Archive for February 2016
Prostitution: One of the oldest crimes
On January 28, 2016 Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance announced the conviction of Damon Hayes, 45, for running a sex trafficking operation in January, 2014. The ring included Yolanda Ostoloza, 41, who was charged separately, and her 15-year-old daughter, whom Hayes had forcibly trafficked. The New York jury found him guilty of all charges in…
Read MoreNew York State Domestic Violence Laws
New York State law defines domestic violence as: “A pattern of coercive tactics, which can include physical, psychological, sexual, economic and emotional abuse, perpetrated by one person against an adult intimate partner, with the goal of establishing and maintaining power and control over the victim.” In essence, a person is guilty of domestic violence in…
Read MoreIdentity Theft: Role-playing can cost you
On January 21, 2016 Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. confirmed the indictment of Chester Taylor, Daniel Persaud, and nine other defendants for making over $700,000 worth of fraudulent bank withdrawals. Because they allegedly impersonated legitimate account holders to access the money, they were (in addition to other offenses) charged with Identity Theft in…
Read MoreMotor vehicle theft: Not so cool in reality
Motor vehicle theft is a crime that has been aggrandized in rap songs, video games (Grand Theft Auto), and other aspects of popular culture. In New York State, however, stealing any car valued greater than one hundred dollars, whether it is a banged-up Chevy or a mint-condition BMW, will likely get you arrested for violating…
Read MoreWhat is femicide?
Female homicide, or the murder of women, is what is known as “femicide.” Some scholars argue that the term should only refer to gender-biased killings while others include that categorization in the term “gendercide.” In 2009, there were 13,636 victims of homicide in the United States. The FBI has found that approximately three times as…
Read MoreWhat impact does jury selection have for my criminal case?
If you speak to your New York criminal defense attorney and determine that you will, in fact, be pursuing a jury trial, then it may be beneficial for you to understand how important jury selection is and how it can influence the ultimate outcome of the case. In order to prepare for jury selection, your…
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