William Joseph Allen, 32, who was known as the "Explosives Threat Bandit" was charged for a string of bank heists where he would threaten tellers with a bomb device.

Allen was allegedly involved in five robberies and three attempted robberies. The amounts taken ranged from $15,534 to $245.

In the first two robberies, which occurred in November of last year, Allen allegedly left a package of wires and electronic devices that he said an accomplice would set off if tellers didn't do what they were told. The bombs were fake.

Allen was indicted by a federal grand jury on eight counts of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery.

He was arrested mid April and is being held without bail in a federal detention facility.

Being charged with a crime in federal court is very serious and requires the assistance of an experienced and knowledgeable Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorney.

Our Federal Attorneys in LA have a combined 75 years of experience and have handled numerous cases in federal court. We know the federal laws and court room procedures and are confident in our legal knowledge and strategy for handling criminal case such as robbery cases, murder cases, drug related cases, and more.

Contact our  federal lawyers in LA and set up a free face to face consultation.

Atsushi Yamagami, 39, a Japanese national, had pled guilty to smuggling 55 reptiles into the U.S. in snack food containers.  The reptiles consisted of live, endangered turtles and tortoises.

Prosecutors contended the scheme constituted animal cruelty and risked transmission of salmonella.

Yamagami was the leader of a smuggling ring that trafficked in chameleons and lizards in addition to turtles and tortoises, all brought into the U.S. through Honolulu or Los Angeles and sold or traded at pet shows across the country and smuggled some back to Japan.

Yamagami also paid couriers to transport reptiles to and from Japan in their luggage, making or arranging a total of 42 trips between 2004 and 2011.

He was arrested in January 2011 at LAX as he was arriving from Japan carrying Fly River turtles, Indian flapshell turtles, Chinese big-headed turtles, albino Chinese soft-shell turtles and Malayan snail-eating turtles.

Yamagami was sentenced Monday April 30, 2012 to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $18,403 in fines.

Being charged with a crime in federal court is intense and carries some severe penalties. Our Los Angeles Federal Attorneys fortunately have the necessary experience, knowledge, and skill to effectively represent you if you are facing a criminal charge in federal court.

Our federal lawyers in LA have federal court room experience and are familiar with all federal laws. We guarantee dedicated, aggressive, and persistent representation.

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

On Monday April 2, 2012, former Mexican drug kingpin Benjamin Arellano Felix was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and was ordered to forfeit $100 million.

Felix was the head of Tijuana-based cartel. He was captured by Mexican authorities in 2002 and extradited to the United States last year.

The organization had generated hundreds of million dollars in profits. The money was used to bribe Mexican officials and equip assassination squads with weapons. Felix admitted to this and pleaded guilty to racketeering and money-laundering charges.

The cartel was responsible for as many as 1,000 homicides. Many of the cartel's enforcers were San Diego gang members, some trained by Middle Eastern mercenaries.

Arellano Felix, who will be in his early 80s when eligible for release, also faces jail time in Mexico.

Being charged with a drug crime or in fact any crime in federal court is highly intense as to penalties. Our Los Angeles Federal Attorneys have federal courtroom experience and are familiar with federal laws and court room procedures.

With our experience, skill, and knowledge we can guarantee competent and effective representation.

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

Christopher Chaney, 35, from Florida was accused of hacking into emails of celebrities Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis and Christina Aguilera. Chaney is expected to plead guilty to 9 of the 26 counts he was facing on Monday March 26, 2012 in a downtown L.A. courtroom.

The federal charges against Chaney include unauthorized access and damage to a protected computer and wiretapping.

Chaney allegedly hacked Google, Apple and Yahoo email accounts beginning last November, then hijacked the forwarding feature so that a copy of every email received was sent to an email account he controlled.

Chaney's arrest was part of "Operation 'Hackerazzi,'" which involved computer intrusions targeting individuals associated with the entertainment industry. The FBI investigation started in 2010.

In March, there were reports that hackers managed to get private information belonging to 50 female celebrities, including Johansson. The photos show her in a towel with an exposed backside; another shows her topless. They were posted on several celebrity gossip websites.

Other victims included Vanessa Hudgens, Jessica Alba, Ali Larter and Demi Lovato.

Chaney faces up to 60 years in prison and could be fined $2.25 million and ordered to pay restitution.

The federal government is very strict in handling criminal cases. The penalties are severe and the laws are harsh. Our Los Angeles Federal Attorney fortunately are well known, well respected, and well seasoned defense attorneys.

We have federal court room experience and we can help you if you are facing a federal crime.

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

Kil Jun Lee, 71, a former Korean law enforcement officer, was arrested at his apartment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Wednesday March 7, 2012 for allegedly trying to smuggle nearly 40,000 phony erectile dysfunction pills into the United States through Los Angeles International Airport.

Lee has been charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods in federal court.

Customs officers at LAX found more than $700,000 worth of phony erectile dysfunction pills in Lee's luggage when he returned from a trip to Korea on February 25^th.

According to the criminal complaint, Lee's luggage contained 29,827 counterfeit Viagra tablets, 8,993 counterfeit Cialis pills and 793 phony Levitra tablets, all concealed in aluminum-foil-wrapped packets.

Counterfeiting and smuggling counterfeit items is a very serious charge that the federal government takes very seriously. A conviction can result in more than 10 years in prison.

Our Los Angeles Federal Criminal Attorneys have the experience and knowledge when it comes to federal cases and federal courtroom procedures/laws.

If you are facing a criminal charge in federal court we can help. Our Criminal Defense Attorneys are experienced, aggressive, persistent, and dedicated.

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

Edmound Nasiri, 26, was arrested Monday February 20, 2012 after his vehicle allegedly collided with, and then landed on top of, a fire hydrant on San Fernando Road.

When the officer arrived at the scene they found a number of fraudulent gift cards in Nasiri's pocket.

Nasiri has smoked a narcotic and was feeling sick so he stated that he could not get out of the truck. The police had to pull him out of the truck.

Nasiri was unable to maintain a conversation or answer any questions. As the police checked his pockets for identification, they found the fraudulent gift cards.

The officer swiped each card through a credit card skimming device and allegedly found that they were re-encoded with other people's names.

Nasiri was taken into custody on suspicion of identity theft.

Identity theft can be charged in federal court and have some very serious consequences. Crimes charged on federal level generally have harsher consequences than crimes charged on state level.

Our Federal Criminal Attorneys have the knowledge and experience to handle cases in the federal court room. Our Federal Lawyers guarantee our dedication and persistence in handling your case.

If you are facing a federal crime, do not waste any time and contact our Los Angeles Federal Defense Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation and we will discuss things further in detail.

Maximino Morales, 46, and his wife, Melinda Morales, 48, operated four Paso Robles facilities for the elderly. They would recruit Filipino people with no papers to California to work at the facilities for less than minimum wage.

In order to keep them working their, the married couple would threaten to report the Filipinos to the authorities for being in the country illegally.

The workers lived in walk in closets and attached garages. They were only allowed to leave on bicycles and were not allowed to take the bus anywhere for the sole reason of the risk of being subjected to immigration checks.

The Morales couple were sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution to nine Filipino workers who were not paid properly for their work.

Being charged with a federal crime can be scary, overwhelming, and stressful. Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys are here to life some of these burdens and help you.

We have the necessary experience, skill, and knowledge to adequately, competently, and aggressively defend you in Federal Court.

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

Edward Aslanyan, 38, from Sherman Oaks, who is already serving time for assault was sentenced Monday February 6, 2012 to 77 months in federal prison for conning Medicare out of millions of dollars for unneeded diagnostic tests, electric wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment after pleading guilty in April to conspiring with others to defraud Medicare.

In addition to the 77 months in prison, he was also ordered to pay $10 million and serve three years of supervised release following his 77 month sentence.

Excessive fines and imprisonment result from a conviction of Medicare fraud. Due to the severity of the penalties that result from a Medicare fraud conviction, it is important that you contact an experienced federal defense lawyer to get on your case.

Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys have all the necessary experience that equip us to adequately and competently represent you if you are facing a Medicare charge or any other federal crime.

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

Joshua Boras, 34, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Monday January 23, 2012 after he pleaded guilty to distributing a video and photos of his act of sexual abuse towards a boy to an international child exploitation group.

Boras was affiliated with the "Lost Boy" online forum for men interested in trading child porn. New members were required to post child porn to join the organization and had to continue their posts to remain in the group.

The site was shut down three years ago by federal authorities and international law enforcement.

The group had 35 members in the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and Britain, 15 of whom have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial.

Being charged with a crime on federal level has serious consequences and can be life altering. Our Los Angeles Federal Attorneys can and will help.

Our criminal defense lawyers have the experience and the knowledge of all federal laws and court room procedures. We are competent, dedicated to our clients, and aggressive in our fight for our clients.

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

Gilbert Michel, 38, a former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was charged for allegedly accepted money in exchange for smuggling a cellphone, cigarettes and a note into the Men's Central Jail.

Michel was charged with bribery in federal court on Friday January 13, 2012.

A plea agreement was filed also on Friday in which Michel agreed to plead guilty and to cooperate in an ongoing investigation of misconduct by deputies in the jail system.

Michel admitted that he accepted cash from an inmate, who was working with the FBI, in exchange for contraband.

A federal charge of bribery is a serious charge and has life altering consequences.

Bribery is defined as using money or goods to influence the actions of another person. A conviction of bribery can result in up to 15 years in prison.

As Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys we do everything we can for our clients to prevent that from happening. Our Los Angeles Federal Lawyers have the experience, knowledge, and skill in handling federal criminal cases such as bribery.

If you or someone you know is facing a crime out of federal court, contact our Federal Lawyers in L.A. and set up a free face to face consultation.

Rhenee Sharmell Foster, 46, and Demetria Foster Gutierrez, 52, from Palos Verdes ran a company based out of Marina Del Rey that paid the bills for Tae Bo fitness instructor Billy Blanks.

The two women withdrew money from BG Star Productions accounts more than 70 times from March 2007 all the way through March 2010.

Foster and Gutierrez have been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for stealing more than $1.1. million from Blanks' accounts and have been ordered to pay $1,119,000 in restitution.

When a crime, such as theft, is charged on a federal level, the consequences are more serious. As experienced Los Angeles Federal Defense Attorneys we use our knowledge and legal strategy to get the best results possible.

Our criminal lawyers in L.A. are aggressive, persistent, and dedicated to our clients. We can and we will help.

If you are being charged with a crime in federal court, do not waste any valuable time and contact our Federal Defense Attorneys in Los Angeles and set up a free face to face consultation.  

Donny Eugene Mower, 38, of Madera, California, was sentenced in federal court today for his October 2011 guilty pleas to one count of arson, one count of damaging religious property and one count of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. FACE Act makes it a federal crime to damage the property of a reproductive health services facility.

These charges arose when Mower lighted a fire inside a Planned Parenthood Clinic and then threw a brick at a mosque.

During his guilty plea, Mower admitted to everything he had done and admitted that the reason he threw a brick at the mosque was due to the race, color, and ethnic characteristics of the individuals associated with the mosque.

Mower was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by a 3 year supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $26,000 in restitution.

Being charged in federal court is serious and has more severe consequences than being charged in state court. An experienced, skilled, and aggressive federal defense attorney is essential if you are facing a crime in federal court.

Our Los Angeles Federal Defense Lawyers are knowledgeable on federal laws and federal court room procedures. We fight persistently for our clients and do everything we can to get the best possible results.

If you are facing a federal crime, contact our federal lawyers in L.A. and set up a free face to face consultation.

Benjamin Arellano Felix, 58, former drug kingpin pleaded guilty Wednesday January 4, 2011 to federal racketeering and money-laundering conspiracy charges.

The organization, known as the Tijuana Cartel was Mexico's mist powerful organized crime group and the 16 year period ended with Felix's arrest in 2002.

The Tijuana cartel poured loads of drugs into California and generated profits that fueled a criminal empire that terrorized rivals, partnered with corrupt Mexican law enforcement officials and funded luxurious lifestyles.

Arellano Felix has pleaded guilty to the charges and he now faces a maximum of 25 years in prison. He potentially faced 140 years in prison.

The potential witnesses against Arellano Felix were a who's who of the cartel's upper ladder. All of the men were sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.

Although Arellano Felix could serve as little as 20 years, he would then be deported to Mexico, where he still has charges pending.

The cartel also recruited gang members from San Diego who were trained by Middle Eastern mercenaries.

As part of the plea agreement, four of the five counts in the original indictment were dismissed. Arellano Felix pleaded guilty to two charges: racketeering and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. He also agreed to forfeit $100 million.

Federal crimes such as money laundering, racketeering, and conspiracy are very serious and result in long term imprisonment. An experienced and aggressive Federal Defense Attorney can resolve your case or get the minimal penalties.

Our Los Angeles Federal Lawyers do everything we can to get our clients the best possible results. We have the knowledge and skill necessary to defend you in federal court.

If you are facing a federal crime, contact our Federal Attorneys in Los Angeles and set up a  free face to face consultation and we will discuss your case further and in more detail.

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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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!

Clifford Harris Jr., also known as rapper T.I.,  first served about seven months in federal prison in 2009 after his arrest on federal gun charges. He was released on probation and then arrested on drug charges in 2010 in Los Angeles .

The 2010 arrest violated his probation, during which he was ordered not to commit a crime and not to illegally possess any controlled substances. This arrest led to an 11-month prison sentence at an Arkansas prison.

On August 31^st T.I. was transferred to a halfway home the finish out the last month or so of his sentence but was taken back to federal custody because officials were upset that on his way to the halfway home, T.I. was in the presence of TV producer and manager and they were allegedly discussing business during the 375 mile journey to Atlanta. T.I.'s attorney fought the return to federal custody and he was returned to the halfway home September 15 ^th.

T.I. has been released from the halfway home September 29, 2011 and is now a free man. The rapper will serve a year of federal probation.

The federal system can be intimidating and overwhelming. Our federal defense attorneys have the experience, skill, knowledge, and determination to help you if you are facing federal criminal charges.

If you are facing a criminal charge in federal court contact our federal criminal defense lawyers in Los Angeles us for a free face to face consultation.

Ivan Lopez, 23, was convicted of driving a 13-year-old from her San Bernardino County home to Las Vegas to have sex with her.

Lopez formed an online relationship with the 13 year old for several months in 2010. Lopez told the 13 year old that he considered her his wife and that he had bought a ring for her. Lopez asked the 13 year old to be his girlfriend and told her his plans of running away with her and having sex with her.  

In 2010, Lopez traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada with her. He arranged to pick her up from her home once her parents went to sleep. As soon as her parents realized her missing, an Amber Alert was issued and Lopez was found and arrested when his vehicle was located outside a motel in Las Vegas.

Lopez was sentenced the week of September 12, 2011 to 7 years in federal prison and in addition to his prison sentence he will be required to register as a sex offender.

A federal sex crime is a serious charge and carries severe penalties and harsh consequences. If you or someone you know is being charged with a federal sex crime our  federal defense attorneys in Los Angeles have the skill, experience, and knowledge to help you fight any accusations that are coming against you.

A conviction for a federal sex crime results in imprisonment, fines, probation, and sex offender registration. Some federal sex crimes may result in prison for 20 years and up to life. It is very crucial to obtain a skilled and aggressive federal sex crime defense attorney if you are facing federal sex crime charges.

Don't waste any time and contact our lawyers in L.A. to set up a free face to face consultation.

Mara Salvatruch, or MS-13 is one of the largest gangs in the United States.

Six members, most in their 20s, were convicted by a federal jury on Tuesday Augist 30, 2011 of racketeering (RICO) conspiracy and murder conspiracy. The conviction was a result of a 5 month intense trial.

The racketeering included murders, attempted murders, assaults, drug dealing, and extortion.

Three of the six were also found guilty of being involved in three gang related murders sin San Francisco in 2008.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 30^th. The racketeering conspiracy conviction carry severe sentencing of up to life in prison and the murder conviction carry a mandatory life in prison sentence.

The prosecutors could have imposed a federal death penalty for the murders but chose not to do so.

These are some very serious convictions that the Federal government does not take lightly. RICO charges, murder charges, conspiracy charges all have severe and harsh penalties that may result in life term prison sentences.

At Hedding Law Firm, our Los Angeles Defense Attorneys are here to be your advocates if you are facing any type of federal offense. We have a combined 75 years of experience and we are very knowledgeable when it comes to the Federal system and how the prosecutors work and think.

If you are facing federal criminal charges, do not hesitate, and contact our federal lawyers in L.A. and set up a free face to face case evaluation.

***MS-13 History:

MS-13 first originated in El Salvador and Southern California and now is one of the largest gangs in California. MS-13 has more than 150,000 members all around the world. The founding members of MS 13 were children of immigrants fleeing the then war torn country of El Salvador.

Their identifying gang is the Surenos, who are identified by the color blue, and their principal rivals are the Nortenos, identified by the color red.

Once a member is brought in to the gang, they are in for life.  They cannot act without the boss's consent, they cannot kill without reason, cannot talk to the police, and cannot skip gang meetings. MS-13 has no tolerance for gang members who drop out.

Ms-13 is one of the most violent, dangerous gangs in the United States - and one of the most organized.  The MS-13 gang has cliques, or factions, located throughout the United States.

Jorge Vinicio Orantes Sosa is accused by U.S. prosecutors of concealing his foreign military service and lying under oath when he applied for U.S. citizenship in March 2008 and said he hadn't committed any crime.

Extradition hearing began on Monday August 29, 2011 to determine whether he should be returned to United States for the alleged immigration offenses. He is now in Canada.  

U.S. authorities say Sosa was a commander in a Guatemalan special forces unit that killed more than 150 civilians, including children, in the so-called Dos Erres massacre in 1982. Members of the unit allegedly beat villagers to death with a sledgehammer. Apparently there are witnesses to testify.

If convicted, Sosa may face up to 15 years in federal prison. He may also be deported and his U.S. citizenship taken away.

After Canadian police took Sosa into custody in January, his daughter, Christina Sosa, accused the U.S. government of using her father as a political scapegoat for acts of violence. She said the man who allegedly ordered the killings - Gen. Efrain Rios Montt, a former president known for his "scorched earth" campaign against the rebels - still was serving in Guatemala's Congress.

A court in Spain also has issued arrest warrants for Sosa.

Sosa faces some serious charges that can change his whole life around. As defense attorneys, it is our jobs to help people like Sosa keep their life and situation under control.

Immigration offenses are serious federal offenses that the Federal government imposes severe penalties upon. Our Los Angeles defense lawyers are here to help you if you are facing immigration offenses.

Our lawyers in L.A. have a combined 75 years of experience and our credentials are unmatched. We put our client's best interest as tip priority.

Contact our  defense lawyers for a free face to face consultation.

On August 11, 2011, Lisa Sackie, 47, of Solvang, California, entered a guilty plea to mail fraud charges arising from her embezzlement of $1.1 million from Santa Barbara Bay Foods (SBBF).

Sackie was serving as the vice president of SBBF from 2004-2010. She supervised the accounts payable activities, signed checks on behalf of SBBF, handled regulatory matters, and was the director of human resources.

Sackie allegedly wrote out business checks for her own personal expenses and personal gain.  She concealed her actions by causing SBBF's accounting system to reflect that checks had been made payable to entities doing legitimate business with SBBF but in actuality the checks had been made payable to Sackie or to other entities for Sackie's benefit.

Sackie also used an employee of SBBF to mail embezzled SBBF checks, that were made payable to American Express, in satisfaction of Sackie's personal credit card obligations.

Sackie's scheme resulted in an embezzlement of $1.1 million and she now faces a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in federal prison.

Sackie is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2011 by United States District Court.

If you are facing embezzlement charges or any fraud charges, the penalties can be severe. You may pay restitution and face a very long time in prison. These are very serious charges, especially to the Federal government.

Our federal defense lawyers in Los Angeles are here to help you and defend your case.

If you are facing embezzlement charges, fraud charges, or any federal crime, contact our Los Angeles defense attorneys at Hedding Law Firm and set up an immediate free face to face consultation.

A jury convicted former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Monday June 27, 2011 on 17 charges, including trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's old Senate seat and attempting to shake down executives for campaign cash.

The convictions carry a combined maximum prison sentence of around 300 years, but legal experts say a federal judge is likely to send him away for around a decade, give or take a few years.

The jury of 11 women and one man finding Blagojevich guilty on 17 criminal counts he faced included charges of wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery and conspiracy.

The verdict coming after his first trial ended last year with the jury deadlocked on most charges.

His defense team insisted that hours of FBI wiretap recordings were just the ramblings of a politician who liked to think out loud.

Responding to complaints from jurors in the first trial that the government presentation was confusing, prosecutors rationalized the case by getting rid of complicated racketeering charges. Charges were also dropped against Blagojevich's brother, Robert, his chief fundraiser who had been tried beside the former governor last summer.

Testifying in his own defense, Blagojevich claimed prosecutors had twisted his words recorded on secret government wiretaps and insisted he was guilty of nothing more than thinking out loud. What's more, Blagojevich's lawyers emphasized, none of the illegal plots he was accused of coming up with ever came to completion.

In the end, jurors agreed with prosecutors that Blagojevich had tried to sell the Senate in a variety of ways, including an attempt to steer it to U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in exchange for $1.5 million in campaign cash promised by Jackson supporters.

Blagojevich was also convicted of several other shakedowns involving misuse of his official powers to raise campaign cash. The victims included a race track executive seeking swift action on a bill to benefit his industry and the CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital seeking an increase in state-paid Medicaid reimbursement rates for pediatric specialists.

This investigation has been occurring since Blagojevich's arrest in 2008.

He was immediately impeached and removed from office.

Now he is likely headed to federal prison for at least a decade within months.

If you have a federal criminal case in the federal criminal court system in Los Angeles or anywhere in the nation...you must sit down with our defense lawyers in L.A. face to face and allow us to educate you on how the federal criminal defense system works and design a plan to put you back on the road to a normal life. 

Contact our lawyers in Los Angeles and set up a free face to face case evaluation.

Authorities have been seeking this man since 1995, and on Wednesday June 22, 2011 James "Whitey" Bulger, 81 was arrested in Santa Monica, Los Angeles and is expected to appear in Federal Court in Boston on Friday July 1, 2011.

Bulger is a Boston mobster who has engaged in numerous crimes.

Bulger led the violent Winter Hill Gang, a largely Irish Mob that ran loan-sharking, gambling and drug rackets in the Boston area.

Bulger started snitching for the Feds. He basically learned how to work the system while he was in federal prison for bank robbery. He studied military history and shaved years off his sentence by partaking LSD for a CIA sponsored mind control experiment.

He became a "master of strategy" using his role as a snitch and manipulator to build a crime empire.

Bulger has also been associated with a number of murders.

One victim was shot between the eyes in a parking lot at his country club in Oklahoma. Another was gunned down in broad daylight on a South Boston street to prevent him from talking about the killing in Oklahoma. Others were taken out for running afoul of Bulger's gambling enterprises.

Bulger faces the death penalty for these state charges.

Bulger faces federal racketeering charges in connection with murder,  conspiracy to commit murder, drug dealing,  extortion and money laundering.

The effort to find Bulger has been ongoing. There was a $2 million reward for Bulger, who rose to No. 1 on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list after Osama bin Laden was killed.
Now, at 81 years old, he has been caught and arrested and faces life in prison as well as the death penalty.

Bulger was an inspiration for the 2006 Martin Scorsese film The Departed.

If you or someone you know is facing a federal crime, our Attorneys in L.A. are here to help you. We understand the stress and trauma of having your life on the line becasue of some of the choices one has made. We are here to be your advocate and to help you.

Our federal defense attorneys have a combined 75 years of experience and we are familiar with the federal court system.

Contact our Los Angeles defense attorneys and set up a free face to face case evaluation.

More than 47,000 pieces of fake Chanel, Polo, Gucci, Coogi and Dior clothing were discovered and seized in three different shipments from China between March 17, 2011 and May 11, 2011 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, all amounting to more than $14 million.

The first shipment contained 27,528 pieces of counterfeit clothing; the second shipment contained16,000 knit dresses in violation of the Gucci and Polo trademark; the third shipment contained 3,144 pairs of counterfeit Chanel women's and girls' woven pants.

The federal government has been very serious in monitoring counterfeit items in order to protect consumers as well as the economy.

Counterfeiting is a criminal offense when it involves an intent to defraud in passing off the counterfeit item and making a poor copy is no defense if the intent to defraud exists.

The penalties for counterfeiting items are severe and can result in 10 years or more in prison and extremely large fines.

If you are facing counterfeiting criminal charges, our criminal defense lawyers have the experience and skill to effectively help you.  

At Hedding Law Firm, our federal criminal defense attorneys in Los Angeles have a combined 75 years of experience and will fight on your behalf and help you get your matter under control.

Contact us for a free face to face consultation.

Azusa 13, a Latino gang, accused of attempting a racial cleansing of African Americans in Azusa, Calif., has been indicted for a federal rights conspiracy.

Azusa 13 started up a campaign of hate against African Americans-a two-decade crime spree in which African-Americans were harassed and attacked.

The Mexican Mafia gets a slice of the Azusa gang's profits from drug sales. In exchange, the Mexican Mafia allows them to maintain control of their territory and protects them within the prison system.

A federal grand jury issued a 24-count indictment last week that charges 51 defendants with a broad range of crimes including extortion, robbery and murder.

This gang has been active for about 20 years acting through violence, threats and intimidation. The violence the perpetrate targets rival gang members and also regular civilians. This has been a 20 year conspiracy to violate the civil rights of African Americans in the city.

Six members of the Azusa gang have been charged with civil rights violations for harassing and sometimes attacking African Americans, either to push them out of the city or to keep them from moving there.

The gang has about 400 members with 51 indicted June 7, 2011.  According to the indictment, 23 are already in custody and 12 fugitives are still being sought.

Most of the gang members indicted this week are facing possible prison sentences of at least 10 years if convicted.

10 years is a long time to be in prison. Most federal crimes have long term prison time and excessive fines. It is essential that you hire an experienced and well seasoned federal criminal defense attorney that knows all the ins and outs of the federal court system.

At Hedding Law Firm, our federal criminal defense lawyers have a combined 75 years of experience. We will aggressively and effectively fight on your behalf.

Contact our criminal defense attorneys for a free face to face consultation.

Christopher Weaver, 40-year-old man was arrested Friday for an assault that Redondo Beach police described as a fight between two transients along Pacific Coast Highway.

The incident leading to Weaver's arrest was reported at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday June 2, 2011 at Pacific Coast Highway and Avenue H near a Bank of America branch.

According to police, Weaver and another man were talking and the conversation turned into an argument which turned into a fight.

One or both of the men had been drinking and Weaver allegedly wielded a beer bottle during the fight.

Weaver ran off when the police arrived but was found the next day walking down a street near the area where the fight occurred.

He was taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

The other man is being treated at a hospital.

An assault with a deadly weapon charge is what's known as a wobbler. A "wobbler" is a crime that, depending on the circumstances, prosecutors can choose to file as either a misdemeanor or a felony. With respect to a California aggravated assault charge, this decision is primarily based on three factors:

1. The type of weapon or instrument used to commit the alleged assault,

2. Whether the person whom you allegedly assaulted sustained an injury (and if so, the severity of the injury), and

3. The nature of the victim (that is, whether the alleged victim an officer, firefighter, or other "protected" person).

Many innocent people in California get wrongfully accused of assault with a deadly weapon and get a felony on their record when in actuality it is a misdemeanor or perhaps not even considered to be assault with a deadly weapon.

At Hedding Law Firm, our criminal defense lawyers will assess your situation and lay out all your options.

We will be your advocate and fight aggressively on your behalf.

Contact our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys for a FREE face to face consultation.

Destiny Young, 30, was arrested along with two men in connection with a series of robberies. She pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, including one for the shotgun slaying of an MTV music coordinator in the Mid-Wilshire area.

Young is charged with two counts of murder and six counts of second-degree robbery, with special circumstances of murder during a robbery and multiple murders that have her facing the penalty.

Co-defendant Jabaar Vincent Thomas, 26, is charged with three counts of second-degree robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of a handgun.

Richard Edward Anderson Jr., 33, is charged with six counts of second-degree robbery.

Both men pleaded not guilty.

Young, Thomas and Anderson are all due back in court June 9, 2011 when a date is expected to be set for a preliminary hearing.

The police chief said all three are suspected of taking part in the May 8 killing of MTV music coordinator Gabriel Aron Ben-Meir, 30, who was killed outside of his apartment building, and the April 30 killing of Marcelo Aragon, 35.

It is alleged that between April 29th and May 11th, these three individuals, armed with a shotgun, committed a series of 10 robberies and two homicides in the Mid- City, Koreatown, Pico-Union and Southwest area of Los Angeles.

The three were arrested May 11, 2011.

Beck said officers got a break in the case when they responded to a robbery that matched the suspects' method of operation.

Through investigation the police were led to the 3 that have been arrested and are awaiting trial.

Robbery

Robbery is a felony, punishable by a term in state or federal prison. Robbery is the direct taking of property, including money from a person through force, threat or intimidation.

California Penal Code Section 211 defines robbery, which reads:

"Robbery is the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear."

"Armed robbery"involves the use of a gun or other weapon which can do bodily harm, such as a knife or club, and under most state laws carries a stiffer penalty (longer possible term) than robbery by merely taking.

First degree robberyoccurs where the defendant acts in concert with two or more other people for the purpose of committing a robbery in an inhabited dwelling house, vessel designed for habitation, trailer coach, or the inhabited portion of any other building. Robbery in the first degree is a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6, or 9 years. In all other inhabited structures not defined above, the punishment is imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6, or 9 years.

Second degree robbery encompasses all other types of robbery, which are punishable in the state prison for 2, 3, or 5 years.

Common Defenses for Robbery

• Duress
• Force used in Self-Defense
• Lack of Intent to Permanently Deprive
• Abandonment of the Property
• Property Not Taken from Person or their Presence

Murder

Murder is the crime of intentionally causing another person's death without legal excuse or justification.  Murder is a crime that falls under the category of criminal homicide. State and federal laws regarding homicide and murder are the most complex of any criminal laws. The classifications of homicidal and murder offenses are complex but are often divided into a handful of categories based on severity.

Penalties for murder can be life imprisonment with a possibility of parole.

These are some serious charges that can results in severe penalties. It is essential that if you or someone you know is facing criminal charges that you obtain an experienced and well seasoned criminal defense attorney that will aggressively fight on your behalf to obtain the best results possible.

At Hedding Law Firm,  our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys have seen it all when in comes to criminal cases in Los Angeles County.  We have tried or resolved more criminal cases in Los Angeles than just about any criminal defense firm in Los Angeles.

In order to be successful in Los Angeles, a criminal defense attorney must have experience, negotiating ability and trial skills.

Contact us for a free face to face consultation.

Denis Alberto Reyes, 18, who took part in a Long Beach street race that resulted in a crash that left four people dead last summer, was sentenced today to nearly 18 years in prison.

Reyes had pleaded no contest to four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle.

Reyes, driving a stolen 1997 Ford Taurus, was racing the driver of a black 2003 Ford Mustang on eastbound Ocean Boulevard when the two cars collided, causing the Mustang to spin out of control and smash into a large concrete sign in the median on August 22, 2010.

Reyes was arrested and the Mustang's driver, Jesus Heredia Calixto, 18, and passengers Delysa Castro, 16, Javier Marquez Jr., 19, and Candice Ann Bustamante, 32, all of Long Beach, were killed.

Reyes was 17 at the time of the crash. He turned 18 last November just before he was ordered to stand trial as an adult.

In order to convict you of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, prosecutors must also prove that you were driving under the influence that while you were DUI, you committed an additional wrongful act (a misdemeanor, an infraction, or a lawful act that might cause death), that you committed the additional act with gross negligence, and that your grossly negligent act caused the death of another person.

This charge is therefore limited to situations where in addition to driving under the influence, you commit an act that is likely to result in death to another.

The charge of gross vehicular manslaughter can result in 15 years to life in prison.

The unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle can result in prison time of not more than a year and/or a fine of $5000. The penalties can be more severe if priors are involved and of other types of vehicles, such as an ambulance van, are involved.

At Hedding Law Firm we will get to the bottom of your case and place every effort to obtain the best results possible by gathering and contesting all the evidence presented against you.

Our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys have the experience, knowledge, and skill to confidently and aggressively fight on your behalf.

Contact us for a free face to face consultation.

Davoud Baniameri, 38, from Woodland Hills, pleaded guilty on Tuesday May 31, 2011, in Chicago, to one count of conspiring to illegally export missile components and radio test sets from the United States to his native Iran, without a license or approval from the U.S. Department of Treasury, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to export defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List from the United States without a license or approval from the U.S. Department of State, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.

Baniemeri was arrested on a criminal complaint on Sept. 9, 2009, and indicted three months later, along with co-defendant Andro Telemi, 40, of La Tuna Canyon, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Iran.

A superseding indictment in July 2010 named Baniameri, Telemi and a third defendant, Syed Majid Mousavi, an Iranian citizen living in Iran.

Mousavi contacted Baniameri sometime in October 2008 and requested that he purchase and export radio test sets from the United States to Iran, through Dubai, according to the U.S. government.

Baniameri agreed, and over the next few months negotiated the purchase of three Marconi radio test sets from a company in Illinois, according to the plea agreement.

Ultimately, Baniameri arranged for the radio test kits to be sent to him in California, where he shipped them to Dubai, for ultimate shipment to Iran, the plea agreement states.

At no time did Baniameri obtain or attempt to obtain a license from the U.S. government for the export of the radio test sets.

The plea agreement also states that, sometime before Aug. 10, 2009, Mousavi contacted Baniameri and requested that he purchase and export to Iran via Dubai 10 connector adaptors for the TOW and TOW2 anti-tank guided missile systems.

Telemi, also known as Andre Telimi and Andre Telemi, was released and is awaiting trial in federal court in Chicago.

Mousavi, also known as Majid Moosavy, remains a fugitive and is believed to be in Iran.

Baniameri, who remains in federal custody, faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 when he is sentenced on August 4^th.

These charges are beyond severe and charges that the Federal government takes very seriously.

If you are facing criminal charges such as conspiracy to commit a crime or any other crime, our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys will help you and place every effort to get the best results possible for you.

Contact us for a FREE face to face

Carmen Montenegro, 51, was arrested at about 2:45 p.m. Sunday May 29, 2011 after Ontario police received calls that she was pushing a container with human body parts.

Montenegro allegedly walked with the wheeled trash can 200 yards along a sidewalk - from a home in the 700 block of North Holmes Avenue, where she may have lived, to the 900 block of East H Street, where she was arrested. She was seeking help from people to dispose of the body.

Police believe the unidentified man's remains were dug up from the back yard of the home in the 700 block of North Holmes Avenue.

The identity of the deceased man, his cause of death, the location of his death, and his connection to Montenegro remain unknown.

Authorities on Sunday continued to search the back yard where the body was reportedly removed from the ground, as well as the inside of the house.

Police said Montenegro is a resident of San Bernardino, but Crittenden said she may have previously lived in the home in the 700 block of North Holmes Avenue.

Multiple residents of the area said Montenegro's mother owns the home and lives there, and Montenegro has lived there on and off since for at least 15 years.

Montenegro faces murder charges.

Murder charges are the most serious charges a person may face.

Murder is the crime of intentionally causing another person's death without legal excuse or justification. State and federal laws regarding homicide and murder are the most complex of any criminal laws.

First degree murder, the most serious degree of murder, is the premeditated, deliberate, and/or malicious act of intentionally causing the death of another party. A conviction of  first degree murder can result in life imprisonment.

The laws regarding murder are complex. In order to convict a defendant of murder, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the acts in question under a specific mental state.

If you or someone you know is being charged with murder it is very crucial that you obtain a criminal defense attorney that is well seasoned and aggressive in fighting for the client.

At Hedding Law Firm, our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys have handled thousands of criminal cases and we have a combined 75 years of experience.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation. Let us be your advocate in this stressful time of need.

An 18-year-old man told detectives he accidentally shot his 17-year-old friend to death at a San Pedro house, police said today.

Joseph Michael Hecker was arrested on suspicion of murder after the Tuesday afternoon shooting of 17 year old Dale Soto in the 900 block of West Basin Street.

Hecker claims that the shooting was an accident.

According to police reports, Soto came over to Hecker's house around 3 p.m. on Tuesday May 24, 2011 and Hecker opened the door with a shotgun and fired.  

Soto died at a hospital.

Hecker and Soto were friends. There was no indication the shooting was part of a bigger crime or gang-related.

Hecker is in custody at the Los Angeles Police Department jail and on $1 million bail.

A case like this can be devastating and can turn someone's life upside down.

Murder charges are the most serious charges and can result in a life sentence.

Justified or accidental, killings are considered homicide.

A killing is considered an accident if there was no criminal intent to harm; if the defendant did not act negligently; if the defendant was not otherwise engaged in unlawful activity at the time of the killing.

If all these 3 elements are met, then accident serves as a valid legal defense in California to a murder charge.

If your or someone you know has been charged with murder and your life is on the line, it is essential that you hire federal criminal defense attorney to help you get your life under control.

There are legal defenses to murder to be argued and the difference can be a decade of prison time.

At Hedding Law Firm, our murder defense attorneys have handled countless  murder cases over the years of practicing criminal defense in Los Angeles County. 

Let' s meet and discuss what is necessary to be successful.  We stand at the ready to help you.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

David McMillion, 26, was arrested for robbing a man of $14 as he was leaving the bathroom in Alondra Park on Friday May 20, 2011.

McMillion performed the robbery with a knife and now faces charges of armed robbery and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. The authorities found him off the description the victim gave and he had exactly $14 on his person.

To be convicted of robbery in Los Angeles, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant to property that did not belong to him; from another person's possession or immediate presence; against the person's will; using force or threat; with the intent to deprive permanently.

If a weapon is involved then the defendant would be charged with armed robbery.

Robbery is always considered a felony and the length of the sentence depends on whether the defendant is being charged with first or second degree  robbery and there are numerous legal defenses in favor of the defendant.

If you have been charged with robbery in Los Angeles, our  Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys will help you and fight on your behalf.

Contact us at Hedding Law Firm and set up a free face to face consultation with our criminal defense attorneys and we will immediately start evaluating and working on your robbery case.

James fayed, a Ventura County businessman, was found guilty Thursday of scheming the fatal stabbing of his estranged wife, Pamela Fayed, in 2008 in a Century City parking garage, a crime that was designed to fend off a messy and potentially expensive divorce.

Fayed was accused of hiring a worker from his Moorpark ranch to pull off the crime with the help of two recruited gang members.

Pamela Fayed was stabbed 13 times in the neck by a hooded attacker and her body was tossed into a rented SUV and driven from the scene.

The key prosecution evidence in the 2008 crime was a taped confession Fayed allegedly made to a jailhouse informant. Tapes of the alleged confession where played to jurors and included Fayed referring to his wife as a "money grubbing" person who would not listen to reason.

Authorities allege that Fayed had a fear of his estranged wife cooperating with federal authorities in their investigation of the Fayeds' international gold trading business which was suspected to be a multimillion dollar ponzi scheme.  

What is a Ponzi Scheme

• A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to separate investors, not from any actual profit earned by the organization, but from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors.

• The Ponzi scheme usually entices new investors by offering returns other investments cannot guarantee, in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent. The perpetuation of the returns that a Ponzi scheme advertises and pays requires an ever-increasing flow of money from investors to keep the scheme going.
  • The system is destined to collapse because the earnings, if any, are less than the payments to investors.
  • Usually, the scheme is interrupted by legal authorities before it collapses because a Ponzi scheme is suspected or because the promoter is selling unregistered securities.
  • The federal government has handed down heavy jail time in financial fraud scams such as Ponzi schemes and charges for Ponzi schemes are often also coupled with other charges such as Tax Evasion, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Securities Fraud or other Financial Crimes.

  Fayed was convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He potentially faces the death penalty.

  The hired hands who allegedly took part in the murder plot face separate trials.

  The charge ofmurder is the highest crime known to man and therefore carries penalties that are extremely harsh.

  Most individuals convicted of murder will never be released from prison.  Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that you hire an attorney that has a vast experience dealing with murder charges.

  At the Hedding Law Firm our attorneys believe that if you are being investigated or have been arrested formurder then it is critical to your case that you retain the services of an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney immediately.

  We will challenge the charges against you and make every attempt to have them lowered or dismissed completely.

  Your constitutional rights are very important to us! We will fight to obtain the best outcome for your particular case.

  Contact a lawyer at the Hedding Law Firm today for a free consultation regarding your  murder case.

   

   

Jeffrey R. Hall, 32, a regional director for the National Socialist Movement, was shot and killed by his 10 year old son on May 1, 2011 around 4 a.m.

The boy has been charged as a juvenile and faces murder charges.

Krista McCary, 26, the stepmother of the 10 year old boy, was charged on Tuesday May 17, 2011 with 5 counts of child endangerment and 4 counts of criminal storage of a firearm (on the shelf in the house where five children have easy access to the .357 magnum). Additionally, the firearm did not have a trigger lock and was not in a lock box as required by law.

McCary faces a maximum of 8 years in prison and if no prior then will likely receive probation.

The boy has a history of aggression and violence and his father's neo-Nazi activities had an influence on him no doubt.
His next hearing date is July 22, 2011.

MURDER

The charge of murder is the highest crime known to man, it therefore carries penalties that are extremely harsh. Most individuals convicted of  murder will never be released from prison.  Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that you hire an attorney that has a vast experience dealing with murder charges.  A person charged with  murder will typically only receive one chance to properly defend themselves, after that, if they are convicted of murder, it will be too late to help them. 

At Hedding Law Firm, we have handled countless murder cases over the years of practicing criminal defense in Los Angeles County.  If you or your loved one's life is on the line, lets meet and discuss what is necessary to be successful.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

Two Orange County Liquor stores were robbed on Tuesday May 17, 2011 within thirty minutes of each other.

The first robbery happened about 8:10 pm at a liquor store and the second  robbery happened at a deli market at about 8:35 pm.

Both robberies involved two men, one with a shotgun. They not only took money but also cigars and tequila from one of the locations.

They were described as wearing black clothing, hooded sweatshirts, and face masks. They fled in a dark colored Toyota Camry.

No one was injured.

If found and arrested, these men will likely be charged with armed robbery.

Robberyis a felony, punishable by a term in state or federal prison.  Robbery is the direct taking of property, including money from a person through force, threat or intimidation.

California Penal Code Section 211 defines robbery, which reads:

"Robbery is the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear."

"Armed robbery" involves the use of a gun or other weapon which can do bodily harm, such as a knife or club, and under most state laws carries a stiffer penalty (longer possible term) than robbery by merely taking.

First degree robberyoccurs where the defendant acts in concert with two or more other people for the purpose of committing a  robbery in an inhabited dwelling house, vessel designed for habitation, trailer coach, or the inhabited portion of any other building.  Robbery in the first degree is a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6, or 9 years. In all other inhabited structures not defined above, the punishment is imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6, or 9 years.

Second degree robbery encompasses all other types of robbery, which are punishable in the state prison for 2, 3, or 5 years.

Common Defenses for Robbery

• Duress
• Force used in Self-Defense
• Lack of Intent to Permanently Deprive
• Abandonment of the Property
• Property Not Taken from Person or their Presence

If you or someone you know has been charged withrobbery or any other federal cirme,  contact us at Hedding Law Firm. We are committed to providing zealous representations, with only our clients' best interests in mind, and promise to make every effort to obtain the best result possible.

Our Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys are experienced in handling a wide variety of criminal offenses and have established a solid reputation with state and federal prosecutors and judges.

Contact us for FREE face to face consultation.

Jose Wilson Rojas Guzman, 30 was arrested this week in connection with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 9-year-old Riverside girl which occurred on May 7, 2011.
The girl was asleep in her bedroom when Guzman entered through a window and kidnapped her.

He sexually assaulted her and then left her in an unfamiliar block barefoot, in shorts and a tank top in the middle of the night.

Guzman, who had previously rented a room at the Pike Street residence, was detained and questioned by investigators on May 9.

After questioning him, authorities said Guzman was taken into custody and held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for an immigration violation.

Investigators with the Riverside Police Department obtained a search warrant for Guzman's DNA. It was then submitted to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Crime Lab for comparison to DNA found on the girl.

Riverside investigators were told Monday that Guzman's DNA matched the DNA evidence found on the victim.

Guzman is charged with attempted murder,  kidnapping with injury and aggravated child sexual assault, each of which has a potential life sentence.

He is being held on $1 million bail.

Attempt

Attempt is to actually try to commit a crime and have the ability to do so. This means more than just thinking about doing a criminal act or planning it without overt action. It also requires the opportunity and ability.

Attempts can include attempted murder, attempted robbery, attempted rape, attempted assault, attempted arson, and a host of other crimes.

The person accused cannot attempt to commit murder with an unloaded gun or attempt rape over the telephone.

The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself.

Kidnapping

Under federal and state law, kidnapping is commonly defined as the taking of a person from one place to another against his or her will, or the confining of a person to a controlled space.

Kidnapping charges and penalties will vary from state to state, however in general this is considered a felony in all areas. If an individual is bodily injured or dies during a kidnapping event the felony charge of murder in the first degree can be included in the charges.

Possible Penalties for Kidnapping

•Jail time with parole
•Jail time of life without parole
•Probation
•Parole
•Restitution
•Registration as a sexual offender - sexual assault cases

If you or someone you know is being charged with a federal crime, our Los Angeles based Federal Criminal Defense Firm has the federal background to defend your case with a skill set that is unsurpassed. We have successfully handled thousands of federal and state cases over many years of successful criminal defense practice in Los Angeles.

We place every effort to get the best results possible by gathering and contesting all the evidence presented against the client.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

Three men were arrested May 10, 2011 in San Bernardino County in a $102 million bribery scheme. A fourth, former Supervisor Paul Biane, remains a fugitive from justice.

The four individuals were indicted May 12, 2011 by the San Bernardino County Grand Jury on 29 counts ofconspiracy to commit bribery, misappropriation of public funds, improper influence, conflict of interest, and additional charges.

The indictments are the result of a combined effort by Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos. Their two agencies jointly investigated the case and presented it to the grand jury, and will share in prosecution of the charges.

Turning themselves in to authorities for arrest were:

 Mark Kirk, former chief of staff for a member of the board of supervisors and current director of government relations in the county administrative office.

Kirk was indicted for: Being a legislator receiving a bribe, embezzlement by a public official, asking and receiving a bribe, bribing a public official, conspiracy, conflict of interest and conspiracy to commit a crime. If convicted, he faces up to eight years, eight months in prison.

James Erwin, former chief of staff for a member of the board of supervisors;

Erwin was indicted for: Knowingly providing or offering false instrument or documentation to be filed in a public office,perjury, bribing a public official,  conspiracy to defraud, conflict of interest, conspiracy to commit a crime and obstruction of justice. If convicted he faces up to 14 years, eight months in prison.

Jeffrey Burum, a general partner of Colonies Partners, L.P., a developer.

Burum was indicted for: Being a legislator receiving a bribe, embezzlement by a public official, bribing a public official, conspiracy, conflict of interest and conspiracy to commit a crime. If convicted he faces up to six years, eight months in prison.

Former Supervisor Paul Biane did not turn himself in after the indictment.

Biane was indicted for: Theft of public funds, two counts ofconspiracy,  bribing a local official, accepting bribes, perjury, filing false or forged documents, conflict of interest and tax  fraud. He faces up to eight years in prison.

The case is part of a continuing probe by both the Attorney General and the DA into corruption in San Bernardino County.

The current charges, according to the indictment, stem from a $102 million settlement approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2006 with the developer Colonies over flood control improvements on 434 acres of land in Upland in which defendants engaged in a scheme to obtain the settlement by conveying threats, extortion, inducements, and bribery. The bribes were $100,000 each.

These are some very serious and overwhelming charges.

If you are faced with any type of criminal charge such as conspiracy, fraud, assault, murder, robbery, in Los Angeles County, we encourage you to come and sit down face to face with us and we will access your case and begin the process of designing a solution to your criminal related problem. 

The attorneys in our firm have credentials that are simply unmatched by other, less seasoned attorneys. 

We appear in court everyday, and the founder, Ron Hedding has personally won more jury trials this year alone than many of the other defense attorneys who advertise on the web have tried in their entire career.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

At the Hedding Law Firm, our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys will fight for your rights! We will work to provide you with the personal care and dedication that is needed to help obtain a successful outcome for your case.

Sven Koppler, 37, a German man convicted of shipping hundreds of live tarantulas by mail to the United States has been sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to a federal animal-smuggling charge and has also agreed to pay a $4000 fine.

He is described by a federal prosecutor as one of the "largest illegal importers of tarantulas".

Koppler had previously admitted that he shipped 247 live tarantulas to federal agents in L.A. who posed as buyers in a 10-month investigation known as "Operation Spiderman."

Koppler also shipped 22 Mexican red-knee tarantulas, or Brachypelma smithi, a species protected under international treaty, officials said. Prosecutors said Koppler made $300,000 by selling spiders to people worldwide.

Koppler, who lives in Wachtberg, Germany, could have received a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison.

Agents began investigating in March 2010 after a routine search of an international package revealed about 300 live tarantulas on their way to L.A.

A second package intercepted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents contained nearly 250 live tarantulas wrapped in colored plastic straws, including the Mexican red-kneed tarantulas.

Koppler received hundreds of thousands of dollars from sales of tarantulas in dozens of countries, including transactions with about nine people in the United States.

Koppler allegedly placed the spiders inside small plastic tubes. Federal prosecutors say agents posing as buyers ordered additional tarantulas from Koppler, who sent them from Germany to the agents in the United States.

The agents received a package in April that included about 70 live tarantulas and one dead spider and four packages last month that included several dozen live and dead tarantulas.

The undercover buys involved Brachypelma, which are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Animal smuggling today is second only to drug smuggling as a major international illegal business. The animals are generally purchased from poor natives who, knowing nothing about the endangered status of such animals, sell them at throw-away prices.

Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure. Part I. Crimes. Chapter 27. Customs. § 545. Smuggling goods into the United States (goods includes animals)

Whoever knowingly and willfully, with intent to defraud the United States, smuggles, or clandestinely introduces or attempts to smuggle or clandestinely introduce into the United States any merchandise which should have been invoiced, or makes out or passes, or attempts to pass, through the customhouse any false, forged, or fraudulent invoice, or other document or paper; or

Whoever fraudulently or knowingly imports or brings into the United States, any merchandise contrary to law, or receives, conceals, buys, sells, or in any manner facilitates the transportation, concealment, or sale of such merchandise after importation, knowing the same to have been imported or brought into the United States contrary to law--

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

If you or someone you know is facing any type of a federal crime, our Los Angeles based Federal Criminal Defense Firm has the federal background to defend your case with a skill set that is unrivaled. 

Whether your federal case requires a savvy negotiator or skilled trial attorney, we have the federal criminal defense knowledge to best represent you or your loved one. 

If you have a federal criminal case in the federal criminal court system in Los Angeles or anywhere in the nation, you must sit down with us face to face and allow us at Hedding Law Firm to educate you on how the federal criminal defense system works and design a plan to put you back on the road to a normal life.

Contact us for a FREE face to face confidential consultation

Alonzo Ester, 67, the owner of Dynasty Restaurant and Lounge in Inglewood was shot to death early morning of May 13, 2011 around 2:30 am, while sitting in his white $300,000 Rolls Royce, outside his home in the Crenshaw District.

According to a preliminary investigation, the Ester was sitting in his vehicle when another man walked up to the passenger side and shot him twice.

The investigation continues, but witnesses state that they heard the shots, and we have some reports that an African American male was seen leaving the location in a dark colored sedan.

Ester's wife stated she heard a gunshot and saw a man fleeing away.

Joseph Wright, the victim's brother, told Channel 7 his brother had left the nightclub shortly before the shooting.

Although investigation is in progress, authorities state that it appears that Ester was followed home.

Murder is the crime of intentionally causing another person's death without legal excuse or justification. Murder is a crime that falls under the category of criminal homicide. State and federal laws regarding homicide and murder are the most complex of any criminal laws. The classifications of homicidal and murder offenses are complex but are often divided into a handful of categories based on severity.

Penalties for murder can be life imprisonment with a possibility of parole. An experienced and aggressive criminal law attorney will use numerous defenses in a  murder case to improve its outcome.
Murder defenses that may be used in a trial include: self-defense, insufficient proof or evidence, factual innocence, insanity, and more.

In most cases, the individuals convicted of these murders were committing other violent crimes such as  rape, robbery,  kidnapping or arson.

First degree murder is when the killing was premeditated and deliberate; all other kinds of murders are classified as second degree murder.

In California, you may face the following sentences for 1st or 2nd degree murder:

1st Degree Murder:

2nd Degree Murder:

At the Hedding Law Firm our attorneys believe that if you are being investigated or have been arrested for murder then it is critical to your case that you retain the services of an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney immediately.

It is very important that your attorney at our firm can begin our own investigation as soon as possible in order to preserve evidence that may benefit your case.

At the Hedding Law Firm, as experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers we will challenge the charges against you and make every attempt to have them lowered or dismissed completely.

Your constitutional rights are very important to us! We will fight to obtain the best outcome for your particular case.

Contact a lawyer at the  Hedding Law Firm today for a FREE consultation regarding your murder case.

Darcey Greenfield, 39, a former Los Angeles police officer was charged with defrauding a handful of San Bernardino County people in an investment scam had been running real estate investment schemes for years and is suspected of bilking at least $2 million from fellow LAPD officers and other investors.

She surrendered Wednesday May 11, 2011 to investigators from the San Bernardino County district attorney's real estate fraud unit.

She faces multiple felony charges, including the sale of false investment securities, the sale of securities without a license, and grand theft.

The criminal charges filed by San Bernardino County prosecutors stem from investments Greenfield allegedly solicited in 2007 and 2008.

Greenfield purportedly persuaded victims in San Bernardino County to invest their savings, totaling $265,000, in investment securities.

Greenfield told the victims that the investment money would be used to help homeowners in foreclosure, according to the district attorney's office. The victims were promised they would get back a high rate of return and their principal, but they received nothing.

She is suspected of taking money from victims outside of San Bernardino County as well. San Bernardino County officials allege she collected more than $3 million from Los Angeles residents.

At least 13 LAPD employees are known from Greenfield's court records to have invested with her, including four detectives and five supervising sergeants. Police officials say they suspect that the total was higher because officers were probably pooling their money and investing under a single name.

At least three officers, including Greenfield, have declared bankruptcy. Others went further into debt to pay back friends and relatives who gave them money to invest.

Greenfield is being held at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Her bail is set at $1,020,000.

Securities fraud, also known as investor or stock fraud, covers a range of activities that violate federal and state laws pertaining to buying, selling and trading securities. The most common forms of securities fraud include:

•Misrepresentation (presenting misleading or false information to investors about a company, or its securities)

•Accounting fraud (manipulating or falsifying books or records to misrepresent a public companies assets and liabilities)

•Insider trading (buying, selling or trading securities based on information that is not readily available to the general public)

Securities fraud is governed by both federal and state laws, and legal actions can be brought about by private investors or by a government agency, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Violations of federal securities laws are treated as serious offenses that can carry both civil and criminal penalties. Criminal investigations can lead to felony convictions that carry penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment.

Theft offenses are covered by the Penal Code.

Penal Code §484 is misdemeanor petty theft for the taking of property valued at less than four hundred dollars. 

A petty theft charge is a misdemeanor offense and can result in a 1 year jail sentence and restitution.

If the value is over four hundred dollars, the charge is grand theft under Penal Code §487. 

Grand theft is a "wobbler" meaning it can be prosecuted as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Either way grand theft is a serious charge and can result in lengthy jail sentences.

If you or someone you know is being charged with any type of fraud, theft, or any other state or federal crime, we at Hedding Law Firm have the qualifications and experience to defend you and fight on your behalf.

Contact us for a FREE face to face confidential, no obligation consultation.

Darcey Greenfield, 39, a former Los Angeles police officer was charged with defrauding a handful of San Bernardino County people in an investment scam had been running real estate investment schemes for years and is suspected of bilking at least $2 million from fellow LAPD officers and other investors.

She surrendered Wednesday May 11, 2011 to investigators from the San Bernardino County district attorney's real estate fraud unit.

She faces multiple felony charges, including the sale of false investment securities, the sale of securities without a license, and grand theft.

The criminal charges filed by San Bernardino County prosecutors stem from investments Greenfield allegedly solicited in 2007 and 2008.

Greenfield purportedly persuaded victims in San Bernardino County to invest their savings, totaling $265,000, in investment securities.

Greenfield told the victims that the investment money would be used to help homeowners in foreclosure, according to the district attorney's office. The victims were promised they would get back a high rate of return and their principal, but they received nothing.

She is suspected of taking money from victims outside of San Bernardino County as well. San Bernardino County officials allege she collected more than $3 million from Los Angeles residents.

At least 13 LAPD employees are known from Greenfield's court records to have invested with her, including four detectives and five supervising sergeants. Police officials say they suspect that the total was higher because officers were probably pooling their money and investing under a single name.

At least three officers, including Greenfield, have declared bankruptcy. Others went further into debt to pay back friends and relatives who gave them money to invest.

Greenfield is being held at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Her bail is set at $1,020,000.

Securities fraud, also known as investor or stock fraud, covers a range of activities that violate federal and state laws pertaining to buying, selling and trading securities. The most common forms of securities fraud include:

•Misrepresentation (presenting misleading or false information to investors about a company, or its securities)

•Accounting fraud (manipulating or falsifying books or records to misrepresent a public companies assets and liabilities)

•Insider trading (buying, selling or trading securities based on information that is not readily available to the general public)

Securities fraud is governed by both federal and state laws, and legal actions can be brought about by private investors or by a government agency, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Violations of federal securities laws are treated as serious offenses that can carry both civil and criminal penalties. Criminal investigations can lead to felony convictions that carry penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment.

Theft offenses are covered by the Penal Code.

Penal Code §484 is misdemeanor petty theft for the taking of property valued at less than four hundred dollars. 

A petty theft charge is a misdemeanor offense and can result in a 1 year jail sentence and restitution.

If the value is over four hundred dollars, the charge is grand theft under Penal Code §487. 

Grand theft is a "wobbler" meaning it can be prosecuted as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Either way grand theft is a serious charge and can result in lengthy jail sentences.

If you or someone you know is being charged with any type of fraud, theft, or any other state or federal crime, we at Hedding Law Firm have the qualifications and experience to defined you and fight on your behalf.

Contact us for a FREE face to face confidential, no obligation consultation.

Former ESPN sports personality Jay Mariotti strongly denied new felony stalking and assault allegations against him, calling them "fabrications" that will be disproved in court.

Mariotti pleaded not guilty Wednesday May 11, 2011 to three felony counts of stalking, domestic violence and assault, as well as two misdemeanor counts of disobeying a court order.

Some evidence shows that he confronted his ex-girlfriend the same day a court ordered him to stay away from her. In addition, they say he argued with his former girlfriend again outside a Venice restaurant April 15. He allegedly pulled a chunk of her hair out and grabbed her cellphone while shouting at her, prosecutors said.

Mariotti remains on probation in connection with a misdemeanordomestic-violence case from August 2010. In that case, he pleaded no contest, and six other misdemeanor counts -- four domestic-violence-related counts, and charges of grand theft and false imprisonment -- were dismissed.

Mariotti, a former sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, appeared frequently on ESPN's "Around the Horn." He has not contributed to ESPN since his arrest.

His next court date is scheduled for June 1.

Theft offenses are covered by the Penal Code.
Penal Code §484 is misdemeanor petty theft for the taking of property valued at less than four hundred dollars. 
A petty theft charge is a misdemeanor offense and can result in a 1 year jail sentence and restitution.
If the value is over four hundred dollars, the charge is grand theft under Penal Code §487. 
Grand theft is a "wobbler" meaning it can be prosecuted as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Either way grand theft is a serious charge and can result in lengthy jail sentences.

Domestic violence is the mental, physical and/or verbal abuse of a spouse, child, family member, cohabitant or loved one. It may involve kicking, hitting, punching, pushing, name calling and intimidation. Domestic violence is considered to be a very aggressive crime in nature and is one of many violent crimes that often go unreported.

In Califronia there are different degrees of assault. 
Simple assaultis a misdemeanor and defined as an unlawful attempt, coupled with a present ability, to commit a violent injury on the person of another. This means that no injury or even contact has to have taken place for this offense to have occurred.
Assaukt with  a deadly weapon can result up

This misdemeanor offense can carry a sentence of up to $1,000 in fines and jail time of up to 6 months.

In a domestic violence case, even when the victim refuses to press charges against you, the district attorney's office can still prosecute you. 

If convicted of domestic violence in California you will be facing a sentence of up to 1 year in a county jail or 4 years in a state prison. You may also be ordered to pay a fine of $6,000 or more, restitution to the victim, and attend community service and anger management classes.

In addition, if this is your third felony offense or more under California's three strikes law you may also be looking at a lifetime sentence behind bars.

Due to this, it is important to work with an experienced defense attorney who can protect your rights if you are accused of domestic violence.

If you have been accused of petty or grand theft you should hire a  criminal defense lawyer in order to protect your rights and help you obtain the best case result. Failure to retain the services of a qualified attorney will greatly increase your chances of receiving the maximum penalties for the crime being charged if convicted.

Contact us at  Hedding Law Firm for a FREE face to face consultation.

We place every effort to get the best results possible for our clients by gathering and contesting all the evidence presented against them.

An eighty year old robber is on the loose in Fontana, California. This eighty year old "granny bandit" has been linked to two armed robberies in shopping center parking lots.
Mother's Day was when the first victim was approached in a Kohl's parking lot at 100:00 am. The second victim was approached the next day in a Target parking lot in a similar manner.

The "granny bandit" covered her face with a floral scarf and sunglasses and held up a gun demanding the purses of the two victims.

The "granny bandit" fled in a dark colored Dodge Neon with tinted windows.

Robbery
Robbery is a felony, punishable by a term in state or federal prison.  Robbery is the direct taking of property, including money from a person through force, threat or intimidation.

California Penal Code Section 211 defines robbery, which reads:

"Robbery is the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear."

"Armed robbery" involves the use of a gun or other weapon which can do bodily harm, such as a knife or club, and under most state laws carries a stiffer penalty (longer possible term) than robbery by merely taking.

If you or someone you know has been charged with robbery, contact us at Hedding Law Firm. We are committed to providing zealous representations, with only our clients' best interests in mind, and promise to make every effort to obtain the best result possible.

We are experienced in handling a wide variety of criminal offenses and have established a solid reputation with state and federal prosecutors and judges.

Contact us for FREE face to face consultation.

A Tustin-area Mother's Day shooting rampage resulted in a woman killing her husband and wounding her son before the gun was wrestled away from her by her 9-year-old son during a Mother's Day shooting rampage.

Annamaria Magno Gana, 41, was charged Monday May 9, 2011 with  murder and attempted murder with sentencing enhancements, after she was taken into custody Sunday afternoon.

Gana allegedly shot Antonio Potenciano Gana, 72, to death and wounded her 16-year-old son.

Authorities said the woman had fired a bullet into the ceiling of a bedroom. When her husband and their 16-year-old son ran into the bedroom in response to the gunshot, she turned the gun on her husband and shot him in the chest.

She allegedly shot her 16-year-old son as he attempted to escape.

When Orange County sheriff's deputies responded to the shooting in the 18400 block of Manning Drive, the woman's 9-year-old son was holding what investigators suspect was the murder weapon -- "a high-powered handgun".

Sheriff's detectives have not released a motive for the shooting. Gana is being treated for injuries sustained during the attack

Attempt

Attempt is to actually try to commit a crime and have the ability to do so. This means more than just thinking about doing a criminal act or planning it without overt action. It also requires the opportunity and ability.

Attempts can includeattempted murder, attempted robbery, attempted rape,  attempted assault, attempted arson, and a host of other crimes.

The person accused cannot attempt to commit murder with an unloaded gun or attempt rape over the telephone.

The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself.

Murder

Murder is the crime of intentionally causing another person's death without legal excuse or justification. Murder is a crime that falls under the category of criminal homicide. State and federal laws regarding homicide and murder are the most complex of any criminal laws. The classifications of homicidal and murder offenses are complex but are often divided into a handful of categories based on severity.

Penalties for murder can be life imprisonment with a possibility of parole. An experienced and aggressive  criminal defense attorney will use numerous defenses in a murder case to improve its outcome.  Murder defenses that may be used in a trial include: self-defense, insufficient proof or evidence, factual innocence, insanity, and more.

In any case, the laws regarding murder are complex and a skilled and qualified criminal defense attorney can help get the best results possible.

At Hedding Law Firm, we have dealt with numerous criminal cases ranging from murder to  robbery to  kidnapping to assault to white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country.

If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges contact us for a FREE face to face consultation and let us fight for you and be an advocate for you.

Responding to a tip from a neighbor, deputies broke up the backyard rooster fight about 9 a.m. Sunday May 8, 2011 in Bakersfield, CA and arrested 12 adults and two juveniles. Apparently there was a whole cockfighting operation occurring there frequently.

They were charged on suspicion of conspiracy, participation in a cockfight and being a spectator at a cockfight.

About 50 people who had gathered for the event fled when the deputies entered the backyard.

Thirty-three roosters, 18 of them dead, were seized by animal control officers, as well as one injured rooster with a gaff, a razor-like blade, still attached to one leg.

The officers also found rooster-fighting supplies, along with containers used to transport the birds, which will be used as evidence against the arrestees.

Although cockfighting is not yet a felony in California but a misdemeanor, the crime of conspiracy is a felony.

A southern California legislator wants to increase the penalties for cockfighting.

Under Senator Ron Calderon's Senate Bill 425, the fine for keeping birds for the purpose of fighting would be $1,000. The penalty for being a spectator would go up to $500.

The bill already has the support of the Humane Society. The Senate Public Safety committee has passed it.

Conspiracy is when two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner of for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years or both. 

If however, the offense, the charge of which is the purpose of the conspiracy, is a misdemeanor, such as cockfighting, only the punishment for such conspiracy shall not exceed the maximum punishment provided for such misdemeanor.

The actual crime is not necessary to prosecute a conspiracy case - only the stated intent to break the law. This means that even if the ultimate crime was not committed, the conspirators can be prosecuted under federal law.

Our federal criminal defense attorneys at Hedding Law Firm can help you if you facing any type of criminal charges.

We are well known, well respected, and have a combined 75 years of experience.

Contact us for a FREE face to face confidential consultation.

We will fight on your behalf striving to get the best results possible!

Salvador Acevedo, 45, was driving with his girlfriend, Iris Oseguera, 33, their twin 5-year-olds and three other children about 9 p.m. Saturday when the two adults began to fight.

Acevedo shot her and their 5-year-old twins in the family SUV, but spared the lives of three teenage children also inside (relationship to three children undisclosed).

After shooting the 3 victims, Acevedo apparently dropped off the three teenagers at a relative's house, who then called the deputies.

The deputies found the SUV with Acevedo in it, dead. He had shot himself.

The bodies of his girlfriend, Iris Oseguera, 33, and the two dead children were inside.

Acevedo and Oseguera were pronounced dead at the scene. The boy and girl were declared dead at County-USC Medical Center.

Had Acevedo been found alive, he would have likely been charged with second degree murder or maybe voluntary manslaughter.

Voluntary Manslaughter

Voluntary manslaughter is when someone kills as a result of heat of passion. The provocation must be adequate and an argument will likely not be sufficient as adequate provocation.

If the charge is reduced to manslaughter, the defendant faces a maximum of 11 years in prison.

Second degree murder

The California Penal Code defines second degree murder as "all other kinds of murders" that are not first degree murder. It defines first degree murder as "all murder which is perpetrated by means of a destructive device or explosive, a weapon of mass destruction, knowing use of ammunition designed primarily to penetrate metal or armor, poison, lying in wait, torture, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing

The penal code states that any person found guilty of second degree murder will face 15 years to life in a state prison.

The penal code lists special circumstances under which someone may be sentenced to life in prison. These include previous convictions of either first or second degree murder.

There are a few defenses to a murder charge; provocation (reduces murder to voluntary manslaughter), self defense, insanity to name a few.

If you or someone you know is being charged with a serious crime such as murder, you need an experienced, aggressive, and skilled Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to fight for you and contest all the evidence presented against you.

At Hedding Law Firm we have handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from  murder to  robbery to battery to  white collar offenses as well as Federal Matter all over the country.

We place every effort to get the best results possible and have our client's best interest as top priority.

Contact us for a FREE face to face, strictly confidential consultation.

Yi Qing Chen, 47 from Rosemead, CA was sentenced today to 25 years behind bars for conspiring to smuggle Chinese-made surface-to-air missiles, which are designed to shoot down aircraft, into the United States.

Chen was convicted last October of five felony counts by a Los Angeles federal jury that heard two weeks of testimony.

Co-defendant Chao Tung Wu died awaiting sentencing.

The guilty verdict in relation to the missile plot was the nation's first conviction at trial under an anti-terrorism statute that outlaws the importation of missile systems designed to destroy aircraft, federal prosecutors said.

Evidence in the case showed that Chen and  Wu met with an undercover FBI agent and agreed to arrange the importation of shoulder-fired QW-2 missiles, as well as launch and operation hardware for the missiles, from the People's Republic of China.

According to the U.S. Government, the missiles were never delivered because Chen and Wu were arrested in 2005 before the deal was concluded.

In addition to being convicted of conspiracy to import missile systems designed to destroy aircraft, Chen was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, distribution of cocaine,  trafficking in counterfeit cigarettes and trafficking in contraband cigarettes.

U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer also ordered Chen to pay restitution of about $520,000 to Philip Morris in connection with the counterfeit cigarettes.

The case against the men was the result of "Operation Smoking Dragon," an FBI-led undercover investigation into smuggling operations in Southern California.

The probe and a related investigation in New Jersey led to the indictment of 87 people on charges related to international conspiracies to smuggle counterfeit currency, drugs and other contraband into the country.

The operation resulted in four indictments in Los Angeles that named 34 defendants, all of whom have been convicted.

These are the type of charges that can result in a very long prison terms and very large fines.

If you or someone you know is facing charges of conspiracy, trafficking,  smuggling, we at Hedding Law Firm have the experience and qualifications to help defend you and fight on your behalf.

We have a combined 75 years of experience and our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys are well known and respected all throughout Los Angeles County courthouses.

Contact us for a FREE face to face confidential consultation.

The Fullerton Police Department asked Friday for the public's help in finding the people who stabbed two men during a Cinco de Mayo party at a fraternity house near Cal State Fullerton.

A group of people were socializing in front of a fraternity house near Cal State Fullerton in the 2100 block of Teri Place at about 1:40 a.m. Friday May 6, 2011 when they were approached by six to eight men in which an argument erupted.

No one really knew what the argument was about, but witnesses said it could have been a dispute over the party.

After getting verbal with one another, one of the suspects pulled out a knife and stabbed the two guys.

A 21-year-old man was seriously wounded in the middle upper back, and a 22-year-old man was stabbed in the middle lower back.

The assailants ran north on Teri Place after the altercation according to the authorities, and witnesses did not see a vehicle.

It was unknown if the men involved are fraternity members or attend the university.

The two victims were listed in stable condition Friday at UCI Medical Center.

If these men are arrested they will likely face assault with a deadly weapon charges or attempted murder charges.

Assault With a Deadly Weapon:

California Penal Code 245(a)(1)

A Penal Code 240 "simple assault" is an unlawful attempt, coupled with a present ability, to commit a violent injury on another person. California Penal Code 245(a)(1) defines assault with a deadly weapon (commonly referred to as an ADW or aggravated assault) as an assault that is committed with any type of deadly weapon or by means of force that is likely to cause great bodily injury to another.2

An ADW charge is what's known as a wobbler. A "wobbler" is a crime that...depending on the circumstances...prosecutors can opt to file as either a misdemeanor or a felony. With respect to a California aggravated assault charge, this decision is primarily based on three factors:

1. The type of weapon or instrument used to commit the alleged ADW,

2. Whether the person whom you allegedly assaulted sustained an injury (and if so, the severity of the injury), and

3. The nature of the victim (that is, whether the alleged victim an officer, firefighter, or other "protected" person).

Penalties may include 4-5 years in prison or large fines up to $10,000.

Attempted Murder:

In order to convict you of violating California's "attempted murder" laws, the prosecutor must prove the following two facts:

1. That you took at least one direct (but ineffective) step towards killing another person

2. That you intended to kill that person

Some legal defenses:

You did not have the specific intent to kill; you did not take the required direct step; you were falsely accused or wrongfully arrested; you acted in accordance with California self defense laws.

Attempted murder is a felony. And like Penal Code 187 PC California's murder law, it is divided into two degrees: first and second-degree attempted murder.

If convicted of first-degree attempted murder, which means that the attempted murder was willful, deliberate, and premeditated, you face a life sentence in the California state prison with the possibility of parole.

If convicted of second-degree attempted murder, which is any murder attempt that isn't willful, deliberate, and premeditated, you face a five, seven, or nine-year state prison sentence.

At Hedding Law Firm we have the experience, skill, and qualifications to defend any criminal charges you may be facing.

Our Firm has handled thousands of criminal matters over the years, ranging from murder, to attempted crime to DUI to white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country.

Contact us for a FREE face to face confidential consultation.

Robert Allan Lehmann, 36, is charged with two felony counts of special circumstances murder with sentencing enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon, multiple murders and lying in wait.

[Lying in Wait - To constitute murder by lying in wait there must be an intentional infliction upon the person killed of bodily harm involving a high degree of probability that it will result in death and which shows a wanton disregard for human life. The concept of lying in wait does not relieve the prosecution from the burden of proving that the defendant harbored malice aforethought . . .Lying in wait is a waiting and watching for an opportune time to act, together with a concealment by ambush or some other secret design to take the other person by surprise. The lying in wait need not continue for any particular period of time provided that its duration is such as to show a state of mind equivalent to premeditation or deliberation.

According to California criminal law, the phrase "lying in wait" describes both a special circumstance and a theory of first degree murder. The factual situation necessary to sustain a jury's finding of lying in wait as a special circumstance is: " `an intentional murder, committed under circumstances which include (1) a concealment of purpose, (2) a substantial period of watching and waiting for an opportune time to act, and (3) immediately thereafter, a surprise attack on an unsuspecting victim from a position of advantage. ]

Lehmann's ex-wife, 32-year-old Emily Ford, and her father, 62-year-old Russell Ford, went to Lehmann's home in the 3400 block of Santa Clara Circle about 5:30 p.m., Tuesday May 3, 2011, to pick up the 7-year-old daughter that Lehman and Ford had together.

That same day, an Orange County Superior Court judge that day ruled in Ford's favor in the child-custody dispute with Lehmann.

According to the prosecutors, Lehmann sent his current wife out of the house with the girl to get ice cream before his ex-wife and Russell Ford came to pick up the daughter.

Emily Ford left her baby, who she had with another man, in her car while she went up to Lehmann's door to get her daughter.

Lehmann opened the door and opened fire on Emily and Russell Ford and kept shooting as they ran away.

Authorities said that as the two victims were on the ground, bleeding, Lehmann reloaded his weapon and shot them both in the back of the head execution style.

Lehmann was arrested at the scene. He's being held without bail.

If convicted, Lehmann faces two life terms behind bars or the death penalty.

If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges, we at Hedding Law Firm can help defend your case. Our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys place every effort to get the best results possible by gathering and contesting all the evidence presented against you.

Our firm has handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from murder to weapon charges to drug possession to white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

A man was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder for the slaying of a man who was wrongly perceived to be a snitch in the racially motivated  murder of a 14-year-old black girl in Harbor Gateway.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated about two days before finding 33-year-old Robert Gonzales guilty in the December 28, 2006 slaying of Christopher Ash, who was stabbed 62 times.

Gonzales is the third person to be convicted in Ash's slaying.

Jonathan Fajardo, 23, was sentenced to death April 22, 2011 after his conviction in Ash's murder and the December 15, 2006, shooting death of the teen, Cheryl Green.

Co-defendant Daniel Aguilar, 24, was convicted of first-degree murder for Ash's slaying and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for taking his best friend to Carson ( aiding and abetting), where the 25-year-old victim was killed in a garage.

Gonzales is scheduled to be sentenced May 23 at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse. He faces 25 years to life in state prison.

Meanwhile, Ernesto Alcarez, 24, is awaiting trial for being the alleged lookout in Green's killing, and co-defendant Raul Silva, 35, is awaiting trial in Ash's slaying.

Murder, in the first or second degree, is an extremely serious charge. Murder charges can result in life imprisonment, often with no possibility of parole.

If you or someone you know is facing murder charges, you need an experienced, qualified, skilled, and aggressive criminal defense attorney to help get your criminal matter under control.

At Hedding Law Firm we have handled thousands of criminal matters ranging from  murder to drug possession to weapon charges to  DUI as well as white collar offenses.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation. Let us be your advocate.

A six-hour large-scale operation that started in San Diego on Friday April 29, 2011 and ended in Orange County resulted in the capture of four illegal aliens accused of smuggling illegal aliens along the Mexico/California coastline.

The smugglers dropped off illegal immigrants at a beach in Carlsbad in San Diego County and took them by van to a drop house in Anaheim, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Investigators with a multi-agency task force raided the apartment Friday and found nine illegal immigrants from Mexico, their clothes still wet and caked with sand.

Mario Echeverria, 24, a U.S. citizen who lives in Tijuana, was charged with being one of the leaders of the ring. Also charged were Mexican residents Javier Gomez-Dominguez, 30, the alleged caretaker of the drop house; Jose Sevilla, 26, the suspected captain of the boat; and Fernando Medina-Gonzalez, 43, who officials say was the navigator.

After an initial appearance in federal court, the four men were ordered detained and are expected to be arraigned in three weeks, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles.

The men are being charged with conspiring to bring, transport and harbor illegal aliens and face up to 10 years.

If you or someone you know is being charged with smuggling illegal aliens or immigration fraud, both which are federal crimes, we at  Hedding Law Firm can help.

We have handled thousands of criminal cases all throughout Los Angeles County courthouses.

Contact us for a FREE consultation and we will get started on your matter striving to get you the best results possible by gathering and contesting all the evidence presented against you.

Osama Bin Laden, the face of global terrorism and architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, was killed in a firefight with elite American forces Sunday May 1, 2011, then quickly buried at sea in a stunning finale to a furtive decade on the run.

U.S. special operations team landed by helicopter at the Pakistani compound housing Osama Bin Laden, the Al Qaeda leader.

During the continuous gun battle for the next 40 minutes, the team cleared the two buildings within the fortified compound in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad, trying to reach Bin Laden and his family, who lived on the second and third floors of the largest structure.

Bin Laden resisted and refuse to give in to and was killed by U.S. gunfire in the larger building toward the end of the operation. He fired on the assault team, a U.S. official said, and may have tried to use his wife as a shield. The woman also was killed.

After the firefight, the special-operations force quickly gathered papers - valuable intelligence on Al Qaeda, and other materials in the two buildings and got back on helicopters, taking Bin Laden's dead body with them.

"This wasn't an execution," one U.S. official later said. "The assessment going into it was that it's highly unlikely that's he's going to be taken alive, but if he decided to lay down his arms, he would have been taken captive."

Bin Laden's body was taken to the USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier, in the northern part of the Arabian Sea and buried at sea Monday at around 1 a.m. EDT.

Pentagon officials said the decision to bury Bin Laden at sea was made because no country was willing to take the body for burial. But it also seems clear that the United States wanted to avoid him being buried on land for fear that the location could become a shrine for Bin Laden's supporters.

According to Senior Intelligence Officials, before learning of the compound in Abbottabad last August, the U.S. had had little hard information about Bin Laden's whereabouts for many years.

But after learning the identity of one of Bin Laden's couriers, they tracked him to the facility, which immediately raised suspicions because of its elaborate security and relative luxury compared with the surrounding neighborhood. Additional information was obtained from detainees held by the U.S. and from past interrogations of 9/11 brains Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

Now, a decade later, the Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden has been killed. His death marked the end to a manhunt that consumed most of a decade that began after 9/11 when Bin Laden's hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center twin towers in Manhattan and the Pentagon across the Potomac River from Washington.

The main question now remaining is: Is it over? Does the threat remain?

Fidelio Marin, 40, of Huntington Beach was found guilty of second degree murder in October 2008 for slaying his estranged wife, Feliz Mendez, 32 and was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Friday April 29, 2011.

Mendez had told Marin she wanted a divorce. Marin then had called Mendez and asked her to meet him at the Starlight Motel, where he had been living since she had told him about the divorce.

Mendez arrived with their 17 year old daughter, who then drove away. That is when Marin killed Mendez by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck. When their daughter couldn't reach Mendez by phone, she returned to the motel. Finding the door locked, she climbed into the room through a window and found her mother's body in the bathroom.

Marin was arrested later in the day on an Orange County bus.

During his trial, prosecutors said in a statement that Marin attacked his wife "because she had emasculated him and told him that he wasn't a man," a statement that is not adequate enough to trigger voluntary manslaughter due to provocation.

Thus, Marin was found guilty to second degree murder and will now serve 16 years in prison.

Second Degree Murder

The California Penal Code defines second degree murder as "all other kinds of murders" that are not first degree murder. It defines first degree murder as "all murder which is perpetrated by means of a destructive device or explosive, a weapon of mass destruction, knowing use of ammunition designed primarily to penetrate metal or armor, poison, lying in wait, torture, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing

The penal code states that any person found guilty of second degree murder will face 15 years to life in a state prison.

The penal code lists special circumstances under which someone may be sentenced to life in prison. These include previous convictions of either first or second degree murder.

Voluntary Manslaughter

Voluntary manslaughter is a murder that is generally committed "in the heat of passion" or as "imperfect self-defense."

Prosecutors rarely file Penal Code 192 (a) voluntary manslaughter as a separate charge. The offense usually comes up in murder cases, where the accused admits to killing the victim, but seeks have the charge reduced from murder to manslaughter.

If the charge is reduced tomanslaughter, the defendant faces a maximum of 11 years in prison. With murder, by contrast, he faces a potential life sentence or sometimes even execution.

There are a few defenses to a murder charge; provocation (reduces murder to voluntary manslaughter), self defense, insanity to name a few.

 If you or someone you know is being charged with a serious crime such as murder, you need an experienced, aggressive, and skilled criminal defense attorney to fight for you and contest all the evidence presented against you.

 At Hedding Law Firm we have handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from murder to robbery to battery to white collar offenses as well as Federal Matter all over the country.

We place every effort to get the best results possible and have our client's best interest as top priority.

Contact us for a FREE face to face, strictly confidential consultation.

Two people are accused in a Huntington Beach killing involving a romantic relationship.

Derek Christopher Adams, 22, and Marissa Star Bilotti, 19, both of Huntington Beach, are charged with fatally shooting Gregory Heintz on October 22, 2010 at Murdy Park in Huntington Beach. 

Earlier in the day, the pair went to the Newport Beach home of Cody Masher, broke down his door and stabbed him, causing a superficial wound, according to the Orange County district attorney's office. Authorities said the pair wanted to confront Masher about a relationship he was having with a woman Adams was interested in.

Adams and Bilotti allegedly stole Masher's cellphone and money from Masher's girlfriend's purse. Adams is accused of using Masher's cellphone throughout the day and sending text messages and pictures to Masher's girlfriend in order to arrange a meeting with her later in the day, the statement said.

The girlfriend arrived at Murdy Park with two friends, including Heintz. Adams allegedly shot Heintz once in the stomach.  Adams and Bilotti are also charged withfirst-degree residential robbery and being armed with a gun during the commission of a robbery.

They now await sentencing.

Below are the laws, penalties, and defenses for robbery and  murder.

Robbery

Robbery is a felony, punishable by a term in state or federal prison. Robbery is the direct taking of property, including money from a person through force, threat or intimidation.

California Penal Code Section 211 defines robbery, which reads:

"Robbery is the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear."

"Armed robbery" involves the use of a gun or other weapon which can do bodily harm, such as a knife or club, and under most state laws carries a stiffer penalty (longer possible term) than robbery by merely taking.

First degree robbery occurs where the defendant acts in concert with two or more other people for the purpose of committing a robbery in an inhabited dwelling house, vessel designed for habitation, trailer coach, or the inhabited portion of any other building. Robbery in the first degree is a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6, or 9 years. In all other inhabited structures not defined above, the punishment is imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6, or 9 years.

Second degree robberyencompasses all other types of robbery, which are punishable in the state prison for 2, 3, or 5 years.

Common Defenses for Robbery

• Duress
• Force used in Self-Defense
• Lack of Intent to Permanently Deprive
• Abandonment of the Property
• Property Not Taken from Person or their Presence

  Murder

Murder is the crime of intentionally causing another person's death without legal excuse or justification.  Murder is a crime that falls under the category of criminal homicide. State and federal laws regarding homicide and murder are the most complex of any criminal laws. The classifications of homicidal and murder offenses are complex but are often divided into a handful of categories based on severity.

Penalties for murder can be life imprisonment with a possibility of parole. An experienced and aggressive criminal law attorney will use numerous defenses in a murder case to improve its outcome.  Murder defenses that may be used in a trial include: self-defense, insufficient proof or evidence, factual innocence, insanity, and more.

In any case, the laws regarding murder are complex and a skilled and qualified federal criminal defense attorney can help get the best results possible.

At Hedding Law Firm, we have dealt with numerous criminal cases ranging from murder to robbery to kidnapping to assault to white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country.

If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges contact us for a FREE face to face consultation and let us fight for you and be an advocate for you.

Jose Quintana, 39, was arrested on Tuesday by detectives assigned to the LAPD Rampart Division's Special Problems Unit and was booked under the felony charges of grand theft and unlawful use of a badge. He was released this morning on $50,000 bail. No court date was announced.

Quintana allegedly approached people who had been arrested -- or whose family members had been arrested -- and told them he could make their criminal case "disappear," the LAPD reported. He allegedly operated in the Rampart area, west of downtown Los Angeles.

According to police, Quintana met with victims at coffee shops, restaurants, and even in front of police stations. He allegedly was armed with a firearm and had a badge. A warrant had been issued for his arrest in November.

Grand Theft

Grand theft applies to acts of theft where the value of the property is more than $400.  Grand theft can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. This decision is made by the prosecution and is determined by any past convictions on your record.

Grand theft is punishable by fines and up to one year in jail or state prison.

If, however, the theft involves a firearm, the punishment is increased to 16 months- 3 years in a California state prison.

Impersonating a Police Officer

It is a crime to falsely impersonate a police officer, a federal officer or employee, or any other public official. Although the laws vary from state to states, many states also consider it a crime to use equipment used by law enforcement officers, such as red and blue flashing lights. It also may be a crime to flash a fake police badge. Possession of a firearm also can enhance the penalty for false impersonation of a police officer.

 Depending on state law, impersonating a police officer may be considered either a felony or a misdemeanor. Punishments for impersonating a police officer include:

■Imprisonment up to five years (sometimes more)
■Fines (usually $1000 or more)
■Probation
■Permanent criminal record

At Hedding Law Firm, we handled thousands of criminal matters over the years, ranging from DUI to murder to theft to white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country.

If you or someone you know is facing these types of criminal charges we want to help you. We place every effort to get the best results possible by gathering and contesting all the evidence presented against you.

Contact us for a FREE face to face and absolutely confidential consultation.  

Suren Garibyan, 34, pleaded guilty in December 2009 to kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

He was sentenced Tuesday April 26, 2011 to 17½ years in federal prison and 5 years under supervised release after the 17 ½ years, for helping kidnap a Russian who was shot, zapped with a Taser and held captive for nearly a week while the kidnappers demanded a $1 million ransom.

Co-defendants Vagan Adzhemyan, 43, of Costa Mesa, and Galvin "Shaun" Gibson, 32, of Mira Loma were convicted of the same charges by a Los Angeles federal jury. They face up to 30 years in prison when sentenced in July 2011.

The suspects were arrested in August 2009, when the victim was rescued from Gibson's home by a team of Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officers.

Sandro Karmryan testified that Adzhemyan and Garibyan grabbed him from the underground parking garage of a Van Nuys apartment complex on July 29, 2009.

Karmryan testified that he was bound and blindfolded for five days as he was held at various Southland locations by the three men.

Conspiracy

Conspiracy is when two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner of for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy.

Conspiracy crimes can include conspiracy to engage in criminal activity such as money laundering, conspiracy to violate federal laws, or conspiracy to manufacture drugs or weapons. The federal maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison; however, this may be compounded by other state and federal violations. Depending on the nature of the conspiracy, it may be prosecuted by different entities including the FBI, Department of Justice, or state and local law agencies.

Kidnapping

Under federal and state law, kidnapping is commonly defined as the taking of a person from one place to another against his or her will, or the confining of a person to a controlled space.

Kidnapping charges and penalties will vary from state to state, however in general this is considered a felony in all areas. If an individual is bodily injured or dies during a  kidnapping event the felony charge of murder in the first degree can be included in the charges.

Possible Penalties for Kidnapping

•Jail time with parole
•Jail time of life without parole
•Probation
•Parole
•Restitution
•Registration as a sexual offender - sexual assault cases

If you or someone you know is charged with kidnapping or conspiracy to commit a crime, we at Hedding Law Firm want to help you get your criminal matter under control. We place every effort to get the best results possible keeping our client's best interest priority.
Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

The suspected carjacker, Alfonso Rodriguez, 44, of Westchester, was shot with the "less than lethal" rounds when he emerged from the stolen minivan with a knife at LAX Airport checkpoint on Century Boulevard. Rodriguez led the police on a chase into the LAX Airport, driving the wrong way on the road through the central terminal area.  

The crime began about 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday April 26, 2011 in the Ralphs parking lot on El Segundo Boulevard and Mariposa Avenue. An off-duty El Segundo police officer saw Rodriguez exit the store with an energy bar, a beer and a knife.

As the officer called 911, Rodriguez walked up to a Dodge Caravan and pulled the knife on a man sitting inside. He ordered the man out of the minivan and took off in it.

The off-duty officer took off after the carjacker, heading north on Sepulveda Boulevard. An El Segundo motorcycle officer soon pulled in behind the minivan.

Once they passed through the tunnel near LAX, Rodriguez began driving in circles in the northbound lanes. He made complete U-turns, getting behind the motorcycle officer in an apparent attempt to hit him.

Rodriguez then continued the chase on streets north of the airport before heading into the terminal loops, where he drove into a turnaround and stopped suddenly.

Seeing the motorcycle officer behind him with his gun drawn, Rodriguez drove forward, out of the turnaround and heading the wrong way on the loop.

As he headed east in the westbound lanes of Century Boulevard, he soon found himself in an airport checkpoint, surrounded by 30 officers.

He got out of the minivan, was ordered to drop the knife and was shot with the beanbag rounds.

Rodriguez was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest. He was booked at the El Segundo jail.

While the penalties for carjacking depend on the circumstances of the case, it is a felony offense, which means it is punishable by time in a state prison and large fines. If the carjacking involved a gun or deadly weapon, additional time may be added to the prison sentence. And, if the carjacker made the victim drive somewhere, he or she could also face kidnapping charges, resulting in increased penalties.

Please remember that if you are accused of a crime such as carjacking or assault with a deadly weapon, you still have rights. One right you should certainly exercise is that to obtain qualified legal counsel. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and if the prosecution cannot prove that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, you could win your case.

We at Hedding Law Firm will fight your case for you. We will put all our efforts to gather and contest all the evidence presented against you.  Our client's best interest is our top priority.

Contact us for a FREE face to face strictly confidential no obligations consultation

Danny Anthony Lopez, 18, was charged with 6 felonies on Tuesday April 26, 2011 in connection with the shooting of an LAPD helicopter that pierced its fuel tank on Easter Sunday (4/24/2011).

He was charged with two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, two counts of  assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic firearm, one count of shooting at an occupied aircraft and one count of carrying a loaded firearm as part of a street gang with the allegation he personally discharged a firearm.

If convicted, Lopez could face a maximum term of life in prison. He was being held in Los Angeles County jail in lieu of $2.24-million bail.

The LAPD helicopter was fired on after the pilot responded to a report of gunshots in the 15700 block of Saticoy Street about 6 a.m. Officers who arrived in patrol cars saw San Fernando Valley resident Danny Lopez shooting at the copter from a yard. Family members eventually tackled Lopez and held him until his arrest. A semi-automatic rifle was recovered.

The helicopter had to make an emergency landing. No one was injured.

Lopez is facing some serious charges. The possibility of spending his life in prison is high. In a serious and severe situation like this, one must seek to find an experienced, seasoned, skilled, and an extremely aggressive attorney that will fight for the best results possible.

We at Hedding Law Firm place every effort to get our clients the best results possible. Our client's best interest is our top priority.

Our Firm has handled thousands of criminal matters over the years, ranging from DUI to murder, to white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country. We are well respected and well known.

Contact us for a FREE and strictly confidential no obligations consultation.

Let us be your advocate.

Ventura County authorities have arrested a father and son and a third man who allegedly stole two assault rifles, a dozen other firearms and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition during a burglary of an Ojai home earlier this month.

The hoard of weapons, which included an AR-10 and a SKS assault rifle with a high-capacity magazine, had been legally purchased and stored in a gun safe, which sheriff's officials believe the suspects took to a Ventura welding fabrication shop to be cut open.

Brian Teasdale, 41, and his 18-year-old son, Nikolas, were arrested Wednesday April 20, 2011. A third man, Anthony Lindsey, 39, a felon previously convicted on narcotics and  weapons charges, was also taken into custody during a search of his home on Friday.

Both Teasdales have been charged with first-degree residential burglary, and Brian Teasdale also was charged with two counts of unlawful transfers of firearms. Lindsey remains in custody and faces additional charges involving a felon possessing a firearm, and possessing a firearm while in possession of methamphetamine.

These are some very serious charges and can result in huge fines and imprisonment.

Click on this link to learn more about weapon charges http://www.federalcriminaldefenseadvocates.com/Areas_of_Practice/Weapons_Charges.aspx

We at Hedding Law Firm have a combined 75 years of experience dealing with these types of charges.

We place every effort to get the best results possible for our clients.

Contact us at Hedding Law Firm for a FREE face to face consultation. Let us be your advocate.

A man apparently attempted to kidnap a 16-year-old girl driving through the southwest Riverside County city of Winchester by blocking a street with traffic cones and then trying to grab the girl when she stepped out of her car.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, suspecting it was not an official roadblock, she stopped the car to move the cones. A man wearing a hooded sweatshirt then jumped out of some nearby bushes and tried to grab the girl. She pulled away, jumped into her car and sped away.

The man jumped onto the hood of the car and rolled off as the girl accelerated. The suspect fled the scene. The girl was not injured.

Investigators said the California Highway Patrol had received three other calls about juveniles pulling pranks with roadway cones in the same area. But officers were unable to locate the perpetrators.

Attempt

Attempts can include attempted murder, attempted robbery, attempted rape, attempted assault, attempted arson, and a host of other crimes.

The person accused cannot attempt to commit murder with an unloaded gun or attempt rape over the telephone.

The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself.

Assault

Aggravated Assault

The punishment for criminal assault is a fine, imprisonment, or both. Penalties are more severe when the assault is aggravated.

 
If you or someone you know is being charged with attempt, assault, or any other state or federal crime, we at Hedding Law Firm want to help.

At Hedding Law Firm we are committed to providing zealous representations, with only our clients' best interests in mind, and promise to make every effort to obtain the best result possible.

Our Firm has handled thousands of criminal matters over the years, ranging from DUI to murder, to white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

Dmitriy Sheyko, 21, a transient known to frequent the Hollywood area, is suspected of breaking into Temple Israel in the 7300 block of Hollywood Boulevard on April 14, 2011 and a nearby grocery store. Los Angeles Police have arrested him.

Investigators were able to link him through physical evidence to the burglary and fire at Temple Israel and another burglary at the Fresh and Easy in Hollywood.

In the synagogue case, LAPD investigators say Sheyko placed several items, including a pine cone and animal skin, on a desk in the building and set them on fire with a candle. He also allegedly scorched a couch inside.

Detectives said they did not believe the incident was a hate crime, but it led to a heavy law enforcement response at the temple, which includes a school, out of what LAPD officials described as an abundance of caution.
It came just days after an explosive device was detonated at a Santa Monica synagogue. Responsible for that was Ron Hirsch, 60, who was wanted in connection with the Santa Monica Chabad House explosion, was apprehended in Ohio after allegedly fleeing California.

Los Angeles Police continue to investigate.

Burglary

Possible Penalties for Burglary
•Jail Time
•Probation and electronic monitoring
•Fines and court costs

Burglary Sentencing

There are several factors that may be taken into consideration in the court during sentencing for burglary. One of the most important factors is if the burglary was done with a weapon or if any other crimes or offenses were committed during the break and enter. Typically the age and prior criminal record of the accused will also be taken into consideration. In most areas and states even a first offense of this type of crime will result in a significant charge that typically will include jail time or a very lengthy and highly specified type of probation

Arson

Arson is categorized into 1st degree (homes, schools, churches), 2nd degree (unoccupied structures, vehicles), and 3rd degree (personal property). Since arson is a crime against possession, not ownership, it's possible for a person to be charged with burning their own house, or committing arson against themselves.

Possible penalties for Arson

If the arson:
•Causes an inhabited property to burn, you will face 3-8 years in prison
•Causes great bodily injury to someone, you will face 5-9 years
•Is committed on a structure or forest land you will face 2-6 years
•Is committed on uninhabited property you will face 16 months-3 years

If you or someone you know is being charged with the crime of burglary or arson we at Hedding Law Firm want to be your advocate and help you in your time of need.

We have a skilled and experienced team and our federal criminal defense attorneys will place every effort to get you the best results possible. Our client's best interest is our top priority.

Contact us for at  Hedding Law Firm for a FREE face to face consultation.

On the night of Sunday April 17, 2011, 24 year old Keisha Marshall was kidnapped out of her home by ex-boyfriend Rashaun Bailey, 27.

Marshall suffered a severe nose bleed from the assault and had left a trial of blood in her home. She was treated at a local hospital for a fractured skull, a possible concussion, and multiple bruises.

The former couple had a history of domestic violence.

Bailey drove into a police parking lot in Simi Valley shortly before 5 p.m. Monday and was taken into custody without incident

Under federal and state law, kidnapping is commonly defined as the taking of a person from one place to another against his or her will, or the confining of a person to a controlled space.

Kidnapping charges and penalties will vary from state to state, however in general this is considered a felony in all areas. If an individual is bodily injured or dies during a kidnapping event the felony charge of murder in the first degree can be included in the charges.

 Possible Penalties for Kidnapping
•Jail time with parole
•Jail time of life without parole
•Probation
•Parole
•Restitution
•Registration as a sexual offender - sexual assault cases

If you or someone you know is charged with kidnapping, we at Hedding Law Firm want to help you get your criminal matter under control. We place every effort to get the best results possible keeping our client's best interest priority.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation. Let us be you advocate.

2 High School Students Get Robbed

On the morning of Monday April 18, 2011, a boy and a girl were walking to Port of Los Angeles High School and were approached by two men with a gun. The two men, flashing their gun, demanded the boy's and girl's backpacks, took them, and ran away. No one was injured.
Shortly after the crime, two men were arrested on suspicion of robbery. The backpacks were recovered but the weapon was not found.

Home Invasion Robbery

Authorities are searching for three men who carried out a home-invasion robbery near the University of Southern California on Tuesday April 19, 2011.
The suspects knocked on an apartment door in the 700 block of 27th Street around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday and forced their way inside.
The victim reportedly locked himself inside a bathroom while the men went through the apartment.
Investigators say the three suspects stole two PlayStation game consoles and an Xbox game as well as an undisclosed item from inside a safe.
The resident was not badly injured but was seen wearing an eye patch because he may have been struck in the face during the attack.
Authorities are still searching for the suspects.

Looking at the two news articles above, it is evidence that robbery is separated into degrees, which may mean stricter penalties.

Robberyis a felony, punishable by a term in state or federal prison.  Robbery is the direct taking of property, including money from a person through force, threat or intimidation.

California Penal Code Section 211 defines  robbery, which reads:

"Robbery is the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear."

"Armed robbery" involves the use of a gun or other weapon which can do bodily harm, such as a knife or club, and under most state laws carries a stiffer penalty (longer possible term) than  robbery by merely taking.

First degree robbery occurs where the defendant acts in concert with two or more other people for the purpose of committing a robbery in an inhabited dwelling house, vessel designed for habitation, trailer coach, or the inhabited portion of any other building. Robbery in the first degree is a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6, or 9 years. In all other inhabited structures not defined above, the punishment is imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 6, or 9 years.

Second degree robberyencompasses all other types of robbery, which are punishable in the state prison for 2, 3, or 5 years.

Common Defenses for Robbery
• Duress
• Force used in Self-Defense
• Lack of Intent to Permanently Deprive
• Abandonment of the Property
• Property Not Taken from Person or their Presence

If you or someone you know has been charged with robbery, contact us at Hedding Law Firm. We are committed to providing zealous representations, with only our clients' best interests in mind, and promise to make every effort to obtain the best result possible.
We will gather and contest all the evidence presented agaisnt you.

We are experienced in handling a wide variety of criminal offenses and have established a solid reputation with state and federal prosecutors and judges.

Contact us for FREE face to face consultation.

A 23 year old man was arrested Monday April 18, 2011 under the suspicion of driving under the influence. While this man was driving, he failed to stop at a stop sign. He hit and killed a 42 year old man while walking east on California Street in Walnut Park, CA around 1 a.m.

The suspect continued driving down the street and collided with a brick wall and overturned. He was taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood with minor injuries, Connolly said. He was later arrested on suspicion of DUI and manslaughter.

It was not clear if the victim died at the scene or at a hospital.

This 23 year old man is now on arrest in suspicion of aDUI and vehicular manslaughter, very serious charges that can result in huge fines and prison time.

According to Penal Code 191.5, the penalty for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, with gross negligence is up to 1 year county jail, or 4, 6 or 10 years state prison. With one or more priors of this or certain other vehicular felonies, one can face up to 15 years to life in state prison.At Hedding Law Firm we have dealt with thousands of similar cases and have seen great results. We place every effort to get our clients the best results possible. We will gather and contest all the evidence presented against you.

If you or someone you know is being charged with a DUI or vehicular manslaughter  contact us at Hedding Law Firm and let is help you in your time of need.

A jury in Van Nuys finds Martin Sotelo, a Latino, guilty of first-degree murder with two special circumstance allegations, murder due to the victim's race, and murder in a drive-by shooting, in the slaying of a black bowling alley worker back in 2008.

• Fir st Degree Murder is the unlawful killing that is both willful and premeditated, meaning that it was committed after planning or "lying in wait" for the victim.

Sotelo was also found guilty on other allegations, including evading officers after the shooting, and of second-degree robbery related to a separate incident.

• Robbery is the unlawful taking away of personal property from a person by violence or by threat of violence that causes fear.

Sotelo's lawyers insisted their client harbored no prejudice against blacks and had no intention of committing a hate killing on Dec. 22, 2008, the night the victim, James Shamp, was killed. But prosecutors said Sotelo was seeking bragging rights and trying to live up to his gang moniker, "Outlaw," when he willfully participated in the murder.

Background

Shamp, 48, a married father of two, was taking out the trash at the Canoga Bowl when Latino gang members pulled up in a car. Sotelo was behind the wheel.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Akemon of the Hardcore Gang Division said Sotelo helped fellow Canoga Park Alabama gang member Richard Bordelon gun down Shamp "in cold blood because of the color of his skin, in a display of senseless violence and a complete disregard for human life."

In March 2010, Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Martin Herscovitz sentenced Bordelon to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 47 years to life, after he admitted being the shooter in Shamp's killing. Bordelon was also ordered to pay $14,386 in restitution.

A juvenile defendant, who was 15 at the time, also reached a deal with prosecutors and was sentenced on a juvenile-conspiracy charge.

• A 'conspiracy' is an agreement or a kind of 'partnership' in criminal purposes in which each member becomes the agent or partner of every other member.

A third defendant, Orlando Perez, a 25-year-old Latino, pleaded no contest to a charge of accessory after the fact to murder and was sentenced to three years and four months in state prison.

• Whoever, knowing that an offense has been committed, receives, relieves, comforts or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment, is an accessory after the fact; one who knowing a felony to have been committed by another, receives, relieves, comforts, or assists the felon in order to hinder the felon's apprehension, trial, or punishment

The defense attorney argued that his client, who has African American friends and had even dated a black woman, did not harbor prejudice against blacks and was not seeking to kill them.

The plan was not to commit a racial crime, but to get some money, the defense attorney argued, asking the jury rhetorically: "How many African Americans would you expect to find at a bowling alley in the San Fernando Valley?"

But jurors rejected his argument, convicting Sotelo on all counts.

Sotelo faces life in prison without the possibility of parole and is expected to be sentenced May 17, 2011.

If you or someone you know is being charged with murder, conspiracy, or any criminal charge contact us at the Hedding Law Firm.

We are an experienced, skilled, and reliable criminal defense firm.We place every effort to gather and contest all the evidence presented against you and our client's best interest is our top priority.

A suspected drunken driver who crashed into a car in Gardena, killing a 62-year-old man and a 6-year-old boy was charged Tuesday April 12, 2011 with murder.

Perry Lee Oakley Jr., 33, of Los Angeles could face life in prison if convicted of single counts of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death.

The charges stem from the death of Samuel Lee Dickens, a Compton man killed in the Saturday night crash. They are likely to be increased at a later date to reflect the Tuesday morning death of 6-year-old Sylvester Payne Jr., who was removed from life support at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Oakley, who had a prior conviction in 2001 for driving under the influence, allegedly ran a stop sign or pulled out from 141st Street onto Normandie Avenue as a Toyota Camry carrying the boy and his three uncles came along. Oakley, in an Acura, slammed broadside into the Camry.

Oakley fled the scene but returned 30 minutes later and told officers he had just left a party.

Detectives said he smelled of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test. His blood alcohol content on a breath test measured more than the 0.08 threshold for drunken driving.

Oakley, who had several other convictions on his record, including arson in 2010 and statutory rape in 1999, was held on $1.425 million bail.

Oakley, walking on crutches, appeared for his arraignment Tuesday April 12, 2011 in Torrance court. The proceeding was postponed until May 2, 2011.

At Hedding Law Firm we are committed to providing zealous representations, with only our clients' best interests in mind, and promise to make every effort to obtain the best result possible.
Our Firm has handled thousands of criminal matters over the years, ranging from DUI to murder, to white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country.

Contact us for FREE face to face consultation.  

Background

The explosion occurred about 6:45 a.m. Thursday April 7, 2011 outside Chabad House Lubavich, at 17th Street and Broadway in Santa Monica. The blast damaged a wall and sent approximately a 300-pound hunk of concrete, with a metal bar attached, into the air and through the roof of a house next door.

Authorities initially thought the blast was a freak accident. However, investigators, including federal agents, later found evidence allegedly linking Ron Hirsch to the crime. A post-blast investigation also revealed that the device appeared to have been deliberately constructed.  

Hirsch was believed to have boarded a Greyhound bus last Thursday to flee Los Angeles; the same day as the Santa Monica explosion.

A man using the name J. Fisher, a known alias used by Hirsch, purchased a Greyhound bus ticket to New York that was scheduled to arrive there on a Sunday April 10, 2011 after stops in at least 10 destinations.

Now he faces four felony counts as Los Angeles County and federal prosecutors seek his extradition from Ohio, where he was arrested Monday and is scheduled for a court appearance at U.S. District Court in Cleveland for Wednesday April 13, 2011.

The FBI said Hirsch, also known as Israel Fisher, is known to spend time seeking charity from synagogues and other Jewish community centers. Hirsch is known to beg outside synagogues, including Congregation Bais Yehuda on North La Brea Avenue.

Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Ron Hirsch, 60, with one count each of explosion with intent to murder, use of a destructive device and explosive to injure or destroy,  possession of a destructive device near a public place and  possession of a destructive device near a residence.

The charges, which could carry a potential life prison term, were filed shortly after Hirsch was charged in federal court with flight to avoid prosecution for damaging or destroying a building involving the non-injury blast that broke windows and tore a hole in a building last week.

These are extremely serious charges and we at Hedding Law Firm will help you get your criminal matter under control.

Our Firm has handled thousands of criminal matters over the years, ranging from DUI to murder, to  white collar offenses as well as Federal matters all over the country.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded Monday April 11, 2011 to an 11:24 p.m. call of a fight outside the club on Sunset Boulevard, where several men hit and kicked a man on the ground, sheriff's officials said. Two of the assault suspects then got into a car and hit the two pedestrians as they drove out of the parking lot.

Two men are now in custody for allegedly assaulting a man outside the Whisky a Go Go club in West Hollywood, getting into a car and running down two pedestrians then leading deputies on a pursuit that ended with a deputy firing a round from his pistol because one of the suspects pointed a dark object at the officer (according to the officer). The shot didn't hit anyone and the suspects surrendered.

The victim of the fight and one of the pedestrians were hospitalized in critical condition. The other pedestrian was treated and released.

The driver, identified as Eduardo Gomez, 20, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence causing injury and is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bail. His passenger, 18-year-old Jesus Gomez, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.

An assault with a deadly weapon charge is what's known as a wobbler. A "wobbler" is a crime that, depending on the circumstances, prosecutors can choose to file as either a misdemeanor or a felony. With respect to a California  aggravated assault charge, this decision is primarily based on three factors:

1. The type of weapon or instrument used to commit the alleged assault,

2. Whether the person whom you allegedly assaulted sustained an injury (and if so, the severity of the injury), and

3. The nature of the victim (that is, whether the alleged victim an officer, firefighter, or other "protected" person).

Many innocent people in California get wrongfully accused of assault with a deadly weapon and get a felony on their record when in actuality it is a misdemeanor or perhaps not even considered to be assault with a deadly weapon.

Contact us at Hedding Law Firm and give us the opportunity to help you fight these charges. We will carefully and diligently gather and contest all the evidence presented against you.

Also at Hedding Law Firm we have successfully handled thousands of DUI cases in all Los Angeles Courthouses and we are dedicated to our clients to get the best results possible.

Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

After two deadlocked murder trials, a third jury convicted an alleged gang member Monday April 11, 2011 of murdering three people, including a 10-year-old boy, on a South L.A. street in what became known as the 49th Street Massacre.

Among the victims was David Marcial, 10, who had been riding his bicycle with his 12-year-old brother outside their home on the 1100 block of East 49th Street; his uncle, Larry Marcial, 22; and a neighbor, Luis Cervantes, 17. David's brother was shot but survived.

Ryan T. Moore, 37, was convicted of murder, attempted murder and  conspiracy in the 2006 attack, which shocked the city and was part of a series of high-profile interracial gang crimes that stoked fears of a possible race war.

Last year, a jury found Charles Ray Smith, 42, guilty of the murders but could not reach a unanimous verdict on whether he should be executed.

Smith's retrial in the death penalty phase of his case is expected to take place in the summer. The prosecution's case against both men revolved around a key witness, Alicia Merceron, who admitted driving the car in the two killings. She identified Smith and Moore as the gunmen.

Defense attorneys have accused Merceron, 27, of lying to save herself from the death penalty or a lengthy prison term. In exchange for her testimony, prosecutors allowed her to plead guilty to manslaughter, and she is expected to be sentenced to seven years in prison.

The gunmen, armed with AK-47 assault rifles, mistook the victims as rival gang members in a bloody feud between two local gangs.

The jury now must decide whether Moore should receive the death penalty. Previous juries deadlocked, voting 7-5 and 10-2 in favor of convicting Moore.

These are very serious criminal charges and a conviction of these charges can change your life and the lives of your family. The penalties can be as serious as to 25 years to life in prison.

If you or a loved one has been charged with murder, attempted murder, or conspiracy contact us at Hedding Law Firm and let us be your advocate. Our skilled team will gather and contest all the evidence presented against you and will strive to get you the best possible results. Help us help you get your criminal matter under control.

Sean Paul Delacerda, 27, a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, is charged with using a firearm in April 2010 to assault his ex-girlfriend after accusing her of cheating, according to the Orange County district attorney's office.

Delacerda was relieved of duty in April 2010 without pay, pending the outcome of the criminal trial, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore.

Delacerda allegedly entered the home of the woman, whom he had dated for two months, without her permission. She was not home at the time. When the woman arrived, Delacerda pulled out the gun, loaded one bullet into the cylinder and forced the woman to show him her e-mails. The woman attempted to escape as Delacerda was reading the messages.

Delacerda then tackled the woman, climbed on top of her and covered her mouth as she screamed. He then put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger -- it clicked but failed to fire, according to prosecutors.

Delacerda then purportedly pointed the weapon at the woman and pushed her into a closet while he continued to read her e-mails. She finally escaped in her car and drove away as he chased after her.

Delacerda is charged with one felony count each of assault with a firearm,  kidnapping and false imprisonment by violence, as well as a misdemeanor count of domestic violence battery. Opening statements are scheduled to begin at the courthouse in Fullerton on Wednesday April 6, 2011.

If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges of battery, assault with a weapon, kidnapping, false imprisonment, domestic violence find an attorney that will be your advocate.

Contact  Hedding Law Firm for a FREE face to face consultation. We will evaluate the facts and give you honest advice and opinions regarding your case. Our criminal defense attorneys have a combined 75 years of experience and have been successful in many of these types of cases.

A Los Angeles County judge dismissed criminal charges Monday April 4, 2011 against a man who spent more than 20 years behind bars for a murder he insists he did not commit.

Five of the six witnesses who identified Francisco "Franky" Carrillo in court as the gunman in a fatal drive-by shooting withdrew their testimony last month.

Though Carrillo's conviction was overturned three weeks ago, prosecutors could have required a retrial, but the district attorney's office asked Judge Paul A. Bacigalupo of the Superior Court in Compton, CA on Monday to dismiss the charges.

The case against Carrillo centered solely on the word of six teenage boys who had been standing with the victim on Lynwood Street in 1991 when the gunman drove by. One jury deadlocked 7 to 5 in favor of acquitting Carrillo, but a second jury found him guilty. He was sentenced to two life terms.

After his arrest at age 16, he recalled that he was desperate to prove to a jury that he had nothing to do with the fatal drive-by shooting he was charged with. Then came the guilty verdict and a life prison sentence.

Last month, five of the six witnesses testified they had not clearly seen the gunman. Among the five witnesses who withdrew their testimony was the victim's son, who said he made his identification because one of his friends at the scene said he recognized Carrillo as the shooter. That friend also withdrew.

Brentford Ferreira, a supervising prosecutor with the L.A. County district attorney's office, said the withdrawal made it impossible to proceed with the case.

"There's no evidence left for a retrial," Ferreira said.

If you are a loved one is facing federal criminal charges you need an attorney that can gather the appropriate evidence for your case and use it effectively in your favor.

Our skilled legal team will investigate the facts surrounding your case, contest evidence presented against you, and place every effort into your defense.

Contact Hedding Law Firm in Los Angeles, CA today for a FREE face to face consultation. Let us be your advocate!

Two arrests have been made Wednesday March 30, 2011 in the murder of a University of Maryland student, who was gunned down in his off campus apartment back in January 2011.

Stephan Weaver, 22, of Bowie and Deandre Ricardo Williams, 23, of Washington, D.C. in the homicide of 22-year-old Justin Vance Desha-Overcash that occurred in College Park, Maryland. 

Detectives have determined the motive to be robbery. Both suspects have been charged with First-Degree Murder. Weaver has been remanded to the Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on a no bond status. Williams was arrested in Washington, D.C. with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department and is currently awaiting extradition.

Background

On January 11, 2011 officers responded to the 8800 block of 38th Avenue in College Park for a report of a shooting. Williams shot DeSha-Overcash twice in his home and Weaver was an accomplice.

DeSha-Overcash was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said they recovered marijuana, a digital scale, and drug packaging materials from the home, indicating that DeSha-Overcash was selling drugs.

The shooting stemmed from an alteration during an attempted drug robbery.

If you or someone you know is being accused of federal criminal charges,  contact the  Hedding Law Firm today to set up a free consultation.

Our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys will meet with you face-to-face and gather all the information pertaining to your case. We will evaluate the facts and give you honest advice and opinions regarding your case. Our  criminal defense attorneys have a combined 75 years of experience and have been successful in many of these types of cases.

A 42-year-old Oakland man, Marco Velasquez, was arrested April 1, 2011 in Chula Vista on suspicion of kidnapping a woman in the Northern California city and held on to her for 15 hours, beating her and stuffing her in the trunk of her car as he drove toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

The victim told police that she and Marco Velasquez had once had a relationship but had separated and that he tricked her into a meeting Thursday.

In the police report she said Velasquez held her at knifepoint, blackened her eyes, knocked out several teeth and then bound and gagged her. He allegedly threatened to kill her once they got to Mexico.

Instead, she managed to remove the gag and, talking through the back seat of the car, persuaded Velasquez to stop at a hospital in Chula Vista so she could receive care before they continued to Mexico.

Hospital officials called police about 4:30 a.m. April 1, 2011.

Police arrested Velasquez while he sat in the waiting room. He was charged in Alameda County with nine felony counts of  kidnapping, false imprisonment, sexual assault, terrorist threats and domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is being accused of criminal charges, contact the  Hedding Law Firm today to set up a free consultation.

Our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys will meet with you face-to-face and gather all the information pertaining to your case. We will evaluate the facts and give you honest advice and opinions regarding your case. Our criminal defense attorneys have a combined 75 years of experience and have been successful in many of these types of cases.

Barry Bonds' former assistant, Kathy Hoskins, testified Thursday March 31, 2011 that she saw Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, inject him in the stomach, contradicting what Bonds told a grand jury.

Hoskins said Bonds hired her informally in 2001 to do his shopping and packing for him. Hoskins said she shopped for Bonds from 2001 until 2003 and also packed for him for road trips.

She testified that she saw Anderson at Bonds' house during the times she packed for him. Bonds and Anderson often went into an office alone for a few minutes and on one occasion they did not go into a different room and Bonds told Anderson, "This is Katie. That's my girl. She's not going to say anything".

After Anderson injected Bonds, Hoskins said that Bonds said, "That's a little something something for when we go on the road".

Hoskins wept on the stand, saying she had not wanted to testify. She said her older brother, Steve Hoskins, a key prosecution witness, had told the FBI about her after he and Bonds had a falling-out over money. Hoskins said she told her brother about the injection the day after it happened.

She said her brother "threw me under a bus. That is why I am here."

Anderson, who served time behind bars for illegal steroid distribution, was jailed last week for refusing to testify at Bonds' trial. Anderson has served nearly two years in prison, most of it because he would not testify.

Bonds told the grand jury that Anderson gave him substances known as "the clear" and "the cream," which prosecutors said were steroids. But Bonds said that Anderson told him they were flaxseed oil and arthritis cream.

Also testifying Thursday was Dr. Arthur Ting, Bonds' orthopedic surgeon. Ting's testimony cast doubts on statements made earlier by two key prosecution witnesses, Steve Hoskins and Kimberly Bell, Bonds' former girlfriend.

On Wednesday, retired baseball player Randy Velarde, who last played for the Oakland As, testified that he was injected with human growth hormone by Barry Bonds' former personal trainer during a series of a parking lot meetings in 2002.

If you or someone you know is facing federal charges,  contact our office today to set up a free face-to-face consultation.

Our theft attorneys will look into all the facts pertaining to your unique case and all the evidence contested against you and we will help you and answer any questions you may have.

At the Hedding Law Firm we will work hard to get the best possible solution for your case. 

Marvin Mercado, 37, the co-founder of the Asian Boyz gang was sentenced on Wednesday March 30, 2011 to life imprison without parole in connection with at least eight slayings and ten shootings in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.

Some History

The Asian Boyz gang grew out of a meeting between Mercado, the shot caller, and fellow Cleveland High School student Sothi Mehn. Their circle grew over the years and by the mid 1990s the Asian Boyz were 200 strong with the bulk of the gang members in Southern California and affiliates in Northern California and Texas.

The gang initially participated in property crimes but their downfall began when they started targeting rivals which turned into robberies, burglaries, shootings, and killings.

Mercado was living in the Philippines under an assumed name when he was arrested in 2007 and brought to Los Angeles to face justice.

Mercado was convicted of first-degree murder in the slayings of:

-- Armando Estrada and Miguel Limon, two rival Latino gang members who were shot numerous times after being ambushed at an apartment complex on Valerio Street in Van Nuys on April 14, 1995.

-- Cheng Peng, Paul Vu and Ben Liao, who were mistaken for members of a Taiwanese-based gang. They were followed by three carloads of Asian Boyz gang members as they left a Peck Road cafe, got on the westbound San Bernardino (10) Freeway and then attacked near the Temple City Boulevard offramp in El Monte on Aug. 1, 1995.

-- Oscar Palis, who was killed on Aug. 26, 1995, at Woodman Avenue and Devonshire Street in the Mission Hills area as he and others were heading home from a video arcade.

-- John Gregory, who was fatally shot during a Sept. 20, 1995, home-invasion robbery in Reseda.

-- Tony Nguyen, who was killed with a shotgun the prosecutor said was fired by one of Mercado's accomplices.

Jurors also convicted Mercado of 10 counts of attempted murder involving attacks between April 1995 and September 1995, but acquitted him of an 11th count of attempted murder. They deadlocked on a home invasion  robbery charge.

Additionally, jurors found that the crimes were gang-related and that Mercado had personally used a firearm in some of the attacks. The panel also found true a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, which made Mercado eligible for the death penalty.

Mercado now is sentenced and required to serve eight consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole in addition to 200 years to life.

At Hedding Law Firm we understand that a situation like this may seem hopeless and we are here to fight for you and help you.

If you have been charged with a violent crime such as murder, burglary, robbery, battery, assault, etc., contact the  Hedding Law Firm at (818) 986-2092 today!  Our skilled legal team will investigate the facts surrounding your case, contest evidence presented against you, and place every effort into your defense. 
At the Hedding Law Firm, we are dedicated to our clients and their cases.

Owner of South Los Angeles Business Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme

Marlon Oslvaldo Palma, 40, the co-owner of South Los Angeles Santos Medical Supply company that fraudulently collected nearly $2 million from Medicare for unneeded electric wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment was sentenced on March 28, 2011 to five years in prison.  

Palma and five other people arrested along with him faced charges of conspiracy and Medicare fraud. Palma pleaded guilty in March 2010 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He admitted to bilking the Medicare program by submitting claims for $5000 power wheelchairs and other medical equipment along with other fraudulent schemes (patient information, bogus prescriptions) and submitted nearly $3 million worth of  fraudulent claims to Medicare which paid out $1.8 million.

The rest have all pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges and three are still awaiting sentencing.

In the United States, Medicare fraud is a general term that refers to an individual or corporation that seeks to collect Medicare health care reimbursement under false pretenses. There are many different types of Medicare fraud, all of which have the same goal: to bilk money from the Medicare program. The Medicare program is a target for  fraud because it is based on the "honor system" of billing.

Fraud (Medicare, mail, identity theft, forgery, embezzlement, etc.) is a serious criminal offense and we at Hedding Law Firm understand that a situation like this can be a nightmare and turn your life upside down.

We have been involved withFederal cases in Los Angeles that involve hundreds, thousands and even millions of dollars.

Contact  Hedding Law Firm in Los Angeles, California today for skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney to aggressively defend these charges for you.

The 26 year old Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Mario Henderson was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm without a permit the morning of March 24 ^th  in Fort Myers, Florida.

He was originally pulled over by police for a noise ordinance violation. His black Chevy Impala was allegedly playing music too loud.

According to the police report, Henderson's windows also had a dark tint and three passengers in the vehicle failed to wear seat belts.

There was a gun in the vehicle. The gun in question is a Smith and Wesson 9 millimeter, which was wedged between the driver's seat and center console according to the report.

He did not have a permit for the weapon.
Henderson has not made any comments.

A significant number of illegal weapons possessions charges result from illegal searches and other violations of individual's rights. A weapons charge can become very complicated and the type and severity of the charges one can face has a connection to personal circumstances (i.e. where you were, whether the gun was loaded, whether it was concealed).

A weapons charge derives not only from a possession/ownership of a firearm but also from items such as stiletto, ballistic knife, switch blade, any double edged bladed knife, a slingshot, brass knuckles, etc.

If you or a loved one is dealing with a weapons charge it is crucial and imperative that you choose a skilled, experienced, and persistent criminal defense attorney to challenge all the incriminating evidence against you.

Contact  Hedding Law Firm today for a free face to face consultation. 

What is Conspiracy:

Title 18 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 371

If two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner of for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years or both. 

If however, the offense, the charge of which is the purpose of the conspiracy, is a misdemeanor only the punishment for such  conspiracy shall not exceed the maximum punishment provided for such misdemeanor.

The actual crime is not necessary to prosecute a conspiracy case - only the stated intent to break the law. This means that even if the ultimate crime was not committed, the conspirators can be prosecuted under federal law.

So what must the prosecution show beyond a reasonable doubt is:

1. An agreement.
2. An unlawful object (ie, a criminal offense).
3. Knowledge and intent.
4. An overt (obvious) act in furtherance of the conspiracy.

As to overt acts, acts to further the conspiracy, the Government may misconstrue or take out of context and our goal as defense attorneys is to show that the defendant did not engage in any act to further the objectives of the conspiracy.

The best defensive argument for a conspiracy charge is to show a lack of agreement. The prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was an agreement and that each person to the agreement knew that the objective of the agreement was to commit a crime.

Another effective and strong defense to the crime of conspiracy is to convince the court that the defendant withdrew or abandoned from the conspiracy.

To make the defense of withdrawal or abandonment, a defendant must satisfy the following conditions:

1. A defendant must take some positive action to withdraw from conspiracy;
2. A defendant must make a timely communication of the withdrawal with the co-conspirators;
3. A defendant must make the withdrawal prior to completion of conspiracy's object;
4. A defendant must prove that there was a sufficient interval between the withdrawal or abandonment and commission of the conspiracy.

A conspiracy charge is a serious crime. A knowledgeable criminal defense attorney will explore the charges and explore the options in fighting for the defendant.

If you or a loved one has been charged with the crime of conspiracy contact  Hedding Law Firm for a free face to face consultation. Our staff is well seasoned and experienced and we will fight your case for you by giving careful attention and care to your needs. 

§ 1324. Bringing in and harboring certain aliens

(a) Criminal penalties

Under federal law, the penalties for possession, manufacture, or delivery a Schedule one controlled substance range as high as a $100,000 fine and 99 years in prison, depending on how much of the amount is seized by federal officials.

If you or someone you know is being charged for possession, manufacture, or delivery of a Schedule 1 controlled substance it is crucial that you hire an experience and qualified federal criminal defense attorney. The attorneys at the Hedding Law firm have a combined 75 years of experience in these types of cases. Contact our office today to set up a free face-to-face consultation.

United States v. Booker, was a United States Supreme Court decision that had to do with criminal sentencing. The court's decision was that the Sixth Amendment right to jury trial requires that, other than a prior conviction, only facts admitted by a defendant or proved beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury can be used to calculate a sentence, whether the defendant has pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. The maximum sentence a judge may impose is a sentence based upon the facts admitted by the defendant or proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.

The provision of the federal sentencing statute that required federal district judges to impose a sentence within the Federal Guidelines range was struck down by the Court in a split-majority ruling. This ruling was a result of a ruling made six months earlier in Blakely v. Washington, in which the Court had imposed the same requirement on a guidelines sentencing scheme that was used in the state of Washington. The Blakely decision came from Apprendi v. New Jersey, where the Court held that, except for prior convictions, any fact that increases the defendant's punishment above the statutory maximum punishment had to be presented to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

In modern sentencing, the "statutory maximum"  is the greatest sentence the judge can impose based solely on the jury's factfinding. If any facts are presented exposing the defendant to punishment above the guideline range, they must be submitted to a jury and be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

If you have been charged with, or are under investigation for, any federal crime contact our office today. The skilled federal crimes attorneys at the Hedding Law firm have a combined 75 years of experience, we will give your unique case the attention, resources, and dedicated legal counsel that it deserves.