Distribution of Mislabeled Products in Interstate Commerce is a Federal Offense (21 U.S.C. § 331)
How the Government Shutdown is Impacting Federal Criminal Courts
How the Government Shutdown is Impacting Federal Criminal Courts UPDATE: The federal court system now says that it has enough money to sustain operating through January 25. Court fees and other funds as well as cutting back on spending has allowed the court to extend it's original deadline by about two weeks. See the original post below. On December 22, parts of the federal government were shut down due to…
Read MoreSelling Contact Lenses Without a Prescription
Selling Contact Lenses Without a Prescription Halloween stores and other retail outlets sometimes sell over-the-counter contact lenses without a prescription, but many people do not realize this is a crime. According to Alan Barcelona, president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, retail stores illegally selling contact lenses are a common occurrence. 1 Recently, investigators from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) teamed…
Read MoreDifferences Between Federal Court and California State Court
Differences Between Federal Court and California State Court If you are arrested for violating a law, you probably assume you will have to appear at your local county superior court. However, that is not always the case. If you are being charged with violating federal statute, your case will be heard in a federal court. This may sound scary, and it can be because you are likely facing a more…
Read MoreWhat You Should Do if Charged with Aiding and Abetting
What You Should Do if Charged with Aiding and Abetting If you are ever contacted or arrested by federal agents on suspicion of a crime, the first thing you need to do is contact a federal criminal lawyer immediately. The federal criminal justice system is very complex, and it can be overwhelming for a person accused of violating federal statute. Unfortunately, you could be charged with a crime even if you didn't actually commit the…
Read MoreCornering the Market: The Crime of Price Fixing (15 U.S.C. Section 1)
Cornering the Market: The Crime of Price Fixing (15 U.S.C. Section 1) Competition is part of the foundation of our economy, which is why Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890. The law was designed to prevent collusion between competitors and break up business monopolies that controlled the market. To this day, it is illegal to create any type of conspiracy between parties on the same side of the…
Read MoreConsequences of Pirating Copyrighted Material (17 U.S.C. § 506; 18 U.S.C. § 2319)
Consequences of Pirating Copyrighted Material (17 U.S.C. § 506; 18 U.S.C. § 2319) Whenever you’ve popped a movie into your DVD player, you probably remember seeing the stern warning and label from the FBI about the consequences of violating Federal Anti-Piracy laws: “The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by…
Read MoreHow Tampering with Witnesses or Evidence Can Lead to Serious Charges
How Tampering with Witnesses or Evidence Can Lead to Serious Charges If you are being investigated for a federal crime, you may be driven to try to destroy evidence or influence witnesses in your case. However, doing so will only make your situation worse and strengthen the case against you. Instead of taking matters into your own hands, your attorney should be the one building a strong defense on your…
Read MoreLying on Paperwork to Buy Guns for Someone Else Can Lead to State and Federal Charges
Lying on Paperwork to Buy Guns for Someone Else Can Lead to State and Federal Charges In New York, a woman was sentenced to four years in state prison for purchasing weapons for a man who used the weapons to kill two people. She also faces significant prison time for federal charges. In 2010, Dawn Nguyen purchased a shotgun and a semiautomatic rifle for her neighbor, William Spengler, Jr. Spengler…
Read MoreConsequences of Filing a Fraudulent Claim for Student Financial Aid (20 U.S.C. section 1097)
Consequences of Filing a Fraudulent Claim for Student Financial Aid (20 U.S.C. section 1097) Students seeking admission to college know how expensive tuition can be and often apply for financial assistance using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA helps eligible students by providing access to federal grants and loans to pay for their college education. Unfortunately, the temptation of receiving “free” financial aid may lead some people…
Read MoreDistribution of Mislabeled Products in Interstate Commerce is a Federal Offense (21 U.S.C. § 331)
Distribution of Mislabeled Products in Interstate Commerce is a Federal Offense (21 U.S.C. § 331) Can you be prosecuted if you participate in interstate commerce involving mislabeled or misbranded consumer products? Absolutely. Recently, federal prosecutors charged an Iowa egg company and two of its executives with violating federal food and drug safety laws after allegedly selling poisonous eggs to consumers. The charges stem from a 2010 salmonella outbreak that caused…
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