In the U.S., citizens are accused of crimes every single day
With a population of over 330 million, it should come as no surprise that people in the United States are accused of criminal activity.
Though it is of course the responsibility of the prosecution in any case to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed by the accused, criminal defense attorneys such as ourselves do all we can to maintain an awareness of some of the more notable cases happening across the country, due to their potential to create new precedents, the severity of the alleged crimes, and in some cases, for their relative novelty.
Here are just some of the cases that caught our attention at the tail-end of 2021.
October 2021: Maryland and DC residents convicted and sentenced for their role in multi-state dog fighting conspiracy
According to the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, three men spearheaded a multi-state dog fighting operation over a three-year period. The network of animal cruelty took place in New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
The three men, according to court records, were accused of breeding, training, selling, transporting, delivering, receiving, as well as sponsoring and exhibiting the dogs with the intent of using the animals for illegal organized fighting activities. A variety of other equipment was discovered during the investigation, largely used for training, breeding, and other veterinary-oriented activities.
The men, whose sentences ranged from 18 months to one year and one day in prison, were found to be in violation of provisions of the Animal Welfare Act, as well as other criminal activities.
November 2021: New Jersey Man Is Sentenced to 41 Months In Prison for Assaulting Law Enforcement During the Capitol Breach on January 6th, 2021
According to court records, a Stockholm, N.J. man traveled to Washington D.C. to attend a political rally. After attending the rally, the man walked to the nation’s Capitol grounds, climbed scaffolding outside of the building, and followed a crowd responsible for forcibly pushing themselves through a police barricade.
The man then took possession of a police baton and later shoved and punched a Capitol police officer, unprovoked.
Approximately two weeks after the January 6th Capitol breach, the New Jersey man was taken into custody. The man pleaded guilty in August of 2021 and was sentenced to 41 months in November of 2021. In addition to prison time, the man was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and will be on supervised release for three years after his release from prison.
Of the nearly 700 individuals arrested (so far) for conduct associated with the Capitol breach, over 200 of those people have been charged with assaulting police officers.
December 2021: New Jersey Bank’s Former Chief Lending Officer Makes False Statements to the SBA, Is Sentenced to 18 Months In Prison
A Pennsylvania man who secured federal guarantees on loans based on falsified statements about their creditworthiness was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The man, at the time of making those false statements to the Small Business Administration, was the chief loan officer of a New Jersey-based bank.
According to officials, the man exploited a federal lending program designed to incentivize banks and other lenders in loaning money to small businesses, with a provision on those loans outlining a 75% backed guarantee on those loans.
Officials stated that a consulting firm working in association with the New Jersey bank submitted paperwork to the SBA with information included therein that the chief lending officer knew was false. Nonetheless, he reviewed and signed the documents.
Not only will the man serve prison time, but he has been ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his jail time, and must pay $3.17 million in restitution.
I need a criminal defense attorney — what do I do?
If you find yourself at a legal crossroad, and your freedom is in jeopardy, then it is absolutely vital that you secure a trusted, experienced, and effective criminal defense attorney.
The Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot, in practice since 1971, has passionately and successfully mounted an aggressive defense for defendants in New Jersey and New York City.
We’re a well-supported firm, with professional, courteous staff, talented paralegals, and dogged attorneys devoted to protecting your constitutional rights.
When you’re in need of legal help, time is of the essence! Do not delay. Contact us today for your confidential consultation. When your freedom is on the line, the Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot is the criminal defense team you can turn to. Call now!
