Williamsport Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Law Blog

Any type of criminal charge is sure to have serious, far-reaching consequences on assorted aspects of the defendant's life. Even white-collar crime on the federal or state level can result in major life changes, especially if a conviction occurs. As a result, swift action is wise for those facing federal crimes or white-collar crime in Pennsylvania.

Unfortunately, many business professionals are not as familiar with white-collar crimes as they should be. As such, they may unknowingly engage in unethical or illegal activities. Below, you will find several examples of common white-collar crimes, which could result in state and/or federal charges.

• Securities fraud (e.g. insider trading)
• Insurance and Medicaid fraud
• Mortgage fraud
• Business scams (e.g. Ponzi schemes)
• Money laundering
• Forging of documents
• Stealing another party's intellectual property (e.g. copyright infringement)
• Tax evasion
• Embezzlement, extortion and larceny

Those charged with drug violations in the state of Pennsylvania face the possibility of severe consequences if a conviction occurs. To most, it feels as if these charges are impossible to overcome. However, by partnering with an experienced defense lawyer, you can create a sound legal strategy that may help you avoid jail and other penalties.

While there are many different defense strategies you can choose from, it is critical to ensure that the one you select matches the details of your case. For example, say that you are alone in your car, and the police pull you over. During a search, they find a bag of marijuana in your pants pocket and arrest you for drug possession. Since you are alone, claiming that the drugs do not belong to you may not be the best strategy.

In many ways, the 21st century is a model of ongoing enlightenment. For example, more and more people are coming to realize that taking a person's life for alleged criminal behavior is something that requires careful thought. People are also starting to understand that many elements can complicate homicide and death penalty cases.

A person's mental health, for instance, can play a significant role in their alleged involvement in serious crimes. Further, there is a widespread consensus that racial issues have influenced many cases in which defendants received the death penalty.

People in Pennsylvania generally have the right to possess a firearm and there are many people who own guns. However, there are a number of restrictions on that right. People need to register the firearms and have a license if they want to carry them. Also, there are ways in which people can lose their right to possess them. Typically, people who have committed certain felonies and other crimes of violence are prohibited from possessing firearms.

Specifically, people convicted of crimes stated in the statutes are prohibited from possessing guns. These crimes include but are not limited to, aggravated assault, burglary, felony sexual assaults, felony robbery, stealing a motor vehicle, drug crimes that would result in at least two years in prison, people convicted of at least three DUIs in a five-year period and others. In addition to those convicted of certain crimes, people who have been declared incompetent and those with active protection from abuse orders cannot possess firearms.