Grand Rapids Criminal Defense Law Blog

Felonies: Michigan man facing charges after recent incidents

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Felonies on Monday, September 28, 2020.

Michigan police are continuing an investigation of a string of events that occurred after they were to called to a business location just before 9 a.m. on a recent Monday. The officers were told that a vehicle had just been stolen while the car's owner was inside the business. Police reportedly saw the vehicle in question travel past their location while they were conducting preliminary investigations. A 32-year-old man is now facing several felonies in connection with the stolen car and other incidents.

Police say they believe the man who allegedly stole the car is the same person who drove onto US-127 and caused a collision with another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle had to be transported to a nearby hospital after suffering serious injuries in the crash. Investigators say that the stolen vehicle was found abandoned. The man they believe had been driving it was located at a nearby pond.

Husband and wife indicted on various felony charges

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Felonies on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

Facing health-care fraud charges in Michigan and other states could have severe consequences. One such a case in another state involves a husband and wife, both practicing chiropractors. A federal jury recently indicted the couple and eight other individuals on various felony charges. It is alleged that the acts of fraud date back to 2011.

Court documents show allegations that the chiropractors helped patients to obtain disability benefits by exaggerating the severity of their medical conditions. Furthermore, they are accused of arranging for patients to undergo unnecessary tests and medical treatment that bolstered their medical records. Eight others, some of whom were patients, were also indicted.

Former county prosecutor faces white collar crimes charges

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

Federal criminal charges were recently filed against a former prosecutor in Macomb County. Reportedly, the defendant plans to plead guilty to white collar crimes charges of federal obstruction of justice. The charges arose from the former Michigan prosecutor's attempts to cover up the theft of $70,000.

According to court documents, the defendant used $70,000 of campaign funds for personal enrichment, and he then sought to have assistant prosecutors help to conceal the theft. It is alleged that the former prosecutor asked one underling to create documents to substantiate a phony $20,000 payment for consulting fees as a part of campaign expenses. Furthermore, the underling was directed to conceal the truth about $50,000 in rent payments, while the funds were directed to the defendant's account.

Understanding the laws on cocaine trafficking

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC on Saturday, September 12, 2020.

Drug trafficking is considered to be one of the most serious crimes that you can commit. This is because drug addiction is a huge problem across the United States, and it leads to huge bouts of deaths. In addition, addiction is believed to fuel crime and petty theft. Due to the seriousness of the crime of drug trafficking, it is considered to be a federal crime, which means that the laws are decided by Congress, and they apply to all states.

Drug trafficking is also a felony crime, meaning that serious penalties are brought about if a person is found guilty. If you have been accused of drug trafficking, it is vital that you understand the law as well as how you can go about defending yourself.

10-year-old girl's death leads to felony charges against driver

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Felonies on Thursday, September 10, 2020.

Following a fatal Michigan car accident in July, the driver who allegedly caused the death of a 10-year-old girl is now facing felony charges. According to court documents, the accident occurred in an intersection in Warren on July 25. Prosecutors claim that the reckless driving of the defendant caused the young girl's death.

Reportedly, the mother and child were in a car heading home when a truck smashed into them. It is alleged that the 60-year-old driver disregarded a red traffic light and caused the collision. According to police officers who responded to the crash, there was a backhoe on the truck's bed.

White collar crimes: 3 who allegedly posed as pastors indicted

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in White Collar Crimes on Thursday, September 3, 2020.

Although most people nationwide, including Michigan, know to steer clear of Ponzi schemes, there are frequent reports of people losing millions after investing their money with the hopes to getting high returns. A federal indictment that was unsealed recently alleges that three men committed white collar crimes by posing as pastors and convincing people in their congregations to invest millions of dollars. Facing charges for white-collar-crimes is serious, and the alleged fraudsters will likely seek skilled legal counsel.

According to the indictments, three men, ages 35, 40 and 61, ran the alleged Ponzi scheme. The charges against them include money laundering, securities fraud and wire fraud, involving money raised from about 1,200 investors. They allegedly pretended to further God's mission through their sermons by helping the causes of religious charities. However, federal investigators claim they used the investors' money to maintain their lifestyles and fund private jets, luxury cars and vacations. The funds were also used to pay other investors.

Child development center director accused of white collar crimes

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

When times are difficult, as they are these days, some people in Michigan and elsewhere might take steps they would not have taken had they not been so desperate. In one such case in another state, a 40-year-old woman was recently charged in federal court with committing white collar crimes. She is accused of embezzling over $311,000 from a child development center where she worked.

According to law enforcement authorities, she was indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud. Reportedly, she was an executive director in the child development center's accounting department. She stands accused of using her position to misappropriate funds meant for the account of her employer.

Woman facing felony charges after fatal head-on crash

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Felonies on Thursday, August 20, 2020.

One decision can change a person's life forever. Some individuals may make a choice without even realizing that they could be setting their life on a completely different path. Unfortunately, some decisions can lead to negative outcomes, such as felony charges.

One woman in Michigan is likely going over the details that led up to the incident that resulted in her arrest. According to reports, the 29-year-old woman allegedly drove a vehicle the wrong direction at approximately 3 a.m. last month, and while driving, she reportedly collided head-on with another vehicle driven by a 28-year-old man. The incident resulted in the man being thrown from his vehicle, causing fatal injuries, and he was declared dead at the accident site.

Stalking charges in Michigan come with harsh penalties

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC on Friday, August 14, 2020.

Stalking is a criminal act that can lead to serious problems. It's imperative that anyone who is trying to remain in contact with a loved one or friend do so in a lawful manner.

There are several things that can be construed as stalking, so understanding the ins and outs of the Michigan laws pertaining to this is essential. If you're currently facing charges for stalking, you need to find out the potential penalties you're facing because there are different types of stalking.

Man on death row applies for DNA tests on 1988 evidence

On behalf of The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC posted in Post-Conviction Matters on Tuesday, August 11, 2020.

Michigan people who follow cases in which DNA testing proves the innocence of convicted individuals might be interested in this case. A man with intellectual disabilities is on death row, awaiting his scheduled execution in December. He petitioned for post-conviction relief on two occasions, in 1992 and again in 1998. Both these applications were denied.

At the time of his conviction in 1988, the man was only 20 years old. The court found him guilty on charges related to the stabbing and murder of a woman and her daughter, who was 2 years old at the time. The woman's 4-year-old son was also stabbed, but he survived. The convicted man has maintained his innocence for more than 30 years. He claims to have reacted to a woman's cries for help when he came upon the murder scene.