White Collar Crimes

December 15, 2009

Boston Drug-Trafficker Is Arrested On Outstanding Warrants And New Weapons + Forgery Charges

Some folks in Boston will go to great lengths to avoid contacting a criminal defense attorney!

Take the case of 36-year-old Francis V. (hereinafter the “Defendant”) for example. He wanted to avoid court so much he chose self-mutilation over consulting an experienced defense attorney.

The Defendant had a pending drug trafficking case for trafficking in which he had already defaulted. No, the Defendant did not simply have one warrant pending for his arrest…he had 13 such warrants pending.

In an attempt to keep those warrants pending, in other words not falling down upon him like a law enforcement net, he mutilated his fingers in order to conceal his prints.
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December 7, 2009

Probation Official, Charged with Felony Larceny, Makes Incriminating Statements To Investigators

by Altman & Altman

…And once again we are reminded of this year’s movie The Watchmen, where the catchphrase was “Who watches the Watchmen?” The setting is Boston’s northern neighbor, Salem, Massachusetts. The person is Marie M., 38, a former accounting clerk of Lawrence’s Probation Department (hereinafter, the “Defendant”). That’s right, the same probation department entrusted to oversee criminal defendants as they try to follow advice and role models to work their way back onto the “straight and narrow”. The Defendant’s current position is beside her defense attorney, facing charges of embezzlement in the amount of more than two million dollars.

According to the Commonwealth, the Defendant had crafted an elaborate white collar scheme that managed to elude detection for nearly three years. During her 19 years with the department, she allegedly managed to employ a host of complex accounting maneuvers to pocket approximately $12,000 a week from 2006 through this summer, when she left work amid troubling questions posed by suspicious auditors.

Last Thursday, the Defendant was in court in Salem Superior Court, facing felony charges. During the hearing, prosecutors marveled what they called an intricate and sophisticated scheme. The Defendant was apparently the only person in the department authorized to change entries in the court’s accounting system and she is said to have used this position to manipulate records and bank deposits to cover her tracks. Further, prosecutors allege that auditors who uncovered the alleged fraud had only encountered one of the Defendant’s methods (known as a “negative, non-money error reversal”) once or twice over the past 20 years.
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December 1, 2009

Massachusetts Assault And Robbery Lead To Arrest For White Collar Crime And Possible Federal Prosecution

by Altman & Altman

Recovery from a long weekend, such as the Thanksgiving weekend we have just enjoyed, can mean different things to different people. For me, for example, it meant waking up yesterday not being able to get online and so not posting my blog (sorry about that, by the way). For Sonny T., 21, of Wareham (hereinafter referred to as the “Defendant”), it meant being in contact with his new criminal defense attorney and dealing with fallout from some alleged indiscretions over the holiday.

These indiscretions include criminal charges such as counterfeiting, armed robbery and assault.

According to the Commonwealth, the Defendant was not in the most thankful of moods last Thursday night when he met up with two people he knew at an oil change business.

Violently unthankful.
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November 25, 2009

Massachusetts Police Officer Is On Trial For Assault and Battery With A Deadly Weapon

by Altman & Altman

Sometimes the memories of Thanksgivings past are ones you might prefer to forget. Take a particular North Adams police officer who was testifying at a criminal trial-his own, side by side with his criminal defense attorney.

The events at issue took place last Thanksgiving.

Officer Joshua M. (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) is on trial for two counts of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, one count of assault and battery, one count of witness intimidation, and one count of filing a false police report about the incident, which involved treatment of a Pittsfield prisoner. The defense is that because said prisoner was covered with his own excrement from the middle of his back down to the back of his knees, the Defendant felt he had fewer options in trying to restrain the drunk and combative man.

The Defendant testified that he didn’t pat down the Matthew T. (hereinafter, the “Prisoner”) at the North Church Street scene where the Prisoner had caused a disturbance by kicking doors and defecating on a welcome mat. He further explained that his training indicated that he should avoid touching bodily fluids to prevent exposure to potentially infectious diseases.
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November 18, 2009

Charged With Embezzlement, Massachusetts Official Faces Felony Charges Of Larceny

by Altman & Altman

Joseph L., 43, of Derry, New Hampshire, (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was once a happy and successful man. A father of five, he built himself up from obscurity in Brockton to the purchasing director for North Andover, Massachusetts. Now, divorced and placed on leave, he is in need of a criminal defense attorney. A court-appointed defense attorney, in fact.

The week began with his turning himself in to North Andover police upon learning that there were warrants out for his arrest.

According to the Commonwealth, the Defendant is guilty of embezzlement. Specifically, the prosecution says that, during his two years as the town’s purchasing agent, he only performed one half of his job correctly. They say he sold surplus town vehicles and snow plows on eBay (the half he was supposed to do) but that he pocketed the money himself (the half he was not supposed to do).

One must wonder how much such augmentation to his salary helped given that the court determined that he qualified for a court appointed attorney, meaning that he was without the funds to afford his own.
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November 12, 2009

Cambridge Man Suspected Of Armed Robbery, Assault And Larceny Faces Federal Prosecution

by Altman & Altman

The Cambridge Police Department is on the hunt for a gentleman who may end up actually being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Federal District Court. This time, it is a white collar crime, as well as a crime of violence, and it reads like the backdrop to the 2002 movie “Catch Me If You Can”

The investigation is not a new one. In fact, the Cambridge Police issued an arrest warrant for 45-year old John B. (hereinafter, the “Suspect”) back on April 9th. While the authorities believe the Suspect is still in the area, he has yet to be caught. In the meantime, he keeps changing his identity. His primary two aliases are a gun toting federal agent and, the other, a well-dressed restaurant owner.

While the chase is on, he has been able to cheat his unsuspecting victims out of thousands of dollars.

Police say the Suspect’s method of operation is to meet his victims at their homes under the pretense of selling them a dark blue Chrysler 300. He then robs them or simply drives them somewhere, takes their money and then drives off.
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October 29, 2009

Boston Area Psychic Is Arrested For Theft And Fraud

by Altman & Altman

Today, the news comes from just outside of Boston. It is a white collar fraud case that graces our blog and signals the need for a criminal defense attorney. Actually, to avoid conflict of interest problems…make that two defense attorneys.

The complainant hails from Cambridge and she alleges that she was scammed out of thousands of dollars by Kathy Y., 48 of Medford (hereinafter, the “Defendant”). As a result, both the Defendant and a 17 year old, allegedly her daughter, were arrested on October 21st and are now charged with larceny over $250 and conspiracy. Larceny over $250 is a felony charge.

The actual complainant was brought to the attention of law enforcement by her mother who explained that her daughter, 28, (hereinafter, the “Complainant”) suffers from a severe mental disability that prevents her from being able to work or provide for herself. She said her daughter was duped out of about $6,000 from a woman claiming to be a psychic. The psychic was later identified as the Defendant.

According to law enforcement, the Complainant had been approached by the Defendant, who had claimed to be a psychic named “Theresa” who read the Complainant’s palm for $25 in Porter Square. After the palm reading, the two exchanged phone numbers. Later that evening, the Defendant is said to have called the Complainant and offered to help her love life for $1,000 up front. When the Complainant explained that she did not know how to get the money from the bank, the Defendant graciously guided her in the effort. A few days later, the Complainant got the money and the two agreed to meet. When they met, the Defendant had another woman with her, who turned out to be the above-referenced 17 year old.
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October 19, 2009

Balloon boy family’s criminal defense lawyer reminds public his clients are innocent until proven guilty

by Altman & Altman

Last week, the nation watched on TV and worried along with the parents of 6-year-old Falcon Heene that the young boy may have floated off in a flying-saucer-like contraption constructed by his father. The escapade was supposed to have reached a happy ending when Falcon was discovered hiding in a box in his home and did not, as some had feared after the runaway balloon landed without him in it, fall to the ground and get hurt.

Following the bizarre incident, the family was barraged by media outlets wanting to interview Richard and Mayumi Heene and their three children. The scrutiny got more intense after young Falcon, when asked on CNN’s Larry King Live why he didn’t respond when he heard his parents calling for him, replied “You guys said we did this for the show.”

The Heenes have explained that Falcon, who is just 6, was confused. He also appears to not have been feeling well considering that the next day he vomited on national television.

Now, police are saying that the Heenes staged the whole misadventure and that criminal charges are likely. Authorities claim they told the media on Friday that they didn’t think the balloon boy story was a hoax because they wanted to maintain the couple’s trust. They called this their “game plan” to find out the truth.

Investigators interviewed Mayumi and Richard, administered polygraph tests, and then looked through their home for phone records, computer records, video footage, and other possible evidence.

Yesterday, the sheriff said possible criminal charges against the couple may include conspiracy, attempting to influence a public servant, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and filing a false police report. He claims the family staged the hoax in order to promote themselves for a reality TV program. The family has already appeared on ABC’s Wife Swap.

The Heene’s criminal defense lawyer has issued a reminder that no charges have yet to be filed against his clients. He noted that just because the sheriff announced that the couple was guilty of hoax does not mean that they actually did anything wrong.

Our Boston criminal defense lawyers believe that anyone accused of committing a crime is entitled to the best defense. Just because you are accused of committing a crime does not mean that you are guilty.

Lawyer: Family in balloon incident ‘under siege,’ USA Today, October 19, 2009
Balloon boy family feels ‘under siege,’ lawyer says, CNN, October 19, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Timeline Of Balloon Boy Events, The Denver Channel
Wife Swap
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October 6, 2009

Three Indicted For Larceny Scheme

by Altman & Altman

Yesterday, we dealt with the latest celebrity crime matter, the David Letterman extortion case. Today, another white collar case is the topic, this time right from the Boston area. The crime is Larceny. That’s right, that is what Letterman’s blackmailer was charged with as well. This, however, seems to simply be about plain old-fashioned theft.

The alleged crime involves the theft of hundreds of Verizon Blackberrys and the sale of them on the internet. To date, the suspects’ rewards include hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively and one criminal defense attorney each.

“This was an extensive scheme,” the Middlesex District Attorney said in the statement announcing the indictments. “We thank Verizon for first discovering this scheme and then contacting authorities immediately…”

He estimated the alleged scam had a value in excess of $600,000.
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October 5, 2009

The Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog Joins The Rest Of The Nation As The Letterman Extortion Case Comes To Court

by Altman & Altman

Last week, Boston joined the rest of the country in watching the revelations of the extortion of David Letterman. Letterman confessed to sexual relationships with staffers on his show and Robert H. (hereinafter, the “Defendant”), standing with his lawyer, pleaded “not guilty” to grand larceny charges and posting $200,000 in bail money.

Ironically, the Defendant is no stranger to crime stories, being a producer for CBS’ true-crime show “48 Hours.” Apparently, he has worked for the network for 27 years and has no prior criminal record.

According to the prosecution, the Defendant demanded two million dollars last month in order to prevent the releasing of information about Letterman’s sexual exploits with female staffers. Trying to disguise the blackmail note as a screenplay treatment, the note opined that Letterman’s world would “collapse around him” when information about his private life was disclosed, leading to “a ruined reputation” and damaging his professional and family life.

Rather than simply giving in to the extortion plot, Letterman is said to have contacted his lawyer who arranged a meeting with the Defendant wherein the Defendant demanded $2 million to keep the material secret. After the meeting, law enforcement was contacted and the investigation began.
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