Money laundering is a crime that involves taking money derived from criminal activities and moving it through different financial institutions to "clean" it up so authorities cannot trace its ill-gotten origins. The first stage of this process is placement. This is...
Federal Crimes
How can you defend against fraud charges?
A fraud conviction could be the end of your career. Your employer would likely sack you and other employers would stay well away from you in the future, considering you untrustworthy. On top of that, you could end up being unable to work for months or years due to a...
A look at the SOX Act as it turns 20
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act. The law was enacted in response to some high-profile cases of fraud and irregularities that caused the downfall of energy giant Enron, telecommunications giant WorldCom and other large companies. It...
Former Houston Rockets player allegedly led fraud conspiracy
Typically, doctors and other medical providers are at the center of large-scale health care fraud cases. However, 18 former players for the National Basketball Association (NBA) are facing federal charges for conspiracy to defraud their league’s Health and Welfare...
How many different kinds of federal courts are there in the U.S.?
The United States has numerous court systems. Depending on the crime and jurisdictions one may find themselves in a state, local or federal court. State and local courts can include municipalities, counties, parishes and city courts -- and they all adhere to state...
Are you facing charges involving a Ponzi scheme?
If you are facing fraud charges related to an alleged Ponzi scheme, it is a serious situation indeed. These fraudulent investment schemes promise to yield high rates of return — impossibly high, in fact. Yet, they depend on the money from new investors in the Ponzi...
What is sedition?
Many people are very outspoken about how they feel about the federal government. Speaking out against the government is protected by the First Amendment. However, some people take it a step beyond just speaking out. When a person is trying to act against the federal...
What types of crimes result in federal charges?
Some offenses result in charges at the federal rather than state level. Federal agencies investigate these crimes and defendants must appear in federal court. Review common offenses that fall under the jurisdiction of U.S., not Texas, law. Drug trafficking Traveling...
The basics of vehicular manslaughter in Texas
Though definitions vary from state to state, manslaughter essentially involves the unlawful killing of one individual without any malicious aforethought by the offender. In other words, a person commits manslaughter when he or she accidentally takes the life of...
How do RICO charges work in Texas?
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act is a federal law meant to allow easier prosecution of criminal organizations, but these laws may also apply to other types of suspected criminal conspiracy. Many states, including Texas, have also enacted their...