What would you do if you stole millions — and got away with it on one condition: You never leave your home country again. Many cyber thieves have done just that. Stolen millions and despite being known to law enforcement authorities in America, there’s no action the authorities can take as the suspects are in […]
READ MOREOnline Privacy: “Ain’t What She Used to Be”
Jane Park of New York City won big in the EuroMillions, Britain’s national lottery. Hours later, she was the quarry of blackmailers. When she shared the new but refused to share the money, someone hacked her Snapchat account and posted a personal, and revealing, image of Park, 21. The posters demanded cash to return control […]
READ MORENew York Woman Busted in Green Card Scam
While Washington is writing and re-writing Executive Orders regarding illegal immigrants, one New York woman established herself as a one-woman dating site for illegal immigrants wanting American residence. “I apologize to the American people,” said Liana Barrientos. “I could have let people in this country who could have killed us.” Barrientos wed ten men over […]
READ MOREA Sign of the Times
When you take the subway in New York, look about. You may recognize a sign of the times, or maybe you won’t. In the 1980s, “safety zones” were constructed by the New York Transit Authority in an attempt to make taking the subway a bit less frightening. Now, those signs are coming down. Homage to […]
READ MORECellphone Alerts Used in Manhunt for NYC Bomber
Just before 8 in the morning Monday, New Yorkers’ phones started screaming — in unison. Each phone received the same message: “WANTED: Ahmad Rahami, 28-year old male. See media for pic. Call 911 if seen.” No links. No images. No context into which one could place the message. Some people stumbling around before the coffee […]
READ MOREFracking Up the Empire State
Earthquakes, cancer clusters, and deformed babies. The rates of these tragedies increase steadily in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. The cause: runaway fracking — or hydraulic fracturing. Fracking has been operating for decades, but it’s not been fully utilized until relatively recently. Now, fracking is becoming an issue in places most people don’t think of […]
READ MOREAbuse of Position of Trust Enhancement Applies Even to a Secretary with a Fancy Title
During the course of her employment with three different employers, Laurie Bradshaw embezzled more than $240,000. Bradshaw defrauded these three Chicago area employers by taking advantage of her position with these companies in which they entrusted her with such duties as coordinating purchases from vendors, opening a new office for one of the companies, and […]
READ MORELessons From the Prosecution and Death of Aaron Swartz
Much has been written recently about the sad case of Aaron Swartz. Described as “a brilliant young software programmer and Internet activist,” Swartz, 26, committed suicide in January. At the time of his death, Swartz was under indictment in the District of Massachusetts for wire fraud, computer fraud, and various other cyber-crime-related offenses. The indictment […]
READ MORESecurities Issues: The Continuing Debate Over the Use of Finders vs. Broker-Dealers
A recurring and vexing issue has arisen again recently in my practice: can an (unlicensed) individual assist a public company in identifying sources of financing without the parties running afoul of the broker-dealer registration requirement under Section 3(a)(4) and 15(a)(1) of the Exchange Act? The relevant authorities on the issue appear nothing short of schizophrenic. […]
READ MOREOur Trial Was Right Here a Decade or Two Ago
Americans love trials. Criminal trials, in particular, have been a favorite subject for both television (Law &Order, Perry Mason) and movies (To Kill a Mockingbird, The Verdict). But judges, lawyers, and litigants? Not so much. It has been widely reported here and here that the number of trials of all varieties (criminal, civil, bench, jury) […]
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