Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Blog

Federal crimes typically prosecuted aggressively in Georgia

Published on: May 24, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

When federal agents storm a private residence, it is usually for serious reasons. In Georgia and elsewhere, federal crimes are typically prosecuted in a very aggressive manner. Therefore, any person who becomes suspect in a federal investigation, or charged with a crime, will want to prepare as strong a defense as possible should a later trial take place.

One married couple recently found themselves being escorted from their high-rise condominium by federal agents. Their condo was raided, and they were arrested on suspicion of bankruptcy fraud. The Federal Bureau of Investigation apparently conducted several other similar raids in the area, resulting in a total of eight arrests, including the man and his wife.

Authorities are now claiming that more than $3 million was bilked from the system in four separate cases of bankruptcy fraud. The married couple is accused of hiding and transferring assets before filing a Chapter 7 claim in 2010. The couple has three children, who have since been taken into the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

Georgia police search leads to drug charges for four people

Published on: May 12, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Some in Georgia may be facing legal challenges associated with charges of criminal activities that include alleged drug activity. Being arrested on drug charges is a serious matter. Often, a person stands to lose much if convicted, including time with family, a job and his or her good standing within a community.

Recently, police say they went out in search of a man who was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Upon arriving at the home where they believed the man was located, a sudden turn of events led to a different situation altogether. Officers claim they entered the home and immediately saw evidence of illegal drug activity.

Police arrested four people who were at the residence at the time. They suspect those persons of manufacturing and distributing illegal drugs. Law enforcement agents also stated that in addition to drugs and drug paraphernalia, they also found substantial amounts of cash and various weapons in the home.

False Claims Act – How to Defend Against the Government

Published on: April 26, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

False Claims Act – Has the state or federal government reached out to your professional office alleging violations of the False Claims Act? Call Conaway & Strickler, PC as soon as possible if so. It is imperative to have help at the first indication that the government is looking into your billing for Medicare. Are they alleging upcoding? Overbilling? Phantom billing? The U.S. Attorney’s Office and /or the State will attempt to sue you under the False Claims Act, but also, will attempt to bring criminal charges. They may be alleging that some billing was not done in compliance with Medicare rules. Having a lawyer involved will help throughout the process and can dramatically reduce the amount the government alleges were wrongfully billed.

Physicians and practice groups that have either received a letter or a “knock and talk” from the government should not attempt to deal with the allegations of improper billing without legal help. We can help you show the government that the all costs billed to Medicare were for services provided and that no costs were inflated. We can also enter into negotiations to settle claims of violations of the False Claims Act with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Officer of the Inspector General.

The government has worked hard in recent years in combating health care fraud under the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in May 2009. And one of the most powerful tools in the government’s arsenal is the False Claims Act.

Drug Charges: Investigation results in illegal charges in Georgia

Published on: April 23, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Many drug charges investigations last for months before any arrests are made. Those in Georgia who become aware that they are subjects in formal criminal investigations can seek immediate assistance from experienced criminal defense attorneys. They do not have to wait to see if the investigation results in charges regarding illegal drugs being filed against them.

Because building a strong defense is typically crucial toward obtaining a positive outcome in court, it is best to discuss the situation with an attorney as soon as one is aware of it. This allows the attorney time to conduct a separate investigation, paying close attention to any interactions with law enforcement agents that may follow. It often happens that a person is accused of a crime and during the process of arrest, personal rights are violated. In such circumstances, any evidence collected by the prosecution can later be challenged in court.

Four men in Georgia were recently charged with drug crimes after a six-month investigation came to a close. The men range in age from 26 to 65. Apparently, the county sheriff’s office, the local police department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office all contributed efforts in the investigation.

Criminal Defense: Accolades for Dan Conaway and Meg Strickler

Published on: April 12, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Criminal Defense: Dan Conaway, author of Arrested, Battling America’s Criminal Justice System was recently awarded yet another 5 star review for his book.

“This book is an excellent resource if:

1. You are a “good, decent law-abiding citizen” who believes you could never end up involved in anything related to criminal activity

White Collar Crimes: Four outside Georgia plead guilty

Published on: April 12, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

The penalties if convicted of mail or wire fraud in Georgia are often severe and may include an extended amount of time in prison. However, facing federal charges for alleged white collar crimes does not constitute guilt. A person’s chances to obtain a positive outcome typically increase when experienced legal representation is secured before standing before the court.

In many situations, after seeking guidance from a criminal lawyer, a defendant may enter a guilty plea in light of impending charges. It appears that four people have recently done so in a U.S. District Court. The defendants have each admitted taking part in an identity theft scheme that involved birth certificates and Social Security numbers.

White Collar Crimes: The alleged fraud plan reportedly was carried out beginning in April 2014. The persons involved were said to be conducting a trafficking operation of Puerto Rican birth certificates and Social Security cards. They apparently used Priority and Express mail services to transport the documents and disguised the activity by using false names on the packages.

Federal Crimes: Relying on experienced guidance in Georgia

Published on: March 29, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Being accused of a federal offense in Georgia or elsewhere certainly causes immediate and potentially long-lasting changes in one’s life. Depending on the length of an investigation and the various proceedings and meetings required as the case makes its way through the legal system, persons charged with federal crimes may spend quite a bit of time in court. Many people facing such charges choose to rely on experienced criminal defense attorneys to guide them through the process.

A recent case involved what federal authorities have identified as an apparent “food stamp trafficking” scheme. There seems to be a black market that involves buying food stamps and paying cash back to the seller on the dollar. Federal agents say that in the process of their investigation, they seized hundreds of thousands in cash, as well as a man’s home and a store he owned.

The 49-year-old man reportedly ran the fraud scheme by paying 60 cents on every dollar in food stamps that customers would sell to him. He is said to have profited around $6 million over a period of time. The man was recently tried and convicted in a federal court.

Criminal defense: Georgia law enforcement facing criminal charges

Published on: March 15, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Criminal Defense: There are times when Georgia law enforcement agents are accused of illegal activities within their scopes of employment. In a recent incident, a police chief and an officer are facing state criminal charges, accused of violating their oaths of public office. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation recently released information regarding the matter.

Apparently, the 58-year-old police chief from the City of White and a 26-year-old officer were arrested on suspicion of making wrongful imprisonments. The two are also accused of reducing charges in a citation in order to collect fines. The alleged illegal activity reportedly took place between 2011 and 2015.

One woman is said to have been instructed to accept a disorderly conduct citation and pay $1,000 fine rather than face state felony charges. Another woman claims to have had a similar experience. They say they were arrested for crimes they did not commit, and then they were instructed to pay substantial fines in order to obtain a reduction of the charges against them.

Building a strong defense against drug charges in Georgia

Published on: March 2, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

It is no secret that alleged drug crimes are aggressively prosecuted at both state and federal levels in Georgia. Many incidents involve law enforcement agents searching a person’s private residence or vehicle. Being present in a location where drugs are found does not constitute grounds for a possessions charge. Anyone facing such drug charges is advised to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney so that an investigation can be conducted to determine whether specific charges are appropriate to the situation.

At Conaway & Strickler, P.C., we are committed to representing those charged with simple or serious drug offenses throughout the state. We understand that many people end up in jail for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are prepared to challenge the legality of the search and seizure process, as well as determine whether any of your personal rights have been violated during an arrest.

Police officers are accountable for their actions. Our legal team can help you make certain that an officer had reasonable cause to pull you over in a traffic stop. Further, if a search of your vehicle was performed, we can ascertain whether those who conducted the search acted with appropriate authority.

Criminal defense on tap after Georgia accident

Published on: February 18, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Traffic accidents often lead to police investigations. Many times, the investigations are intended to identify causal factors in a collision, as well as who may or may not have been responsible for the crash. When citations are issued against a driver in Georgia, or criminal charges filed, the person accused may increase chances of a positive outcome by retaining legal assistance to build a strong criminal defense.

An accident that some have characterized as bizarre occurred in January. A 36-year-old woman has already been cited by a Georgia patrolman for the incident. A criminal investigation regarding other aspects of the crash remains ongoing at this time.

Apparently, the woman had been driving along the road while a man outside the vehicle was hanging on to the trunk of her car. Authorities say that she failed to remain in the proper lane. The driver is said to have overcorrected her steering, causing the man to lose his grip on the trunk and propelling him into a nearby fence. Moments later, another vehicle is said to have smashed into the woman’s car, and several people reportedly suffered injuries in the crash.