In July 2021, 22 people were arraigned in court on charges of engaging in fraudulent schemes to acquire more than $11 million in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The individuals used the loan proceeds to purchase jewelry, luxury vehicles, and other personal items. According to court documents, the defendants submitted or aided in submitting loan applications on behalf …
Can You Sue a Country?
In a 2019 ruling, a federal judge ordered Iran to pay Jason Rezaian and his kin almost $180 million in damages. The Washington Post reporter took to the courts to sue the Middle Eastern country for his unlawful detention, imprisonment, physical abuse, and the psychological torture he endured at the hands of Iranian authorities. This ruling raised many questions, key …
What Is Organized Crime?
Movies have an incredible way of making anything look glamorous – even the dangerous world of organized crime. You would be surprised by the number of people who’ve contemplated becoming a mobster after watching Robert De Niro pulling up in front of a nightclub in his shiny, vintage Aston Martin moments before shooting up the entire place. Make no mistake …
What are the Federal Rules of Evidence?
How Did the Colonial Pipeline Get Hacked and Who’s Next?
On April 29, 2021, hackers gained access to the Colonial Pipeline Co. IT network. The security breach, which took down the country’s largest fuel pipeline, caused widespread gas shortages across the East Coast. The cause: a single compromised password. How did the Colonial pipeline get hacked, and could it happen again? Here’s everything you need to know. Who Owns Colonial …
Which States Still Uphold the Death Penalty?
The history of the death penalty in the United States dates back to the 17th century when Captain George Kendall was executed in Jamestown Colony, the first-ever permanent English settlement in North America. Kendall was charged and convicted for being a spy for Spain, which at the time was considered a capital offense. Even seemingly minor offenses like killing chickens, …
Who Is Held Liable After a Mass Shooting Incident?
The country has witnessed a rising number of mass shooting incidents in Texas, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, and Colorado in recent years. In 2019 and 2020, there were a total of 417 and 610 reported mass shootings, respectively. This year alone, the US has averaged roughly one shooting incident a day, and if past mass shooting statistics are anything to …
What Is a Hate Crime?
Vandalizing a synagogue with swastika graffiti. Burglarizing an Asian-owned oriental corner store. Burning a cross in the front yard of an African-American family’s home. Physically assaulting a person while hurling racial slurs. These are all clear-cut hate crime examples. They target individuals based on characteristics related to their ethnicity, race, or religion. The country has witnessed a spike in the …
What Is Wire Fraud?
Wire fraud is one of the most common crimes federal authorities prosecute on a day-to-day basis. It involves a carefully woven scheme to defraud an unsuspecting victim of money or property. A criminal will typically employ some means of deceit or deception to lure the victim through concealment, misrepresentation, or a series of false statements. It is a serious crime …
What Happens If the at-Fault Driver’s Insurance Won’t Pay?
At one point in your life, you will likely be involved in an accident. You might be the one at fault, or it might be the other driver’s fault. If it’s the latter, their insurance company is required to foot the costs associated with any injuries you sustain, and the repair bills required to fix your car. If the car …