The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas has announced the arrest of Michael George McQuarn of Austin for allegedly defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program of more than $2 million.
McQuarn was charged with wire fraud and making false statements to the SBA. The press did not name an attorney for him.
In one of the first federal cases of its kind, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California has announced fraud charges against a Southern California man accused of fraudulently soliciting investments for companies he claimed had developed a pill that could prevent and cure coronavirus infections (COVID-19).
Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 52, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 11 counts of wire fraud. He was released on May 6 after posting a $150,000 bond. Attorney information wasn’t available.
The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution guards American citizens against illegal search and seizure of property. But when a law enforcement official does initially have reasonable cause, what happens to the property (including cash) after it is determined no crime was committed after all?
This is at the heart of the issue with civil asset forfeiture. And it is being addressed in many states, including New Jersey. As this blog recently covered, in January 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (S1963) requiring disclosure and transparency requirements for civil asset forfeiture. New Jersey joins a number of states that have moved in this direction at the request of several citizens’ watchdog groups, including the ACLU-NJ and Americans for Prosperity and the AFP Foundation.
A white nationalist with links to Neo-Nazis who is also a former candidate for Senate from Florida was arrested on a warrant from South Carolina identifying him as a fugitive, news sources report. Occurring at Melbourne Square Mall, Augustus Sol Invictus, who had previously spoken at a rally leading to three deaths in Charlottesville, Virginia, was taken into custody by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. The warrant is based on several substantial charges including possession of a firearm, kidnapping, and domestic violence. However, the warrant does not include any of the facts which support these charges. It is not yet known if Invictus has hired an attorney. Continue reading
An officer was assaulted and nine students arrested after a fight at a high school in Melbourne, Florida on December 10. The report indicates that one adult was also arrested. It is unclear if any of the involved parties acquired the services of an attorney.
The events took place at Palm Bay Magnet High School on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 10. Officers from the Melbourne Police Department were dispatched after two students were involved in the start of the fight during school hours, sources say.
Criminal Defense and Civil Forfeiture Blog