Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Blog

White Collar Crimes: Medicaid insurance fraud charges in Georgia

Published on: September 23, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Medical insurance can be complicated for both the patient and the medical provider. This can cause inconsistencies in the reporting of medical services performed by healthcare professionals. However, these inconsistencies can result in serious legal problems, including charges for white collar crimes, for medical providers. One psychologist is learning this the hard way and is now facing Medicaid insurance fraud charges in Georgia.

Prosecutors are accusing the psychologist of fraudulently billing Medicaid for services that were never performed. The Georgia Attorney General’s Office claims that the psychologist billed more than $250,000 worth of fraudulent claims. The psychologist allegedly received payments for the reported services in question between late February 2011 and mid-November 2013.

The authorities have prosecuted the psychologist for white collar crimes based upon the fact that she could not provide proper documentation for the reported services provided to patients during this time period. Medicaid requires medical professionals to maintain documentation for services billed to the program for reimbursement. The defendant was enrolled in a program known as Georgia Medicaid’s Psychological Services Program, which provides counseling for patients younger than 21 years of age that are eligible for Medicaid benefits.

Drug Charges: Drug trafficking charges for 10 pounds of meth

Published on: September 9, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Many illegal drugs can be highly detrimental to the health of users. However, illegal drugs can also be harmful to those who sell the drugs as well. Those who are arrested on drug charges can face serious penalties, including significant time behind bars. This is what two men are now facing after being arrested on drug crimes in Georgia.

The arrest happened one afternoon in early September after law enforcement seized over 10 pounds of methamphetamine. The seized illegal drug stash is estimated to be worth approximately $450,000. The two men were arrested around 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping center. Apparently, investigators had the two men under surveillance, which enabled them to determine the two suspects would be at that specific location at that particular time.

One of the men had attempted to run away; however, he was caught by authorities after a short chase. The man was apparently barefoot as he was running away from authorities through the parking lot. The chase resulted in the 49-year-old suspect being charged with attempting to run away from officers in additional to various drug and firearm charges. Both men were charged with trafficking methamphetamine.

Sex Crimes: Georgia – running from sex crimes charges arrested

Published on: August 28, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Running away from law enforcement is not the situation in which a person would usually like to be. However, many people end up in this predicament, which typically leads to an eventual arrest and serious criminal charges that could come with heavy penalties if a person is convicted. It appears that one man is now dealing with this exact problem and, after extradition to Georgia, will face charges for alleged sex crimes.

Reportedly, the man had been on the run from authorities since early July. The 51-year-old was originally charged with kidnapping, rape and sodomy. The police received a tip regarding the man’s whereabouts in another state. This led the authorities to confront a man who had been a former prison mate of the fugitive.

When asked about the fugitive’s whereabouts, the former prison mate apparently told police he had just given the fugitive a ride to some other location approximately 20 minutes prior. However, investigators say they found the man’s story suspicious and decided to search his home. The search is said to have led police to discover the fugitive in a bedroom in the back of the Texas residence.

Mike Scott arrested on drug charges after traffic stop in Georgia

Published on: August 13, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Criminal charges are stressful for anyone. However, facing criminal drug charges can be even more stressful for those in the public eye. This is definitely true for professional athletes who end up being arrested and charged with crimes for one reason or another. One professional basketball player is now facing this situation after being charged with drug crimes in Georgia.

Professional basketball player Mike Scott was arrested after a traffic stop in late July of 2015. Police claim that they found two illegal substances in the basketball player’s vehicle. The police reportedly confiscated 35.2 grams of marijuana, as well as 10.9 grams of ecstasy. Scott’s younger brother was reportedly in the car with him at the time of the arrest.

Now, Scott could be facing significant time in jail. The professional basketball player could end up spending up to 25 years behind bars if he is indeed convicted of both charges. The marijuana charge has the potential to carry as many as 10 years behind bars. Criminal charges related to the ecstasy can result in up to 15 years in prison.

21 individuals arrested on drug charges in Georgia

Published on: July 29, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

The law can be harsh for those convicted of drug crimes. Recently, arrests were made following a six month long sting operation that purportedly focused on cracking down on drugs sold to minors. It was reported that 21 people will be facing drug charges in Georgia.

The sheriff’s office in Bulloch County had apparently been receiving calls from school officials regarding suspected drug dealing activities in and around the Georgia town of Portal. Community leaders and ordinary citizens are said to have made calls to the local authorities regarding their concerns. These calls prompted authorities to initiate an investigation. The sting operation eventually culminated in deputies serving multiple search and arrest warrants in various locations.

Over the course of six months, investigators say they purchased various types of drugs from a number of suspects. The drugs reportedly included cocaine, marijuana and prescription pills. Law enforcement officials served five warrants targeted at multiple suspects who were wanted on various drug charges. Multiple vehicles and other items were apparently seized as tools used for the illegal sale and distribution of drugs.

Deputies arrest 2 individuals on drug charges in Georgia

Published on: July 15, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Drugs are dangerous substances and many can be quite addictive. One of the most addictive and dangerous illegal drugs is methamphetamine. Two individuals are facing Georgia drug charges after police initiated a traffic stop.

Along with methamphetamine, the two allegedly caught with prescription pills and marijuana. The incident occurred at a traffic stop in late June when law enforcement approached a vehicle they had detained in order to investigate. The vehicle was occupied by a 56-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman. The woman allegedly hid a package down her pants as the deputies were approaching the vehicle.

When the deputies asked the woman about the package she put down her pants, she is said to have refused to hand the item over to deputies. It is also alleged that the woman kicked one of the deputies. The deputies claim the package contained methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription pills.

Woman charged with white collar crimes in Georgia

Published on: July 1, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Nobody is perfect and everybody makes some mistakes in life. However, some mistakes come with more serious consequences. In some instances, this can result in white collar crimes charges. This seems to be what has happened with one woman in Georgia who is now facing charges of fraud crimes.

The woman was a city employee when she was arrested on five charges of financial identity fraud. She was also charged with one count of theft by taking, according to a report released to the public by authorities. Apparently the woman had been purchasing personal items for herself with city credit cards. The woman reportedly admitted to spending a minimum of $6,000 during 2014.

The city government had also started their own investigation into the incident, which led the city officials to terminate the woman’s employment. It has also led the city to review internal policies and procedures in order to prevent similar incidences from occurring again. The suspect turned herself into law enforcement, according to authorities. The woman has since paid the required bail to be released from jail.

Criminal Defense: Murder dropped, woman still faces charges

Published on: June 17, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Criminal defense: People’s lives are full of ups and downs. This can be emotionally challenging for many to experience. Everybody reacts differently under emotionally difficult times, and some people make extremely bad mistakes. This seems to have been what one woman experienced when she was arrested on state criminal charges in Georgia.

The woman was charged with murder after she attempted to abort her own pregnancy with abortion pills she had purchased online. However, the district attorney decided to retract the warrant against the woman for murder. Apparently, the district attorney determined that he was not legally able to prosecute a woman for feticide of a woman’s own pregnancy.

The district attorney made this determination after thoroughly researching the law and coming to his own conclusions as to what the statutes and case laws permit. He stated that the law seems to explicitly provide a pregnant woman immunity from prosecution for the unlawful termination of the woman’s own pregnancy. However, the woman is still being charged with possessing a dangerous drug. The woman had reportedly taken four Cytotec pills following a break-up with her boyfriend.

Georgia man needs criminal defense against kidnapping charges

Published on: June 2, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Most people go through some emotionally challenging times at some point in their lives. Sometimes it takes a strong person to remain in control during these periods. However, some people are not that strong and end up doing things they may regret later. One man in Georgia may have found himself in this predicament and is now in need of criminal defense.

The man was recently arrested in late May following a chase with police officers. Apparently, the police officers used a stun gun in order to finally capture the man and put him under arrest. The man is now being charged with kidnapping his own 5-year-old daughter. The suspect said that he had been upset about his wife taking his daughter away from him.

The 45-year-old suspect is also being charged with aggravated assault, cruelty to children, attempting to elude authorities and illegally possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon. He was also charged with possessing a firearm while committing a crime. The man is currently being held in county jail without bond. The suspect was also charged last November on drug charges and tampering with evidence, to which the man had entered a plea of not guilty in February.

Tax Fraud: Woman has emotional breakdown in trial in Georgia

Published on: May 20, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Tax Fraud: Being charged with a serious crime can be an emotionally challenging experience for many people. This is particularly true if a conviction can result in significant time behind bars. This seems to be what one woman is experiencing during her recent trial surrounding state tax fraud charges in Georgia. (You can be charged at the state level or the federal level for these type of charges, although it is more commonly charged at the federal level)

According to reports by the media, the woman appeared visibly upset before the court proceedings began. The woman required removal from the courtroom and was later brought back in.

A judge recently decided to push back the trial following the woman’s outburst in court. The trial will address multiple counts of tax fraud and other related crimes that the woman is now facing. The woman had allegedly been operating a tax preparation business when arrested for a tax fraud scheme in which she had allegedly filed thousands of fraudulent tax returns in order to obtain larger tax return payments for her customers.