Jesus Quinonez, a former Mexican law enforcement official pled guilty in U.S. District Court to aiding members of a violent Tijuana-based drug cartel by participating in a racketeering conspiracy. He also pled guilty to helping drug traffickers cover up two homicides in 2010.

Quinonez worked as international liaison for the Baja California state attorney general's office. He worked closely with U.S. officials and was accused of sharing confidential information with traffickers.

In his plea, he also admitted to conspiring to launder $13 million dollars for the ring.

His conviction marks the 38th among 43 defendants named in the federal racketeering complaint alleging murder, kidnapping and other crimes.

These are some very serious crimes that the federal government takes very seriously. Fortunately, our Los Angeles Federal Attorneys know the way around the federal court room procedures and laws. Our Firm is a well known and well respected firm. We care about our clients and do everything we can to get the best possible results.

If you happen to be facing a criminal charge out of federal court, do not worry and call our Federal Lawyers in LA. We will sit down with you and discuss all your available options and the approach we will use for your case further in detail.

Free face to face consultation.

An online narcotics marketplace known as "The Farmer's Market," run through an anonymous virtual network, facilitated sales of illegal drugs to 3,000 people in 34 countries and every single state in the U.S

Authorities made arrests on three continents in connection with the case.

The network generated more than $1 million in sales in less than three years and offered a variety of illicit substances including Ecstasy, LSD and high-end marijuana.

Lead defendant Marc Willems, a Dutch national, was arrested by local law enforcement at his home in Lelystad, Netherlands. A second defendant, an American living in Argentina, was arrested as he was leaving Bogota, Colombia.

Six others were also indicted as suppliers or as cash drops for the proceeds.

Payments were made through services including Western Union and PayPal and routed through overseas locations such as Budapest, Hungary, and Panama, according to court papers.

During the arrest, hashish, LSD and, Ecstasy and found plots of psychotropic mushrooms and marijuana were seized.

The defendants face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to launder money.

The distribution charge carries a maximum of life imprisonment.

Facing criminal charges, such as drug offenses, in federal court has life altering consequences. Federal laws and courtroom procedures are strict and an aggressive, experienced Federal Defense Attorney can work that system.

Our Los Angeles Federal Lawyers are well known and well respected criminal attorneys and we have had our share of experience in federal court. We can help you if you are facing a federal crime and we guarantee our dedication and guarantee to do whatever we can to get you the most favorable results.

Contact us to 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.

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

Some firefighters incurred minor injuries.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Nazar Al Bussam, 72, a drug-dealing doctor who was once California's top prescriber of narcotic painkillers and other commonly abused drugs was sentenced to seven years in federal prison on Wednesday October 5, 2011.

U.S. District Judge S. James Otero imposed the sentence after telling the court he had a Times article that linked Al Bussam to the deaths of three patients to whom he had prescribed drugs and two other people who had drugs prescribed by him in their possession. The prosecutors brought the article to the judge's attention.

Authorities did not discover those deaths during their three-year probe of Al Bussam, who they said generated nearly $2 million in cash while recklessly prescribing addictive narcotics to drug addicts and dealers.
Al Bussam stated that many of his prescription pads were stolen.

According to the prosecutors, Al Bussam gave his patients the drugs they asked for and he also recommended additional addictive drugs to undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents posing as patients who said nothing to indicate they needed them.

Additionally, some of the prescriptions he wrote were for quantities and combinations of pills that were potentially lethal even if taken as directed; a prosecution medical expert would testify to this fact.

Al Bussam's attorney, acknowledged the crime committed but also acknowledged the fact that not all of his patients were drug addicts and how Al Bussam was a good man and he would help patients who could not afford medical care.

In any case, Al Bussam now has to serve a seven year sentence in federal prison.

A federal crime carries serious and harsh penalties and an experienced federal defense attorney is an important tool. Our L.A. federal lawyers have the experience, skill, and knowledge that qualify us to defend you.

If you or someone you know is facing a federal crime contact our Los Angeles Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation. We know how the federal system works and we guarantee a competent representation.

Fifteen people - including a physician, a pharmacy manager and gang members - have been arrested in a conspiracy to smuggle prescription drugs into Mexico from Los Angeles by strapping thousands of pills onto human mules on August 20, 2011.

Tyron Reece, an Inglewood physician who admitted to regularly writing fraudulent prescriptions for commonly abused medications - including hydrocodone was arrested last week on charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs by writing out fake prescriptions and charging $60 per prescription.

Along with Reece, 14 people were arrested, including a pharmacy manager and gang members.

Members of the ring allegedly organized by Anthony Wright, 67, filled the prescriptions at Dabney's Pharmacy in South Los Angeles (manager Charles Dabney) and failed to report them to the state attorney general's office, as is required. Then the pills were smuggled into Tijuana that netted more than $400,000 in  a period of six months.


November of 2010, agents arrested a woman transporting 8,200 hydrocodone pills. About a week later, agents stopped a car at the border and found 3,700 hydrocodone tablets strapped to a purported ring member's abdomen. On another occasion, border agents discovered more than 3,200 prescription pills taped to a smuggler's abdomen.

In all, authorities have seized more than 18,000 pills during the operation.

This particular investigation has been an ongoing state-federal investigation. Depending on which level the crimes are charged, if you are facing conspiracy and/or prescription drug fraud charges you will be facing excessive fines and prison time.

It is very important that you contact a defense attorney immediately to get on your case.

Our lawyers in L.A. have the experience and skill to defend you. The federal (as well as state) government takes conspiracy and prescription drug fraud crimes very seriously.

We know how the prosecutors work and think and we are confident that ourdefense attorneys in Los Angeles will effectively represent you.

State and federal authorities spread out across six Northern California counties in recent weeks in a broad attack on marijuana farms in U.S. forests.
The Mendocino National Forest is under attack by

The latest effort, called Operation Full Court Press, targeted 56 growing sites. Authorities seized 1,500 pounds of marijuana, 27 guns, and 11 vehicles, Haag said.

The 900,000-acre forest - larger than Rhode Island - spans six counties in a region of mountains and forests known as the Emerald Triangle for its high concentration of pot farms. Agents raided more than 50 gardens teeming with trash, irrigation pipes and chemicals that damage forestland and waterways.

The operation also confiscated fertilizers, chemical pesticides and rat poison, and with the aid of the U.S. Forest Service, 23 tons of trash and 22 miles of irrigation pipe were removed; 13 man-made dams remain to be taken apart.

The effort involved more than 300 people working for 25 local and federal agencies.

Illegal drug organizations have grown pot in California forests - from the Cleveland National Forest in Southern California to the Klamath National Forest in the far north - for decades. But local, state and federal authorities have stepped up abolition efforts in recent years.

In 2008, 2.5 million marijuana plants were eradicated from national forests in California, almost five times the number destroyed in 2004, according to the National Center for Drug Intelligence.  

California is the national focus of such efforts; 80% of all plant eradication in U.S. forests occurs in the state.

When a person is arrested for drug trafficking , he/she may be charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony drug offense at the state level, federal level, or both.  The severity and classification of the person's drug charges will usually depend upon:

■the type of drug trafficked

■the amount of drug trafficked

■if the crime was committed domestically

■if the crime was committed internationally

■the person's criminal background

■if the person has had prior drug crime convictions

The penalties for a drug trafficking conviction range from long-term imprisonment to large fines.  For this reason, any person who has been charged with drug trafficking should always consider retaining the services of a knowledgeable drug defense attorney who is familiar with both state and federal drug laws

Our lawyers in L.A. understand the devastating impact a conviction for federal drug trafficking can have on you, your family and your loved ones.  We have handled thousands of federal drug cases for our clients over the many years that we have practiced federal criminal defense.    
We are so confident in our abilities that we want you to schedule a free face to face, absolutely confidential, no obligation consultation with one of our attorneys in L.A.

Contact our drug lawyers in Los Angeles 818-986-2092

Kenneth Lucas II, 27 was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for his role in a "phishing" ring based in U.S. and Egypt and for overseeing a marijuana-growing operation that was featured on YouTube.

What is phishing?

The act of electronic communication (email, telephone) to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.

The electronic communication directs the user to visit a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has.

The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user's information.

Lucas was sentenced Monday June 27, 2011 for growing marijuana at his home. He pleaded guilty to 49 counts of bank and wire fraud.

He was sentenced Friday for leading the domestic arm of an international hacking operation.  

Federal prosecutors said Lucas posted videos on YouTube showing an highly structured system of fans, indoor lights and ventilation equipment. Authorities found 100 plants at his Baldwin Hills home in October 2009.

One hundred people were charged with sending emails that pretended to be as legitimate requests from banks and asked that customers enter personal information on bogus websites. As part of the scam, millions of these so-called "phishing" messages were sent out using automated programs.

Victims in California, Nevada, North Carolina, Maryland and Egypt allowed hackers to access their bank accounts and lost more than $1 million.

When it comes to defending a Federal Criminal case in Los Angeles or elsewhere in the federal system, it is important to realize that cases are dealt with differently than in the State Court Criminal Justice system.  How federal criminal cases are investigated, filed, prosecuted and sentenced is something that should only be dealt with by a seasoned federal criminal attorney.

Our lawyers in Los Angeles are well seasoned in this area and we know the all the ins and outs of the federal system.

If you are being charged with a federal crime, it is very important that you obtain a defense attorney to help you get your matter under control.

Our lawyers in Los Angeles have unmatched credentials.

Contact us and set up a free face to face case evaluation.

It's pretty common these days for robbers to target homes where marijuana is being grown. A home in San Bruno, California growing 800 marijuana plants was robbed Friday April 29, 2011. 

It all began when neighbors heard loud banging coming from the women's home on Valleywood Drive, nestled in between Skyline Boulevard and Interstate 280.

Then they saw two men, later identified as Kitae Chae, 38, and Kenny Kong, 34, breaking down the front door and lingering inside for a few minutes before driving off in a BMW.

The neighbors called police, and officers who stopped the BMW in South San Francisco found the men with $12,000 in cash, marijuana packaging material and seven ecstasy pills.

When they arrived at the Valleywood Drive home, investigators found a substantial pot-growing operation: more than 800 marijuana plants, $3,000 in cash and a bypass through which electricity was being stolen from Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

Officers arrested the occupants; 72-year-old Aleen Lam and Virginia Chan Pon, 65. It's not Pon's first run-in with the law: She is already facing charges in Yolo County for allegedly passing more than $40,000 in bad checks over a three-day period at Cache Creek Casino.

The two women face a variety of drug charges, and Chae and Kong are accused of drug and  burglary counts. All four have pleaded not guilty and are being held at San Mateo County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail each.

Large-scale federal marijuana growing-operations charges are serious and carry severe consequences. As a federal offense, your case would be handled in the federal court system, which places strict sentencing guidelines on convictions. It is important that you retain a lawyer who has experience trying cases at the federal level.

Burglary

Burglary is typically defined as the unlawful entry into almost any structure (not just a home or business) with the intent to commit any crime inside (not just theft/larceny). No physical breaking and entering is required; the offender may simply trespass through an open door. Unlike robbery, which involves use of force or fear to obtain another person's property, there is usually no victim present during a burglary.

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

At Hedding Law Firm we understand the federal court system inside and out and have dealt with thousands of criminal cases ranging from  drug possession to  burglary to  robbery to  murder as well as  white collar offenses. We will evaluate your case from every angle to determine the best course of action.

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

Eleven members and associates of two Central Coast gangs were arrested Tuesday May 3, 2011 after being charged in federal indictments with drug trafficking.

FBI special agents and local police detectives penetrated the drug trafficking network of a Lompoc-based subset of the Six Deuce Brims Bloods and the Northwest (Santa Maria) street gang, the largest Latino gang on the Central Coast, which is affiliated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang.

The gangs are believed responsible for a significant amount of the region's narcotics dealings and firearms sales, as well as various violent crimes in the coastal communities.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles recently returned five indictments that charged a total of 10 defendants with conspiracy and distributing methamphetamine. Nine defendants named in the indictments were arrested Tuesday during dawn raids. One federal suspect remained at large.

Two others were arrested Tuesday morning on state violations in connection with the investigation, and two other state defendants were already in custody. They are expected to be prosecuted by the Santa Barbara County district attorney's office.

The nine federal defendants arrested are: Freddie Sutton, 51, of Oceano; Mike Shepherd, 50, of Santa Maria; Christopher DeLong, 50, of Arroyo Grande; Keshon Cole, 34, of Santa Maria; Randy Fuston, 29, of Santa Maria; Melvin Braddock, 40, of Santa Maria; Eduardo Sanchez, 27, of Santa Maria; Jesus Buenrostro, 23, of Santa Maria; and Sergio Godinez, 30, of Santa Maria.

The raids followed a year-long investigation. The nine arrested were charged in federal indictments with conspiracy and distributing methamphetamine; the others were wanted on state charges.  

These charges can result in heavy fines and long term prison time.

If you or someone you know is being charges with a drug offense or  conspiracy, we at Hedding Law Firm have the qualifications and experience to help defend your case.

We place every effort to get the best results possible.
Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.

In a federal court appearance more than a decade in the making, one-time drug kingpin Benjamín Arellano Félix pleaded not guilty Monday May 2, 2011 to a list of charges that identify him as the mastermind of the money-spinning and pitiless cartel that bears his family name.

He is charged under an indictment filed in 1997 and unsealed in 2003. It accused him of racketeering, money laundering and drug smuggling in the United States, and has been amended seven times since 1997.

Authorities allege the cartel generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, using the money to bribe Mexican military and law enforcement officials and to purchase weapons that enforcers would use to torture and kill enemies in Mexico and the San Diego area.

The effects of Arellano Felix's iron-fisted rule are felt to this day. Many families in Baja California are still searching for the whereabouts of people who disappeared during his years in power. The cartel popularized the use of chemicals to dispose of enemies, disintegrating bodies by dumping them into vats of lye and acid.

Arellano was extradited to the United States on Friday April 29, 2011 by Mexican authorities, who had arrested him in 2002 and convicted him in 2007 on organized-crime and drug-trafficking charges in that country.

Arellano is now on a high-security floor at the downtown San Diego federal jail, where he is locked in his cell 23 hours a day and has limited contact by phone and in person with outsiders.

Charges against him include conspiracy, money laundering, drug trafficking and organized crime.

Another hearing is set for May 23, 2011.

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.

The penalty for federal money laundering can up either a fine up to $500,000, or double the amount of money that was laundered, whichever is greater. The court is also authorized to sentence the defendant to a term of 20 years in federal prison.

Drug trafficking penalties depend on the type of drug being trafficked.
Here is a link to more information http://www.justice.gov/dea/agency/penalties.htm

Any person who commits an organized crime shall be liable upon conviction to imprisonment for a term of five years to 15 years and a fine of up to $500,000.

These are obviously some very serious charges that can turn your life upside down.

We at Hedding Law Firm have the qualifications and experience to help you if you are facing criminal charges such as these mentioned.

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.

We place every effort to gather and contest all the evidence presented against you striving to get you, our client, the best results possible.

More than 1,300 local and federal law enforcement officers arrested 80 alleged members and associates of the Rancho San Pedro gang early Thursday April 28, 2011 as part of a two-and-a-half-year investigation.

(The RSP gang's origins date back to the 1970s. Its membership includes 600 documented members, as well as more than 400 associates).

Authorities arrested 66 people for state weapons and drug violations, and 14 people on federal indictments.

The case began as a joint investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The overnight raids included personnel from the LAPD, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

 In all, more than 230 people are named in federal and state court documents that allege a number of crimes, including violent acts, firearms trafficking and drug trafficking.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has issued 12 indictments that name a total of 26 defendants alleged to have committed crimes including distribution of methamphetamine, illegal weapon sales and immigration offenses.

About half of the defendants named in the federal indictments face potential life sentences, and all but one face mandatory minimum sentences of at least five years in federal prison if they are convicted.

(for more information on mandatory minimum sentences click on this link http://www.federalcriminaldefenseadvocates.com/Areas_of_Practice/Sentencing_Guideline_Adjustments.aspx )

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office will prosecute about 145 defendants on state charges, including illegally possessing weapons and selling drugs ranging from methamphetamine to heroin.. Arraignments could begin as early as Friday in Long Beach Superior Court.

According to officials: Throughout the investigation, informants and undercover law enforcement personnel bought 90 firearms and about 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of crack cocaine, 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2 kilograms of heroin and 26 pounds of marijuana. This morning, authorities seized 14 additional firearms, a silencer, a small quantity of methamphetamine and cocaine, and 10 pounds of marijuana.

The Los Angeles City Attorney's office has also filed a gang injunction against the Rancho San Pedro gang that seeks to limit gang members' ability to associate with one another within a proposed Safety Zone that encompasses much of San Pedro.

The City Attorney's office has filed nuisance abatement actions against five commercial and residential locations, including a pizza parlor on Gaffey Street, all of which are associated with gang and narcotics activity. This is the first time a gang injunction and nuisance abatement lawsuits have been filed simultaneously in conjunction with the takedown of a major Southern California street gang.

These are some very serious charges. Weapons, drugs, possession, distribution, affiliation; the list goes on and on.

If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges we at Hedding Law Firm can help. 

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, no obligations, and strictly confidential consultation.

Let us be your advocate and fight for you.

Beatriz Flores, 31, was pulled over by sheriff's deputies on the night of Monday April 18, 2011 on GoldenValley Road and Robert C. Lee Parkway in Canyon Country due to a traffic violation.

Her 14-year-old and 11-year-old sons were in the vehicle. When officials searched her pickup truck, they found that her older son had six bags of heroin concealed in the groin area of his pants.

Authorities said Flores confessed to deputies that she told her son to hide the drugs, and hoping to gain their sympathy, she told them she needed to do it to pay rent.

She said that she's a single mother with four children and that she didn't have rent this month, and so she had asked someone to help her with the rent. They gave her this way to make money, to pick something up, a little package, and to transport it somewhere.

But deputies found evidence that she had not only been transporting drugs, but selling them too. They found $1,500 in cash in the vehicle. And during her booking at the sheriff's station, methamphetamine was found hidden in Flores' clothing.

Methamphetamine is common in the Santa Clarita Valley, but authorities say heroin use is becoming more prevalent, particularly among white youth.

If you are convicted of possessing or purchasing heroin for sale, you face a felony, punishable by two, three or four years in the state prison and the same maximum $20,000 fine.

However, you face an additional three to twenty-five years in prison, and fines that could total $8,000,000 if the weight of the heroin that you possess or purchase exceeds one kilogram.

Also, unless the judge/jury determines that you possessed or purchased heroin, but possessed or purchased it for personal use and not for sale, or your California drug crimes defense attorney negotiates a plea bargain for a personal possession charge, a less serious charge than a "possession of heroin for sales" charge, you will not be permitted to participate in drug diversion in connection with this offense.

If you or someone you know has been charged with possession and/or intent to sell illegal drugs, we at Hedding Law Firm want to be your advocate.

We have handled thousands of cases like this and have seen great results. Our client's best interest is our top priority and we place every effort to get the best results possible.

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

The "King of Heroin" a Mexican drug trafficker has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for smuggling large quantities of the narcotic heroin into the United States.

According to the Ventura County Star, Jose Antonia Medina Arreguin, 36, was sentenced Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court after pleading guilty last month to conspiracy to possess heroin for sale.

Also known as Don Pepe, Arreguin arranged for drugs to be transported across the border into California in vehicles with secret compartments netting up to $260,000 a week.

Arreguin's attorney states that he is very remorseful of the whole situation but regardless, he was sentenced 22 years in prison.

Drug offenses are very serious charges and can result in long prison terms. If you or a loved one has been charged with the crime of  possessing or selling illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine, take control of your criminal matter.

At Hedding Law Firm we place every effort to gather and contest all the evidence presented against you and strive to get the best results keeping our client's best interest as priority.

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

There was a survey conducted on Monday April 11, 2011 by a professional polling firm which revealed that a strong majority of California voters believe the possession of a small amount of an illegal drug for personal use should be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

The poll was released by the Drug Policy Alliance along with the ACLU of Northern California in San Francisco and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland.

It was found that almost 75% of California voters who are likely to cast ballots in 2012 are believers of reducing the crime of possession for personal use down to a misdemeanor.

Nearly a quarter of the voters surveyed said Californians caught with a small amount of an illegal drug for personal use should not spend any time behind bars, while 27% said they should be locked up for less than three months. Just 8% suggested incarceration for a year or more.

A majority of voters also said California sends too many people to prison. And almost 75% agreed that in the midst of a budget crisis, the state should instead use the millions of dollars spent to imprison drug users on schools, healthcare and law enforcement.

Support for reducing drug possession penalties crosses party lines, drawing favor from substantial majorities of Democratic, Republican and nonpartisan voters. Most voters in every region of the state also back the change. Voters also indicated they are more inclined to reelect state lawmakers who vote to reduce the penalties for drug possession.

In any case, Californians don't want to waste money on incarcerating people for drug possession. They'd rather see that money go for something else.

People are starting to take a stance against throwing people into prison for situations that can be handled differently.

If you or a loved one is being charged with a drug offense such as use or possession  contact Hedding Law Firm for a FREE face to face consultation.

We have handled thousands of drug offense cases and have seen great results.

Our Criminal Defense Attorneys place every effort to gather and contest all the evidence presented against you to get you the best possible results.

Contact  Hedding Law Firm today and let's take control of your criminal matter.

Sophisticated pot growing operation in Crestline has been uncovered.

Authorities served a search warrant on Eric Dennison's, 35 home in Crestline on Wednesday April 6, 2011. The search warrant was based on a traffic stop of Dennison's vehicle where a scale to measure drugs was found.  

As the search warrant was executed, authorities found 237 marijuana seedlings and cloned plants. The growing operation was well thought out and sophisticated. The plants were in a room with temperature controls and growing lamps. Additional to the 237 plants, a small amount of methamphetamine was found.

Deputies detained Dennison, who lived at the home. He was booked on suspicion of cultivating marijuana and  possessing methamphetamine and was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Large-scale federal marijuana cultivation charges are serious and carry severe consequences. As a federal offense, your case would be handled in the federal court system, which places strict sentencing guidelines on convictions. It is important that you retain a lawyer who has experience trying cases at the federal level.

At Hedding Law Firm we understand the federal court system inside and out and have dealt with thousands of drug charges. We will evaluate your case from every angle to determine the best course of action.

Contact Hedding Law Firm for a FREE face to face consultation

Federal agents and police raided six locations and seized thousands of plants.

The raid was part of a wider investigation into illegal marijuana growing operations and associated crimes within Los Angeles County.

Early Wednesday morning the FBI, Los Angeles Police and the DEA raided what officials call a pot-growing warehouse in an industrial park on the 16700 block of Schoenborn St. in North Hills.

Wednesday morning agents also raided what appeared to be a light-industrial building on the 8500 block of Canoga Ave. in Canoga Park. At that location agents bagged a huge amount of pot.

There were so many bags full of marijuana at the North Hills location that federal agents had to fill up several tractor-trailers to haul off the pot.

In all they targeted six locations throughout Los Angeles County. It was unclear if any arrests had been made during the raids.

While state and city laws recognize the legal use of marijuana as medicine, federal law bars its use for any purpose.

Outside of saying what agencies were involved in the enormous pot bust, federal authorities did not issue further comment. They did not reveal the amount of marijuana seized.

At the Hedding Law Firm, we have successfully handled a variety of drug offense cases, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies and Federal drug charges. 
We understand the adverse consequences people face when they are convicted of a drug crime. That is why we do everything we can to fight for our clients.

If you have been charged with drug offense, contact the Hedding Law Firm 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.

A federal indictment has charged 21 defendants with conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine and marijuana in Georgia and Florida.  Several of the defendants have also been charged with weapons charges.

Seventeen kilos of cocaine, about $318,000 in cash, four guns, and several vehicles have been seized by DEA agents and local narcotics officers since the investigation began in 2008.

The suspects conspired to distribute both powder and crack cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy in Glynn and Camden counties in Southeast Georgia and some unspecified communities in Middle Georgia and North Florida.

The charges consist ofpossession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

If convicted of the drug trafficking conspiracy charge, each defendant faces a  maximum statutory penalty of 10 years to life in prison and a potential fine of $4,000,000.

The possession with intent to distribute count carries a five to forty year prison term and a fine of up to $2,000,000.

These are serious charges and we at Hedding Law Firm in Los Angeles understand the severity of these charges. We have our client's best interest in mind striving always to get the best results.

If  faced with federal criminal chargescontact  Hedding Law Firm for a free face to face confidential 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.

On Tuesday March 22, 2011 authorities reported that Federal officers detained ropes and cords weighing 20 pounds saturated with cocaine at Los Angeles International Airport.

The ropes and cords were brought in March 15 by two U.S. citizens from Panama City, the Department of Homeland Security said.

Both men, ages 20 and 21, said they had bought the items from the swap meet and that they were planning to use the ropes on the fishing boat.

Both were arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance.

Authorities reported that the ropes and cords tested positive for cocaine.

At Hedding Law Firm we understand the seriousness of drug related offenses. Contact Hedding Law firm if you or a loved one is facing drug charges. We understand the penalties involved with these charges are rigorous and our skilled Los Angeles  criminal defense attorneys at  Hedding Law Firm will gather and contest evidence against you and place every effort in your defense.

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.