Articles Posted in Violent Crime

Ali Darwich, a 31-year-old man who lives in Beverly Hills, was sentenced on Wednesday May 8 to 137 years in prison following his December conviction for his role in an arson ring that resulted in insurance companies being defrauded of more than $5 million. Darwich was initially arrested in 2008 as he was seen fleeing from a burning building in Detroit.

According to a news article at Mlive.com, Darwich was sentenced in federal court and was among a total of nine individuals who allegedly participated in the insurance fraud ring. All of the eight other suspects have been sentenced after pleading guilty.

Federal officials said that in total, seven insurance companies were defrauded. The individuals involved in the arson ring allegedly purchased insurance on a number of vehicles, homes, and businesses. They would then cause floods, set the properties on fire, or otherwise vandalize them so that they could collect insurance money for replacement, repairs, and other costs including lost profits.

Darwich allegedly set a fire at Warrendale Hardware in Detroit that resulted in damages of more than $500,000. In 2008, he was observed going into a building on Cheyenne Street in Detroit, then fleeing with what appeared to be a bottle of liquid as the building burned. News reports also state that Darwich attempted to conceal the arson/insurance fraud operation by shifting ownership of the properties around to friends and family members.

Several agencies participated in the investigation of the arson ring including Dearborn police, Detroit fire departments, the IRS and the FBI.

Michigan arson attorneys know that in a situation such as this one, the consequences are extremely serious. Not only may those involved be charged with arson, but with insurance fraud as well. As is evident in this case, individuals who are convicted may spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

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On March 28, 30-year-old Dewayne Kerperien was found guilty of armed robbery in connection with an incident at a Burton Meijer store last year in which he allegedly robbed a woman in the parking lot. Kerperien, who is a resident of Flint, was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison by Genesee Circuit Judge Archie Hayman on Monday April 22.

In August of 2012, Kerperien allegedly forced a woman into her vehicle after following her into the parking lot of the Meijer store located on Center Road. According to a news article at Mlive.com, he approached her from behind with a gun as she got out of her vehicle, then forced her back inside. Kerperien took the woman’s wallet, keys, cell phone, and other property, then drove away. He was captured by surveillance cameras at a gas station nearby, where he was observed selling the victim’s cell phone. Kerperien was found guilty of armed robbery and unlawful imprisonment.

Additional charges of felony firearms and felon in possession of a firearm were filed against Kerperien, however jurors found him not guilty on these charges. He has an extensive criminal background according to state records, and was last released from prison in May of 2010.

Armed robbery is a criminal offense that is punished very harshly in the state of Michigan. Michigan armed robbery lawyers know that any individual who is charged with this crime must obtain a skilled and capable attorney in order to improve the odds of a good outcome. Even when an individual has not been arrested or charged but is under investigation, it is important to consult with an experienced attorney who can begin working on a strong and effective defense right away.

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On Friday April 19, a 20-year-old woman was shot in the head as she was walking to her apartment after getting off work. The woman, who is a resident of Pittsfield Township, was treated for non-life threatening injuries following the shooting, although the suspect was still at large.

Chief Gordy Schick of the Pittsfield Township Deputy Police said that the victim was approached by a man with a gun who attempted to take her purse. The man then forced the woman to the ground demanding that she remove her clothes while holding a gun to her head. As the alleged victim fought back, the man shot her in the left side of the head. The police chief believes that although the suspect did not sexually assault the woman, he did intend to.

The incident took place in the 4900 block of Lakeridge Drive in Pittsfield Township at approximately 10:30 p.m. The suspect is described as a black male about 5′ 8″ in height who is thinly built, bald, and thought to be 18 to 20 years old. According to a news article at Annarbor.com, he was wearing dark clothing and a hoodie.

Police are now investigating whether the suspect in this case may be the same man who sexually assaulted an Ypsilanti Township woman recently. Composite sketches of the suspects have been released in both cases, and the images are said to look very similar. However, the physical descriptions given of the suspects differ substantially, as the man suspected in the Ypsilanti Township sexual assault is described as being over six feet tall, while the Pittsfield Township robbery suspect was described as about 5′ 8″ tall.

Police believe the woman who was attacked as she walked toward her apartment complex may have been at Washtenaw Avenue and Golfside Road near the AATA bus stop prior to the shooting, although they do not reveal in news reports why they suspect the woman was in the area.

Although news reports do not indicate what the suspect may be charged with when apprehended, Michigan criminal defense lawyers know that he will no doubt face serious consequences. Attempted robbery and assault are serious offenses; when a gun is present and someone is injured, the consequences become even more dire for the person who is convicted of committing the crime.

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In January of this year, 31-year-old Raymond Burger of Meridian Township was arrested for allegedly robbing a gas station in December of 2012. Burger was accused of holding up the Marathon gas station located at 3010 Lake Lansing Road with a weapon. News reports at Mlive.com state that no one was injured in the incident, and that the defendant stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

After investigating and analyzing surveillance images, Meridian Township police determined that Burger was a suspect in the hold up; a warrant was then issued by the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office for Burger’s arrest. He pleaded guilty to two counts of unarmed robbery in exchange for prosecutors dropping the charge of armed robbery. Now, Burger has been sentenced to three to 15 years in prison by Ingham County Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk. He was also ordered by the judge to pay multiple fees and costs. Burger had already served 100 days in jail since his arrest, which Draganchuk gave him credit for.

Burger had a prior criminal record in Wayne County, and had previously served approximately two years for convictions on charges of assault, obstructing, and resisting police. He was released from prison in 2012.

As experienced Michigan armed robbery attorneys we know that if Burger had not pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, he may have faced life in prison. Much of the outcome of a defendant’s case rests in the hands of his/her attorney, and that attorney’s skill and ability. Skilled lawyers work to have the charges against their clients dismissed, but there are situations in which this outcome is not possible. In these situations it may work to the client’s advantage to plea bargain with prosecutors in order to reduce sentencing and the damage to your life. A talented defense attorney can work to develop the best possible defense for his or her client.

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On Wednesday April 10, a woman was allegedly carjacked after coming out of a west Detroit Dollar Store, where she and her 4-year-old son had been shopping for balloons. The incident took place in the middle of the day, when the woman was carjacked at gunpoint as she unlocked her car doors. There were two suspects who were said to be wearing black hooded sweatshirts; they emerged from an abandoned building when the woman unlocked the doors to get in her car, according to a news article at ClickonDetroit.com.

Two teenagers have since been arrested in the carjacking after Detroit police set up surveillance following a tip they received that the woman’s car was located at Grandmont and West Chicago. The two suspects, age 17 and 18, eventually came for the car. This is when police stopped them nearby, and arrested the 18-year-old after he fled on foot and was tracked to a garage with the assistance of the department’s K-9 Unit. A news report at Mlive.com stated that police also recovered the gun.

The 24-year-old woman was able to pull her son out of the back seat of the vehicle before the teens fled with the car. News reports state that the woman was panicking, thinking only of getting her son out of the car. All she remember seeing was the gun when one of the suspects approached her vehicle and demanded the car keys and money; she said she could not really see the teen’s faces. Once getting her son from the back seat, she ran for safety.

Michigan auto theft attorneys know that this is a very serious crime, particularly when the occupants of a vehicle are forced out by the use of a weapon or even the threat of violence. Those convicted may face a sentence of up to life in prison; if a police chase ensues, many defendants find themselves facing a minimum of 10 years behind bars.

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