Medicare Fraud and Abuse Cases
In recent years, Medicare fraud and abuse cases have been on the rise in the United States. Nowhere is the problem more visible than in Chicago, where an increase in the number of cases has prompted officials to...
Federal Crime Sentencing Guidelines
The Federal Sentencing Guidelines are nonbinding instructions for punishing criminal defendants in a uniform manner.
Although the 2017 sentencing guidelines are not compulsory, judges must consider them as they assess appropriate sentences for defendants convicted in the federal court system. When judges deviate from the guidelines, they are required...
Plea Negotiations and Agreements in Federal Court
Many criminal cases frequently end in plea agreements before a trial ever begins. If you are facing federal charges, Michael Petro can work with you and the prosecutors to negotiate a plea agreement.
At the federal level, rules for sentencing are very complicated. Many federal offenses have mandatory sentencing requirements. Prosecutors are working...
Preliminary Hearing in Federal Court
For defendants facing federal charges, it is important to understand what to expect in a preliminary hearing.
After your attorney has entered a not-guilty plea, the preliminary hearing typically occurs. In the preliminary hearings, the prosecutor will attempt to demonstrate the existence...
Business Records Subpoena: What You Should Do?
You need a Grand Jury Subpoena Attorney Michael J. Petro immediately to help you through this difficult process. If you own your own business, you may receive a subpoena for business records at any time. You...
“Snitches Are a Dying Breed” And Other Aspects of “Outlaw” Criminal Forfeiture
US v. Joshua N. Bowser. Appeal of: Bradley W. Carlson. No. 15-2258. This appeal involves the government’s efforts to seize personal property bearing the insignia of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club (the “Outlaws”), and the effort of a representative of the Outlaws to intervene to prevent those forfeitures. The forfeiture actions stemmed from criminal...
“God Forgives, Outlaws Don’t.” Federal Criminal Forfeiture 101
US v. Joshua N. Bowser. Appeal of: Bradley W. Carlson. No. 15-2258. This appeal involves the government’s efforts to seize personal property bearing the insignia of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club (the “Outlaws”), and the effort of a representative of the Outlaws to intervene to prevent those forfeitures. The forfeiture actions stemmed from criminal...
Writ of Coram Nobis – Boilerplate Rules You Need to Know
US v. Brian Wilkozek, No. 15-1537. In 2003 Brian Wilkozek pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud for his participation in a mortgage-fraud scheme. By the time the third-party lenders uncovered the scheme, all they could do was foreclose and sell the properties. They suffered losses of more than $700,000.
Writ of Coram Nobis – Boilerplate Rules You Need to Know
US v. Brian Wilkozek, No. 15-1537. In 2003 Brian Wilkozek pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud for his participation in a mortgage-fraud scheme. By the time the third-party lenders uncovered the scheme, all they could do was foreclose and sell the properties. They suffered losses of more than $700,000.
28 U.S.C. § 455 – Judge’s Failure to Recuse Himself Leads to REVERSAL
Jose Gustavo Herrera-Valdez was prosecuted for illegal reentry after being deported. Before trial, he filed a motion to disqualify the District Court Judge from presiding over his prosecution because the judge served as the District Counsel for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) at...