Syracuse Criminal Law Blog

Are you under investigation for health care fraud?

November 29, 2017

As with many other types of white-collar crimes, health care fraud cases often begin long before official charges enter the picture. Understanding what can lead to investigation and knowing the warning signs can help you take timely action to protect yourself. Generally, health care fraud consists of purposeful misrepresentation, such as using the wrong codes for procedures, double-billing and other types of activities designed to get higher reimbursement than the provider

Know your rights and what to expect at DWI checkpoints

September 3, 2017

If you tend to have a few drinks with some friends and drive a short while afterward in New York, it is important for you to know your rights at DWI checkpoints. If you do not learn them, you could find yourself with a DWI charge and the significant consequences that result. DWI checkpoints are usually placed where there is a high suspicion of intoxicated driving. Officers can question motorists

Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

September 2, 2017

A criminal conviction may have an impact in a person’s life even after the person has served their sentence and resumed living a law-abiding life. Beyond the social impact of having a criminal record, a conviction can have a number collateral consequences that can negatively impact someone’s life. These consequences are varied, are often long-lasting (sometimes permanent) and in some cases have more serious consequences that the actual sentence that

New York’s drug offenders need treatment, not incarceration

June 4, 2017

If you are like many of New York’s drug offenders facing criminal charges, the charges may have arisen because of your addiction itself, not because you are prone to engaging in illicit or criminal activity. Recognizing that many drug offenders commit crimes in an effort to feed their addictions, many states have enacted drug court programs, which aim not only to hold criminal offenders accountable but to also treat the

How a lawyer can help you with your DWI case

March 9, 2017

If you have been arrested for a DWI in New York, you probably have some idea of what you can expect. With today’s widespread access to information, many people even assume they can handle a minor case on their own just fine. Why pay a lawyer to do something you can do yourself? Assessing the case against you The answer is, even an ordinary first-time DWI can have many aspects

What to Do if There is a Warrant Out for Your Arrest

March 4, 2017

Being arrested on a warrant can be an unsettling event. Moreover, having the police knock urgently on your door and demand entry, often in the early morning hours, can not only be disturbing, but dangerous, to you and your family. The police are wary about who they may encounter and what danger they may face, and often come in force and heavily armed. People who wake up to yelling and

How Auto-Brewery Syndrome can affect your life

December 29, 2016

When it comes to cases of driving while intoxicated, even one citation can ruin your life. A DWI ruling can mean hefty fines, jail time and a permanent criminal record that can prevent you from getting into certain schools and applying for certain jobs. While drunk driving is considered a crime, some drivers feel that they were not intoxicated when charged with the violation. There could be several causes of

The Supreme Court Holds That Evidence Obtained After an Illegal Stop May Be Admissible

June 23, 2016

In an unfortunate turn, the United States Supreme Court recently held that evidence obtained as a result of an illegal police stop may not have to be suppressed in a subsequent trial of the person who is stopped. This decision broadens the exceptions to the general rule that if police illegally obtain evidence against a person, that evidence cannot later be used against him or her criminally. After this decision,

Limited Driving Privileges After Driver’s License Suspension

June 19, 2016

Losing your license as a result of a conviction for driving drunk is a common consequence throughout the country, including in New York State. Additionally, a driver’s license may be revoked for refusing to submit to testing that would allow police officers to measure the driver’s blood alcohol content. Once a person’s license is suspended or revoked for a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) conviction or chemical efusal, the person will have

Intoxication as a Defense

June 11, 2016

When some people have had too much to drink or were under the influence of drugs, they say that they were “not themselves.” That is, that any actions they took while in an intoxicated state were influenced by the drugs or alcohol, and were not something they would usually do. When criminal acts are involved, the intoxicated person may argue that there should be no criminal liability because he or she