Author Archives: David Glassman
Justice Department Cracking Down on Coronavirus Aid Fraud as Losses Top $8 Billion
The U.S. Department of Justice is taking stringent measures to combat widespread fraud it has discovered in connection with federal aid programs adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The alleged fraud, which touches nearly all types of aid provided for families, workers and businesses, amounts to at least $8 billion, according to the DOJ. In… Read More »
Potential Defenses to Child Pornography Possession and Distribution Charges
Pennsylvania and federal laws prohibit the intentional possession and/or distribution of child pornography. Law enforcement agencies conduct long and detailed investigations to gather as much information as possible before moving in to arrest an alleged offender, often through so-called sting operations. A criminal prosecution can include a wide range of charges related to using… Read More »
Sex Predator Sting Operations Result in Heavy Sentences
A 56-year-old Philadelphia man was recently sentenced to 50 to 100 years in prison for crimes related to his attempted sexual encounter with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Marvin Jennings was arrested in 2019 along with 10 other men as part of a major sting operation conducted by local, state and federal… Read More »
Illegal Fentanyl Dominates Drug Deaths in Philadelphia
Fentanyl, an extremely powerful and addictive synthetic opioid, is by far the leading cause of unintentional overdose deaths in Philadelphia. This grim reality is part of the opioid epidemic that continues to grip the nation. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) reported that of 214 people dying in 2020 of drug overdoses, 86… Read More »
Defending Against Charges of Possessing or Distributing Child Pornography
Child pornography encompasses a range of criminal conduct under Pennsylvania and federal law. Prosecutions are typically the product of long, wide-ranging investigations that can result in multiple charges. Defending yourself against child pornography allegations demands having an attorney who is knowledgeable in state and federal law and is experienced practicing in courts at both… Read More »
Domestic Violence Accusations Rose Sharply During the Pandemic
Pandemic-related lockdowns and resulting isolation sparked an increase in reported domestic violence incidents in Philadelphia and across the country over the past year, according to national and local authorities. This increase has swelled the number of people needing a legal defense against such accusations. The National Commission on Covid-19 and Criminal Justice said in… Read More »
Amid Tighter Travel Restrictions, Fake COVID-19 Tests Are Being Sold
Travel restrictions around the world have created a market for selling fake negative COVID-19 test results. Fraudulent certifications have been discovered by law enforcement officials in Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Europol issued an alert in early February, warning that several people had been arrested at various European airports for trying to sell… Read More »
Prosecutions Under 1960s Civil Disorder Law Shows Broad Reach of Federal Jurisdiction
Amid the rash of racial injustice protests nationwide in 2020, a federal statute enacted in response to the civil unrest of the late 1960s has come into play again. The Civil Disobedience Act of 1968 has been invoked by federal prosecutors in cases across the country. In Philadelphia, a federal grand jury recently indicted… Read More »
Four Charged in Chester County Scheme to Obtain COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits for Prisoners
Four Chester County residents, are facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 unemployment benefits for prison inmates, who by definition are ineligible for these payments. The CARES Act, which passed in March at the onset of the pandemic, provides for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. To be eligible for PUA, a person must… Read More »