A felony conviction can carry more penalties than prison time and fines. While the prison time will end, consequences like losing the right to carry a firearm can last forever. This week, rapper Lil Wayne was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon....
Chicago Criminal Law Blog
Dozens of people arrested in West Side drug bust
The federal government takes drug crimes seriously. They have virtually unlimited resources to prosecute these crimes and aggressively prosecutes serious drug crimes. If a person is facing federal drug crimes charges, they can be scared and stressed over the...
Forensic fire investigation often riddled with problems: Part II
In our last post, we began a discussion about the problems of forensic fire investigation. It is one of numerous types of forensic testing that is far less reliable (or scientifically sound) than the general public tends to believe. Problems with burn-pattern analysis...
Forensic fire investigation often riddled with problems: Part I
Procedural dramas like “CSI” have convinced Americans that forensic science is equivalent to pure, unassailable fact. After all, tests and evidence don’t lie, even if people do. But sadly, this belief in the infallibility of forensic science is misplaced and made all...
Pair accused of identity theft and fraud
If you drive about 18 miles southwest of Chicago, you will arrive in the Village of Homer Glen. A pair of men were recently arrested there after a two-year investigation on charges of identity theft, fraud and forgery-related crimes, the Will County Sheriff's Office...
Former Chicago police officer gets early federal prison release
The pandemic has had a negative effect on the lives of the vast majority of people. One of the few exceptions is former Chicago narcotics officer Glenn Lewellen, who was convicted of kidnapping and robbing drug dealers. Lewellen was recently released from federal...
DeVos redoes sexual assault allegation rules in campus cases
A decade ago, many believed that sexual assault allegations were too often given scant attention by colleges and that accusers were routinely discouraged from reporting attacks. The Obama administration tried to correct that approach, but many believed it...
Supreme Court overturns Bridgegate fraud convictions
Chicago sports fans are very familiar with the phrase “what might have been.” They sometimes wistfully wonder what might have been if key injuries or pivotal plays had never taken place. (Most famous example: Steve Bartman.)Former New Jersey Governor Chris...
ACLU study shows wide racial disparity in Illinois criminal justice
It goes without saying that across U.S. history, African Americans have not been treated fairly or equally. The inequality is less overt today, but it still exists, as the results of a recent American Civil Liberties Union study make clear.The ACLU study looked at...
Experienced Federal Prosecutor to Lead Fight against COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Fraud in Chicago
Make no mistake that even during a global pandemic federal agents and law enforcement will actively investigate and prosecute crimes. According to the latest press release from the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago, the Chief of the Financial Crimes Section of the...


