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Human trafficking charges brought against Saudi princess

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

A Saudi princess was charged on Wednesday with human trafficking after a Kenyan woman escaped from a condominium where she said she was being held against her will.

The 30-year-old Kenyan woman said that she had been hired in Kenya in 2012, taken to Saudi Arabia, and promptly had her passport taken away from her. She then was forced to work long hours for less than she was promised she’d be paid, and she was not allowed to leave.

Meshael Alayban, one of the wives of Saudi Prince Abdulrahman bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz al Saud, did not appear in court on Wednesday.

Treating other humans as pieces of property is a grave offense. Alayban said that she will address the charges, so it will be interesting to hear her explanation of the events.

Court finds that tax evasion convictions show moral turpitude

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

After veterinarian John Cottingham pled guilty to two felony charges relating to failure to pay payroll taxes, he faced professional disciplinary charges from the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Examiners.

The board’s charges included a reprimand and fine, among other penalties. Cottingham appealed the discipline, saying that the board had exceeded its authority.

Cottingham had cited a state statute that turned out only to apply to people who were applying for initial licenses, not current license-holders.

When appealing charges, on should make sure the grounds of the appeal are valid. There can be unintended consequences such as being responsible for the other side’s attorney fees and costs. More importantly, if the underlying case does not have a proper record (evidence, objections, etc.), the grounds for appeal my be strictly limited.

2.5 million put at risk from security breaches in 2012

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

There were about 130 breaches of consumer data in California in 2012, according to a recent report. This put about 2.5 million people at risk.

The area that had the most breaches was the retail sector, with financial institutions and insurance providers following on the list.

Personal data being compromised is not only newsworthy but evinces a horrible scourge in society today. If we cannot rely upon our private information being protected by and with whom we conduct business, we will have to go back to the days of cash only and 100% anonymous transactions. It seems elementary that when we pay a fee to use credit cards and part of the cost of the items we buy of necessity includes an implied if not express promise our privacy should and will be protected. It is despicable that we cannot fully rely upon being safeguarded by these organizations, whether small or large, governmental or in the public sector.

Former Marine accused of killing girlfriend in Panama

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

The disappearance of 42-year-old Yvonne Baldelli took a twist on Thursday when her boyfriend was accused of murdering her, then concocting an elaborate cover-up. He allegedly sent fake emails from her account, telling her family that she was having a great time, and he withdrew money from her bank account.

Brian Brimage, a 37-year-old former Marine, pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and making a false statement to a federal officer.

Our hearts go out to Yvonne’s family during this difficult time.

Corrupt US border agents to be sentenced

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

Since 2004, over 150 Border Patrol agents have been charged with some form of corruption, including taking bribes and cooperating with human trafficking groups.

Raul and Fidel Villarreal, who are both former Border Patrol agents, will both be sentenced today for running a smuggling operation.

The operation, which was run along the international border in San Diego, was lucrative for the brothers. The prosecution argued that they smuggled thousands of people across the border in exchange for $10,000 per group of ten people. Officers estimate that they earned between $1 and $2.5 million.

The UT news did not report any mitigation argued by defense counsel, which is an essential ingredient and a key component beyond the defense and offense one argues on behalf of a client who has been charged with and/or convicted of a crime. The reader is left to ask whether this aspect of the presentation at sentencing was not emphasized at all or only minimally.

Gun owner charged in accidental shooting death

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

55-year-old Todd Conrad Francis is being charged with three felony counts: involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and criminal storage of a firearm.

Francis’ 9-year-old daughter was playing with her neighbor Eric Klyaz in the garage on June 4. They were handling Francis’ 9 mm pistol when it apparently went off, killing Klyaz. At the time, the children were being babysat by the girl’s 14-year-old brother.

Francis surrendered at the police headquarters on Tuesday and was released after posting $100,000 bail. He will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. on June 25 in San Diego Superior Court.

This is a tragic situation, and our hearts go out to the family of all of those involved.

FBI arrests 14 in connection with international gambling ring

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

The FBI staged raids on Wednesday during which they arrested 14 people, one of whom may be a manager in an international gambling ring. This violent ring, which has been operating for a decade, is alleged to have taken millions of dollars in illegal sports bets.

The FBI launched a full-scale investigation into the case, sending undercover agents to become part of the organization in 2011, and setting up wiretaps.

The organization, called Macho Sports International, may have been led in part by 37-year-old Amir Mokayef, who was one of the people arrested on Wednesday. Agents spent the day confiscating items from his home. They also froze his assets, as they may have all come from his illegal dealings.

Mokayef will return to federal court on Friday for a detention hearing.

Peugh vs. United States

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

On June 10, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of PEUGH vs. UNITED STATES, Case # 12-62, in a 5-4 opinion, ruled the Ex Post Facto Clause of the U.S Constitution was violated when the newer 2009 version of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines was applied because it provides (an increased risk of) a much greater punishment when the defendant was sentenced, rather than using the 1988 guidelines that were promulgated prior to the time he was alleged to have committed the crimes in question. The defendant was convicted of five counts of bank fraud relating to criminal acts in 1999 and 2000 and, therefore, the range of sentences was 30 to 37 months in prison under the 1998 guidelines.

Notwithstanding the Constitution forbids the passage of ex post facto laws and after characterizing the case with far more severe consequences under the 2009 Guidelines that set forth a range of 70 to 87 months, the defendant received a sentence of 70 months in prison. The Supreme Court reversed the Court Of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit that previously affirmed the Federal District Court.

It is an elementary principle of law and integral to due process that a defendant should be prosecuted based upon the law at the time he is alleged to be in violation.

Ex-CIA Edward Snowden is source of leaked NSA reports

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

29-year-old Edward Snowden, a former technical assistant for the Central Intelligence Agency, provided information to journalists about the secret U.S. electronic surveillance program.

He revealed his identity voluntarily in a video interview on the U.K. Guardian‘s website. Snowden is currently residing in a hotel in Hong Kong. It remains to be seen whether or not he will be sent back to the U.S. Though Hong Kong and the U.S. have an extradition treaty, which states that each will surrender people wanted for prosecution or imposition of a sentence, it may be up to China whether or not that treaty is honored in that case. Since China has sovereignty over Hong Kong, they have the power to refuse the transfer if it relates to their defense and foreign affairs. Even if the extradition happens, it could take months or years to go through all the necessary legal processes. It is incomprehensible that basic Constitutional guarantees and elementary civil rights are being violated on an unheard of and unrestricted basis in the name of curbing terrorism.

Supreme Court Ruling Allows DNA Samples After Arrest

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

The US Supreme Court ruled on Monday that it is legal for the police to take a DNA sample at the time of an arrest for a serious crime.

The ruling came about after a court in Maryland said it was illegal for a police to take Alonzo King’s DNA. King was arrested for felony second-degree assault. When his DNA was checked, it matched the DNA connected to a rape and robbery case from 2003. King was then convicted of rape and received a life sentence.

As well as setting the policy for DNA swabs, the Supreme Court’s ruling reinstates King’s rape conviction, which was overturned when the Maryland court said that his DNA should not have been taken in the first place, since he was arrested for unrelated reasons.

The court was nowhere near unanimous on the issue, with five judges in favor and four dissenting.

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