Three Chicago men are being charged with forging autographs on sports memorabilia, art, and other collector’s items for the purposes of marking up the costs significantly. The items were then sold to auction houses, art galleries, and individuals. All three of the men have been indicted on federal fraud charges. According to the indictment, the men applied false autographs to non-original paintings. The men would then enlist the aid of straw buyers to provide “false provenance” or an individual history...

A Chicago-area driver is facing charges of DUI causing death and reckless homicide after a terrible crash that decapitated the victim. Prosecutors say that the driver’s BAC was more than twice the legal limit at the time of the crash. According to investigators, the woman was coming off an exit at 79 mph when she lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a median. Her vehicle flipped sideways and went airborne sheering the top off of the victim’s car....

An Illinois man will serve 68 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in stealing from his employer. According to federal authorities, the man stole CPAP machines from his employer and sold them to third parties. An internal audit caught unexplained and excessive shipping costs from a single outlet in Illinois. The defendant had fabricated a business identity to communicate with customers and pay himself using an alias. The fraud allegedly netted the defendant over...

All couples know that financial pressures are the leading cause of relationship tension. For decades, sociologists have been discussing economic insecurity in terms of divorce. Couples who are struggling to purchase homes or situate themselves tend to forestall marriage and having children until they are settled down. Now, you have pressures with the housing market, rising costs of living, and the increased cost of gasoline all placing economic pressures on American families. Nonetheless, the same folks who occupy think tanks...

The role of father’s post-divorce remains a contentious issue. In years past, mothers were often favored in custody hearings. Today, that is still the case when the child is very young. Very young children are often presumed to need their mothers more than their fathers. But this ends up creating a situation where the courts are unwilling to move children out of one residence and into another because it is presumed that continuity is in the best interests of the...

Bankruptcy is a complex legal process that is ripe for fraud. However, the fraud is usually committed by those who are attempting to use bankruptcy protections illegally. It is hardly ever committed by attorneys or their associates who oversee the bankruptcy process. Some attorneys act as bankruptcy trustees and oversee the estates of those who have declared bankruptcy. Once you declare bankruptcy, any asset that cannot be protected is placed into a trust to repay your creditors. In those cases,...

Bankruptcy is a complex legal process that is ripe for fraud. However, the fraud is usually committed by those who are attempting to use bankruptcy protections illegally. It is hardly ever committed by attorneys or their associates who oversee the bankruptcy process. Some attorneys act as bankruptcy trustees and oversee the estates of those who have declared bankruptcy. Once you declare bankruptcy, any asset that cannot be protected is placed into a trust to repay your creditors. In those cases,...

Getting pulled over on suspicion of DUI is a terrifying experience, and it is hard to know exactly what to do in that moment. If you are charged with a DUI, it can have serious penalties in Illinois, including jail time, steep fines, and the creation of a criminal record. For this reason, it is important to do everything that you can to avoid a conviction for DUI. So, can refusing a breathalyzer test help you avoid a conviction? It...

Divorce rarely brings out the best in people. It can be devastating to have to dissolve not only a marriage, but also an entire life that you spent years building. Emotions are often high, and, while you may feel that you can trust your partner, you may be surprised at the lengths that some people will go to in an attempt to try and hide or remove assets before and during a divorce to avoid having them split or equitably...

When you think about the Department of Children and Family Services, you may think primarily about small children who are in danger. However, parents have a legal responsibility to supervise minor children until they are 18 years old. This means that parents can face serious consequences, such as legal charges for neglect, or even the removal of their children from their residence, even if the children are teenagers, as in the case of our model family. DCFS can investigate and...

Illinois does not take drug use or possession lightly, but when it comes to drug sale or trafficking, the penalties can be life-altering. Trafficking a Schedule IV substance like Xanax can result in six or more years in prison, while heroin, a DEA schedule I substance, is a serious felony that can result in spending 15 to 30 years in prison in addition to $25,000 in fines. For a 15-year-old, that can be life-ending. So, what happens when a minor...

DUIs are taken very seriously under Illinois law. In fact, it is uncommon for a prosecutor to even consider reducing a felony DUI to a misdemeanor. While most DUI charges are misdemeanors, there are aggravating factors that can cause them to be charged as a felony. Depending on the number of aggravating factors and the degree of severity, felony DUI may even require mandatory jail time, fines, and other heavy penalties. If a minor is charged with DUI, they may...

Illinois’ Controlled Substances Act makes possessing, manufacturing, and trafficking illegal and controlled substances a serious crime. If you are facing charges of drug possession, manufacturing, or trafficking in Illinois, it is important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Possession of some drugs alone can be charged as a felony, and result in up to 15 years in prison and $25,000 in fines. The best way to avoid these harsh and life-altering penalties is to avoid being convicted. It...

While many people do not take speeding offenses seriously, it is important to understand that some traffic offenses are actually crimes and not just traffic court violations. In Illinois, it is a Class A misdemeanor to travel 35 miles or more above the posted speed limit. When someone is charged with misdemeanor speeding, they do not simply pay a ticket and move on. They are facing criminal charges and must appear in criminal court to be tried for them. If...

Underage drinking is a serious issue, which puts both underage youths and everyone else on the road at risk. While many parents think it is safer to have their children drink at home, under their supervision, they may not realize that in Illinois that can have serious consequences for them. Under Illinois’ Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Responsibility Act, parents, homeowners, and property renters are liable if minors consume their alcohol or consume alcohol on their property, and go on...