Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyers
With A Reputation For Results In Tough Cases
Mortgage fraud is a crime that prohibits certain acts in conjunction with selling a mortgage or obtaining a mortgage. Prosecutors can charge loan applicants, brokers or other third parties depending on the illegal act committed. Applicants face charges for knowingly making material omissions or false statements on their mortgage application. Prosecutors charge banking professionals and others involved in the real…
The sound of sirens and the sight of flashing lights are strong indicators that a police officer is approaching and wants to pull you over. It is not a situation you are looking forward to, but you decide to pull over and comply with the police. You may not know, however, that the police have a limited time to detain…
As an American, you have a fundamental right to privacy. The United States Supreme Court first recognized this right in the landmark 1965 case of Griswold v. Connecticut. But does this right exist at all times and in all places? Does it, for instance, extend to your workplace? According to the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, not necessarily. Under certain circumstances, your…
If law enforcement arrests you and you face charges for a crime, you have the right to a speedy trial. However, what this means is often misunderstood. Part of the issue is the definition of speedy depends on the law in your state. According to the Illinois General Assembly, speedy takes on different definitions in the state depending on where…
Because the Illinois statutes codify a mail fraud or wire fraud offense as a Class 3 felony, penalties upon conviction could be severe. For a first offense, a Class 3 felony sentence may include between two and five years of incarceration. A repeat offense may result in a fine and imprisonment between five and 10 years. A judge may also…
Criminal justice reform is a hot topic these days. Every state and even the federal government seems to be working towards trying to change the criminal justice system to help make it fairer and to reduce prison populations. In Illinois, a recent move to bring some changes within the system is happening with HB 3653. It moved through the House…
Police dogs often have various roles. Some can help locate missing children, detect cadavers, chase suspects and sniff out illegal substances. Though most people will praise a dog that helps locate a missing child, the situation can be different when the dog alerts an officer to illegal substances in your vehicle. You, like many other people, may question the reliability…
The motivation behind why a person carries out a particular action can play an important role in any given situation. In particular, authorities often look for motive when investigating crimes, and in some cases, people of interest may have no motivation to commit certain crimes, which make them less likely to be suspects. However, even if motive does exist, it…
Someone who the police have arrested can expect to face a judge for arraignment. The judge will formally read the charges and set bail. If the defendant can come up with the bail money, the court will release him or her from jail until the time of trial arrives. If the person does not have the money or resources to…
Sometimes, people throw around the term “fraud” as an insult to someone who may not have met their expectations. While some people on the receiving end of this insult may simply rebuff the comment and move on, you may not have that ability if authorities believe that you committed fraud. Any type of criminal fraud can have serious repercussions, and…