Current civil asset forfeiture laws in Georgia allow law enforcement to seize private property with minimal due process. As long as they feel there is “probable cause” to believe property connects to any type of illegal activity, they can take it. Alarmingly, it does...
Being accused or convicted of a crime is scary and stressful. You fear the loss of your family and your freedom. Being convicted of conspiracy to commit a crime is equally damaging to your life. Conspiracy occurs when two or more people form an agreement to work...
Identity crimes occur when one party obtains or uses the compromised personal information of another for economic gain. Though used interchangeably, it is important to understand both identity theft and identity fraud and the ways they overlap with regard to identity...
A wiretap is not a new method for obtaining information. Far from it. But how intrusive is a wiretap, who can use it and what are the rules for employing this kind of tool in an investigation? A little history During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers...
Financial institutions rely on correct information to adequately process and provide loans to homeowners. When a form of misrepresentation, misstatement or omission of information in relation to a mortgage loan happens, mortgage fraud occurs. The information included...
Asset forfeiture laws give the government the power to take assets acquired using money gained through illegal activities. There are three different types of asset forfeiture proceedings that may lead to the government claiming your home, money or possessions. 1....
Certain state-level offenses may also lead to separate federal felony charges for money laundering. As noted by the Department of Justice, knowingly completing or attempting to complete a transaction with funds received from an unlawful activity may result in money...
Fraud is a crime that compromises the money or data of individuals and businesses. An accusation of committing fraud may have severe repercussions for you and your company. Conversely, if you are a victim of fraud, the theft of your money or services can cause...
A wiretap is a technology used to intercept and monitor real-time conversations. Most commonly, officials intercept phone conversations, but wiretapping technology can also intercept internet usage and e-mail correspondence. Many people are fearful about wiretaps, but...
For the purposes of criminal law, a conspiracy describes any situation in which two or more people agree to commit an unlawful act. Courts can impose conspiracy charges even if the group does not complete the intended act. Review the factors in federal conspiracy...
