Criminal LawPersonal Injury
Joseph Vodnoy HomeVodnoy Law ServicesAbout Joseph VodnoyJoseph Vodnoy in the pressTestimonials about Joseph VodnoyContact Joseph Vodnoy Law

Criminal Defense


What are the different types of Crimes? A crime is a wrong against the state or federal government and is subject to punishment by imprisonment, fine, restitution or other penalty. Joseph T. Vodnoy will defend you in all types of criminal cases, including Federal Criminal Defense cases. Crimes are divided into two categories: Felonies & Misdemeanors.

Felonies: A felony is any serious crime punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year. Common felonies include:

 
  • Arson
  • Burglary
  • Conspiracy
  • Drug Crimes
  • Kidnapping
  • Larceny
  • Manslaughter
  • Murder
  • Sex Crimes
  • RICO
  • Robbery
  • Weapon Possession
  • White Collar Crimes
  • Telemarketing Fraud
  • Embezzlement
  • Counterfeiting
  • Smuggling
In addition to imprisonment or death, convicted felons may lose their voting rights, be excluded from certain types of work, be prohibited from holding certain licenses, and be prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition. If you need more information about criminal laws contact the Los Angeles Law Office of Joseph T. Vodnoy.

 

Federal Criminal Defense
Crimes committed on United States federal property are known as federal crimes. During his legal experience, New York City federal defense lawyer Joseph T. Vodnoy, has tried many cases involving serious federal criminals. From his law offices in Los Angeles California, Attorney Vodnoy has successfully represented clients in numerous federal cases. Various federal crimes include counterfeiting, kidnapping, tax evasion, art theft, arson, immigration offenses, assault, and destroying mailboxes. automobile accidents involving the US Postal Service or that crosses state lines is also considered federal in nature.

If you have been accused of a federal crime, it is extremely important to seek representation by an attorney who understands the intricate details and processes of federal trials which are significantly different than state trials. Unlike state trials, prosecutors are allowed to withhold information until after witness testimonies which can severely impede the case of the alleged criminal. There are also strict penalty guidelines in federal court and sentencing is decided solely by a judge, not a jury, like in state trials. Los Angeles trial attorney Joseph T. Vodnoy is familiar with federal court procedures and has experience to act on every opportunity to get a fair trial for his accused client.

There are currently over 4,000 violations in the US which carry criminal penalties. Federal crimes are not only the most harshly sentenced but they are also the most aggressively prosecuted. If the accused is convicted, their sentencing can consist of probation, orders of community service, restitution for losses caused by their wrongdoings, expensive fines, prison time, a combination of the above or the death penalty. It is imperative that the alleged criminal hire a skilled attorney who has experience negotiating a deal with the prosecution in which the least severe punishment is provided.

Los Angeles attorney, Joseph T. Vodnoy stands ready to advise and defend those who are under criminal investigation or have been accused of serious crimes before State and Federal Courts in Los Angeles, throughout Southern California and the United States.

 

Drug Crimes

Experienced Los Angeles drug crimes lawyer, Joseph T. Vodnoy, offers rigorous criminal defense legal services for clients facing narcotics charges in federal and California State courts. Drug crimes cover the following offenses:

  • Drug Conspiracy
  • Drug Trafficking
  • Simple Drug Possession
  • Drug Distribution
  • Drug Manufacture
  • Possession with intent to distribute
  • Prescription Fraud

Drug crimes are extremely serious in as much as they can carry very harsh penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences. In the federal system, for example, the possession, with intent to distribute, of five kilograms or more of cocaine or one kilogram or more of heroin carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment. The mandatory minimum sentence can, in some cases, be voided through the use of "safety-valve." In the California state system, although their harshness has been moderated somewhat in recent years, still call for extremely long sentences for possession or sale of seemingly modest amounts of narcotics.

Sentences under the federal narcotics laws (Title 21, United States Code) are driven by the kind of drug, the weight, and the role of the defendant; e.g., organizer, supervisor, manager or minor or minimal participant. Heroin and cocaine, particularly crack cocaine, as opposed to powder, carry the harshest penalties.

A drug related conviction on your permanent record can be the cause of many problems in your life, both personally and professionally. If you are not a United States citizen, a drug conviction will usually result in removal or deportation. An experienced criminal defense attorney can answer questions and guide the accused through the complex legal labyrinth. If you are under investigation for drug crimes or are facing narcotics charges, your immediate call should be to an experienced criminal defense attorney who offers aggressive, thoughtful representation, deals directly with prosecutors, speaks on your behalf and insures that your rights are protected. Contact an experienced Los Angeles drug crime attorney Joseph T. Vodnoy, for help with your case. He does not charge for an initial consultation.

 

Embezzlement

Embezzlement occurs when someone entrusted with goods, usually money or equivalents, dishonestly appropriates them for his own use. Embezzlement, which can run from an employee’s taking money from a store’s cash register to government personnel using sophisticated means to make millions of dollars disappear. Embezzlement, which is often considered a white-collar crime, is an umbrella term under which embezzlers can be accused of a variety of charges including, but not limited to:
  • Credit card fraud
  • Check fraud
  • Identity theft
  • Property theft
  • Account falsification
When someone is accused of embezzlement, the potential penalties are considerable including jail time, fines, and restitution. The resulting negative fallout can permanently alter the life of those directly and indirectly involved. In cases involving large sums of money or property, the resulting media attention can gravely damage the reputation of those accused even though they later may be found not guilty. In these instances, it is vital to have an experienced, effective defense attorney in your corner. Los angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Joseph T. Vodnoy has had many years of experience successfully helping people accused of such crimes. Call him for a consultation, for which there is no charge.

 

White Collar Crimes
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Joseph T. Vodnoy., handles all types of criminal cases, white collar as well as street crimes and narcotics conspiracies. White collar crimes, sometimes referred to as business crimes, include fraud (e.g., insurance, bank, mortgage, securities, tax, automobile accidents, wire fraud) as well as forgery, computer crimes, larceny, embezzlement, money laundering, counterfeiting, RICO and bribery. Such crimes are often committed by business people and are usually carried out for financial gain. It is common for these cases to turn into scandals in which the unproven allegations are publicized in the media, causing enormous harm to the accused. It is an important part of the white collar defense lawyer's function to mitigate the effect of such negative publicity by adding balance to the news reports.

Over the past twenty years, since the implementation of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines in 1987, the penalties for white collar crimes have become dramatically harsher. Years ago, it was uncommon for defendants convicted of such crimes to go to prison. Now it is the norm, and the sentences can be surprisingly long, depending on the amount of the loss among other factors. Facing charges without the assistance of experienced counsel can have dire consequences. Los Angeles white collar crime lawyer Joseph T. Vodnoy has the skill and resources to handle these often complex cases.

 

Telemarketing Fraud
Telemarketing fraud involves sales and solicitations over the telephone with the express intent to obtain funds on the basis of false representations. These fraudulent schemes include selling non-existent products or services or seeking solicitations for phony charities or offering commissions for the use of the victim’s bank account, by way of example.

The people behind these schemes generally target the elderly and the poor and rely on multilayered operations and representations to convince the targets to divulge credit card information and other sensitive information over the telephone. Con artists using the telephone engage in many different tactics and scams to target their potential victims. Some of the most widely used include:

  • Pyramid Schemes - In these frauds, con artists enroll victims in a business model that cannot sustain itself. In these schemes, an initial buy-in price promises a high return on investment that never comes. There are many variants that use the same basic premise.


  • Advance Fee Fraud - This is one of the most common scams. In this fraud, victims pay a small upfront fee to collect a much bigger monetary sum or prize that they have supposedly won. 


  • Charity Fraud - Often used during times of crisis, this scam uses deception and misrepresentation to get victims to believe they are donating to a well-known charity or organization. It is also used to get victims to donate to a charity that does not even exist.


  • Checking Account Fraud - In this extremely popular scheme, the victim is persuaded to permit the fraudster to deposit large (counterfeit) checks in his bank account. Once the check clears, the victim is instructed to keep a commission for himself and wire the balance of the proceeds to a dupe, who has similarly been victimized by the con-man. The con artist is usually overseas and out of the reach of U. S. law enforcement. It is not until days later that the victim’s bank freezes the victims account, leaving him holding the bag.


    • If you believe you are being investigated for Telemarketing fraud or have been accused of fraud in California, it is vital to contact a criminal defense lawyer, like Joseph T. Vodnoy who will represent you throughout the proceedings and fight against the accusations with a focus on your best interests. The penalties can be harsh. If the defendant is not a U. S. citizen, he faces deportation.
 		  
Web Development By