Gerald M. Shaw, a former Newport Beach attorney, was convicted last year in an investment fraud case.

Shaw was indicted in 2007 on federal fraud and money laundering charges.

Shaw solicited investments from people by falsely stating that the money would be used to trade European bank instruments. Instead, the money was used to pay personal and business expenses.

Shaw pleaded guilty last year to one count of wire fraud as part of a plea bargain. He was then disbarred in July of 2011.  

Gerald M. Shaw was indicted in 2007 on federal fraud and money laundering charges for a scheme in which he and another man allegedly took millions of dollars from victims who were promised rates of return as high as 40% a week.

In addition to the 70-month sentence, Shaw was ordered to pay $4.3 million in restitution.

Gregory De Lavalette of Rancho Santa Fe who allegedly worked for Shaw also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and is awaiting sentencing.

Shaw has been sentenced to 70 months in prison.

Each defendant could have received a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Federal crimes are more serious than state level crimes and have harsher consequences. Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys have the experience and knowledge to help you if you are facing a federal crime.

Our Federal Lawyers are aggressive and have one goal in mind: to get our clients the best possible results.

If you or someone you know is facing a federal crime contact our Federal Defense Attorneys in Los Angeles and  set up a free face to face consultation.  

Maurice Lerome Smith, 41, from Oceanside was sentenced in federal court Monday December 19, 2011 to 30 years in prison after he was convicted of forcing a 17-year-old girl into prostitution.

Smith put up advertisements on the Internet offering sex with an underage female and would drive her to motels and force her to meet her daily quota.

Smith first met the minor in San Diego and forced her into his car, beat her, and raped her. They way he forced her into prostitution is by threatening to kill her.

Smith has prior convictions of assault and conspiracy to kidnap a child. Now he will spend the next 30 years in prison. Specifically, he was convicted in federal court under a statute concerning the sex trafficking of children through violence and coercion.

Being charged with a federal crime has more severe consequences than being charged with a state crime. Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys have the experience, knowledge, and skill in handling federal cases. We are knowledgeable on all federal laws and courtroom procedure sand we guarantee our competence and dedication.

If you or someone you know is facing a federal crime, contact our Federal Defense Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation.

A single-family house on the 18000 block of Villa Clara Street, in Rowland Heights caught fire on Monday December 12, 2011. Firefighter arrived immediately and put out the fire that may have been caused by electrical malfunctions.

Some firefighters incurred minor injuries.

No one was inside the house when the firefighters arrived, but there were marijuana plants growing inside the house. Authorities are unsure how many plants. The department of narcotics will be investigating.

Marijuana cultivation is a federal crime. The Feds are in hot pursuit of busting marijuana growing operations. A conviction of such a crime has severe penalties depending on the amount cultivated. Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys are well equipped to defend you if you are facing marijuana cultivation charges.

As you Federal Defense Attorney we contest all the evidence presented against you and assert any and all applicable defenses on your behalf, the most common being, illegal search and seizure. We do everything we can to get you the best possible results.

If you are facing marijuana cultivation charges or any other federal crime, contact our Los Angeles Federal Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation.

Federal agents blocked an alleged drug smuggling attempt at the San Ysidro Port of Entry discovering methamphetamine hidden inside cans of jalapenos and cheese sauce.

A 21-year-old Mexican man was driving a 1999 Toyota Solara to the San Diego-Mexico border crossing station with groceries around 6:45 a.m. Tuesday December 6, 2011.

At the border, his vehicle was required to go through an in-depth examination.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers x-rayed the canned goods that appeared unusual and found a package in each container of methamphetamine.

The packages totaled seven pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $140,000.

Federal Sentencing Guidelines provide mandatory minimum penalties for drug smuggling offenders based on the type and quantity of the drug, and the offender's criminal history.

Part of our defense for our clients is to find mitigating circumstances to minimize the penalties.

Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys have the experience, skill, and knowledge necessary to competently and aggressively defend our client's case. We are familiar with all federal laws and courtroom procedures and we guarantee our dedication.

If you or a loved one is facing a federal drug crime or any other federal crime,contact our Federal Lawyers in L.A. and set up a free case evaluation immediately!

Hilary Neiman, 32, a former Maryland attorney has been sentenced to five months in prison and seven months of home detention for her role in what federal prosecutors said was a "baby-selling ring." She was also ordered to forfeit $133,000 in profits and set aside $20,000 for restitution.

Neiman pleaded guilty along with two other defendants, San Diego attorney Theresa Erickson and "gestational carrier" Carla Chambers, of Las Vegas, in San Diego Federal Court to wire fraud and other charges.

The other two defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in 2012.

Erickson, the organizer of the ring, with the help of Chambers, hired women to go to Ukraine to be implanted with embryos created from the sperm and eggs of donors.

The women were paid between $38,000 and $40,000 and couples were charged between $100,000 and $150,000 for a baby.

Erickson would then file court documents falsely claiming that the baby was part of an existing pre-pregnancy agreement between the woman carrying the fetus and the couple; this allowed the couple to be listed as the parents of the child on the birth certificate.

Erickson knew that this was a requirement by law to prevent the "buying and selling (shopping) of babies.

Being charged with a federal crime has more serious and severe consequences than being charged with a state level crime.

Our Los Angeles Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys know and understand federal laws and federal courtroom procedures.

Our Lawyers in Los Angeles have the necessary experience and skill to adequately and competently represent you.

If you are facing a federal crime, do not waste any more valuable time and contact our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys to set up a free case evaluation and we will start preparing immediately.

Federal authorities have seized 150 Web domain names which were allegedly used to traffic counterfeit brand-name merchandise.

Illegal sales of a host of counterfeit products, including professional sports jerseys, golf equipment, DVDs, shoes, handbags and sunglasses were allegedly involved.

An ongoing investigation which began in 2010 called "Operation in Our Sites" targeted online counterfeiting and led to the current 150 seized domain names in addition to the 350 that had been seized since 2010.

Federal law enforcements made undercover purchases and if and when the trademark holders confirmed that the products were counterfeit, seizure orders for the domain names for the websites were obtained from federal judges.

Since 2010 a total of 350 domain names have been seized for selling counterfeit products.

Counterfeiting is a serious federal crime with some harsh penalties. You may face a term of years in prison, heavy fines, and restitution. OurLos Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys are here to do everything we can to avoid such harsh penalties.

We have the skill and experience to genuinely help you if you are facing counterfeit charges or any other federal crime. Our lawyers in L.A. are well known and well respected all throughout Los Angeles County and we are knowledgeable eon all federal courtroom procedures and federal laws.

Contact our Los Angeles Federal Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation and we will get started on your case immediately.

Brenda Bautista Hurtado, 26, admitted to stealing nearly $110,000 from U.S. Bank from two elderly customers while she was employed at its Arroyo Grande branch.

Hurtado pleaded guilty in August to one count of theft by a bank employee. She specifically admitted that in June 2010 she stole almost $100,000 from two customers' accounts, as well as another $10,000 in cash from the bank's vault in June 2010.

The investigation in this case revealed that Hurtado secretly accessed U.S. Bank's computer system and changed the contact information for the accounts of two bank customers and then closed these accounts and took out cashier's checks for the balance of each account.

Hurtado was sentenced Monday November 21, 2011 to 15 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $109,071 in restitution.

Being convicted for a federal crime is serious and carries harsher penalties than a state level crime. Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys have the experience and the knowledge concerning federal laws and procedures.

We are confident that we can competently and efficiently represent you if you are facing a federal crime.

Contact our Federal Lawyers in L.A. and set up a free face to face consultation.

Shaunta Taylor, 39, a Harlem Crip gang member of the Rollin 30's was arrested in 2008 as part of a large ATF/DEA investigation identified as "Operation Criptonite", was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycotin.

The Rollin 30's are known to partake in narcotics trafficking, home invasion robberies and firearms trafficking.

The two year ATF, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Los Angeles Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections-Special Services Unit investigation is what targeted the Rollin 30's gang.

About 65 gang members were arrested and prosecuted for firearms and narcotics related charges.

Facing a federal crime is serious and has some severe consequences. Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys know and understand the stress you may be facing as a result of a federal criminal charge. We are here to help you and walk you through the process.

Our Los Angeles Lawyers have the knowledge and skill necessary to competently defend you in Federal Court.

Joann Conception Fajardo, 43, a convicted drug dealer was arrested in California for burglary and check forgery on November 12, 2011.

Fajardo was arrested on a five-year-old warrant out of San Diego, which couldn't be acted upon until she returned to California.

She had been charged with two counts of burglary and 10 counts of forging checks, totaling of almost $6,400.

Fajardo was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in 1994 when she was caught smuggling 130 grams of methamphetamine from Manila to Guam.

Fajardo was accused of working with another drug suspect, Bong Rivera, according to a federal indictment.

Two years later, Fajardo was found in Washington, where she was re-arrested and sentenced to another nine months in prison.

Since her second release in 2008, Fajardo has petitioned the court three times to let her move back to Washington to take care of her mother. Her third request was granted and Fajardo left for the mainland earlier this month.

She was picked up at the Los Angeles airport eight days later.

Fajardo has pleaded guilty to a single count of each crime she is now being charged with and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1^st.

If you are being charged with a federal crime, you are likely facing a term of years in prison and excessive fines. As your Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorney, our duty to you is to avoid such harsh penalties. We guarantee to do everything we can to get you the most favorable results.

If you or someone you know is facing a federal crime (or a state level crime) contact our Lawyers in L.A. and set up a free face to face consultation.

Our Los Angeles Federal Lawyers are here to help you and fight on your behalf.

Mandy Borquez, 33, a former accounting assistant at Antelope Valley College has been arrested and accused of embezzling $500,000.

Borquez could face charges of grand theft and identity theft.

After a 10-month investigation, the sheriff's commercial crime investigators were contacted by school administrators after noticing discrepancies in their accounting.

She is being held at a jail in Lynwood in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Her appearance is scheduled for December 14, 2011.

Embezzlement charges are often charged at the federal level and may result in long term imprisonment and excessive fines as part of restitution depending on the amount of money or assets embezzled.

Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys have the knowledge and skill necessary tor represent you in an embezzlement case. We are familiar with all federal laws and procedures and our defense lawyers are well known and well respected all throughout Los Angeles .

If you or someone you know is facing embezzlement charges,contact our  Los Angeles Federal Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation.

Jedidah "Jed" Duarosan, 37, from Maui, was arrested in her home and has plead not guilty on November 3, 2011 to criminal charges relating to her alleged operation of a Ponzi Scheme.

She was indicted by a Federal grand jury for allegedly operating an investment fraud scheme targeting Maui residents and keeping the money for personal use, without the knowledge or consent of the investors, totaling about $106,000.

Duarosan appeared in Federal court and was released on bond after entering her plea. A trial has been set for January 3, 2012.

If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty for the charged crime is 10 years.

Federal fraud charges are very serious and have life changing consequences. An experienced and aggressive Federal Defense Lawyer is what   makes all the difference.

Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys have the knowledge and skill necessary to represent you in any federal matter you may be facing. We are familiar withal federal laws and federal court room procedures.

If you or someone you know is facing a federal offense contact our  Federal Attorneys in Los Angeles and set up a free face to face consultation.

William Belin, 58, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Tee Nos Pos, Arizona, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his conviction on assault and firearms offenses and was ordered to pay $1,120.05 in restitution to the State of New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission.

Belin will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.

On July 22, 2011 a federal jury convicted Belin on four counts: (1) assault with intent to commit murder; (2) assault with a dangerous weapon; (3) assault resulting in serious bodily injury; and (4) using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

Evidence showed that at approximately 8:00 a.m. on July 7, 2010, Belin shot his 35-year-old girlfriend with a .22 caliber rifle upon the belief that she was dating another man. The shooting took place in victim's home located in Shiprock, N.M. the victim did not die as a result of the assault.

The victim's 15 year old daughter called the police and Berlin was the arrested.

Federal crimes carry harsh penalties and a Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorney is essential if you are being charged with a federal offense.

Our Los Angeles Federal Lawyers at Hedding Law Firm are well equipped and knowledgeable on federal laws and federal court room procedures.

If you are facing a federal crime, do not hesitate and contact our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys and set up a free face to face consultation,

Dr. Kenneth W. Johnson, 44 and other people associated with a Glendale clinic, a total or 17, were arrested today for allegedly running a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud government health programs by needlessly prescribing Seroquel and other anti-psychotic medications and then repeatedly billing the government.

The scheme was associated with Manor Medical Imaging Clinic and a variety of San Gabriel Valley pharmacies participated in a "prescription harvesting" operation. Losses amounted to at least $7.3 million to federal health programs,

Manor was allegedly a bogus clinic authorized to make claims to Medicare, and Dr. Kenneth W. Johnson was employed to write prescriptions.

Prosecutors also allege the clinic had close relationships with pharmacies and a fraudulent drug wholesale company that was used to channel prescription drugs back to the stores participating in the scheme.

The primary pharmacy involved in the case, Huntington Pharmacy in San Marino, saw a huge increase in claims to Medi-Cal, going from just under $45,000 in 2009 to nearly $1.5 million in 2010.

Prosecutors allege that the owners of Huntington Pharmacy were depositing cash totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars into their personal and business accounts.

Manor allegedly recruited beneficiaries, including veterans, the homeless, low-income patients and the elderly, whose beneficiary information was used to bill the health-care programs for millions of dollars worth of illegal medical services and prescriptions for the pricey anti-psychotic drugs.

The drugs did not go to the beneficiaries but were redirected to black market wholesalers and back to the pharmacies where defendants re-labeled, re-packaged, and re-dispensed the medications to then submit news bills to Medicare and/or Medi-Cal as though the drugs had never been dispensed.

As a result of this scheme, more than $18 million in fraudulent claims were submitted to Medicare and Medi-Cal, which paid out approximately $7.3 million.

All 17 defendants named in the federal criminal complaint are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.

Healthcare fraud or any other fraud is a serious federal offense that the Federal government takes very seriously. The Feds are in hot pursuit of fraudulent schemes and there have been many busts recently.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of these busts, our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys are here to help you. we have the experience, skill, and knowledge of federal laws and the federal system. Our Los Angeles Lawyers are ready, willing, and able to defend your case and we desire to be your advocate!

Contact our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys and set up a free case evaluation and we will discuss all your options and start preparing for your case immediately.

Guadalupe Valencia, 47, admitted running a Ponzi scheme that took in almost $7 million from more than 150 victims.

Valencia was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on Monday October 24, 2011 after a 5-4 hearing for two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of tax fraud.

Valencia was also ordered to pay $5.2 million restitution.

Her scheme was ran out of the Downey offices of companies she called Real Estate & Loan Consultants and R.E. Equity Group, Inc.

Beginning in 2001 and continuing through 2009, Valencia promoted two types of investment pools, with one supposedly funding loans to purchase real estate, and a second said to be short-term loans to businesses and promised high rates of interest (8-10% in as little as 45 days).

Valencia victimized 150 victims and admitted to providing worthless promissory notes and admitted that the investment did not generate any profit.

In addition to the mail and wire fraud charges, Valencia pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns. Valencia 's scheme raised about $7 million with an actual loss amount of $5.2.

If you or someone you know is facing federal fraud charges, you may face a long time in prison and huge fines. As yourLos Angeles Federal Criminal Defense Attorney, we guarantee to do everything we can to get you the best possible results.

Our lawyers in L.A. will fight aggressively on your behalf and assert all and any applicable defenses on your behalf.

Contact our  Los Angeles Federal Attorneys and set up a free face to face consultation.

Two men were arrested on Thursday October 20, 2011 in connection with the seizure in Inglewood of 35 pounds of methamphetamine valued at about $1.7 million. Authorities are suspicious of the two men being involved in drug trafficking.

The meth detained during the arrests was in the form of highly purified crystals known as `ice'. Officers also confiscated $54,000 in cash.

Other potential suspects are being looked at, and authorities want to avoid releasing any information that could jeopardize the investigation.

Drug crimes are serious crimes and depending on the amount and type of drug, may be charged on the federal level. The penalties vary on the type and amount of drug, any prior drug convictions, criminal background, and whether the drug was trafficked domestically or internationally.

If you are facing such charges, our Los Angeles Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys have what it takes to effectively defend your case. We are confident in our aggressive fight and we do everything we can to get you the best possible results.

Contact our  Los Angeles federal defense lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation.

Lenny Dykstra, 48, a one time World Series hero, entered his plea of no contest to three counts of grand theft auto and to one count of filing false financial statements.

Dykstra and two associates were running a scheme to lease high end cars using fraudulent information and using a phony business, Home Free Systems, for credit purposes.

Dykstra's accountant, Robert Hymers, pleaded no contest earlier this year to a charge of identity theft in connection with his role in the scheme.

Dykstra's friend Christopher Gavanis pleaded no contest to a charge of filing a false financial statement.

Hymers and Gavanis have not yet been sentenced.

Dykstra originally faced 25 criminal counts. With all these charges put together, he was facing up to 12 years in prison, but under his plea deal with prosecutors, remainder of the charges were dismissed.

Dykstra still faces two additional and unrelated criminal prosecutions; destroying some $400,000 in property that was part of his bankruptcy case.

In August, he was charged in Los Angeles with exposing himself to a number of women who answered online employment advertisements he posted.

He is perhaps best remembered by Mets fans for the 1986 season, when he struck a walk-off, game-winning home run in Game Three of the National League Championship Series.

Dykstra now faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison when he appears before a judge for sentencing in January.

A conviction of these charges can turn your life around and a federal criminal defense attorney can help you minimize harsh consequences of such charges.

Our Los Angeles Federal Attorneys are here to give you wisdom on how t go about your case. We will break down all your options and assist you throughout the whole process. Our Lawyers in Los Angeles are here to be your advocate!

Contact our  Los Angeles Federal Defense Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation.

Millage Peaks IV, 23, was charged Monday October 17, 2011 with bribing a federal Transportation Security Administration officer, Dianne Perez, with about $6000 at LAX to help him smuggle about 14 pounds of marijuana past security on nine separate trips.

The arrest took place Sunday October 16, 2011 when a baggage handler smelled marijuana in Peaks' luggage and called authorities who found 14 pounds of marijuana in the luggage.

Peaks' cell phone revealed text messages that were sent between him and Perez.  

In one of the messages dated October 7, he wrote: "He made it coo. Thanx soo much. U have no clue how clutch u r. Without u none of this would b possible....Ill have ur 700 Monday maybe earlier."

In interviews with authorities, Peaks admitted to and explained in detail an explanation of the system devised by him and Perez to get drugs aboard planes.

Bribery is a serious federal offense. Bribery charges and penalties come in many variations and depend on the circumstances of the crime and the role of the defendant. As federal criminal defense attorneys we are here to explain everything to you and discuss all your options with you.

Our Los Angeles Federal Lawyers strive to get you the best possible results whether you are facing bribery charges or any other federal crime.

Contact our lawyers in L.A. and set up a free face to face consultation.

We will be your advocate! We are on your side!

Haoren Ma, 47, owner of New Arrival Immigration Service on Valley Boulevard, and his employee, Minghan Dong, 55, from San Gabriel, were indicted Friday on federal immigration fraud charges for allegedly helping hundreds of Chinese nationals file bogus U.S. asylum applications claiming they were persecuted for their Christian beliefs, charging $6,500 per person.

The money was for the purpose of coaching asylum seekers in providing identical false accounts of Chinese authorities that raid and break up underground church meetings and arrest and torture the attendees.

The men also provided written materials and audiotapes tutoring immigrants in Christian precepts.

Dong and Ma each face up to 85 years in federal prison and a $2.5-million fine.

Immigration fraud is a serious federal offense that carries extremely harsh penalties. Our federal criminal defense attorneys in Los Angeles have the knowledge and experience to competently handle your federal case.

If you or someone you know is facing immigration fraud or any other federal crime, our federal defense lawyers are available immediately to give you a free face to face consultation and discuss all your options with you.

Contact our  L.A. federal defense attorneys and set up the free case evaluation.

14 people, including an 88-year-old doctor and two operators of a Los Angeles clinic were charged with running a scheme to illegally obtain and distribute OxyContin pills through insurance fraud. The federal indictment stemmed from of a two-year investigation.

Clinic operators Mike Mikaelian, 43, of East Hollywood and Anjelika Sanamian, 52, of Van Nuys allegedly organized the scheme.

The operation was allegedly run out of Lake Medical Group, where doctors reportedly wrote prescriptions for the pill to uninsured patients who did not need it. Defendants also allegedly obtained the pills from pharmacies by fraudulently billing public insurance programs such as Medicare.

The pills were then resold on the street for $23-$27 per pill, adding up to millions of dollars.

The charges also allege that defendants stole identities and Medicare beneficiary information of others to obtain the OxyContin.

The defendants all face charges of drug conspiracy or healthcare fraud. Mikaelian is also charged with wholesale distribution of OxyContin. The maximum sentences range from 10 to 40 years.

Medicare/Insurance fraud is a serious federal offense that is becoming more and more common. A conviction of insurance fraud results in long term imprisonment and can change your whole life. As federal defense attorneys, our duty to our clients is to fight and protect their rights.

Our Los Angeles lawyers know how the federal system operates and know how the prosecutors think. We use this knowledge coupled up with our skill and experience to our client's benefit to get the best results possible.

If you or someone you know is facing insurance fraud charges or any other federal crime, contact our  Los Angeles Federal Defense Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation immediately.

Raj Rajaratnam, the Galleon Group founder was convicted in May on 14 counts of conspiracy and securities fraud following a two-month trial.

Rajaratnam is now sentenced to 11 years in prison, the longest sentence ever for an insider-trading case.

The evidence mainly relied on was the electronic wiretaps to catch and arrest Rajaratnam, who was found guilty of making more than $50 million in profits by acting on tips from contacts at firms such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc., McKinsey & Co. and Google Inc.

Prosecutors tried to have the court impose a sentence of 15 to 20 years, but the judge was lenient with the sentencing due to Rajaratnam's advanced diabetes and other factors.

Since his arrest in October 2009, more than 20 others involved in the case have cut deals with prosecutors.

Rajaratnam must report to prison within 45 days to serve his 11 year sentence.

Insider trading and fraud are serious offenses that the Federal government does not take lightly. A conviction results in a long prison sentence and excessive fines. Our Los Angeles Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys are here to do everything we can to help avoid these harsh penalties.

As your defense lawyer in L.A. we will assert any and all defenses on your behalf and strive to get you the best possible results.

If you or someone you know is facing a federal crime charge, do not waste any time and contact our  Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers and set up a free case evaluation.

A once respected business man in the Jewish community of the Iranians in Southern California, Ezri Namvar, 59, has been arrested and sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for a wire fraud Ponzi Scheme.

Namvar and his companies took investments from middle class Iranians, many of whom invested their life savings ranging from $10,000 to $300,000. The investments went downhill along with the economy back in 2008.

Namvar then went bankrupt and was accused by investors of creating a Ponzi Scheme in which the losses amounted to about $500 million.

During the trial of Namvar and his partner, co-defendant Hamid Tabatabai, 63, the jury concluded after only 3 hours of deliberation, guilty an all four counts of wire fraud in theft on $21 million.

The money invested by and belonging to the victims was to be held in escrow until a transaction could be executed on the new property purchase.  However, instead of holding the money Namvar, with the assistance of Tabatabai, used the victims' money for illegal and undisclosed purposes, including paying off creditors and investors of Namvar's investment company, Namco Capital Group, Inc. (NCG).

Being convicted of wire fraud or conducting a Ponzi scheme is a serious federal offense and can result in a long term prison sentence.

Our federal criminal defense attorneys are available to handle your federal case for you whether it is wire fraud or any type of fraud. We are aggressive and persistent in striving to get our clients favorable results.

Contact our Los Angeles federal lawyers for a free face to face consultation. If you are facing a federal offense, there is no time to waste as the penalties are severe; contact us today!

Three Southern California senior citizens, two 71-year-old women and an 82-year-old man, went to the emergency room after they unknowingly ate marijuana-laced brownies at a friend's funeral that got them nacreous and dizzy.

No one at the funeral was told that the brownies being served contained marijuana, which were allegedly being offered in memory of the friend who ate marijuana laced brownies for medical reasons.

In a separate incident, robbers posing as customers called a medical marijuana dispensary Friday and asked for a delivery. A man and woman arrived and took $1500 worth of marijuana.

Due to such incidents and growth of medical marijuana dispensaries, Federal authorities have enhanced their pursuit of medical marijuana dispensaries and announced on Friday October 7, 2011 that they plan to shut down on marijuana sales and growing operations throughout the state.

If you or someone you know is being charged with a federal drug crime involving marijuana or any other drug, our  federal criminal defense lawyers at Hedding Law Firm have the experience, skill, and knowledge to take on your case and competently represent you.

Contact our  Los Angeles defense attorneys if you are facing a federal crime and set up a free face to face consultation.

We are confident in our fight and persistence to get you the best possible results in any federal criminal charge you may be facing.

Federal prosecutors in California are continuing to shut down medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the state, this time around sending letters to warn landlords to stop sales of the drug within 45 days or face property seizure and/or be sent to prison.

The prosecutors are aiming at stores that fall within 1,000 feet of schools and parks. But letters received by dispensaries in San Diego make no mention of such distance prohibitions. Landlords for some dispensaries have already received letter.

The enhanced enforcement appears to be a major escalation in the Obama administration's bid to restrain in the explosive spread of medical marijuana dispensaries.

Barack Obama, as a candidate, said the federal government should not raid medical marijuana users and caregivers. Three months after Obama was inaugurated, his attorney general announced that it would be the administration's official policy.

Although California was the first state to decriminalize marijuana for medical use in 1996, it remains a federal crime to possess or sell it.

The administration and some of its federal prosecutors have drawn strict limits on what they would tolerate

The latest letters have puzzled the state's medical marijuana activists, who believe the president has broken his word.  

The four U.S. attorneys have scheduled a news conference for Friday morning in Sacramento to outline their plans to target marijuana cultivation and sales in California. The prosecutors have indicated that they would focus enforcement efforts on dispensaries and growers that dealt with more than 200 kilograms or a 1,000 plants a year. 

Although California does not have a law opposing marijuana dispensaries, the Feds have the authority and power to override California law and shit these places down.

Our federal criminal defense attorneys are here to explain these laws to you and try to help you the best we can if you are facing such a situation or any other federal drug crime.

Our Los Angeles federal lawyers have the knowledge and experience that is necessary to defend any federal crime you may be facing.

Contact our federal lawyers in L.A. for a free face to face consultation.