Honest Services Fraud – “Value of Benefit Received” Explained
United States v. Harper, No. 14-2701. The defendant pleaded guilty to fraud consisting of her having abused her position as a member of a Chicago public-school board by accepting kickbacks of more than $500,000 from bus companies to which she steered transportation contracts worth $21 million. The parties stipulated that the value of...
USSG 2B1.1 – Honest Services Fraud “Value of Benefit Received” Explained
United States v. Harper, No. 14-2701. The defendant pleaded guilty to fraud consisting of her having abused her position as a member of a Chicago public-school board by accepting kickbacks of more than $500,000 from bus companies to which she steered transportation contracts worth $21 million. The parties stipulated that the value of...
Eyewitness Identification – Watershed Decision Identifies Fallibility of Eyewitness Identifications
Editor’s Note – This is an Illinois Supreme Court Opinion.
The issue is whether, in light of the specific facts and circumstances of this case, the circuit court of Cook County abused its discretion...
Eyewitness Identification – Watershed Decision Identifies Fallibility of Eyewitness Identifications
Editor’s Note – This is an Illinois Supreme Court Opinion.
The issue is whether, in light of the specific facts and circumstances of this case, the circuit court of Cook County abused its discretion...
Requirements for Stash House Enhancement
(Editors Note: Chicago Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro represented Mr. Sanchez in the District Court and in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.)
Acasio Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and was...
Requirements for Stash House Enhancement
(Editors Note: Chicago Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro represented Mr. Sanchez in the District Court and in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.)
Acasio Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and was...
Search Warrants and the Probable Cause Determination – Boilerplate Rules
After a sleepover at the house of Roger Aleshire, a nine-year-old girl reported to her mother having a “dream” that Aleshire had pulled down her pajama bottoms and photographed her “privates”. Her mother called the police. A state judge issued a search...
Search Warrants and the Probable Cause Determination – Boilerplate Rules
After a sleepover at the house of Roger Aleshire, a nine-year-old girl reported to her mother having a “dream” that Aleshire had pulled down her pajama bottoms and photographed her “privates”. Her mother called the police. A state judge issued a search...
U.S.S.G. Section 3C1.1 Obstruction of Justice – 7th Circuit Brief Filed
PRESS RELEASE (Chicago). On December 9, 2015 Chicago Federal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro filed a brief in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of his client Charles Thomas. US v. Charles Thomas, 15-1142. In sum, Mr. Thomas states that the district court erred in applying the United States Sentencing Guidelines...
Chicago Police Officer’s Firing Leads to NOT GUILTY
PRESS RELEASE (Chicago). On December 4, 2015, Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro won a trial in a Bridgeview court room. Before trial, the Cook County State’s Attorneys’ Office was forced to admit that a key Chicago Police Officer witness was fired because the officer was convicted of a crime! Despite this...