Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Blog

Federal crimes: What to do when facing federal criminal charges

Published on: July 28, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Federal Crimes: Being tried in a federal court in Georgia is an obviously serious matter. The thought of facing federal criminal charges can be quite worrisome and stressful for those involved. There are several steps a person can take, however, to help alleviate stress and prepare a thorough defense.

Even before an arrest has taken place, a person under investigation may seek counsel from a criminal attorney. An experienced attorney may be able to offer advice in advance of any arrest or charges that may occur later. If charges have already been filed, an attorney can investigate the situation to determine whether any personal rights were violated in the process.

An experienced attorney knows how to approach even the most challenging situation to build a strong defense and combat any tactics or strategies employed by the prosecution. Protecting a client’s best interests and preserving his or her freedom as much as possible are priorities of a seasoned criminal defense attorney. A person facing potential time in prison if convicted has a lot at stake; it is logical to want to arm oneself with the best defense possible in such situations.

Sex Crimes: Georgia Tech staff member accused of sex crimes

Published on: July 6, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

A supervisor who was apparently working for Georgia Institute of Technology is now facing criminal charges related to illicit sexual behavior. The man is accused of sex crimes in connection with two supposed incidents that are said to have taken place in a student dormitory. The 52-year-old man was arrested on June 22, 2016.

Two days earlier, an unnamed person accused the supervisor of sexually harassing a female employee. The supposed incidents took place on two separate occasions earlier in June. The defendant was employed as the Senior Director of Housing Facilities Management at the university at the time the alleged acts occurred.

Sex Crimes: A spokesperson for Georgia Tech announced that the man was arrested and charged with sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery. At the time of this writing, he remained in police custody at a county jail. The university has placed him on administrative leave.

Drug charges filed against 3 men in Georgia

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

Drug charges have been filed against three men in Georgia. The felony drug charges involving drug possession were filed after police reported that they discovered amphetamines and oxycodone in a vehicle occupied by the men. The incident took place on a recent Monday.

According to authorities, a 50-year-old man was driving a truck and weaved on the street. Police stopped him close to the intersection of Georgia 53 and a local street in Floyd County. The stop occurred at about 11 p.m.

After police searched the vehicle, they reportedly found a pill bottle containing amphetamine salts along with oxycodone. Each of the three men faces charges of felony drug possession (two counts) and possessing drugs not in the containers in which they originally came (one count). The two passengers in the vehicle are 37 and 38 years of age. The 38-year-old also faces a misdemeanor drug charge of having drugs that were not in the original container, while the other passenger faces a charge of possessing objects related to drugs as well.

Mayor in Georgia indicted for sex crimes against a child

Published on: June 9, 2016 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Various incidents have occurred in Georgia in recent years that involve inappropriate sex acts against children. One recent case has apparently led to a Southwest mayor being indicted on charges of sex crimes. The 26-year-old mayor was reportedly elected to his position in 2012.

The politician now faces several serious sex offense charges regarding his alleged sexual involvement with minors. Aggravated sodomy and rape are among the allegations against the man. Bond has been set at $50,000

The mayor is currently being held in jail in Terrell County. Authorities seem to have become alerted to his possible sexual offenses during another man’s court trial. That 51-year-old man was convicted and sentenced to serve eight life sentences.

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.