Criminal Defense Attorney in U.S. Federal & Florida and Illinois Courts

Government’s Pretrial Seizure of Defendant’s Untainted Assets NOT Allowed

Sila Luis v. US,  No. 14-419.  (United States Supreme Court March 30, 2016) A federal statute provides that a court may freeze before trial certain assets belonging to a criminal defendant accused of violations of federal health care or banking laws. See 18 U. S. C. §1345. Those assets include: (1) property “obtained as a result […]

FRE 701 Opinion Testimony by Lay Witnesses – Boilerplate Rules

United States v. Terry Joe Smith, Nos. 14-3744 & 14-3721.   Terry Joe Smith, a police officer in Putnam County, Indiana (roughly midway between Indianapolis and Terre Haute), was convicted by a jury in federal court of violating 18 U.S.C. § 242 by depriving two persons, under color of state law (which is to say in […]