Attorney Nathan can normally prevent your case from going to a costly and uncertain trial. However, when a trial is needed, Attorney Nathan has successfully represent hundreds of people accused of very serious crimes throughout Massachusetts. See Meet the Attorney.

Attorney Nathan’s 20+ years of experience includes:

• Major drug cases
• Counterfeiting
• Violent crimes including murder and terrorist activities
• Drunk driving and vehicular homicide

Some of the recent highlights of Attorney Nathan’s extensive experience are detailed below.

Operating Under the Influence

Commonwealth of MA: Also charged with motor vehicle negligence, leaving scene. Verdict: Not guilty count 1, guilty counts 2 and 3.

Motor Vehicular Homicide by Negligence

Commonwealth of MA v. G.J.: This was the defendant’s second vehicular homicide. Attorney direct EIP for defendant after plea, without judge’s recommendation for the interview. Result: Attention deficit disorder was found to cause negligence, served 6 months.

Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle

Commonwealth of MA v. H.N.: Also charged with possession of burglary tools. Verdict: Not guilty on both counts.

Assault and Battery

Commonwealth of MA v. H.: Verdict: Not guilty.

Drug Possession

Commonwealth of MA v. D.: Possession of class D drug: Verdict: Guilty, not guilty OUI.

Armed Robbery While Masked

Commonwealth of MA v. M.P.: Prior counsel was at 9-12 years. Result: sentence of 5 years.

Additional Cases…

August 2012 United States District Court, Boston a 40-year-old Massachusetts man is arrested by the Federal Bureau of investigation and attempts are made by the government to hold him on $150,000 cash bond.  Upon appearance of counsel, the client is released on personal recognizance otherwise known as unsecured bond.

August 2012 United States District Court, Boston a 26-year-old Massachusetts man is arrested by drug enforcement administration for second offense narcotics.  The individual post a bond and released from court pending future litigation against him

August 2012 Dudley District Court a 31-year-old Florida resident is arrested by the Massachusetts State police for firearms violation (no permit to carry ) while on route to Maine; on motion the matter is outright dismissed.

July 2012 Attleboro District Court a 52-year-old Florida resident had defaulted in 1990 on a first offense violation of Massachusetts OUI law, had failed to address his matter following transfer to the jury session the matter is brought before the court on a warrant recall and the operator is subsequently found not guilty.

July 2012 A. 23-year-old Massachusetts woman has warrants in the trial court department of the commonwealth, Waltham District Court and Brookline District Court.  Both warrants are recalled on motion of counsel and the matters are disposed of without criminal convictions: prescription fraud and shoplifting.  The matters are dismissed on motion of counsel.

July 2012 A. 40-year-old Massachusetts woman is investigated by federal law enforcement for stealing from her former employer, a attorney, by way of interstate check fraud.  Subsequent to investigation the matter is closed

July 2012 a 41-year-old Massachusetts man is investigated by federal and state law enforcement for program fraud.  Subsequent to several proffer sessions, no further action against the operator takes place and the matter is closed without prosecution

June 2012 United States District Court in Miami, a 40-year-old Massachusetts man has $300,000 seized in the Miami international Airport.  Subsequent to litigation a confidential settlement is reached

June 2012 United States District Court, Phoenix, New Mexico a 40-year-old man and a 38-year-old man have $34,000 and $20,000 respectively in cash seized this matter is transferred to local counsel for litigation

June 2012 Cambridge District Court a 39-year-old Massachusetts woman currently residing in Spain as a journalist has a warrant canceled without returning to Massachusetts

May 2012 Plymouth District Court a 38-year-old Massachusetts woman discharges her court-appointed attorney to her family and retains attorney Nathan to resolve armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon and in person aiding a police officer charge..

May 2012 Middlesex County Superior Court a 40-year-old Massachusetts man is found not guilty by jury verdict of rape

April 2012 Leominster District Court 29-year-old Massachusetts man is found not guilty by jury verdict of larceny over $250 by single scheme

April 2012 South Boston District Court a 62-year-old resident of the state of Maine is arrested by the Massachusetts State police for carrying a loaded firearm on the MBTA without a permit.  The cases were demanded for a hearing and the entire matter is dismissed

April 2012 United States District Court, Boston a Massachusetts woman is investigated by federal law enforcement for theft.  Federal investigation continues

April 2012 Dedham District Court a 41-year-old Massachusetts man is arrested by the state police for drunk driving.  The charge is continued without a finding.

April 2012 Rhode Island Federal District Court a 33-year-old Massachusetts man is in snared in the black money scam and has his case investigated by attorney Nathan working with federal authorities to recover over $100,000 stolen

April 2012 Brookline District Court a 21-year-old Massachusetts man has a warrant taken out by the Brookline Police Department for six counts of tagging property and vandalizing property.  The warrant is recalled on motion of attorney Nathan and the case is set down for further conference

April 2012 United States District Court, Los Angeles.  Attorney Nathan recovers $150,000 in seized monies for the estate of the decedent

April 2012 Worcester Superior Court.  A 21-year-old Massachusetts man resolved his murder charge to a lesser included offense.  He had been held for four years awaiting trial and will be parole eligible in eight years

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If you have been accused of any of the above crimes, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, a top Mass criminal lawyer. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now. See Meet the Attorney.

(Note: click on green balloon to prompt direction box)

Via Public Transportation

• MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) Orange line Chinatown or green line Boylston St.

Free Self-Parking:

• Ritz Carleston 10 Avery Street Boston, MA 02111 (entrance to garage on Boylston St, after crossing Tremont St, on the left). Pull ticket and bring to office for validation

A way of stealing the identity of another person, usually to get credit in the name of that person, or to take their financial resources.

Bank Fraud

Using fraudulent methods to get money, assets or property that is owned by a financial institution. More about bank fraud.

Bank Robbery

A crime that involves the theft of money from a bank during its regular business hours.

Bankruptcy Fraud

This usually consists of the concealment of financial assets and concealing documents, or making false statements.

Bid Rigging

A fraud where a commercial contract is promised to a person, although other parties have also put in a bid.

Bribery

Corruption that implies that money or a gift will be made that will change the behavior of the recipient.

Child Pornography

Images, films and writings that show or describe sexual activities with a child.

Conspiracy to Commit a Federal Offense

Agreement between two+ people to break a federal law in the future

Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substances Offense

Agreement between 2+ people to break a drug law in the future

Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

Agreement between 2+ people to impair, obstruct or defeat the lawful function of any department of government

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Agreement between 2+ people to conceal the source of money obtained illegally.

Contempt

A court order in which a person is found to have been disrespectful of the authority of the court.

Controlled Substances Offenses

A crime where you have unlawfully manufactured, distributed or dispensed illegal drugs.

Counterfeiting Monetary Instruments

Involves the production of any fake currency or any items that were used rather than currency.

Drug Offenses

Manufacture, trafficking or possession of illegal drugs.

Election/Voter Fraud

A crime that involves the alleged tampering with an election.

Embezzlement

The misappropriation of money/property that was placed in the trust of the alleged criminal.

Environmental Offenses

A violation of state or federal environmental laws; ignorance is not a defense from prosecution.

Exportation of Munitions

Illegal export of weapons and ammunition, often to foreign terrorists.

False Claims

A fraudulent activity that has something to do with a government program or contract.

False Statements

A statement that purposely misleads a government official.

Firearms Offenses

Possession of an illegal firearm, having a firearm during the commission of a felony, or concealing a firearm.

Health Care Fraud

Filing fake claims, forging bills, getting treatment on another’s coverage. Can also include overbilling, upcoding and more.

Human Trafficking

Trading human beings with the purpose of sexual exploitation, slavery and more.

Insider Trading

Buying or selling securities while having material information about the security that is not public.

Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property

The transportation of property that was stolen across state lines.

Kickbacks

Any collusion between 2+ people where a contract is given in exchange for some of the fees going to the decision maker

Larceny

Taking and carrying away of another’s property with the intent to keep it from the owner.

Mail Fraud

Using the US mail system to defraud anyone of money or property.

Misprision of Felony

Knowing about a felony being committed but not telling authorities.

Military Law

The form of justice that applies to all members of the military in the US.

War Crimes

Any violation of the international laws of war, including torture, murder, mutilation, sexual assault and hostage taking.

Article 32 hearing

The military equivalent of a preliminary hearing or a grand jury hearing. The accused can hire a civilian attorney.

Murder

The killing of another human being. Charges can include first degree murder and second degree murder, or manslaughter.

Money Laundering

Trying to hid the origins of money that was obtained in an illegal way, and then attempting to make it appear as legal business money.

Obstruction of Justice

Interfering with the jobs of courts, police, investigators and more, through words and deeds.

Perjury

Lying under oath during a trial or signing a document that has false information in it.

Pharmaceutical Diversion

The illegal use of prescription drugs, which can include getting the drugs illegally, trading them or selling for profit.

“Ponzi” Schemes

A type of investment fraud that uses the investments from new participants to pay the returns of previous participants.

Public Corruption

This is a crime that may involve bribery, embezzlement, kickbacks and extortion. Take place in governments.

Structuring Financial Transactions

Breaking up large amounts of money into smaller sums to hide the real figures of the transactions.

Tax Fraud/Evasion

Any individual or company that tries to avoid paying all taxes owed, by hiding income or not report assets.

Theft

A crime where you purposely take property without the other’s consent, with the intent to keep it.

Trademark Infringement/Counterfiet Goods

Counterfeit good s that have a false trademark, or are intended to look so much like the original items that it deceives.

Wire Fraud

Any fraudulent activity that is done through tv, radio, phone or Internet. This is similar to mail fraud but involves electronics.

———————–

If you have been accused of any of the above crimes, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, one of the Best MA criminal lawyers. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

If you are accused of a crime, you will first want to understand if it is a federal or a state crime. Many people get confused about the differences between state and federal crime cases.

The answer to whether your crime will be prosecuted in state or federal courts is: It depends.

For example, if you rob a bank, that is a federal crime and you will be tried in a federal court. DUI is a state crime that will get you a trial in a state court. But if you were to get a DUI on federal property, it would then be classified as a federal crime.

Many narcotics cases can be prosecuted as state or federal crimes. If you bought the drugs and sold them in Massachusetts, then it would be tried in Massachusetts state court. But if you bought them in Massachusetts and sold them in New Hampshire, then this is called conspiracy to transport. It will be prosecuted in federal court.

Usually, you will know when arrested if the case will be handled in state or federal court. If you are arrested by federal officers, you most likely will be tried in federal court. If you are arrested by the local police or sheriff, you will probably be prosecuted in state court.

Cases that are most often tried in state court include:

• Murder
• Rape or molestation of a child
• Possession of drugs or DUI
• Domestic violence or assault
• Robbery, larceny or shoplifting
• Vast majority of misdemeanors

Cases that are usually tried in federal court include:

• Smuggling drugs across state lines
• Narcotic cases with very large quantities
• Bank robbery
• Bank fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, mail theft
• Bribery
• Crimes on federal property
• Crimes done in one state and include flight to another state

Some differences between state and federal cases include:

• Discovery: The prosecution must provide all its evidence to the defense. In state court, this must occur early in the proceedings, long before there is a trial. In federal court, this may not happen until much later.
• Sentencing: A state judge can exercise some discretion in sentencing and can sometimes give a more lenient sentence if the circumstances warrant it. In federal court, sentencing is controlled by the US Code and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The judge must issue a sentence according to a sentencing chart.

Assault is defined as a crime that causes the victim to fear violence and harm to his or her person. This term can sometimes be confused with battery, which means that actual physical contact occurred.

In Massachusetts, you should know that no physical harm has to have taken place for you to be charged with assault and battery. The police on the scene do not need to see evidence of violence. All they need to know is that the alleged threat was followed by a physical action, which might be you pushing someone. The relevant Massachusetts statute covering assault and battery is the 265th chapter of the General Law of MA.

About Assault Laws in Massachusetts

Being arrested in Massachusetts on assault charges can be difficult and humiliating, but a good Massachusetts criminal defense attorney can really be a big help for you.

Assault and battery in this state is serious. You will do up to 2.5 years in state prison and receive a fine of $1000 if you are convicted. The penalties for assault are very serious if you did the crime with a weapon. This is known in this state as assault with a deadly weapon.

You can also receive more serious penalties if you committed the crime on a minor under 14 or assaulted a public safety worker.

Also, know that if you are facing a domestic assault charge, you are going to have a very difficult time getting the charges reduced or dropped.

Common charges in this state regarding assault include:

• Aggravated assault & battery
• Indecent assault & battery
• Assault & battery on a child
• Assault & battery with a deadly weapon
• Assault with intent to commit a felony

Domestic Assault in Massachusetts

A domestic assault in this state carries the same charges as regular assault (up to 2.5 years and a fine up to $1000). However, domestic assault is viewed very negatively by society, and you will find that the police and prosecuting attorneys are going to be tough to deal with.

This is because domestic assault is very political, and a district attorney is not going to want to look soft on domestic cases. Even a weak case can result in your arrest and conviction.

A good attorney will need to work very carefully on your behalf to explain the particulars of your case to the police officers, district attorneys and clerk magistrate on your case.

Assault With a Deadly Weapon in Massachusetts

Assault with a weapon is a very serious charge, and you will never be able to resolve such a case on your own. Assault with a deadly weapon is a felony crime, and you can get up to 10 years in prison if you are convicted.

Keep in mind that a ‘weapon’ in Massachusetts law may be a knife, gun, a shoe, or even a vase! You are going to be faced with the same serious consequences regardless of what the weapon was.

A good Criminal defense attorney in Massachusetts is first going to see if he or she can have the charges cut down to assault. If you can get the charges down to a misdemeanor, it is more likely that you can get the case dismissed. Your attorney also should be ready to file all kinds of motions to dismiss the case. The attorney also can make motions to suppress evidence based upon your legal and constitutional rights.

Assault Statistics in Massachusetts

According to disastercenter.com, assault crimes have been holding dropped in Massachusetts from 2000-2010. There were 22,594 assaults in 2000, and 21,724 in 2010, with an increase of population of 200,000 citizens.

In comparison to the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, this is how Massachusetts rated in assault in recent years. A #1 ranking would be the highest crime rate, and #51 would be the lowest.

• 2008: 16
• 2007: 19
• 2006: 20
• 2005: 10

So, assault is more common in Massachusetts than in most other parts of the United States.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of assault, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, a premier Boston criminal lawyer. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm

The term larceny generally is used to refer to nonviolent theft. It is a common-law term that was first developed in royal courts in England in the 1700s. Today, most states no longer use the term larceny in their statues and usually use the term theft.

The crime of theft or larceny was originally defined so as to set it apart as a different crime than robbery. Robbery usually involves some sort of violence that is connected to the thievery. The general idea is that a robbery that involves violence should usually carry a stiffer sentence than larceny or theft.

More About the Law in Massachusetts

However, a theft or larceny charge in this state can have very bad consequences for you without a good Massachusetts defense attorney. In Massachusetts, you can be convicted of larceny if you steal any object, pick someone’s pocket or steal a purse, take money from a business (known as embezzlement), or even cashing a check that is not yours.

You should know that if you are charged with theft or larceny in Massachusetts, the fines and sentences depend upon what you stole or attempted to steal:

• Larceny of goods valued under $250: Up to one year in jail and a fine of $300
• Larceny of goods valued over $250: Up to five years in prison and a $25,000 fine (this is for a felony conviction)

Larceny from a person is a misdemeanor in this state.

Another aspect of the law in Massachusetts is that regarding shoplifting. Your penalty in this case will depend on what the goods were worth and how many times you have been arrested for shoplifting before.

If you shoplift a good worth less than $100, here is what you are facing:

• $250 fine for a first offense
• $500 fine for a second offense
• Imprisonment for up to 2 years for a third offense

If you shoplift a good that is worth more than $100, you can get 2.5 years in jail for a first offense, as well as a fine of up to $1000.

A Word About Embezzlement in Massachusetts

Embezzlement is similar to larceny/theft, but in this case, you will have a legitimate reason to be taking the funds or goods in question. This would be in a business situation where you had access to a bank account, or say, goods in warehouse. This obviously is different from stealing something that you should never have had at all, such as a woman’s purse.

Given that there is more gray area in this sort of larceny or embezzlement case, a good attorney may be able to argue that you just made a mistake. A good attorney also can cite your constitutional rights to try to ensure that any evidence that is presented against you was gotten legally.

In many embezzlement cases in Massachusetts, you often can get the charged reduced or dropped by simply returning the money or goods in question. Most embezzlement cases do not go to trial for this reason, and a good Criminal attorney in Massachusetts will usually be able to work out these cases in your favor.

Larceny and Theft Crime Statistics in Massachusetts

According to disastercenter.com, larceny and theft crimes have declined from 2000-10. There were 105,425 larceny/theft crimes reported in 2000, and 104,685 in 2010, while the population increased by 200,000.

In comparison to the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, this is how Massachusetts rated in larceny and theft in recent years. A #1 ranking would be the highest crime rate, and #51 would be the lowest.

• 2008: 46
• 2007: 46
• 2006: 46
• 2005: 49

Overall, larceny and theft is relatively low compared to other parts of the United States.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of larceny/theft, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm
• http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Larceny-theft

Robbery-homicide is also known legally in many states as felony-murder. The general doctrine that defines this area of criminal law states that if a homicide happens while the accused was attempting to commit a felony, the homicide is defined as a type of murder. This doctrine of felony-murder probably came from common law in England, although experts are uncertain on this point.

In most states today, including Massachusetts, you can be determined to be guilty of murder if you also are convicted of various felonies, which can include:

• Burglary
• Robbery
• Rape and sexual assault
• Kidnapping
• Escape

So, if you committed a robbery-homicide would normally invoke the felony-murder clause in most states. This means you could likely face first degree murder charges and should contact a Criminal lawyer in Massachusetts now.

About the Laws in Massachusetts

This is the case in Massachusetts. Here, first degree murder may include murder that happened during the commission other serious crimes, including child rape, robbery, and illegally selling firearms. To be convicted of first degree murder and robbery (felony murder or robbery-homicide) you do not need to have premeditated the crime.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court determined in 1998 that the rule on felony murder can be invoked in the state when the prosecution proves:

• That the accused participated in a felonious activity, such as robbery, separate from the murder
• The felony was by definition dangerous
• A homicide happened during the attempt of the felonious activity
• The death was most likely caused due to the commission of the other felony

The court found that armed robbery and assault are dangerous and can be used to invoke the felony-murder clause. Also, the same court found that burglary/assault can also be used as the base felony to invoke felony-murder.

More on Robbery-Homicide/Felony-Murder in Massachusetts

The prosecution is required to show that you committed the underlying felony beyond a reasonable doubt, such as robbery, that subsequently resulted in a murder. However, remember that the prosecution does NOT need to show that you premeditated the murder, or had any intent to murder. All that the prosecution must show is that you killed someone when you were attempting to commit another felony.

If convicted of felony-murder or homicide-robbery in Massachusetts, you will receive up to life in prison without parole.

Also know that in Massachusetts, you can be charged with felony-murder if you killed someone when trying to leave the crime scene. You also can be charged the same and face the same penalties if you actively aided the crime that also resulted in the murder.

Robbery-Homicide/Felony-Murder Statistics in Massachusetts

Statistics are not compiled according to robbery-homicide or felony-murder in the state of Massachusetts. The statistics do show that the murder rate per 100,000 citizens has increased in the last decade 2000-10, from 2.0 to 3.2.

In comparison to the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, this is how Massachusetts rated in murders in recent years. A #1 ranking would be the highest crime rate, and #51 would be the lowest.

• 2008: 39
• 2007: 38
• 2006: 36
• 2005: 38

This indicates that murder occurs less frequently in Massachusetts than in most other states.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of robbery-homicide, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, a top notch Mass criminal attorney. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm

Motor vehicular theft is defined as the act of stealing or trying to steal a vehicle, including a car, truck, bus or motorcycle. It also is referred to as grand theft auto by many US police departments. In 2005, there were over one million thefts of motor vehicles.

There were 416 vehicles stolen for every 100k people in the United States in 2005. This compares to 294 per 100k people in Massachusetts in 2005. This number has since dropped (see statistics below).

About Motor Vehicular Theft Laws in Massachusetts

The penalties for motor vehicular theft can be very serious here. The state will try to prove the theft in two ways:

• Prove that you stole the vehicle with reason to know that it is a stolen car
• Prove that you are guilty if you took the car without permission from the owner and took parts or accessories from it.

The second case catches a lot of people into the net of vehicular theft, because they may have just stole the car and used it for parts. This still is vehicular theft under Massachusetts law.

The district attorney on your case in Massachusetts might have weak evidence that you intended to permanently take the vehicle from the lawful owner. In this case, your Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer may try to have your charges reduced to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in Massachusetts

If you do have a good attorney, you would much rather deal with a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in a Massachusetts court than one of vehicular theft. You could have your case reduced to this charge if your attorney can convince the court that you took the car as part of a misunderstanding.

For example, you may have borrowed your friend’s car and been pulled over and found to not have a driver’s license. Then, your friend wants to avoid charges of allowing someone without a license to drive his car. So, he tells the police that you did not have permission to drive it.

In this case, you would face the following criminal charges:

• $500 fine and up to 2 years in jail for the first offense
• 1 year loss of your license and up to 3 years
• $1000 fine and five years in prison, if this is your second or third offense (felony)

Your criminal defense lawyer may be able to get these charges dismissed. The prosecution has to prove that you used the car without permission from the owner. If your attorney can show it was a misunderstanding, you could be found not guilty. The prosecution also must prove that you really drove the car. You can’t be convicted if you were just sitting in the car.

Massachusetts Penalties for Vehicular Theft

If you are convicted of vehicular theft, you can face:

• As much as 15 years in prison, or at least 2.5 years in jail
• Fine of up to $15,000

In Massachusetts, you also could have a disposition that is called Continued Without a Finding. This is not pleading straight guilty, and it is critical when you are trying to avoid a trial. Keep in mind that you have this finding in a case on your second offense, you will get at least one year in jail. Also, you will get up to 10 years in prison if you conceal or hide a thief of a motor vehicle.

Motor Vehicular Theft Statistics in Massachusetts

In comparison to the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, this is how Massachusetts rated in auto theft in recent years. A #1 ranking would be the highest crime rate, and #51 would be the lowest.

• 2008: 36
• 2007: 37
• 2006: 34
• 2005: 31

There has been a marked drop in auto thefts in the state in the decade 2000-10. There were 25,876 thefts reported in 2000, and 11,453 in 2010.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of vehicular theft, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehicle_theft

In the US, wire fraud is defined as a scam that is concocted by a criminal to obtain money by making a material misrepresentation of him or herself by any kind of electronic communication, including Internet, radio, TV or telephone. Wire fraud has been a crime on the federal level in the US since 1873. It is considered a serious federal crime because it often affects interstate commerce.

The US Supreme Court has stated that a ‘material misrepresentation’ is a situation that has the possibility of having an influence over a decision on the part of the intended victim.

Some of the most common types of wire fraud have been Internet sales fraud, phony sales of land, shady advertising, insurance scams and fake charitable organizations. Essentially, any time electronic communication is used to defraud a victim of money or property, a wire fraud charge can be brought. Each act of fraud that is committed typically will bring a separate wire fraud charge.

The Federal Wire Fraud Act states that any attempt to defraud by any type of electronic communication (such as Internet, TV, radio or telephone) in either foreign or US commerce is by definition a federal crime. U.S.C. 1341 and 1343 are the relevant statutes covering maul and wire fraud.

About the Laws in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts and some other states, wire fraud is often used by prosecutors against people who cannot be charged with more serious crimes because there is not enough evidence. Wire fraud is often used to prosecute all kinds of crimes. It is sort of a ‘back door’ to prosecute some criminal cases where there is not a lot of strong evidence. This is why it is important in Massachusetts to have a strong criminal defense attorney who is experienced in wire fraud.

The wire fraud statutes are often used in this state to press charges for a variety of crimes, if they were conducted in any way through the mail or any sort of electronic communication. Some of the most common types of crimes charged in this way are:

• Fraud on the Internet
• Fraud in banks
• Auction fraud
• False charity soliciting
• Work at home scams

A smart prosecutor in Massachusetts might be able to get you on a wire fraud conviction if the scam was at all discussed on the phone. As you can see, the wire fraud statutes are a clever catch all way that crimes may be prosecuted.

Sentencing for Wire fraud in Massachusetts

The sentencing for wire fraud in this state is similar to the federal sentencing guidelines that are found at 18 U.S.C. 1343. The severity of the sentence largely depends on whether it was your first offense, and whether you committed the crime against a person or an institution.

If it was committed against a person, you can get up to 20 years in prison and fined up to $5,000. If you commit wire fraud against an institution, you can be imprisoned for up to 30 years and fined up to $1,000,000.

Statistics for Wire Fraud

The FBI collects information about fraud cases from local law enforcement, but it does not publish wire fraud statistics on either the federal or state level. However, there were 206,884 complaints of Internet wire fraud in 2007, and 275,284 in 2008. So, this is a growing problem.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of wire fraud, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, a top notch criminal defense attorney in Massachusetts. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm
• http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/wire-fraud.html
• http://www.dailyiowan.com/2009/06/24/metro/11814.html

Mail fraud is defined as someone who attempts some sort of fraud – such as deceit, concealment or trickery – through the use of the US postal service, or any mail carrier that delivers interstate mail. This includes firms such as Mailboxes Etc. Mail fraud may be done against either an individual or a business.

To be convicted and sentenced for the crime of mail fraud, you must have done the three following things:

• Create a plan with purpose to defraud a person or an institution
• Have a provable intent to commit the fraud
• Mail some sort of item with the intent of carrying out a scam or plan that is fraudulent, either via the US mail service or by a private mail service.

About Mail Fraud Laws in Massachusetts

In many states, including Massachusetts, mail fraud will be used frequently by aggressive prosecutors who are having difficulty charging a defendant with other crimes. This is often due to a lack of evidence for the other crimes. Mail fraud, and its close cousin, wire fraud, are very frequently used to prosecute a defendent who might otherwise walk free. That is the reason that you want to have a strong criminal defense lawyer in your corner in Massachusetts if you are being accused of mail fraud.

A good Massachusetts criminal attorney often can make a mail fraud charge stick on you if nothing else will. If you ever communicated in a dishonest manner with any parties involved in the situation by mail, you might be on the hook for mail fraud.

Sentencing for Mail Fraud in Massachusetts

If convicted of mail fraud in the state of Massachusetts, you face similar penalties as at the federal level. These guidelines can be found in U.S.C. 1343. How much you are punished is going to depend on whether it is a second offense, and whether you defrauded a person or an institution or business.

If your mail fraud was done against a person, you may receive as much as 20 years in prison. The fine would be $5,000. If you commit mail fraud against a business or an institution, you can get up to 30 years in prison, and the fine can be $1 million.

Common Mail Fraud Scams

Some of the most common mail fraud scams include:

• Fake job opportunities
• Pyramid schemes
• Postal job scams
• Work at home scams
• Mystery shopper scams

Statistics for Mail Fraud

The FBI collects information about mail and wire fraud cases from local law enforcement, but it does not put out any statistics on mail or wire fraud. There also is no mail or wire fraud data available for Massachusetts. We do know that there were 206,884 complaints of wire and mail fraud in 2007, and 275,284 in 2008. So, this is a problem that is only growing.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of mail fraud, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan. He has the experience and legal skills as one of the best criminal attorneys needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/FraudSchemes.aspx
• http://criminal-law.freeadvice.com/criminal-law/criminal-law/mail-fraud.htm

Sexual conduct with a minor is sometimes referred to as statutory rape in many states and districts. This is where one of the people is below the legal age to consent legally to the sexual activity. Other jurisdictions may refer to this conduct as sexual assault, child rape, minor corruption etc.

The key factor regarding the determination of whether an act constitutes sexual conduct with a minor is the age of the minor involved. In many states, the the age of consent is taken to mean the mental age of the minor at the time of the sexual act. In such states, a victim could actually be any age, if their age mentally means that they cannot agree to a sexual activity. Also, many states will state that there is a minimum age difference that must be met for there to be a sexual offense. For example, an 18 year-old having sexual intercourse with a 16 year-old would not usually be considered sexual misconduct.

About Sexual Conduct with Minor Laws in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has different laws governing sexual conduct with minors depending upon the age of the minor. For example, if the minor is under 14, you would be guilty of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. This would be punishable by a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

If you had sexual intercourse or “unnatural sexual intercourse” with a child under the age of 16, you could be sent to a state prison for life.

If you had sexual intercourse with a minor under 18, you can be sent to a state prison for up to three years and fined up to $1,000.

Statutory rape in Massachusetts is defined as intercourse or unnatural intercourse with a minor under 16. The prosecution must only show that you had intercourse or unnatural intercourse with the minor, and that the victim was less than 16. Whether you believed the minor to be older than 16 is not a defense for statutory rape in this state.

More About Sexual Misconduct Charges in Massachusetts

If you are accused of this sort of sex crime in this state, it is very serious. The penalties are harsh, because politicians want to be seen as tough on these sorts of crimes. Also, if convicted, your name will be on the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board for life. Any person who goes to that website can see a photo of you and your profile, as well as where you live. Even after you serve your sentence, you will be identified as a sex offender.

You should keep in mind that some sexual conduct with minor crimes can give you a life sentence. This is the case even if the minor consented to the sexual activity. This is why you need an outstanding Massachusetts criminal defense attorney if you have been charged with sexual conduct with a minor in Massachusetts.

Statistics on Rape in Massachusetts

Records are not kept on sexual conduct with a minor in the state of Massachusetts. However, forcible rape overall in this state has stayed about the same in the decade 2000-10. In 2000, there were 26.7 cases per 100k citizens, and in 2010, there also were 26.7 cases per 100k citizens.

Also, Massachusetts ranked as follows in the 50 US states in forcible rape:

• 2008: 38th
• 2007: 39th
• 2006: 38th
• 2005: 37th

Conclusion

If you have been accused of sexual misconduct with a minor, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan. He has the experience and legal skills as a criminal defense attorney needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm

Robbery is defined as the taking money or property by force or threatening force against the victim. Some of the more common forms of robbery include armed robbery, in which a weapon is used, and aggravated robbery, in which a weapon or something that looks like a weapon is used.

In the US, robbery involves the trespassing, taking and carrying away of personal property of another person, with intent, by using force or by threatening the use of force. It is the use or threat of force that distinguishes robbery from larceny.

About Robbery Laws in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, there is a difference between unarmed and armed robbery, as in many states. In unarmed robbery, you still face life in prison, but usually it is a term of 5-12 years. To be found guilty, the prosecution must show that in the crime, you:

• Did not use a weapon
• Used force of violence
• Robbed or stole property or money
• Property was something that would constitute larceny, without the added element of force

Also, Massachusetts law has special parameters if your victim was over the age of 60. This also carries the same possible penalties as regular unarmed robbery. However, this is treated as a very serious offense by the district attorney, judges and juries. On a second offense, you will be guaranteed a sentence of at least 2 years.

Regarding armed robbery, Massachusetts law states that this is defined as the assault, robbing or stealing from another individual while armed with a deadly weapon.

In this case, the prosecutor needs to prove:

• You were armed with a deadly weapon (not just a knife or a gun)
• You made a threat that instilled fear in the victim, either by words or actions
• You stole the money or property of the victim
• You took the victim’s money or property from the control of the victim

Interestingly, if you were disguised or wore a mask during your armed robbery, you will get at least five years on the first offense. If you had a pistol, rifle, shot gun or machine gun, you will get at least five years, too. Life in prison also is a possibility in some cases.

Statistics on Robbery in Massachusetts

Robbery is slightly on the upswing in Massachusetts for the decade 2000-10. There were 5,815 cases of robbery (armed and unarmed) in 2000, and 6,874 cases in 2010.

The state of Massachusetts ranked as follows in the 50 states for robbery:

• 2008: 25th
• 2007: 24th
• 2006: 22nd
• 2005: 21st

Conclusion

If you have been accused of robbery, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, one of Boston’s best criminal lawyers in Mass. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm

The term computer crime refers to any kind of crime that involves the use of computers and a network. The computer may have been a tool that was used in the crime, or it may be the target of the crime. A related set of crimes is known as net crimes, which refers to the criminal use of the World Wide Web. Another related crime is cyber crimes, which is committed against people or groups with criminal intent with the motivation to hurt the reputation of the person, or cause mental or physical pain to the person.

Computer crimes have become more and more common and significant. This is especially the case in such crimes as computer intrusion, copyright infringement, child pornography, espionage and financial crimes.

The FBI states that just computer intrusions costs billions of dollars per year for companies to repair. Some of these attacks can take out very critical systems, such as 911 services and the computer networks of hospitals and banks.

About Computer Crime Laws in Massachusetts

In 1995, the state legislature in this state passed a new bill that fixed several holes related to computer crime in Massachusetts. Before this law was passed, computer crimes were only defined as to someone who took data from a computer system without prior authorization. Hacking was not against the law and could not be punished. The new law fixed these holes in several ways.

• Prohibits access to any computer by network or phone without prior permission
• Defines data that is electronically stored/processed as property
• Prohibits the stealing of commercial computer services

Some of the serious computer or cybercrimes you can be charged with in the state of Massachusetts include:

• Cyberstalking: harassing a person online. Sentence can be up to 5 years.
• Child pornography:  receipt, distribution, or production of. Sentence can be from 5-20 years.
• Identity theft: sentence is up to 2.5 years and a fine of up to $5,000.
• Hate crimes: a crime that targets who a person is, based upon race, religion, gender, color, etc. Sentences can vary depending on the offense.
• Hacking: Sentence can be up to 2.5 years and a fine of up to $3000.
• Copyright infringement: sentence can be up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $25,000.

Computer Crime Statistics

While exact statistics for computer crimes are not available in the state, we do know that in 2009, the FBI reported that it received a total of 336,655 complaints of computer crime. This was an increase of 22% from 2008. The total losses from the cases reported in 2009 was almost $600 million. Some of the most common computer crimes reported included computer intrusions, identity theft and child pornography.

One of the reasons that computer crimes are so hard to track is that much of it originates overseas. Although the people affected may reside in the US or in a specific state, it is very common for computer hackers and scammers to work out of China, Nigeria, South Africa, the UK and even Canada.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of computer crime, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, one of Massachusetts top Boston Criminal Attorneys. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Forgery is when you make documents with the intention to deceive someone. Copies and reproductions of original items are not defined as forgeries, but they can be potentially if they are purposely misrepresented as authentic items. Currencies also can be forged; this is generally known as counterfeiting.

Most cases of forgery involve some amount of fraud. Forgery is one of the methods used to create fraud, which can also include identity theft.

Some of the most common documents that are often found in forgery cases include contracts, ID cards, and various legal certificates. Most US states have a definition of forgery that includes an intent to commit fraud and/or theft and larceny.

In federal law, the section dealing with forgery and counterfeiting is U.S.C. Chapter 25.

About Forgery Laws in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, forgery is defined as the act of purposely counterfeiting or forging a legal document or currency, such as a check. If you are convicted of forgery in Massachusetts, you can be sentenced up to 10 years in prison, or two years in jail.

Making any statements or utterances about fake or forged records is defined as an attempt at fraud. It is separate from the forgery charge and you can be sentenced up to two years in jail, or 10 years in prison.

If you have been accused of forging or uttering regarding a check, certificate, title deed or other legal document, you will need strong defense attorney in Massachusetts. As in all criminal cases, the state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you did do the crime. It can be difficult for the prosecution to prove that you did intend to defraud, forge or counterfeit a document.

Common Forged Documents

• Checks
• Bills of exchange/lading
• Promissory notes
• Deeds
• Money orders
• Bonds
• Court seals
• Currency
• Corporate documents
• Titles

About Counterfeiting Laws in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts and many other states, counterfeiting currency is known as uttering. In this state, to be convicted of counterfeiting, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:

• The document was made to appear to be a piece of currency or bank note
• The currency or not was made or altered with the intent to deceive
• The defendant tried to pass the note as genuine
• The defendant knew the note was worthless
• The defendant tried to injure/defraud another person

Counterfeiting only requires that some part of the note or currency was altered, not the entire document. Also, the defendant is not required to have passed the note successfully. Just the attempt can get you convicted.

A good Mass criminal defense attorney will be able to hone in on the critical part of the prosecution’s case: your state of mind at the time. They must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you knew the note was worthless.

If you are being accused of having forged a signature, a possible defense is that the purported victim gave you his or her permission to do so.

Forgery Statistics

Forgery and counterfeiting statistics are not available for Massachusetts. However, according to FBI statistics, national forgery and counterfeiting crime cases have overall dropped from 2001-08:

• 2001:113,700
• 2002:115,700
• 2003:111,800
• 2004:119,500
• 2005:118,500
• 2006:108,800
• 2007:103,400
• 2008:90,100

Conclusion

If you have been accused of forgery or counterfeiting, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, one of Massachusett’s top criminal defense attorneys. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

Sources:

• http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezaucr/asp/ucr_display.asp
• http://www.springandspring.com/Property-Crimes-Public-Peace-Crimes/Uttering-Counterfeiting.shtml

Identity theft is where you attempt to take the identity of another person. Typically, this is done to get to the resources of another person, and/or to acquire credit or other benefits in the name of that person. The victim of this crime can suffer very bad consequences if they are held accountable for what the criminal does in their name.

Identity theft can be categorized in the following ways:

• Criminal ID theft: Posing as another individual when you are arrested for a crime
• Financial ID theft: Using the identity of another person to get credit and goods
• ID cloning: Using the information of another person to take his or her identity
• Medical ID theft: Using another person’s identity to get drugs or medical care

Identity theft can also be used to do other crimes, including terrorism, espionage and illegal immigration.

There are more than 10 million cases of identity theft per year in the United States.

Identity theft was made a felony in 2004 by President Bush, and the minimum sentence was increase from three to five years.

About Identity Theft Laws in Massachusetts

There is a substantial problem with identity theft in Massachusetts. This crime is very commonly involved in illegal immigration and various criminal activities on the Internet.

In the state of Massachusetts, if you are convicted of identity theft, you can be fined up to $5000 and serve up to 2.5 years in jail. Also, you will be required to make financial restitution to the victim. This could include having to pay for any repair the person needs to his or her credit.

The most common types of identity theft are:

• Credit card fraud
• Utilities fraud
• Bank fraud
• Employment fraud
• Loan fraud
• Government fraud
• Other – including insurance fraud

Identity Theft Statistics

There were 800,000 complaints of identity theft in the US in 2007. Also, in 2010, there were more than 70 million identities that were lost because of mishandling of personal information by corporations. This led to over $1 billion in losses by consumers.

The FBI aggressively pursues identity theft cases, but tends to focus on organized gangs of ID thieves that often involve many victims. Pending cases of identity theft from 2003-06 are below:

• 2003: 1,582
• 2004, 1,574
• 2005: 1,678
• 2006: 1,255

Conclusion

If you have been accused of identity theft, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, a top Mass criminal defense lawyer. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

A drug that is referred to as a narcotic is one that is completely prohibited and illegal, or one that is only used with very strict regulation by the government.

Any crime that involves a drug that is classified as a narcotic will usually result in increased punishment. For instance, under federal law, cocaine and amphetamines are both Schedule II drugs, but you get more time for cocaine possession. This is because cocaine is a narcotic.

There are five classes of narcotics in the US:

• Schedule I: No accepted medical use, such as marijuana, heroin, LSD, mushrooms, ecstasy
• Schedule II: Controlled substances that have high risk of abuse but some medical purpose, such as cocaine, morphine, oxycontin, opium, amphetamines. Prescriptions may not have refills
• Schedule III: Controlled substances that have less chance for abuse with accepted medical uses, such as LSA and ketamine
• Schedule IV: Controlled substances with less chance of abuse, including Xanax, Valium and Klonopin, also barbituates.
• Schedule V: Controlled substances with low potential for abuse and have accepted medical uses, such as Lyrica, and prescription cough medicines with codeine.

About Drug and Narcotic Laws in Massachusetts

You should know that drug crimes are treated seriously in Massachusetts, and the district attorney has a zero tolerance policy for drug law violations. Some of the crimes pertaining to drugs and narcotics that you can be charged with in this state include:

• Possession: Of any controlled substance. Can lead to prison sentences and severe fines even for a first offense. You also can lose your driver’s license.
• Possession with intent to distribute: This is a felony and will lead to long imprisonments and big fines. If you had any scales or bags in possession, you are going to be charged with this crime. This is much more serious than simple possession.
• Trafficking: This is a serious felony that is usually charged because of a large amount of drugs found in your possession. Penalties vary on types of drugs and quantities, but it can be 15-20 years.
• School zone violations: If you are arrested for a drug crime within 1000 feet of a school, you can be charged with this crime. You can be sentenced up to 15 years in prison.

It is quite common for aggressive law enforcement to violate constitutional rights when doing searches and seizures for drugs. So, you are very wise to get outstanding Mass criminal defense attorney who can help you to minimize any potential sentence.

Popular Drugs and Narcotics in Massachusetts

The most popular drugs in Massachusetts in recent years include cocaine, heroin, meth, and marijuana. Most of the cocaine has been found to come from NY, FL and GA. Much of these drugs are brought into the state in hidden spaces inside of trucks and tractor trailers. Much cocaine also is brought into the state by the US postal service mail system.

Drug and Narcotic Crime Statistics

The number of drug and narcotic arrests in the United States has soared in the last 30 years. According to the FBI, there were 600,000 drug arrests in 1982, and nearly 2 million in 2007. However, it is the charges for possession that have soared, and accounted for most of that increase. The number of arrests for manufacture and sales of drugs and narcotics has held steady at around 400,000 per year for over 20 years.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of a drug crime, or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, one of Massachusett’s top criminal defense lawyers. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

According to the Massachusetts state government website, it is very important that you get to court on the date and time that the hearing is booked. It is very important that you do not arrive late for the hearing!

When you first arrive at the hearing, you should speak to the clerk at the magistrate’s office, unless there is a notice or sign at the courthouse that says you should do something else. Note that this hearing also can be referred to as a probable cause hearing, or a show cause hearing.

The hearing is typically conducted by the clerk magistrate, or by the assistant. Keep in mind that in the magistrate hearing, formal evidence rules do not apply. The police department will give its evidence to support the charges against you. At this point, you can then tell the magistrate why you do not think you were responsible. You also can offer evidence that provides support for your view. Some of the evidence that you can supply includes:

• Pictures
• Documents
• Witnesses

After you have presented all of your evidence, the magistrate then makes a decision. Note that if you were cited just for a civil violation, the magistrate decides if the police department has provided enough proof for each civil violation. The police must provide a preponderance of the evidence, or whether it is more or less likely that you committed the violation. If so, the magistrate then will find that you are responsible for that violation. If not, the magistrate will find that you are not responsible for that violation. Note that you do NOT have a right to a jury trial for a civil violation.

If you were cited for a criminal violation, the magistrate has to decide if there is probable cause to issue a criminal complaint against you. If the magistrate does issue a criminal complaint, you will have the right to have a trial by judge or jury to plead guilty. A grand jury can then be called.

Another common question is whether the citing officer needs to be present at your magistrate hearing in Massachusetts. The answer to this is no. The citing officer is not required to be present or to testify. Rather than the citing officer, the police department may choose to provide a copy of the citation or the police report as evidence against you.

If you only were cited for a civil violation, Massachusetts law states that the citation alone is enough for evidence against you. However, the citation alone is not conclusive. If the citing officer does not appear, and no other police representative appears and you do show up, the magistrate will find that you are not responsible for any civil violation, and will also deny any criminal complaint.

If you only were cited for a civil violation, and the citing officer and no other police officer comes to the magistrate hearing, and YOU also do not show up, your request for a hearing will be denied. You will need to pay the citation as written.

If you are found responsible for a civil violation, the magistrate usually will impose the fine that is one the citation. For a speeding violation, the magistrate is required to impose the scheduled assessment. This is $50 plus $10 for each mile per hour over the limit.

Geoffrey G. Nathan – Managing Partner
Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan-Boston & Quincy, Massachusetts

20+ Years of Experience With Proven Results – 80% Not Guilty Verdicts

Do you need outstanding criminal defense counsel? Get to know Attorney Nathan, and then please contact him right away:

• 80% of cases found not guilty. Over 2,000 plea bargains, 500 lobby conferences, 1000 constitutional motions argued, 50 bench trials, and seventeen jury of twelve or six trials to verdict. This includes superior court not guilty verdicts after co-defendant pled guilty.
• Trials in district court have included felonies and misdemeanors; superior court pleas have concluded via plea bargain to house time.
• Provided criminal defense in the district and superior court departments of the trial court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States District Court.
• Federal criminal trial: attempted bank robbery, defendant indicted under three strikes law after FBI sting operation.
• Federal criminal plea: engaging in business of dealing in firearms to low end of guidelines.
• Federal white collar experience: US v. Burns, a $20 Million wire fraud indictment; US v. Hebert, negotiated bank fraud information.
• Superior court trials include First Degree Murder with not guilty verdict, “habitual criminal,” attempted murder, motor vehicle homicide, carjacking home invasion, white collar crime.
• Cases have been featured in major media including Co. v. Patel, where newspaper denounced plea agreement as too lenient. Suppression of confessions in superior court and drugs seized in district court.
• Experience in negotiating with FBI & Secret Service agents in a counterfeit money case, to preclude Federal indictment via defendant cooperation
• Experience in dealing with ATF in excise tax avoidance; interstate firearms violations and illegal tobacco shipping.

National Recognition of Attorney Nathan

Attorney Nathan has a national presence as a commentator for the CourtTV network. He comments on strategies used by other nationally recognized attorneys, and has cross-examined forensic experts on high-profile cases. While most cases do not require this level of attention or detail, Attorney Nathan has developed these skills both in court and on live national television. Few lawyers are privileged and skilled enough to obtain this level of legal practice.

The Education of Attorney Nathan

• Boston College Law School, Boston, MA, 1984
• J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
• Law Publication: Member, Boston College International and Comparative Law Review, 1982 – 1984
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1980
• B.A., Bachelor of Arts
• Honors: With Honors, Dean’s List
• Course work: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; Georgetown University, Washington, DC; George Washington University, Washington, DC Attended while employed by the White House Press Office and White House Advance (1978-1979).

Past Positions

• White House Press Office and White House Advance, 1978 – 1979
• Brian Cunha & Associates, Fall River, MA, Attorney, 1991 – 1992
• Halstrom Law Offices, P.C., Boston, MA, Associate Counsel, 1992 – 1993
• Trial of Brain injury case which resulted in a $1.4 million verdict.

Additional Details About Attorney Nathan

• Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers Number 552110, a licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 1988, admitted to practice in both Federal and State courts.
• His father headed Massachusetts Children’s Hospital for over 20 years, Director of Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Bush for his work in Blood Disorders. Besides being inspired by his father’s work, Attorney Nathan has contacts with some of the worlds premier physicians and forensic experts used to find defendants innocent in cases where DNA, blood, tissues and other biological evidence is at issue.

Burglary, which is frequently known as breaking and entering, is defined as an illegal entry into a building with the intent to do something that is against the law. Normally the intent is to commit theft, but there are some jurisdictions in the United States that categorize other activities as falling into the definition of burglary.

For example, the state of Massachusetts defines the term ‘burglary’ to include breaking and entering into a dwelling – at night – with the intent to do a felony. In this case in Massachusetts, burglary would be defined as a felony that can be punished by up to 20 years in prison. This would be even worse if the burglar committed the felony with a weapon. In fact, in that case, the person can be sentenced to prison for life, whether or not anyone was harmed. Also, in Massachusetts, if you enter any other sort of structure unlawfully, this also is defined as breaking and entering.

A burglary charge in Massachusetts, as you can see, can be quite serious. If you are convicted as a repeat burglary offender in this state, you will get at least 5 years in prison, no questions asked. And if you do commit an armed burglary as a repeat offender, you will be guaranteed to get at least 15 years in prison.

More About the Law in Massachusetts

You should keep in mind that in this state, burglary is defined as entering any sort of location – be it a house, office building or a vehicle – with no permission from the owner. It also is defined as having the intent to commit any sort of crime, such as stealing some or all of the contents.

Remember that you do not even need to actually break into the house, car or building to be charged with burglary in Massachusetts. If you were to just enter the car or building through an unlocked door, you can be charged. Also, you do not need to actually steal anything. Your unauthorized presence in the building or vehicle is all the district attorney needs to charge you with burglary.

In Massachusetts, you can be charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor in a burglary case. It depends on the facts that are established by the Mass criminal defense attorney. There are several factors that will decide home you are charged and subsequently punished:

• ·        The time the offense occurred
• ·        Whether any person was assaulted, battered or hurt at all
• ·        The type of building you broke into
• ·        Whether or not you were armed
• ·        The value of the property stolen or attempted stolen
• ·        Whether anyone was in the building at the time

The last point above brings us to the next issue:

Watch Out for Home Invasion Charges in Massachusetts

There is more to worry about in Massachusetts than just being charged with burglary, if that was not bad enough. If someone is in the home when you break in, you very well could be charged with home invasion. A home invasion charge is very serious and can get you at least 20 years in prison.

Massachusetts General Law 265 s18c says that any person who enters knowingly into the home of another person and may have reason to think that someone is in that house, and still stays in that house while armed with a deadly weapon, that person is guilty of home invasion, not just burglary.

Burglary Crime Statistics in Massachusetts

In comparison to the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, this is how Massachusetts rated in burglary in recent years. A #1 ranking would be the highest crime rate, and #51 would be the lowest.

2008: 31

2007: 34

2006: 35

2005: 36

Burglary in Massachusetts has generally increased in the last 10 years. According to disastercenter.com, there were 30,600 reported burglaries in 2000, and there were 37,767 reported in 2010, but the population increased by only 200,000 people.

Conclusion

If you have been accused of burglary or any other serious crime, contact the Law Offices of Geoffrey G. Nathan, a serious Boston criminal attorney with a great track record to prove. He has the experience and legal skills needed to handle serious criminal matters. To arrange an office consultation, contact us now.

• Sex Crimes Against Minors
• Sex Offender Registry Help
• Child Protective Servics
• Sex Crime Appeals
• Sexual Assault
• Child Molestation & Sexual Abuse
• Indecent Exposure
• Statutory Rape
• Sex Offender Registration
• Prostitution and Solicitation
• Criminal Sexual Conduct
• Internet Sex Crimes/Chat Room

Under Massachusetts State Law, any individual who is convicted of a sexual crime meeting the criteria of the Jacob Wetterling Act will have to register as a sexual offender. Depending on the sexual crime you are being charged, you may be facing a minimum of 20 year registration or lifetime registration. This is important to know because if you have to register as a sex offender, your personal information is no longer personal, in fact, it becomes public and placed on your local Police Departments website, the National Sex Offender Registry website along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Such information that is viewable by the public and your neighbors is as follows:

- Your Picture

- Your Current Home Address

- Any Secondary Addresses

- Your Work Address

- Name and Address of Institution of Higher Learning

- The Sexual Crime in Which You Were Convicted

- Your Age, Sex, Race, Height, Weight, Eye Color, and Hair Color

Offenses requiring registration within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are as follows:

- Aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14

-  Aggravated rape

-  Aggravated rape and abuse of a child

-  Assault of a child with intent to commit rape

-  Assault with intent to commit rape

-  Disseminating to a minor matter harmful to a minor

-  Dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct

-  Drugging persons for sexual intercourse

-  Enticing a child under the age of 16 for the purposes of committing a crime

-  Enticing a child under 18 via electronic communication to engage in prostitution, human

trafficking, or commercial sexual activity

-  Enticing a person away for prostitution or sexual intercourse

-  Failure to register as a sex offender

-  Incestuous marriage or intercourse

-  Indecent assault and battery on a child under 14

-  Indecent assault and battery on a mentally retarded person

-  Indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or over

-  Inducing a minor into prostitution

-  Kidnapping of a child

-  Living off or sharing earnings of a minor prostitute

-  Posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity

-  Possession of child pornography

-  Rape

-  Rape and abuse of a child

-  Rape of a child under 16 with force

-  Second and subsequent conviction for open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior,

but excluding a first or single adjudication as a delinquent juvenile before August 1, 1992

-  Second or subsequent violation of human trafficking of sexual servitude

-  Trafficking of persons for sexual servitude upon a person under 18 years of age

-  Trafficking persons for sexual servitude

-  Unnatural and lascivious acts with a child under 16

Included below are the stories of some of his cases

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-kill-team-20110327

(OTHER WIKIPEDIA LINKS FOR WILLIAM HUNSAKER, JOHN E HATLEY JOSEPH MAYO)