New York Criminal Lawyer Blog

Published on: October 18, 2011

Mother in court for growing marijuana

by Stephen Bilkis

The Police indicate to a NY Criminal Lawyer that a woman in East Wallingford is facing charges of felony because she grows marijuana in her home. The woman claims that she was cultivating the marijuana to use for her son who was severely ill.

The woman, according to what the Police told the New York Criminal Lawyer, would not have to stand any trial because of this one reason. The newspaper media reported that the prosecutor of the state made a referral that the accused enter into a Court Diversion program. If she completes that program successfully, the accused will be free of the charges.

The Police reported to the New York Criminal Lawyer that the woman has been persuading the legal system that she does not deserve of any felony charges since her son is so ill and the marijuana is helping him. She confesses that according to the legal system, she is guilty, but for her son, she would do whatever it takes to help him to be well. She did all of this to save her son’s life as he patiently waited to get a kidney transplant. Every day, her son had to undergo dialysis. In The Bronx and Manhattan growing pot is illegal.

Published on: October 17, 2011

Changes in Mississippi Immigration Law

by Stephen Bilkis

The Mississippi Lawmakers told a New York Criminal Lawyer that they are one step closer to reaching the same decision about immigration law that Arizona has implemented and adopted. What this means is that soon Mississippi law enforcement can stop people at traffic stop lights and elsewhere and ask them to show the appropriate immigration documents.

There are many who welcome this idea, but there are a lot of Mississippi residents that loathe the idea and consider it as a form of racism and profiling. According to the state reports, there was a lot of Hispanics that moved into Memphis, Mississippi in 1987. “A lot of these people are non-immigrants and do not have the right to stay in the country, said one Police Office to the New York Criminal Lawyer. A legislative bill is expected in Mississippi to hold every law professional such as the Police to check someone’s status of immigration if suspicious. People will also go through random checks even in places like Staten Island and Westchester County.

One resident of Mississippi is angry about it. She says she is an American and does not think that the Police should ask her of her immigrant status when they don’t ask people who come from Canada the same question.

Published on: October 15, 2011

One Killed, More Injured in Bus Crash

by Stephen Bilkis

A Baiting Hollow bus accident resulted in one death and eight injuries. A collision on Sound Avenue between a tractor-trailer and a school bus for special-needs children was the cause of the tragedy.

A police chief told NY Criminal Lawyers the bus was from the Maryhaven Center of Hope in Port Jefferson and the tractor trailer was carrying sand. According to him, they sideswiped each other, their control hampered by the hilly, twisting two-lane road.

The Maryhaven Center of Hope has a program for people with special needs. According to one of their dispatchers, six students and two staff members were on the bus.

Published on: October 14, 2011

Rock Singer facing jail sentence

by Stephen Bilkis

An immigration official from the United States expressed concern to a New York Criminal Lawyer about the application that a CIA exile trainee filed in her jurisdiction. She noticed some red flags when she saw the answers that the exile put in his N400 form. When he was asked about whether or not he was a part of a government overthrow, he answered, “Yes.” When he was asked about his criminal history, he mentioned being imprisoned in Panama for four years.

The immigration official told the New York Criminal Lawyer that the answers to the questions eliminated him from being considered for such a prestigious status. In addition to those answers, it is to be noted that this CIA exile trainee had been arrested in the year 2002 with an accusation that he had plotted against Fidel Castro to assassinate him when he visited the country. However, he got convicted for a charge that was lesser.

The President pardoned his actions in 2004 and this action was thought of as being very controversial. According to the immigration official, these things are raising so many concerns in the judicial system. He was also accused of lying while he was under oath during his 2005 asylum hearing and his 2006 immigration and naturalization hearing.

Published on: October 13, 2011

No Arrests yet in “Very Violent” Baby Death

by Stephen Bilkis

The death of a six-month-old baby girl is described by police as “very violent.” The Ngaruawahia infant died from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and probably at the hands of another.

The child was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) after suffering what police are calling “non-accidental injuries.” She died at Starship Hospital last Thursday after her life support was turned off.

A New York Criminal Attorney contacted a Senior Detective working the case who said the post mortem report showed that the injuries the child received were gruesome. “I would stress at this stage that the post mortem results are only provisional, but they give us some idea as to what sort of injuries she suffered during what was obviously a very violent death.”

Published on: October 12, 2011

Police Arrest Violent Robbery Suspect

by Stephen Bilkis

Police have arrested the person they believe perpetrated a violent robbery on February 25, New York Criminal Lawyer has learned. The 32-year old male was taken into custody about a mile from where the crime took place and without incident a week later as he walked along a city street. The arresting officer stated that when the suspect saw the officer that he did attempt to hide his face, but made no attempt to flee from the officer. There is no charge of gun possession.

The robbery, which occurred at a local discount store, was both brutal and distressing, and the local community pulled together and contributed to the arrest. The robbery occurred at about 9:30am on the morning of February 25, when the suspect entered the market while posing as a customer. The robber then grabbed the purse that was flung across the shoulder of a 71-year old female customer. During the process of the suspect fleeing the scene the victim had fallen to the floor, which caused her to bruise her ribs and break her finger and kneecap. She remained in the hospital for several days due to her injuries, but is expected to make a full recovery. Police in The Bronx and Queens would act in a similar manner.

Police officials have told all that this is one instance where the community really pulled together. Pictures from surveillance video, eyewitness descriptions of the robber, and tips from the community all contributed to the arrest. This may be considered as normal behavior for most communities, but this particular community has, at least in the past, had the attitude that “snitches need stitches” that actually prohibits cooperation with the police. It is believed that the fact that the victim was a 71-year old woman was a factor that overcame these attitudes.

Published on: October 11, 2011

Claudio Osorio and His Wife File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

by Stephen Bilkis

High-tech entrepreneur and Miami Beach businessman, Claudio Osorio filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this past Friday. Sources have also told a New York Criminal Lawyer that his wife also filed with the embattled Osorio. As part of this filing, the couple has listed assets of $35 million and debts of $13.5 million. There have been some reports; however, that the listing of assets may be questionable, as his former company, InnoVida, which he lost over allegations of misappropriating investor funds last year, is reported to be currently unable to pay debts totaling $2 million. It is alleged that Osorio transferred much of the company’s cash to offshore accounts before giving up control of the company.

Simply filing for protection from creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy will not necessarily absolve the Osorio’s from any allegations of possible wrongdoing, however. According to the sources who spoke with a insiders, the Osorio’s are facing numerous legal challenges from a growing list of neighbors, contractors, businesses, and banks, who are seeking to recover as much of their losses as possible. Judgments were already obtained in at least two lawsuits and are listed as debts in the Chapter 11 filing. One lawsuit was from a former neighbor from the exclusive subdivision the Osorio’s had lived. That judgment was for an undisclosed amount as it is still being contested. The monetary amount of the second judgment is listed in the bankruptcy filing. Judgment was awarded to a former contractor that had done work for the Osorio’s. The dollar amount listed in this suit is for $4 million. The Osorio’s bank accounts were garnished because of this verdict.

The NY Criminal Lawyer also learned that their credit card debt is listed at $250,000, which would indicate that the couple was living a lavish lifestyle based on falsehoods, as some of the creditors have commented.

Published on: October 10, 2011

Skype Makes Police Warrants Faster in Florida

by Stephen Bilkis

When an officer stops someone who is clearly intoxicated – smelling of alcohol, failing sobriety tests, and so forth, but refuses to allow a blood alcohol test, a police officer doesn’t really have much to go on. The officer will have to get a judge’s order to test the driver before the alcohol is gone.

Today, an officer can turn to Skype for help. Once such officer, in Palm Bay Florida, has used Skype five times between January and April of 2011, calling a judge with the internet video conferencing software.

“I typed up the warrant and connect with the judge using Skype while (the suspect) was still in the car,” the officer told New York Criminal Law Offices. It was his idea to use technology to speed up a search warrant for blood from drivers who are stopped on suspicion of impaired driving.

Published on: October 9, 2011

Music Teacher Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

by Stephen Bilkis

An Addison County music teacher was arrested on federal child-pornography charges, according to a New York Criminal Lawyer. The teacher told officials about the case to warn them in an effort to calm fears about the seriousness of the claims.

A NY City Criminal Lawyer revealed that there was no evidence that linked the teacher’s crimes to any of the local school children.

Classes at Bristol Elementary School and Robinson Elementary School in Starksboro, where the defendant divides his full-time job, were cancelled for the day, said a NYC Criminal Lawyer, but those in charge began to worry about how to tell the community of the issue and were extremely concerned what local parents and even children would have.

Published on: October 8, 2011

Senate Son and DUI charges

by Stephen Bilkis

Law enforcement officials told a New York Criminal Lawyer that a reputable Senator’s son from Illinois pled guilty to driving while intoxicated. The charge was a misdemeanor, but it was enough to embarrass the law maker and cause his son to receive a probation sentence with an order to get treatment for abuse of alcohol. He also received a fine of $1,250. “This was a slap on the wrist,” said one resident to an investigator . Most people think that if the accused was not the son of an Illinois Senator, he would have been charged to the full extent of the law. Many thought that it was a cover up of justice and wished that it would have gone the other way to teach the son a good lesson.

Police indicated that this is not the first time that the Senator’s son has been in trouble with the law. The Police gave the accused a citation that he was changing lanes. It was obviously because he had been drinking and driving while under the influence of alcohol.

All of this happened while he was driving his SUV and coming from a night out in downtown Chicago. It could have been in The Bronx or Brooklyn. When the police tested him, his blood alcohol level was way over the limit allowed legally. The Police told a NY Criminal Lawyer that court records showed that the accused had some run-ins with the law related to the same offense both in 2004 and 2008.