In many criminal cases, defendants end up facing federal charges after state and local authorities have conducted an investigation. If the state has filed charges, sometimes those charges are dropped as federal prosecutors take over the case and instead pursue a federal conviction.
Unidentified woman booked in Pennsylvania on white collar charges
Being convicted of a white collar crime can often result in severe consequences that include long prison sentences. A woman has been arrested in Pennsylvania for alleged identify theft, but right now, police do not know who she actually is. In addition to the current white collar charges, she may face additional criminal counts for similar crimes that police believe she committed elsewhere in the region.
Pittsburgh man denied gun for nonviolent offense
Readers in Pittsburgh may be aware that a felony conviction is enough for authorities in Pennsylvania to deny someone a license to own a firearm. We may think of this federal law as intended to prevent those convicted of a violent crime like murder or armed robbery from having a gun. But in a recent ruling, Commonwealth Court held that the blanket gun ban applies to those with certain nonviolent offenses on their records as well.
Pennsylvania man accused of identity theft of baby who died in '53
Authorities claim that a western Pennsylvania resident used the Social Security number of an infant who died in 1953 to steal the baby's identity. The man, 59, who lives in Fayette County, has been charged with identity theft and tampering with records. The man allegedly obtained a second driver's license in the infant's name, though authorities are not making clear what they believe the man intended to do with the other license.
Two men charged with defrauding people over the Internet
Their alleged victims included at least one person from Pennsylvania, but police said their operation spread across the country. The two men behind an alleged Internet scam were arrested on Nov. 10 in Florida on charges of using online ads to steal peoples' money and using would-be "employees" to purchase items for themselves.
Four men accused of using homeless people to cash forged checks
Four men face federal charges related to forging checks and recruiting homeless people in Pittsburgh to cash them, according to a recent article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Charges against the men, all of whom are from Atlanta, included identity theft, possession of counterfeit checks and conspiracy. They were arrested in Monroeville on Oct. 6.
Court of appeals rules for defendant in loss calculation case
When defending against federal white collar crime charges, an important aspect of the case is the loss calculation. The potential sentences defendants face often depend on this loss calculation, which considers the amount of financial harm caused by financial or economic crimes.
Pennsylvania man found guilty of bank fraud and identity theft
A federal grand jury has found a 35-year-old Pennsylvania man guilty of bank fraud and identity theft. The man was accused of being at the center of an identity theft conspiracy that may have stolen as much as $1 million.
16 indicted in alleged Pennsylvania identity theft conspiracy
Over the last few years, federal law enforcement authorities have been focused on financial crimes, including identity theft and credit card fraud. These crimes often involve more than one defendant, and defendants often face additional charges of conspiracy.
Two Pittsburgh Area men charged with Hacking Facebook Account
In internet crime news, Facebook high jinks have landed two Glassport men in court for hacking a Facebook account. They are being charged with unlawful use of a computer, computer trespass, identity theft and conspiracy.
