In today’s competitive business world, companies typically go to great lengths to protect their intellectual property. Ideas have tremendous monetary value, and many businesses require their employees to sign non-compete and non-disclosure agreements that prohibit them from stealing trade secrets or sharing insider information with competitors or in some cases anyone else. In fact, reports say that intellectual property can make up about 80 percent of a business’s value. When an employee violates a non-disclosure agreement, they can face a civil lawsuit, which can result in the employee … [Read more...]
What Is the First Step Act?
Signed into law on December 21, 2018, the First Step Act aims to reduce the number of people incarcerated in the United States. Currently, there are about 2.2 million people in jails and prisons throughout the country. The First Step Act only applies to federal prisons, which hold around 181,000 people. Under the First Step Act, many people will be able to obtain an early release from prison. Additionally, the new law could also result in shorter sentences for individuals in the future. The Act represents one of the most significant changes in criminal justice reform over the past few … [Read more...]
Federal Drug Crime: Understanding the Recent Federal Sentencing Reforms in the First Step Act
As a federal criminal defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor, Attorney John Helms explains how the new criminal justice reform law, called the First Step Act, can benefit people charged with federal drug distribution and trafficking crimes. Many people accused of federal drug crimes and their families have been anxiously awaiting federal sentencing reform laws that might reduce the amount of prison time faced by defendants. On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act, which mostly involves prison reform, but also includes some sentencing reform … [Read more...]
Federal Drug Cases: Could You Be A Leader or Supervisor Of A Drug Trafficking Organization Without Knowing It?
As a former federal prosecutor and experienced federal criminal defense lawyer, Attorney John Helms explains the enhancement for being an organizer or leader in federal drug cases. In federal drug cases involving methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, or any other illegal drug, a convicted defendant can get a longer sentence if the defendant is an “organizer or leader” or a “manager or supervisor” of a group of people. This is because, all other things being equal, those that are higher up in an organization should normally get a longer sentence than those who are lower in the group. In … [Read more...]
Is It a Crime to Send Drugs Through the Mail?
In an age where you can order just about anything online and have it shipped to your door within a couple of days, most people don’t think anything about sending various items through the mail. But what about medication? Is it ever okay to send your cousin some leftover antibiotics? What about some painkillers you don’t need anymore? If you live in a state where marijuana is legal, can you ship it to someone else in a different state? There are very serious consequences for sending certain substances through the mail, and people who break the law could face long-term consequences. If you … [Read more...]
5 Types of Federal Computer Crimes
Hollywood movies often give the impression that a computer crime must always involve a “hacker” — a shadowy figure who works behind the scenes, breaking into government servers and stealing national secrets. As with most things, the reality is quite a bit different. While there are certainly hackers who target governments, there are many different types of computer crimes and you don’t have to be a hacker to be charged with a computer-related offense. If you are charged with a computer-related crime, you should contact a skilled federal criminal defense attorney with experience handling … [Read more...]
What You Need to Know About Suspicious Activity Reports
If you pay attention to the news, you may have noticed recent discussions about “suspicious activity reports.” Sometimes abbreviated SAR, a Suspicious Activity Report is a report that banks and other financial institutions must file with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) if they have reason to believe someone has engaged in white-collar crimes like money laundering or fraud. SARs are also useful for federal law enforcement agencies attempting to detect sources of terrorist financing. If something looks suspicious, the bank has a duty to report it under federal law. … [Read more...]
Forced to Commit a Drug Crime: The Defense of Coercion in Federal Drug Cases in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and Sherman, Texas
Former federal prosecutor and experienced criminal defense lawyer John Helms explains how a defendant in a federal drug case can prove innocence due to being forced to participate in a drug crime. What happens if drug traffickers threaten to harm a person’s family if the person does not transport drugs for the traffickers? What if the trafficker threatens to kill the defendant right then and there if the defendant does not do as he is told and transport drugs? The law that applies to federal drug trafficking and distribution cases in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and Sherman, Texas … [Read more...]
Federal Drug Cases In Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and Sherman, Texas: How Can You Trust A Federal Agent or Prosecutor?
In federal drug cases, cooperating with the Government is often the best way for a defendant to reduce their sentence. Many defendants, however, have difficulty cooperating with the Government because they simply do not trust the Government. Experienced criminal defense lawyer John Helms explains in this article why trusting the Government should not be a barrier to cooperating. In the federal criminal justice system in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and Sherman, Texas, defendants accused of drug trafficking or distribution face potentially severe penalties if they are convicted, including … [Read more...]
If A Grand Jury Would Indict A Ham Sandwich
Experienced federal criminal defense lawyer John Helms explains what indictments are and why they can make a difference in federal drug trafficking and distribution cases in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and Sherman, Texas. It is sometimes said that a federal grand jury would indict a ham sandwich. This makes indictments sound almost trivial, but they can make a big difference in federal drug trafficking and distribution cases in the Northern District of Texas and the Eastern District of Texas, which includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and Sherman. This is because the way a case is indicted … [Read more...]
