Grand Larceny Crimes in the News
Grand larceny is at its core a crime of theft. It can be anything from pickpocketing to outright theft of property from the federal government by diverting public money to their private accounts. Such was the case with Earnestine Russell, a former executive director of Baychester Youth Council in the Bronx, New York. She was […]
Drug Busts in New York City
While the current conversation on drug smuggling appears to center over the efficacy of a wall, drugs continue to flow through the country through its various points of entry. Recently, an airport baggage handler was convicted of smuggling huge quantities of cocaine through Newark International Airport, with it ultimately being sold in New York City. […]
Is Sextortion a Crime?
A new kind of crime appears to be on the rise, thanks to the availability of camera phones and the Internet: sextortion. The FBI has defined sextortion as online blackmail, where often explicit images of an individual are used to pressure them and extort more photos, sex, or money from the victims. If you read […]
Attorney Swindles Over Half a Million from NYC Church
White-collar crime is generally those acts that are financially motivated and nonviolent. These can include fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and identity theft, among others. Recently, one lawyer in New York pled guilty to white-collar crime for Grand Larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree. According to court documents, John Shasanmi, […]
NYC Subway Crimes
Some of the best movies in history were set in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s when crime was at its worst. Taxi Driver, Midnight Cowboy, Dog Day Afternoon – where would Scorcese be without the grit and glamour of New York City? Up through 1990, crime ruled the subways. People were afraid […]
Interview Reveals Surprising Truths About The Art of Criminal Defense
We are talking with Elena Fast, a criminal defense attorney with The Blanch Law Firm. How do you view your role in the criminal justice system as a criminal defense lawyer? We make sure that people charged with a crime get the best defense possible. We don’t judge. We don’t determine guilt or their innocence. […]
Benefits and Drawbacks of Rapid DNA
DNA has been responsible for the acquittals of dozens of wrongfully convicted individuals around the country. Police departments are investing more time and money into technology that will quickly process and catalog DNA in their efforts to improve the justice system. One department – Bensalem, outside of Philadelphia – installed a Rapid DNA machine back […]
Project Brooklyn CLEAR: Collaborative Legal Engagement Assistance Response
A new attitude seems to be emerging about drug crimes. First, the city of New York stopped prosecuting small marijuana crimes, in line with much of the rest of the country. Crimes involving opiates and opioid addicts have been sent through courts with an emphasis on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. In Brooklyn, the D.A. announced […]