In New York, top federal prosecutor Damian Williams preaches speedy justice

Federal criminal cases are built on data, and Manhattan U.S Attorney Damian Williams has made a name for himself in law enforcement circles as wanting to modernize how prosecutors get, analyze and use that data.

Apr 10, 2024 12:30 PM CDT

What to know about Trump’s New York charges—and any potential sentence

Former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York, scheduled to begin Monday, centers on 34 counts against Trump of falsifying business records in the first degree, a felony that could result in his serving time at New York’s jail complex on Rikers Island or in state prison.

Apr 9, 2024 11:50 AM CDT

Alex Murdaugh sentenced to 40 years for financial crimes

Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh was sentenced in federal court on Monday to 40 years in prison for nearly two dozen financial crimes, 13 months after the former lawyer was found guilty of killing his wife and son.

Apr 1, 2024 2:14 PM CDT

Texas AG Ken Paxton makes deal to avoid felony securities trial

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), a conservative firebrand acquitted last year in a historic impeachment trial, has reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid trial on long-standing state felony securities fraud charges.

Mar 26, 2024 3:00 PM CDT

Judge orders Trump to pay more than $350 million in N.Y. civil fraud trial

New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron on Friday ordered former President Donald Trump to pay more than $350 million in penalties, handing down a hefty penalty following a monthslong civil trial in which Trump and others were accused of financial fraud by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Feb 16, 2024 3:26 PM CST

Unprecedented Assignment: Defending Donald Trump in criminal court

In the past six weeks alone, Donald Trump’s lawyers argued in the Supreme Court over whether the Constitution bars him from running for president, lost an appeals court battle on presidential immunity and defended their client in a civil defamation trial in which Trump took the stand—all while reviewing evidence and submitting highly technical court motions involving classified documents.

Feb 14, 2024 11:16 AM CST

Ex-Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby convicted of mortgage fraud

A federal jury on Tuesday convicted the former top prosecutor in Baltimore, Marilyn Mosby, of lying to a mortgage lender in 2021 as she purchased a vacation property in Florida that she called her “private oasis.”

Feb 7, 2024 10:55 AM CST

Ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh, already convicted of murder, pleads guilty to state charges for stealing from clients

Disbarred South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty Friday to 22 state charges for stealing millions of dollars from personal injury clients, a deal that calls for a 27-year sentence.

Nov 20, 2023 12:25 PM CST

Former crypto billionaire Samuel Bankman-Fried found guilty of fraud, conspiracy

FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder Samuel Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy in New York federal court Thursday.

Nov 3, 2023 9:35 AM CDT

Judge in Bankman-Fried trial prods defense lawyers on repetitive questions, appears irritated

A judge overseeing the criminal fraud trial of FTX founder Samuel Bankman-Fried has told defense lawyers multiple times to stop repeating themselves, telling one of them in a sidebar that he doesn’t have to "set a record for the longest trial."

Oct 13, 2023 9:05 AM CDT

Lawyer pleads guilty in ‘Ponzi-type scheme’ that cost his clients up to $65M

A former San Antonio lawyer has pleaded to federal charges for persuading his clients to deposit funds with him and then using the money for his benefit.

Oct 10, 2023 3:20 PM CDT

How far should lawyers go to make sure their clients aren’t using them to launder money?

Some lawyers interviewed by the ABA Journal, many of whom are former federal prosecutors, say people know they can launder dirty money under the cloak of attorney-client privilege and confidentiality rules, and real estate is an effective vehicle to do so.

Oct 1, 2023 3:20 AM CDT

How the crime-fraud exception can threaten attorney-client privilege

A sacrosanct concept in law is the attorney-client privilege—that a client can speak to his or her attorney knowing full well that what the client says will be kept secret. The evidentiary privilege ensures free and frank communications between attorney and client, a reality that generally serves the public interest.

Oct 1, 2023 2:50 AM CDT

House of Delegates amends rule to address anti-money-laundering efforts

Oct 1, 2023 1:20 AM CDT

Leading criminal defense lawyer who represented Clinton in sex scandals dies at 84

Lawyer Robert S. Bennett, known for his representation of high-profile clients enmeshed in scandal, has died at age 84.

Sep 14, 2023 9:33 AM CDT