by admin | Jun 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
Virginia was at the center of a major federal investigation this week as managers and owners of 7-Eleven stores were arrested and accused of exploiting immigrant workers. Nine owners and managers of stores in Virginia and Long Island, New York, were accused of making millions of dollars through the exploitation of immigrants from the Philippines and Pakistan. Federal investigators said they used stolen Social Security Numbers of a child and three deceased people while stealing the wages of the workers, following a series of arrests on June 17, 2013. “Federal indictments naming eight men and one woman allege that since 2000 they employed more than 50 immigrants who didn’t have permission to be in the U.S,” reported Associated Press. The business owners are accused of seeking to conceal the immigrants’ employment by stealing the identities of 24 people and submitting this information to the 7-Elven payroll department. The Washington Post reported a married couple, Farrukh Baig, 57, and Bushra Baig, 49, of Long Island, controlled the franchise rights to four 7-Eleven stores in Portsmouth, Norfolk and Chesapeake, VA. Federal authorities raided 14 franchise stores. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are executing search warrants at more than 40 other stores across the country suspected of similar infractions. The defendants face identity theft, wire fraud conspiracy and alien harboring charges. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy and other charges. Immigration offenses are taken very seriously by the federal authorities. If you encourage or induce an alien to come to or live in the United States it is a crime when the person in question knows...
by admin | Jun 14, 2013 | Uncategorized
If you’ve been convicted of a crime in Virginia, you may have been given probation as a punishment. Often granted in lieu of jail time, probation carries along with it certain responsibilities. These responsibilities may include the completion of community service, regular meetings with a parole officer, and getting permission before traveling or taking another job, along with any specific terms that come along with your specific offense, such as requiring random drug tests. Probation Violation Is Serious Although probation is a lenient punishment, it also means that is you are charged with another crime during your period of probation, there may be much stiffer penalties involved, because you are in violation of your parole. Many people do not seem to realize the seriousness of this problem, because the most common probation violation is simply missing a meeting with your parole officer. How your case will be treated is almost solely up to your parole officer. If your offense is slight or you have no previous violations, your probation offices may let you off with a warning. However, for more serious, or repeat offenses, the probation office may decide to have a judge decide your sentence in court. The probation officer has total discretion in your case. Why A Lawyer Is Needed However, if the probation officer elects to have the courts decide, he must prove that you have actually violated your probation. That is why we recommend you retain a lawyer for such matters. If you are proven to have broken your parole, you may have it revoked and wind up in jail. A seemingly minor matter can...
by admin | Jun 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
Assault charges in Fairfax have been merged under the law with battery offenses. According to the law, this is a general intent offense, meaning that someone accused of assault does not need to intend any type of specific harm in order to be charged and convicted of the crime. All that is necessary is the intent to commit some type of unwanted contact. In a number of cases even negligence and/or recklessness might be enough to provide the needed intent. Examining this issue further, it is important to determine exactly what assault is, how these offenses are charged, and possible defense options. What Is Assault? In Fairfax assault (and battery since they are combined under the law) is some type of act which is intended to cause fear of harm or even just offensive contact. Words alone would not qualify as an assault; they must be accompanied by an act which indicates that the threat might actually be carried out. The accused must also actually have the intent to commit an assault, even if it is only a general intention. The victim must also have a reasonable fear that they may suffer some form of imminent injury or unlawful (and unwanted) contact. Misdemeanor Versus Felony Assault Charges In Fairfax: The simple assault statute is explained in Virginia Code section 18.2-57. These types of assaults also include those committed with a group, classified as assault or battery by a mob. This is a misdemeanor charge, punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Restitution must also be made to the victim for...
