The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the story.

Those involved in sextortion cases are usually teenagers and young adults. In the typical scenario, the alleged offender will obtain a nude photograph or video of an individual on Facebook, MySpace or a similar social networking site. The offender will then threaten to show the photograph or video to others unless the individual agrees to send additional explicit photographs. In some cases, the alleged offender has even demanded sex.

It is currently unknown how many sextortion cases have been prosecuted throughout the country; however, several high-profile cases have made the headlines. In one Wisconsin case, an 18-year-old tricked his classmates into sending naked pictures of themselves. He then extorted his classmates into having sex. As a result, he received 15 years in prison. In another case, a 24-year-old Alabama man extorted naked pictures from approximately 50 women in three different states after sending threatening messages. He received 18 years in prison.

While sextortion cases are relatively new, it is clear that the number of cases will continue to grow. Our criminal defense lawyers have already successfully handled a few sextortion cases. We understand that in many instances such communications are consensual and that the alleged victim may also exaggerate or make false claims. If retained early enough, a good criminal defense attorney can sit down with prosecutors and law enforcement to show his client’s innocence. These early efforts will often result in reduced or dismissed charges.

The Athens Banner-Herald has the story.

Police searched the Quick Pantry on Jefferson Road, Chavita Produce on Oneta Street, and Dona Rosa Bakery on Commerce Road at about 9:45 a.m. A home near the Georgia Square Mall and a home in Colbert were also searched. Authorities seized six machines from the produce store, five machines from the convenient store and 25 from the bakery. Five vehicles, marijuana, handguns, a rifle and financial documents were also seized.

Police believe that the owners of the businesses made cash pay-outs to customers who played the machines. Police also believe the three businesses entered into some form of agreement in regards to the alleged illegal gambling operation. Under Georgia law, individuals may operate gambling machines; however, they may not give out money, lottery tickets or alcohol to winners.

While no charges have been filed as of yet, arrests are expected to follow in the coming days. If arrests are made, prosecutors could file charges under various different Georgia laws. For instance, under Georgia’s commercial gambling law, a person can be sentenced to one to five years in prison and receive a $20,000 fine. Prosecutors may also choose to charge those involved under Georgia’s RICO statute for racketeering. A conviction for racketeering in Georgia carries a five to 20 years prison sentence.

Our Georgia criminal attorneys have handled many gambling and racketeering investigations. In these types of investigations, police will typically review all of the seized evidence before deciding whether to file charges and seek an indictment. This period of time creates an opportunity for a criminal defense lawyer to work with law enforcement in an effort to avoid an indictment and to prepare for trial if necessary. Many gambling cases can be resolved without prosecution, but it depends on the type of gambling activity and the actual knowledge of the store owners involved.

The Baton Rouge Advocate has the story.

The federal government set up the nation’s eighth Medicare Strike Force in Baton Rouge in February. The 29 indictments announced on Friday constitute the force’s first wave of prosecutions and is also the largest crack down on Medicare fraud in the Middle District of Louisiana. Agents targeted patient recruiters, doctors, medical professionals and employees of healthcare businesses.

Two of the individuals, Dr. Dahlia Kirkpatrick of LaPlace and Emmanuel Komandu of Prairieville, allegedly defrauded Medicare out of $775,000. Specifically, the government alleges that Kirkpatrick gave prescriptions to Alpha Medical Solutions Inc., which is owned by Komandu, that lacked medical necessity.

In addition to the 29 indictments in Baton Rouge, federal agents arrested 63 individuals in Brooklyn, Miami, Houston and Detroit. Government officials estimate that the total dollar value of the fraud is approximately $219 million.

One of our federal criminal attorneys was recently retained in another federal case in Baton Rouge, involving allegations of public corruption. It appears that the U.S. Attorney's office for the Middle District of Louisiana has been very busy lately. This district seems to prosecute more medicare fraud cases than most other districts, even districts with much larger populations.

FBI agents have refused to provide details or say whether Mayor Nelson is a target in the investigation. In an interview with The Advocate, Page Pate stated that Mayor Nelson has not been charged with any crimes and that any future prosecution would be "misguided". Pate maintained that, "I don't believe Mayor Nelson has violated any criminal law."

The Baton Rouge, La. newspaper The Advocate has the story.

The search of New Roads City Hall comes on the heels of four other raids. On June 21, federal agents raided the offices of St. Gabriel Mayor George Grace, White Castle Mayor Maurice Brown, and Port Allen Mayor Derek Lewis. The office of Police Chief Fred Smith of Port Allen was also searched. Agents left Mayor Lewis' office with a computer hard drive, letters and the mayor's weekly planners.

Federal agents have been unwilling to release any details of the investigations causing much speculation in New Roads and surrounding areas. Pate has cautioned against such rumors and advised Mayor Nelson not to make any comments on the investigation until all of the facts are known.

Pate also expressed the Mayor's willingness to aid law enforcement: "The mayor is willing to cooperate if investigators request any documents or other evidence we need to provide." Authorities, however, have not subpoenaed Mayor Nelson for any documents or told Pate what they are looking for.

Mayor Nelson is currently seeking re-election and is expected to qualify this week. The election is scheduled to take place on October 2.

WALB has the story.

Authorities arrested George Bagain and Melanie Bagain at their Albany home while Ayaz Ahmed was arrested inside the Stop-N-Shop. Police also searched two Lee County homes as well as the convenience store and seized boxes of documents along with several computers.

Police believe that the three individuals operated illegal gambling machines inside the store, and that they made more than $100,000 from the illegal machines which they then laundered. The store had been previously raided in April by the Sheriff’s Department which confiscated the gambling machines.

According to the indictment, the three laundered the illegal proceeds through the Sahi Corporation and used the proceeds to buy homes, cars and land in Lee, Dougherty, Henry and Calhoun County. The D.A., Gregory Edwards, suggested that some proceeds may have gone to crime organizations abroad.

The state has also filed a civil suit to seize bank accounts, properties, and vehicles that were allegedly purchased with the tainted funds.

If convicted under Georgia’s racketeering statute, commonly referred to as RICO, the three individuals would face five to 20 years in prison.

WALB has the story.

One of the raids took place at the Stop and Shop located at 2201 South Liberty Expressway in Albany. During the raid, agents from the Dougherty County District Attorney’s Office seized numerous documents. Authorities say they are looking for evidence of money laundering.

The raids come on the heels of an investigation involving the illegal use of gambling machines. District Attorney Greg Edwards believes that money is being illegally transferred out of the state, and he further implied that the money may be used to fund terrorism.

If charges are filed, the parties involved will likely be charged under Georgia’s RICO statute for racketeering. Under Georgia law, a person convicted under the RICO statute would face a five to 20 year prison sentence. Our Georgia criminal attorneys have successfully represented numerous clients charged with RICO violations. In our experience, law enforcement will typically arrest and charge anyone who is remotely connected to any alleged RICO activity. This often results in innocent people being charged and prosecuted alongside the people who are directly responsible. In many cases, however, a good criminal defense attorney can get the charges dismissed or reduced by showing prosecutors that his client had no knowledge of any criminal activity.

In Molina v. State, a Gwinnett County case, an officer conducted a traffic stop of a pickup truck after noticing a broken tail light. Upon being asked by the officer, the driver consented to a search of the truck. The driver and the passenger, Molina, were then asked to step out of the truck. A backup officer conducted a “Terry pat-down” of Molina to search for weapons. During the pat-down, the officer felt “a large brick-like substance or material or object in his front waistband.” Unsure as to whether the brick was a weapon or drugs, the officer pulled the brick out and discovered that it was a kilo of cocaine. Molina was then charged for trafficking in cocaine.

At the suppression hearing, the officer testified on direct that prior to the pat-down Molina was breathing heavily and that the artery in his neck was pounding rapidly. The officer also stated: “Other than that. . . [he] was pretty normal.” On cross, the officer stated that he patted-down Molina immediately after he exited the truck. The officer also stated, “Every time we have a consent to search and we get someone out of a vehicle, I always pat them down for weapons.” The officer explained: “While I’m going to be tucked inside somebody’s car I want to know if while they’re standing out there they’re armed.” Molina lost the suppression hearing, and following a bench trial, he was sentenced to the minimum 25 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

On appeal, the Court of Appeals reasoned that, “If the officer has a particularized basis for his suspicion the defendant might be armed or dangerous, he may frisk a suspect.” Quoting Terry v. Ohio, the Court went on to state that, “the issue is whether a reasonably prudent man in the circumstances would be warranted in the belief that his safety or that of others was in danger.” The Court determined that the officer only observed signs of nervousness, and that under Georgia law, nervousness is insufficient to establish reasonable suspicion.

The State argued that searching a vehicle while the occupant waits outside is enough of a risk to warrant a pat-down. The Court disagreed: “It is not sufficient to say the situation itself poses a danger to the officer and therefore he is justified in frisking a vehicle’s occupant. As many courts have observed, traffic stops are inherently risky. . . but a pat-down must still be based on information specific to the person frisked and not to some general policy.” As a result, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s denial of the motion to suppress.

Molina was represented on appeal by John H. Petrey of the Decatur law firm Clegg, Daniels & Petrey, LLC.

Our lawyers have won numerous cases involving clients who were charged with serious drug offenses after being searched by police. In our experience, there is almost always a question as to whether a search was lawfully conducted any time police find drugs on a person or in a vehicle.

In order to show that a search was illegal, a good criminal defense attorney will conduct a thorough investigation which includes reviewing all police audio and video recordings, obtaining any police and witness statements, and examining any technology that was used such as lasers, dog sniffs or wiretaps. When a search is shown to be illegal, the court must generally suppress any drugs found during the search, and any items later found as a result of the search.