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Recent Blog Posts
Wire Fraud and Identity Theft Investigations Go Hand in Hand
Some criminal investigations go hand in hand, such that if you find yourself being investigated for one crime, it is likely that you will be investigated simultaneously for the other. This is the case with wire fraud and identity theft. A scheme to commit one is likely to involve the other because the criminal activities needed to commit wire fraud are usually also used to perpetrate identity theft. As both federal wire fraud and identity theft are serious crimes, an experienced Milwaukee, Wisconsin federal crimes defense attorney is here to defend your rights if you are being investigated for these crimes.
What Is Federal Wire Fraud?
Wire fraud involves defrauding someone using electronic communication including telephone text messages and online methods such as email or social media. It usually involves deceiving someone into sending money or sensitive personal information. For example, sending out phishing text messages seeking social security or bank account details and then using that information to make a wire transfer to yourself would constitute wire fraud.
Think Your Spouse is Lying About Their Income? Protect Yourself in Your Divorce
One of the biggest issues that will be determined in a divorce is the division of assets between spouses. For this reason, having accurate and truthful information about your spouse’s income and the rest of their assets is vital to ensuring that you receive a fair share according to the terms of the law.
If your spouse is hiding assets, it can impact what you receive in a divorce and add to the already significant stress of divorce. An experienced Wisconsin divorce law attorney can work on your behalf to ensure that your spouse does not get away with hiding any income or assets in the divorce.
What Does Wisconsin Law Say About Hiding Assets in Divorce?
Wisconsin is a community property state, meaning that any income earned by one spouse during marriage is owned by both spouses. During a divorce, a court will aim to divide the marital assets, income, and debt of the spouses equally. Wisconsin requires that spouses fully disclose their assets, and hiding assets in divorce is against the law.
Charged with Healthcare Fraud in Wisconsin? You Need a Lawyer
If you are a healthcare provider, a charge of healthcare fraud can have serious implications. Not only do you face potential criminal penalties such as jail time and fines, but the accusation can threaten your livelihood and reputation. If convicted of healthcare fraud, you could be excluded from participating in federal healthcare programs and even lose your license to practice medicine. These are serious charges that require the help of an experienced Milwaukee, WI attorney ready to defend you.
What Is Healthcare Fraud?
Healthcare fraud involves intentionally misrepresenting or providing deceptive information about medical claims. Usually, a healthcare fraud allegation accuses a doctor, clinic, or other healthcare provider of charging for services that were not provided or medically necessary in order to pocket the money.
Other examples of healthcare fraud include:
Can You Be Charged with Conspiracy Without Committing a Crime?
The crime of conspiracy is unusual given the fact that, even if you do not technically commit another crime, you can be charged with conspiracy to commit a crime if you start planning the crime and meet other elements of the criminal offense. That is because the crime of conspiracy is its own separate crime – for example, you could be charged with conspiracy to engage in price fixing, even if you were not charged with the crime of price fixing itself.
Federal law imposes criminal liability on conspiracy to commit certain white-collar crimes that are perpetrated in a business context. If you have been charged with the crime of conspiracy, you could face serious criminal penalties and reputational consequences. For this reason, it is important to consult with an experienced Milwaukee criminal law attorney who understands this complex area of law and knows how to build a strong defense.
Are Accusations of Domestic Battery Public?
If you have been accused of domestic battery, you may be concerned not only about the serious criminal penalties you may face, but also about the potential implications for your life and career if the accusations become public. The potential personal, reputational, and financial consequences of a domestic battery charge becoming public information are significant, especially if the accusations are false. That is why it is important to understand the complexities of this sensitive subject and how our experienced team of high-powered Milwaukee attorneys can defend you if you are facing a domestic battery charge.
Domestic Battery Charges and Penalties
Domestic battery is a type of domestic violence crime in Wisconsin. Domestic battery can be charged when a person commits physical violence or the threat of harm against (1) a spouse or former spouse, (2) an adult with whom the accused resides, or (3) a co-parent.
Six Unique Expenses in a High Net-Worth Divorce
Divorce can be a stressful process, but when high-value assets are at stake, it can be that much more complicated and expensive. For one, the assets involved in a high-net-worth divorce are worth a great deal of money. They can also be unique, encompassing anything from classic cars to intellectual property, to more traditional assets like real estate.
For another, high net-worth divorces can sometimes bring up privacy considerations due to the parties’ high profile. Given the complexity and cost of high-asset divorces, it is recommended to seek sound legal advice from a professional Wisconsin divorce attorney who can review some of the unique expenses associated with high-net-worth divorces.
Asset Valuation and Division
If the old adage "more money, more problems" is applicable to any situation, it is to high net-worth divorces. Specifically, the number, uniqueness, and value of assets in these types of divorces can make the process of evaluating them more involved and costly. The same goes for determining how these expensive assets should be divided; getting both spouses to agree to a property division settlement or persuading a court to divide the assets in a certain way can be a time-consuming and emotionally taxing process.
The Impact of Vehicular Homicide Convictions on Civil Liability
In Wisconsin, if you have been convicted of the crime of vehicular homicide, your liability may not end with the conviction. You may also face a separate civil lawsuit related to the conduct that led to the vehicular homicide conviction. This civil "personal injury" lawsuit may be brought to recover damages if you were convicted for the crime. A Wisconsin personal injury defense attorney can represent you if you are facing a civil lawsuit related to your vehicular homicide conviction.
What Is Vehicular Homicide in Wisconsin Criminal Law?
Under Wisconsin criminal law, vehicular homicide occurs when a driver causes someone’s death while operating a motor vehicle. A driver may be convicted of vehicular homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle law when they "cause the death of another human being by the negligent operation or handling of a vehicle," or for vehicular homicide caused by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Burden of Proof: The Meaning of Innocent until Proven Guilty
The idea that a criminal defendant is "innocent until proven guilty" has been drilled into the American public for decades. The phrase appears in virtually any movie or TV show about the criminal justice system. However, this phrase is more than just a platitude or lip service to the rights of the accused. It has actual legal weight and is vitally important for the outcome of a criminal trial. At its heart, "innocent until proven guilty" is an indication of which side – the prosecution – has the burden of proof in a trial. An experienced criminal law attorney can advise you on the burden of proof in your case if you have’ve been charged with a crime.
Burden of Proof, Explained
The burden of proof is a legal term for determining which side has to prove his or her case is correct. Innocent until proven guilty means that the prosecution is the side that has to bear the burden of proof. The prosecution must put forward affirmative evidence that shows the court that the defendant is guilty in order to have the defendant convicted. The lack of evidence absolving the defendant of guilt is not enough.
Protecting Your Privacy During High Asset Divorce
Making the decision to separate from your spouse can be a difficult process. Once you do make the decision, it will be helpful to think about how best to handle the separation and divorce proceedings. There are many factors to take into account, but one often overlooked but important issue is preserving your privacy during this stressful and challenging time–both potentially from your spouse and from third parties.
By protecting your privacy you can stop others from misusing your private information in court, keep your financial accounts private, lower your risk of fraud, and ensure that your private communications stay out of interested parties who could use them against you. This is especially the case for high net-worth divorces, as we discuss below. It is also vital to ensure your privacy is protected when children are involved, to protect their privacy and interests. That is why it is important to speak to an attorney who can protect your privacy in a high-asset divorce.
Common White Collar Crimes and What to Do If You Are Being Investigated
By Attorneys Jason Luczak and Nicole Masnica
White collar crimes are nonviolent crimes that usually involve financial losses and fraud. The term "white collar" refers to the white collars of button-down business shirts, because these types of crimes are often perpetrated in a commercial or business context. White collar crimes are sometimes high-profile cases involving known business and financial figures and public officials, who are accused of misappropriation of funds, deceiving or concealing information for monetary gain and other misconduct.
Although they are not violent offenses, white collar crimes can cause significant loss and carry serious consequences, including significant financial penalties, prison and jail time, whether the crimes stem from federal or Wisconsin law. At the same time, defendants in white collar cases also sometimes find themselves faced with parallel civil lawsuits seeking monetary compensation for the same alleged wrongdoing. A more definitive list of federal white collar crimes and statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) can be found here.
