Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

January 30, 2015

Minnesota Man Appeals Conviction in Wife’s Murder

In November of 2013, 37-year-old Jeffery Trevino was sentenced by District Judge Leonardo Castro to serve 27 1/2 years for the murder of his wife, 30-year-old Kira Steger. Now, Trevino is in court to appeal his conviction, according to a news article at Fox News.

Steger disappeared; Trevino was later found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder. His wife’s body was found after months of searching in the Mississippi River in May of 2013. Jurors in the trial found that Trevino did not intend to kill his wife, as they argued and he allegedly used a pillow to quiet and calm her, not kill her.

While the sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is typically between 10 and 13 years, the judge enhanced Trevino’s sentence due to aggravating factors including the fact that concealing his wife’s body by placing it in the river added to the anguish for her grieving family members.

January 29, 2015

Suspect Who Injured Police Officer During Traffic Stop Facing Criminal Charges

by Scott Grabel

On Friday January 23, a 55-year-old man allegedly shot a Flint Township police officer after he was stopped for a traffic violation. That man, who has not been named pending his arraignment, is now facing charges of resisting and obstructing a police officer and carrying a concealed weapon, according to a news report at Mlive.com.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. at the Hometown Inn in the 3200 block of Miller Road. According to reports, the officer attempted to take the man into custody on multiple misdemeanor warrants, when the two became involved in a scuffle that resulted in the suspect pulling a gun before firing on the officer. The bullet struck the officer, who then called for backup. The injured officer was continuing to recover three days later, according to Flint Township Lt. James Baldwin. The suspect was also injured by return gunfire of the officer and backup officers who responded to the scene.

The officer who was injured and hospitalized works as a patrol officer, and has been with the force for two years.

January 28, 2015

Georgia Drug Bust Nets Two Arrests, Third Suspect Being Sought by Authorities

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday January 24, a drug bust in Ivey located in Wilkinson County, GA resulted in the arrest of two individuals, 32-year-old Amanda Helms, and 57-year-old Herman Bill Hendricks, Helms’s uncle, according to a news article at 13WMAZ.com. At the time of news reports, a third suspect, 51-year-old Cynthia Mixon, could not be located.

According to an Ocmulgee Drug Task Force news release, authorities had been investigating the sale of prescription drugs including oxycodone for about a month prior to the arrests. Helms was followed by investigators when she met with Hendricks, who allegedly gave her money to buy prescription drugs from Mixon. As they continued investigating, Helms went to Mixon’s home, then left and proceeded to go back to give the drugs to her uncle (Hendricks) when both were arrested.

A search warrant was served by agents at Mixon’s residence, but she was not there. According to Task Force commander Wesley Nunn, Mixon knew that a warrant had been issued for her arrest for selling prescription drugs. Authorities believe that she is on the run, and that her two teenage children may be with her. Upon entering Mixon’s home, agents seized evidence including prescriptions pills, methamphetamine, cell phones, pistols, and other guns.

January 26, 2015

Denver Nuggets’ Ty Lawson Arrested for DUI, Apologized to Team

by Scott Grabel

On Friday, January 24, Denver Nuggets’ Ty Lawson was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Denver police said the starting point guard was pulled over after an officer noticed Lawson driving “fast and carelessly.” While the team had no comments regarding the arrest, Lawson did return to the Nuggets on Saturday, and apologized for his actions although what he said to the team has not been publicized.

Brian Shaw, Nuggets’ coach, said that he left Lawson to deal with his teammates on his own, and that “For me, it’s no different than your own child doing something.”

Lawson was allegedly driving at speeds of 61 mph in a 35 mph zone in Denver when he was pulled over just before 1:30 a.m. on Friday. According to the arresting officer, Lawson’s eyes were bloodshot, his speech slurred, and his breath smelled of alcohol. The officer also said Lawson was stumbling and off-balance. Upon being transported to the Downtown Detention Center, Lawson refused a chemical test.

January 23, 2015

Dunwoody Day Care Killer Appeals Murder Conviction

by Scott Grabel

On Tuesday January 20, news reports revealed that the appeal of Hemy Neuman, dubbed the “Dunwoody Day Care Killer,” would be heard by the Georgia Supreme Court. Neuman was convicted in 2012 in the murder of Rusty Sneiderman, husband of Neuman’s mistress, Andrea Sneiderman. Neuman killed Sneiderman in the parking lot of the preschool in Dunwoody his own son attended.

Neuman’s defense team is appealing their client’s conviction based on four separate arguments. Andrea Sneiderman worked for Neuman, who was her supervisor. It was found by a jury at a later date that Andrea had lied on the stand regarding the affair with Neuman. She denied the affair, but was convicted of perjury in 2013.

Lawyers for Neuman say that the false testimony of Sneiderman was the basis for his conviction. In addition, his defense team claims that evidence from two defense consultant doctors who visited Neuman in jail should not have been allowed by the judge in the case. Neuman had been seeing a family therapist for a mood disorder, and was called suicidal by that therapist. Neuman’s lawyers said the records of his treatment should have been allowed in court.

January 22, 2015

Michigan Doctor Will Serve 15 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme

by Scott Grabel

On January 14, it was announced by U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and several others that a Redford physician had been sentenced to 15 months in prison for her role in a $2.1 million Medicare fraud scheme.

According to a news article at Mlive.com, 69-year-old Dr. Paula Williamson has been ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution in addition to spending time in prison. Essentially, Williamson signed off on unnecessary treatments for patients so that a home health care company based in Farmington Hills could bill the government for those charges. The scheme allegedly took place between 2009 and 2012, according to investigators.

Williamson certified that certain Medicare patients were homebound when they were not; she also falsified medical records. The fraud scheme involved several home health care workers who enlisted Williamson’s assistance in avoiding a requirement of Medicare that reimbursement could not be obtained without the approval of a certified physician.

January 21, 2015

Gallipolis Addiction Counselor Charged with Drug Trafficking of Morphine

by Scott Grabel

On Friday January 16, a woman who works as an addiction counselor at a Gallipolis, OH based facility was arrested for allegedly trafficking morphine, according to a recent news article at the Pomeroy Daily Sentinel. 52-year-old Roberta Payne of Cheshire has been charged with felony aggravated trafficking in drugs; the charges involve morphine, which police claimed had a value of more than $36,000.

The investigation into Payne’s activities began after authorities received a tip that the addiction counselor offered to sell morphine to a client who was being counseled for drug addiction. Authorities then set up an operation to catch Payne in the act; she was caught when she allegedly sold 30 mg. of liquid morphine and more than 2,000 pills of the same substance to an undercover police officer.

Colleen Williams, Meigs County Prosecutor, called the arrest “shocking,” saying that Payne was trying to profit by preying on those she should be helping. Payne was arrested by the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force.

January 19, 2015

Santa Maria Woman Arrested on Suspicion of Felony DUI

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday evening January 17, 50-year-old Linda Grace Mendoza of Santa Maria was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. According to a news article at Noozhawk.com, Mendoza has three prior DUI convictions within the last 10 years, making this her fourth.

Officers with the Santa Maria Police Department allegedly found Mendoza behind the wheel of a vehicle that was parked; she was intoxicated, according to the officers. Lt. Dan Cohen said that Mendoza was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail, and was charged with driving with a suspended license, driving while on probation for DUI, DUI, and driving with a BAC (blood alcohol content) higher than .08%.

In California, a fourth DUI following three convictions within a 10 year period is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison, up to $1,000 in fines, driver’s license revocation for four years, and more.

January 16, 2015

Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

by Scott Grabel

In December of last year, 46-year-old Stacy Morgan was sentenced to five years in prison along with payment of restitution in the amount of $7,912,950 for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme, according to Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman of the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Koopman was joined in announcing Morgan’s sentence by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern Judicial District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade.

Court records indicate that Morgan conspired with other individuals to secure fraudulent mortgage loans on several Bloomfield Hills properties between December of 2003 and February of 2008.

According to the indictment, Morgan supplied information in loan applications and closing documents on specific properties that were falsified or he caused to be falsified. Information that was falsified included that regarding income information, loan applicant’s assets, and false income documents in support of the requests for loans. Morgan also supplied false bank account balances and verification of employment so that applicants could obtain mortgage loans. Ultimately, the lenders involved granted loans in excess of $9 million, according to the press release.

January 14, 2015

Sweep Performed by ‘Secret Task Force’ Nabs 21 Involved in Heroin Trafficking in New York on Tuesday

by Scott Grabel

Over the past year, a special task force that was unknown to the public has arrested more than 125 individuals who allegedly dealt in heroin. On Tuesday, January 13, the Westchester County Northern Narcotics Initiative performed a sweep that nabbed 21 additional individuals allegedly involved in dealing heroin and crack, according to a news report at Lohud. This is when the task force revealed its existence.

The task force has been working on eliminating the crack and heroin dealers who are selling the drugs on the street, along with their suppliers. Targeting Westchester County, the task force is said to be comprised of Westchester County police, seven local police departments, and FBI agents.

Several of the individuals arrested sold drugs to undercover police officers, according to an indictment charging 15 of the 21 arrested on Tuesday. Evidence also includes telephone conversations regarding crack and heroin sales, converting powder to crack, and other drug related topics mentioned in the indictment.