and whenever someone has the temptation to take something. Shopping malls are particular areas that are targets for theft offenses and the Tanger Outlet Center in Michigan is the latest maker of theft accusations.
Michigan police recently arrested two men who were suspected of stealing approximately $5,000 from two stores at the Tanger Outlet Center. The two suspects are not residents of Michigan that allegedly traveled into the state specifically to steal from the outlet mall. Although two men were arrested, it is suspected that three suspects were involved in the theft scheme.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, May 3, 2012
The charges of rape and murder are very serious criminal charges and have potentially very serious penalties. When preparing a defense to criminal charges, all of the evidence must be reviewed for potential discrepancies that may prove the accused's innocence.
Over 16 years ago, a man was convicted for a woman's rape and murder and received a life sentence. Reports indicate the woman was was found in her bathtub in 1994 with violent circumstances surrounding her death. The convicted man obtained new DNA testing that ruled him out as a possibility for a source of blood that was used as evidence to convict him at the trial. The new DNA testing was submitted as evidence along with the original DNA testing that had already previously excluded him as the source of semen that was found on the victim.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Felonies on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
We often talk about large state and federal law enforcement groups combining resources to target individuals all across the nation. Some arrests are made after months of evidence collection and investigation, but some arrests are made completely by coincidence.
A Traverse City police detective did not have to look very hard to make an arrest for one reported theft offense. According to the officer, he had just begun his investigation into the reported crime when he literally bumped into the man he believed was the suspect caught on a surveillance video.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Sex Crimes on Monday, April 23, 2012
On May 15, 2010, he was a 19-year-old student. She was a 15-year-old student at the same school. The two students were at school on a Saturday to make up credits. A video captured the two students together in a hallway. It captured them going through a doorway and the young girl exiting. No one knows what happened in the time between except the two students involved.
She said that he committed a sexual assault against her. He said that he was innocent. A jury sided with the girl and he was convicted of rape in a Grand Rapids courtroom in 2011. He was sentenced to a minimum of nine years in prison and a maximum of 40 years. The young man, now 21, has never changed his story but his appeal was denied this month.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Felonies on Friday, April 20, 2012
A felony is generally defined as a criminal charge that has an incarceration term of over one year. Felony charges in Michigan are serious and require a proper defense. Although many felony offenses are crimes of violence, non-violent crimes are also categorized as felonies. A Michigan woman was recently charged with a non-violent felony and could now face serious penalties.
The woman was a $1 million lottery winner after she won the jackpot on a game show. After the taxes were taken out of her lottery winnings, she collected $735,000. The lottery winner had also continued receiving state funded medical and food stamps benefits. A local TV station reported the actions of the lottery winner and she was arrested by local police. The woman is facing a felony charge because of the continued collection of state-funded benefits.
On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crime on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Insider trading is a type of white collar crime that falls under the broader umbrella of securities fraud. It occurs when an individual benefits from information unavailable to the public to trade stock or other securities. The line between what is or is not insider information is not always clear, especially to the average investor.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission -- backed by the Justice Department -- has argued that Wall Street professionals have more "opportunity to commit insider trading," and has recommended to federal judges that they be handed a longer, stricter sentence when found to have committed a violation.
