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

How Do I Find My Zoom Code For Chicago Court/Cook County Court?

Click The Links Below To Access Cook County & Chicago Courts Zoom Codes: * Skokie criminal misdemeanor and felony zoom codes * Bridgeview criminal misdemeanor and felony zoom codes * 26th and California criminal courthouse zoom codes * Daley Center zoom codes for traffic tickets and DUIs * Maywood criminal misdemeanor and felony info (no […]

Chicago’s Most Dangerous ‘L’ Stops

Michael J. Petro – Chicago Defense Attorney According to the news, Chicago is a dangerous place. So dangerous that an outsider could easily envision a massive free-for-all, with bullets flying everywhere. But anyone who’s spent any amount of time in the Windy City knows a far different reality. Yes, Chicago violence is well documented. But […]

Eyewitness Identification Expert Testimony at Trial Leads to Not Guilty

Eyewitness Identification Expert Dr. Geoffrey R. Loftus is a Professor at the University of Washington in  Seattle.  For 50 years, Dr. Loftus has been studying human perception and memory.  On January 24, 2017, Dr. Loftus flew to Chicago to testify as an eyewitness identification expert in a trial at the 26th Street court house in Chicago.  Chicago criminal lawyer Michael J. […]

Health Care Workers Barred By Felony Convictions Can Now File For License With IDFPR

A new Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) state law taking effect in January will make it easier for previously barred health care workers and first-time applicants with felony convictions to once again become eligible for an Illinois license. Effective January 2017, previously barred health care workers and applicants with criminal convictions may once […]

“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 cases brought against […]

Grand Jury Subpoena to Client’s Accountant: Attorney-Client Privilege May Block Production

In the Matter of GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS, Involving William Thullen and Kenneth Dvorak, Witnesses Before the Special January, 1999-2 Grand Jury  Nos. 99-3131, 99-3317.  A grand jury investigating alleged tax fraud by Dr. Basaam Osman subpoenaed numerous documents from two accounting firms hired by his attorneys.  Dr. Osman sought to block production of the documents. He […]

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.     After Wilkozek was caught and […]

DEA’s Use of “Stingray” Device Without a Warrant is Illegal

US v. Raymond Lambis, 15cr734 (SDNY, Judge Pauley, July 12, 2016). In 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration (the “DEA”) conducted an investigation into an international drug-trafficking organization. As a part of that investigation, the DEA sought a warrant for pen register information and cell site location information (“CSLI”) for a target cell phone. CSLI allows […]

Busted! DEA’s Use of “Stingray” Cell Phone Locator Without a Warrant is Illegal!

US v. Raymond Lambis, 15cr734 (SDNY, Judge Pauley, July 12, 2016). In 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration (the “DEA”) conducted an investigation into an international drug-trafficking organization. As a part of that investigation, the DEA sought a warrant for pen register information and cell site location information (“CSLI”) for a target cell phone. CSLI allows […]