The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California announced on March 4 that seven individuals have been taken into custody for allegedly stealing Electronic Benefits Transfer data and then using the information to withdraw public-assistance benefits...
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San Diego County Criminal Law Blog
An overview of California cocaine laws
It is illegal to possess, sell or traffic cocaine in California. If you are caught with this substance, you could face a variety of penalties such as a fine, probation or incarceration. The severity of your sentence will depend on the amount of cocaine you're found...
California tax preparer sentenced for fraud
A California man has been sentenced to 10 years in a federal prison for fraudulently seeking more than $10 million in tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service and more than a dozen state tax authorities. In late 2023, a federal jury found the 66-year-old...
Affirmative defenses to a DUI charge
Criminal defense attorneys in California and around the country challenge toxicology evidence or question the behavior of the police officers involved in drunk driving cases, but there are situations where they may choose to mount affirmative defenses. The defendants...
California first-degree murder charge defense
First-degree murder is the most serious form of homicide in California. The state defines this crime as the intentional killing of another person. Building a defense against such a charge isn’t easy. However, there are some defenses a defendant can use against a...
Actions to avoid during a police traffic stop
In California, police make traffic stops as part of their job. People who are nervous or fearful about the reason for the stop – especially if it is for a serious offense like driving under the influence - might feel apprehension about possible consequences. This...
California family members arraigned for insurance fraud
A married couple and their son-in-law are accused of collecting almost $200,000 by filing more than 40 fraudulent car insurance claims. The couple’s alleged activities were discovered when the California Department of Investigations launched an investigation after...
The trouble with field drug tests
If the police see a vehicle operating erratically in California, they might pull the driver over. A sobriety check could follow, and the driver may face a subsequent arrest. Results from roadside field tests for drugs may support the validity of the arrest and serve...
Trade association admits that shoplifting figure was exaggerated
In recent years, media outlets in California and around the country have reported on a worrying rise in organized retail theft. The basis for many of these stories is a report released in 2022 by the National Retail Federation. In that report, the trade association...
Is this the end of geofence warrants?
Geofence warrants have become more common over the past decade in California and across the country. These warrants seek location data for every person located at or near a crime scene to allow law enforcement officers to track down people who might have witnessed or...