Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Blog

Reviewing the consequences of cybercrime charges

Published on: January 31, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

In last week’s post, we examined some examples of cybercrime, such as identity theft and cyberbullying. With cybercrime cases, each is unique and the penalties for an offense vary from one to the next. In some instances, these charges can upend a person’s life in multiple ways. From a lengthy sentence behind bars to costly fines, the penalties that may come with cybercrime charges can be staggering. However, we know that people in Atlanta and across Georgia who are in this position have encountered many other types of problems in their lives as well.

For starters, cybercrime charges can be devastating for your career, especially if you work in IT or a related field. Even for those whose job responsibilities do not involve computers or the internet, these charges can cause permanent damage to their reputation. Sometimes, people may lose their jobs once these allegations surface. In fact, even if the charges are based on false accusations, the damage to one’s reputation may be irreparable. Moreover, people may struggle to find work in the future due to these charges, which can be especially difficult in a highly competitive job market. On top of career-related problems, people may also face challenges with some of their friends or family members, who may not see them the same.

If you are facing cybercrime charges, you should go over different options that may be in front of you and carefully prepare if you anticipate court. Our cybercrimes page has even more on computer-related offenses.

Victim of Crime – Criminal Negligence

Published on: January 30, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Victim of Crime: 11Alive/NBC News #TheLateFeed: Why are there no charges after vet died in nursing home? Please see the video here Meg Strickler discusses the possible charges against a nursing home in Georgia including felony murder, perjury, criminal negligence, elder abuse and obstruction.

As per the article “An 11Alive investigation uncovered hidden camera video catching nursing home staff laughing while an elderly patient dies in front of them. The incident happened at the Northeast Atlanta Health and Rehabilitation in 2014, but the video was recently released as part of a lawsuit filed by the family.

Attorneys representing the Atlanta nursing home tried to prevent 11Alive from obtaining the video. They asked a DeKalb County judge to keep the video sealed and then attempted to appeal to the Georgia State Supreme Court. The judge ruled in favor of 11Alive and the nursing home eventually dropped its appeal to the state’s highest court. The video includes almost six hours of video court deposition from a nursing supervisor explaining how she responded to the patient before she knew the hidden camera video existed. The video shows a completely different response.

Addressing allegations of fraud

Published on: January 29, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

When allegations of fraud surface, it is pivotal to make sure you immediately evaluate your options. These charges can bring serious consequences, extending beyond time in prison and costly financial penalties. In fact, your reputation could be damaged beyond repair and the charges could haunt you for years to come. Whether you have been accused of mail fraud, tax fraud, or any other form of fraud, the way in which you handle this situation could have a significant impact on your future. Our law office understands the uncertainty and anxiety that fraud charges can bring for people in Atlanta and across the whole state of Georgia, but this is no time to give up.

With tax season around the corner, some people will find themselves accused of tax fraud. Federal fraud charges can be devastating and may catch some people completely off guard, but it is vital to waste no time in reviewing the ins and outs of the situation and figure out which options are on the table. Sometimes, these accusations are baseless altogether, while others involve unique details that can have a major impact on the outcome of a case.

For other blog entries, please click here.

Hackers may have trouble cashing out from Bitcoin scams

Published on: January 29, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Bitcoin is fast becoming a player in the online marketplace. People are starting to make investments in the electronic currency in the hope of cashing in on its wealth-building opportunities. Criminals seeking to scam others out of hard earned cash are also in the mix because Bitcoin’s blockchain technology lends itself to anonymous transactions.

WannaCrypt hacker’s malware ransom scheme

In May, 2017 hackers stole private data in a large malware attack affecting more than 300,000 computers and taking down systems all over the world. In order to receive a code to “decrypt” their scrambled data, users were asked to send ransom money through Bitcoin.

Cyber Crime: Hackers – trouble cashing out from Bitcoin scams

Published on: January 29, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Cyber Crime: Bitcoin is fast becoming a player in the online marketplace. People are starting to make investments in electronic currency in hopes of cashing in on its wealth-building opportunities. Criminals seeking to scam others out of hard earned cash are also in the mix because Bitcoin’s blockchain technology lends itself to anonymous transactions.

Cyber Crime: WannaCrypt hacker‘s malware ransom scheme

What’s new in cyber crime? In May, 2017, hackers stole private data in a large malware attack affecting more than 300,000 computers and taking down systems all over the world. In order to receive a code to “decrypt” their scrambled data, users were asked to send ransom money through Bitcoin.

CyberCrime: Looking over some examples of internet crime

Published on: January 13, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

CyberCrime: The digital era has transformed life in countless ways, offering new opportunities and greater access to information. However, there are some downsides to newer technology as well, such as the different internet crimes that people have been charged with (which often carry significant consequences). When some people think of internet crime, they might picture identity theft. However, it is crucial to bear in mind that these types of offenses take many forms. In some instances, people have even been accused of an internet offense that they did not commit.

Aside from identity theft, some other internet crimes that many people have been charged with include stalking, cyberbullying, cyberterrorism, online offenses that are sexual in nature, as well as computer fraud, among others. Sometimes, people assume that the consequences associated with these charges are not as serious as those which occur offline or are not related to computers in any way. However, cybercrime charges can bring someone’s life to an abrupt halt and create consequences that will haunt them for many years to come.

CyberCrime: Not only do these charges sometimes result in time behind bars and costly fines, but a person’s reputation might be irreparably damaged as well. This could spell disaster for someone from a professional standpoint, but it could also create serious challenges for someone in other ways, whether they are working through a divorce or some other matter.

Drug Charges: Facing charges over drug paraphernalia

Published on: January 10, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Drug Charges: In many posts on this blog, we have written about various drug-related topics, from those involving the manufacturing of drugs to distribution and possession. However, there are other charges involving drugs that people find themselves facing, such as the possession of drug paraphernalia. While some people may not think that these charges are too serious, the consequences can be very damaging in a number of ways. Whether you have been charged with possessing drug paraphernalia or are facing drug-related charges of any other kind, going over your legal options right away is vital.

There are an array of ways in which drug paraphernalia charges can turn your life upside down. For example, you might lose your job and be unable to support your family. Or, perhaps you could experience difficulty in the future when you try to land a new position. Aside from the possibility of financial penalties and even time behind bars, drug charges can also be highly damaging to your good reputation. You might have problems with some of your relatives or friends as a result of the allegations.

To make things even more complicated, some people are falsely accused of possessing drug paraphernalia. For example, someone may have planted the paraphernalia on their person or someone else may have left items behind, resulting in an innocent person facing serious charges. Regardless of the drug charge matters you are dealing with, examining how you will handle the case is pivotal. Our drug crimes section has more related to drug paraphernalia charges.

What is the difference between state and federal prisons?

Published on: January 8, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Although the two words are often used interchangeably, jails and prisons are two different housing compounds for inmates. Jails are run by a county or other local government and house people serving impermanent sentences for misdemeanors and the like. Jails are also used to house people awaiting trial that cannot post bail.

Prisons are run by the state or federal government. They are larger, house more inmates, and have higher security. Inmates are serving longer sentences, so prisons tend to have more amenities and vocational opportunities. With high profile trials frequently making news headlines, the ongoing debate regarding the benefits of federal verses state prisons continues.

Federal prisons

What any parent should know about cyber-bullying in video games

Published on: January 2, 2018 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Video games were a lot simpler when you were a kid. Back then, the only other person involved in your game of Super Mario Bros. was the person sitting next to you on the couch. Nowadays, the gaming experience has moved online, making it much more interactive than before. You can play with friends and strangers around the globe.

This advancement has its benefits. Children can meet and socialize with other players, and they can work together to come up with creative ways of strategizing and problem solving. However, as with anywhere else on the internet, cyber-bullying–using electronic communication to threaten, harass or harm someone–is a problem in the online gaming community.

Here are three things to be aware of in online multiplayer games:

Navigating an antitrust investigation

Published on: November 16, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Successful business is essential to the continued growth and stability of any economy. For that reason, the government maintains strict laws against monopolies, and those companies they find to have inappropriate practices may face antitrust charges, which hold stiff penalties.

If your company is facing such allegations, it is important to understand what they entail to mount a proper defense. The investigation process is essential to these cases, and there are a few things you should know about the procedure.

The law