Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Blog

White Collar Crimes:Georgia accident leads 2 fraud crimes charges

Published on: November 5, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

White Collar Crimes: Regardless of the circumstances, being involved in a car accident is never an enjoyable experience. Even if the accident is relatively minor, there will likely be police reports and insurance companies to deal with. Two men in Georgia face additional obstacles after they were involved in a recent accident — they now faces accusations of committing fraud crimes.

The men — a 23-year-old and a 21-year-old — were involved in what appears to be a relatively minor accident on a Georgia interstate. No one was injured in the accident. However, detectives soon realized that one of the men, a 23-year-old, was allegedly wanted in a different county. The details of the warrant in the nearby county are unclear. As a result, a search of the vehicle ensued.

Police claim that they found personal information for people not present in the car. They also claim to have discovered credit cards issued in other people’s names. As a result, both men face multiple counts of identity fraud and other white collar crimes. The older man faces additional charges, including a child restraint violation and a charge of failing to maintain his lane.

3 charged with drug charges after arrest in Georgia

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

Drugs can cause all types of serious problems for an individual. Along with health dangers, possession of illegal drugs can also result in significant legal problems. Three individuals were recently arrested on drug charges in Floyd County.

The three were arrested on Georgia criminal charges related to methamphetamine. A 25-year-old male has been charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. The man, apparently wanted on a fugitive warrant as well, was also charged with distribution and sale of marijuana. Various other criminal charges were also levied against him, according to police reports.

A 22-year-old woman faces charges of possession of methamphetamine as well as purchase, possession, sale and distribution of marijuana. The third person arrested, a 54-year-old man, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine as well as a misdemeanor for use and possession of objects related to illegal drugs. He and the accused woman were eventually released on bail. The man with the fugitive warrant is currently being held without bond.

Man accused of white collar crimes arrested after six years

Published on: October 8, 2015 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

An incident that began six years ago took a new turn in recent days. A man accused of white collar crimes was apprehended on the Appalachian Trail, which begins in Georgia and stretches toward the Northeast for more than 2,000 miles. The man involved is age 53, and authorities claim that he had embezzled more than $8 million from his former employer.

Representatives from the FBI explained that the when the man in question was accused of stealing from his employer in 2009, he became a suspected fugitive from justice. Agents placed the man under arrest in May 2015, while he was at a festival celebrating the trail he had frequented for the past six years. Many people have said that he had become very well known along the famous hiking trail.

An author of a trail guidebook stated that the man’s image was published in several hikers’ journals and that he regularly corresponded, sending information from his travels that he thought pertinent for the guidebook writer. Before he is said to have fled from authorities, he had worked at a Pepsi-Cola bottling company. It was during that time that his employer accused him of embezzling millions of dollars in funds.

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.