Grand Rapids Criminal Defense Law Blog

CEO of advertising company faces white collar crimes charges

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.

People in Michigan interested in matters related to digital advertising may be aware of a case in which the CEO of a company in another state was charged with multiple fraud counts. This case of white collar crimes followed extensive investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The defendant is a 32-year-old Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of a company that deals with digital marketing.

Court documents indicate that the defendant marketed "shoppable media," in which his company places digital ads on various websites. What makes it stand out is the facility allows shoppers to complete an online purchase without being directed to another website. The criminal complaint alleges that the defendant provided false information in his quest to get investors to provide capital worth more than $1 million. It is further alleged that he also provided false information to secure bank loans.

Priest indicted in federal court on white collar crimes

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.

A Russian Orthodox priest is accused of embezzling funds from different parishes in another state where he worked over several years. Although a grand jury indicted him on 10 counts of mail fraud, people in Michigan and elsewhere will know that an indictment is no more than a formal charge and accusation of a serious crime. Anyone indicted on federal charges on white collar crimes or other crimes is entitled to a fair trial.

According to court documents, the priest was in various positions, including director, administrator and pastor, at three different religious facilities between 2014 and 2018. The alleged embezzlement totals more than $250,000, made up of approximate amounts of $35,686.97, $70,404.32 and $187,898.38 from the three parishes during his employment there. Furthermore, he is accused of continuing to use a credit card of one of the churches after his termination, spending approximately $2,035.06 on personal expenses.

Father and daughter face federal white collar crimes charges

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Wednesday, November 18, 2020.

Michigan residents will know that business endeavors do not always go as planned. This is underscored by a case in another state in which a father and daughter's plans to open a restaurant brought them nothing but legal problems. Alleged white collar crimes led to a recent federal indictment.

According to court documents, the 38-year-old woman and her 70-year-old father signed a lease, which promised the opening of a family restaurant in a shopping center. However, federal prosecutors say nothing came of their plans. It is alleged that the leased premises remained empty, and contractors were left unpaid.

Contracted hospital employee arraigned on felonies

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Felonies on Saturday, November 14, 2020.

Police in Port Huron, Michigan, reported the arrest of a man accused of setting off explosives with the intent to frighten. According to court documents, the 59-year-old man is a contracted worker at McLaren Port Huron Hospital. He was arraigned on the felonies on a recent Sunday.

In an arrest report, police allege the man placed explosives in the trashcans at the hospital. At approximately 3:45 p.m. on a Wednesday, he allegedly set off three explosive devices. According to police, the damage caused was insignificant, and nobody was injured. However, the loud sound of the explosion terrorized and frightened the people inside the hospital building.

Drug trafficking can lead to mandatory minimum sentencing

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC on Thursday, November 12, 2020.

It is believed that illicit drugs and the people who peddle them represent significant threats to the people of the United States. That's why it's such a serious concern if you're accused of participating in a drug crime. Whether you're just in possession of drugs or you're accused of dealing, it's important for you to realize that you could face serious repercussions.

Depending on the type of drug you have in your possession, you could face anything from a misdemeanor charge to a felony. You could face time in jail or spend your life in prison. The penalties vary significantly, so it's important to talk to your attorney about what to expect in your case and how to mitigate the potential for heavy fines or significant prison sentencing.

White collar crimes involving unemployment and stimulus funds

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Thursday, November 5, 2020.

Many people in Michigan and across the country rely on the U.S. government to provide financial assistance during these difficult times. However, several cases have been reported in which individuals allegedly committed white collar crimes to get some of those funds that were intended for others. One such case in another state involved a 24-year-old woman indicted on 17 counts by a federal grand jury.

According to court documents, the accused woman allegedly ran two separate fraud scams during 2019 and 2020. She is accused of obtaining the personal information of about 20 people and used that information to claim unemployment benefits using those individuals' identities. Some of the benefits she received were in the form of debit cards, which were mailed to addresses she controlled under assumed names. She allegedly activated the debit cards and used the funds for personal enrichment.

White collar crimes indictment follows 1991 conviction

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

Michigan people interested in federal cases might follow the case involving a man in another state who served time behind bars in 1991 and was recently indicted again in federal court. His previous conviction was for similar white collar crimes with which he is charged this time. As previously, he is accused of involvement in a plot to defraud the U.S. federal government.

The recent indictment involves 19 charges involving $4 million. According to prosecutors, he formed several shell companies under fake identities to get contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense. Court documents show allegations that the man rigged the bids by submitting multiple bids in shell companies' names to compete with each other. Reportedly, this happened after the U.S. government barred two of his companies from participation in the procurement program.

White collar crimes: Woman faces fraud charges re veterans

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Monday, October 26, 2020.

Michiganders who are interested in veterans' matters may have heard something about the fraud charges recently filed against a 59-year-old woman from another state. A federal grand jury indicted the woman for white collar crimes against veterans. Reportedly, the woman operated a service providing assistance and care to veterans.

White collar crimes: Counselor faces health care fraud charges

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

Michigan people who follow cases involving Medicaid fraud might know about the charges filed against a professional counselor in another state. The man facing federal charges for alleged white collar crimes was a guidance counselor at an adult education facility. Following his arrest on health care fraud charges, the accused man was placed on leave.

The 36-year-old licensed professional guidance counselor allegedly obtained the Social Security numbers and students' birth dates by gaining access to a database. Further allegations say he used the information to identify those who were insured by Medicaid. The U.S. Attorney's office says he billed Medicaid for counseling that allegedly never occurred.

Preventing health care fraud from leading to criminal charges

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC on Sunday, October 11, 2020.

As a medical provider, filing reimbursement claims for Medicaid and Medicare is probably a routine act. Sometimes, mistakes will be made when it comes to the cost of medical equipment, services and medication, or with respect to a patient's personal details.

If you make a genuine mistake on a Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement form and this is identified, it may alert the attention of the federal government. In recent years, the federal government has been engaging in an aggressive war against health care fraud. Therefore, if you give an address for a patient that is identified to be false, this may alert the attention of investigators, and you may find yourself needing to defend yourself against accusations of fraud. The following are things that you can do to prevent the situation from escalating.