Archive for the ‘Criminal Offenses’ Category

For those involved in Arizona’s mortgage-backed securities market, I hope you were listening when Obama spoke about the mortgage fraud task force during his State of the Union address. Now that government officials have increased their focus on mortgage fraud, practices that were once commonplace at the time of transaction, could now fall under scrutiny and suspicion. As a result of the plummeting housing market, it also wouldn’t be very surprising if authorities look to states like Arizona first when hunting down fraudulent real estate activity.

Criminal cases involving child molestation or child pornography involve a great deal of investigation and research. It’s common for sex crime investigations in the Phoenix metro area to continue for an extended amount of time. Detectives and investigators will sometimes do whatever it takes to gather evidence of child molestation or pornography. In some cases, it can take months or years before charges are filed and a suspect is named in a case.

A 46-year-old man was reportedly arrested and accused of committing burglary at several strip malls on the North side of Tucson a couple of weeks ago. According to a news article detailing the suspect’s arrest, he also faces felony warrant and burglary charges and has been booked in Pima County Jail. Authorities say that he is also connected to nearly 50 burglaries beginning in September that occurred in the following cities throughout Pima County – Marana, Oro Valley, and Sahuarita. In addition, it was stated that he has been charged in two of those 50 burglary cases.

Mortgage fraud is a big deal, and authorities throughout Arizona are cracking down on anyone associated with illegal real estate transactions. Recently, there was a case involving mansions located in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley valued over $1 million. According to an article in the Phoenix Business Journal, the three men involved in this case pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. While all three men were sentenced to Federal prison, two of them received 27-month sentences and the other received a 30-month sentence.

Arizona power of attorney theft law is vague. A power of attorney can allow an individual to act on behalf of an incapacitated or vulnerable adult, including property management and financial compensation for the holder. If a prosecutor feels that money has been mismanaged, potential charges can be filed under the theory that the person holding the power of attorney either procured the power unlawfully or that their authority was exceeded. Under either theory, the state must prove that the actions were made with the intent to obtain the property unlawfully.

Conversion requires the state to prove that someone knowingly used services or property of another for something other than what they were authorized to use it for. Therefore, if goods are placed in the hands of another for a specific purpose, and that person uses it for something unauthorized, then the crime of conversion can be pursued. Unlike traditional theft, Arizona removes the issue of “intent to deprive” from the statute, thereby easing the state’s burden of proof.

While fines and jail time are the most well-known consequences of a conviction, there are other types of punishments that defendants can face if they are found guilty in court. Here are some examples of common consequences and issues that convicted felons might face:

Your sentence depends on a couple of circumstances, like whether or not this is your first offense, or if your drunk-driving caused an accident or injury. In most instances, a DUI sentence will consist of a fine and some jail time. You may also temporarily lose your Arizona driver’s license and be required to enroll in a substance abuse program or facility. In addition, you can expect your auto insurance rates to skyrocket.

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