FRE 701 Opinion Testimony by Lay Witnesses – Boilerplate Rules
Terry Joe Smith, a police officer in Putnam County, Indiana (roughly midway between Indianapolis and Terre Haute), was convicted by a jury in federal court of violating 18 U.S.C. § 242 by depriving two persons, under color of...
Honest Services Fraud – “Value of Benefit Received” Explained
United States v. Harper, No. 14-2701. The defendant pleaded guilty to fraud consisting of her having abused her position as a member of a Chicago public-school board by accepting kickbacks of more than $500,000 from bus companies to which she steered transportation contracts worth $21 million. The parties stipulated that the value of...
USSG 2B1.1 – Honest Services Fraud “Value of Benefit Received” Explained
United States v. Harper, No. 14-2701. The defendant pleaded guilty to fraud consisting of her having abused her position as a member of a Chicago public-school board by accepting kickbacks of more than $500,000 from bus companies to which she steered transportation contracts worth $21 million. The parties stipulated that the value of...
Eyewitness Identification – Watershed Decision Identifies Fallibility of Eyewitness Identifications
Editor’s Note – This is an Illinois Supreme Court Opinion.
The issue is whether, in light of the specific facts and circumstances of this case, the circuit court of Cook County abused its discretion...
Eyewitness Identification – Watershed Decision Identifies Fallibility of Eyewitness Identifications
Editor’s Note – This is an Illinois Supreme Court Opinion.
The issue is whether, in light of the specific facts and circumstances of this case, the circuit court of Cook County abused its discretion...
Requirements for Stash House Enhancement
(Editors Note: Chicago Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro represented Mr. Sanchez in the District Court and in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.)
Acasio Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and was...
Requirements for Stash House Enhancement
(Editors Note: Chicago Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro represented Mr. Sanchez in the District Court and in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.)
Acasio Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and was...
Search Warrants and the Probable Cause Determination – Boilerplate Rules
After a sleepover at the house of Roger Aleshire, a nine-year-old girl reported to her mother having a “dream” that Aleshire had pulled down her pajama bottoms and photographed her “privates”. Her mother called the police. A state judge issued a search...
Search Warrants and the Probable Cause Determination – Boilerplate Rules
After a sleepover at the house of Roger Aleshire, a nine-year-old girl reported to her mother having a “dream” that Aleshire had pulled down her pajama bottoms and photographed her “privates”. Her mother called the police. A state judge issued a search...
Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro Successfully Suppresses Evidence
On November 21, 2015, Chicago criminal defense attorney Michael J. Petro successfully suppressed the admission of a gun in a Chicago courtroom. Mr. Petro presented one witness and cross examined a ten year veteran Chicago Police Officer. Mr. Petro expects this will lead to the dismissal of all eight criminal charges by the...