Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog

August 12, 2014

DEDHAM POLICE OFFICER IS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO KIDNAPPING INVESTIGATION

Last week, Dedham police officer Michael Schoener (hereinafter, the “Defendant”), 40, was in court. No, not in the seats reserved for police officers waiting to testify…in the defendant’s seat waiting to be arraigned.

The Defendant has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of an Avon man which is alleged to have taken place back in January. The arraignment took place in Norfolk Superior Court. The specifics involve allegations of having supplied police gear and other materials to the kidnapping scheme.

37-year-old James Robinson from Avon was allegedly kidnapped from home on new Year’s Day. According to Mr. Robinson’s parents, he was taken by two men “posing as” officers. Authorities say he has not been seen sincxe, although law enforcement apparently believes that he is no longer alive.

July 25, 2014

FORMER PROBATION COMMISSIONER AND ASSISTANTS ARE FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY AND RACKETEERING IN FEDERAL COURT TRIAL

by Samuel Goldberg

And so the federal conspiracy and racketeering trial came to an end this week. It arose out of the Massachusetts Probation Department. When the dust cleared, former Probation Commissioner John J. O’Brien, as well as his deputies William H. Burke III and Elizabeth V. Tavares, were found guilty of several charges and O’Brien’s wife was screaming in the courtroom that “the government is corrupt”.

Then, she fainted and that was that.

Ironically, the subject matter of her shouts was what the trial was about. Government corruption.

July 22, 2014

ATTORNEY SAM’S TAKE ON WHY SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT AND UNNECESSARY LAWS SHOULD PUT YOU IN FEAR (PART THREE)

by Samuel Goldberg

Today, we finish this topic and I provide evidence that I am trying to get these blogs out on a regular basis. The latter item first. Two blogs posted in two days.

And now the important stuff.

You might think that, by yesterday’s blog, I am arguing that DA Morrissey should have been criminally prosecuted. I am not. However, his example shows what we already knew…not everybody gets the same treatment by the prosecutors or courts. Further, some statutes just lend themselves to illogical prosecutions.

July 21, 2014

MASSACHUSETTS VEHICULAR HOMICIDE LAW REVEALS INEQUALITY IN ITS ENFORCEMENT AND ATTORNEY SAM REALLY RETURNS TO REGULAR BLOGGING (PART TWO)

by Samuel Goldberg

When I have been able to blog over the past few weeks, we have been discussing cases involving Massachusetts motor vehicle crimes. In particular, vehicular homicide cases involving negligent operation as a result of the driver falling asleep or otherwise losing consciousness. The two prior postings on this subject can be located at my posting of June 26th and July 7th.

You may think that I am making up the fact that the Commonwealth is prosecuting these cases of negligence as crimes despite the existing civil litigation.

I’m not.

July 7, 2014

AYER MOTOR VEHICLE HOMICIDE TRIAL ENDS IN “NOT GUILTY” AND ATTORNEY SAM RETURNS TO BLOG

by Samuel Goldberg

On my last blog, I said that, “There are other cases, similar to this, which better demonstrate not only the attitude on the part of the Commonwealth when it comes to car accidents, but also it’s rather uneven view of such cases.” That blog, incidently, was posted on June 26th.

I had expected to continue it the next day, but I got swept up in a trial of my own on the subject. By the time I was ready to post, it was too close to the trial to do so. I did not want to risk being told I was jury-tampering.

But the motor vehicle homicide trial of my client is over now. After two years of hell, venturing through the criminal justice system, the jury found him Not Guilty. The matter now rests within the civil justice system…where, in my opinion, it belongs.

June 26, 2014

ALLSTON COUPLE ARE CHARGED WITH MOTOR VEHICLE HOMICIDE AND INTIMIDATION -OR ARE THEY ?

by Samuel Goldberg

Ghuzlan Alghazali, 26, and Mohamed Alfageeh, 29, both of Allston have had a rough week in the Massachusetts criminal justice system. It resulted from a horrific and tragic accident over the weekend. There was a crash in Back Bay and two pedestrians were left dead.

As the week began, Alghazali, whom the Commonwealth claims was driving the vehicle, was facing two counts of Motor Vehicle Homicide by negligent operation. More specifically, law enforcement claimed that She drove through a red light and struck another vehicle. That vehicle rolled over form the impact and struck the two pedestrians, causing the deaths.

Alfageeh, the alleged passenger in Alghazali’s car, was said to be facing charges of misleading investigators. That’s right, we are talking about the felony charge of Intimidation of a Witness, an unfortunately-named charge we have often discussed. His alleged crime was in telling law enforcement that it had been him driving the car instead of Alghazali.

June 23, 2014

MASSACHUSETTS DRUG TRAFFICKING ARRESTS CAN RESULT FROM ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION

by Samuel Goldberg

In the criminal justice system, any road can lead to Drugland. Law enforcement knows this and you should too.

On June 7, in Peabody, there was the more typical drug investigation at play. It resulted in the alleged seizure of five kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Three men, believed to be part of a large drug trafficking network based in Mexico were arrested in the Massachusetts State Police and federal Drug Enforcement Administration joint investigation. The alleged network is believed to involve distribution of the drugs from Mexico to Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

Law enforcement agents were stationed at a hotel on Route 1 and observed two men leave with large duffel bags and drive away. The vehicle was stopped in Saugus and four kilograms of heroin was allegedly recovered in the duffel bag.

June 11, 2014

FEDERAL DEA AGENTS ARE ACCUSED OF BLACKMAILING MASSACHUSETTS DOCTORS OVER MARIJUANA LAWS

by Samuel Goldberg

I have often marveled how federal law enforcement personnel, lawyers and agents, of nearly all types seem to live their professional lives with a “holier than thou” attitude. It is as if they have lived their lives pure of heart and are incapable of making mistakes that so many others do.

Often that air of superiority is based largely on pure hypocrisy. Let’s look at a case in point.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is being accused of threatening doctors associated with medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts. Apparently, the DEA agents are telling these doctors that they will lose their federal license to dispense medications unless they severe ties with marijuana companies.

June 9, 2014

MASSACHUSETTS AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE DEATH OF NORTON BABY AS POTENTIAL HOMICIDE

by Samuel Goldberg

As last week began, I told you that we would be ending the week with another criminal justice aspect of what puts our kids at risk.

As the week went on, between school shootings, strong-arming federal agents and dead infants, it turned out to be rather difficult to choose. But, as we begin a new week, let’s hit some of these…starting with a story from Saturday’s Boston Globe.

It is the story of the death of a 3 ½ year old boy from Norton

June 2, 2014

NORTH ATTLEBORO MIDDLE SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR IS CHARGED WITH RAPE OF A 14-YEAR-OLD STUDENT

by Samuel Goldberg

As we start today’s blog, hoping for a more regular posting schedule than the last couple of weeks (again), we turn to the transition occurring for our kids. Namely, the school year is ending.

This week, I plan to start and end the week with stories related to school-related matters.

We turn first to North Attleboro, Massachusetts. There, a 31-year-old Middle School guidance counselor is facing charges with having sex with a 14-year-old student. At his arraignment last week, he was held on $30,000 bail.