Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

March 18, 2015

Son of Alabama Chief Justice Arrested for Drug Possession in Troy

On Sunday, March 15, 24-year-old Caleb Moore, son of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, was arrested for alleged drug possession at the scene of an attempted break-in, according to a news article at Al.com. Moore was charged with marijuana possession, and possession of a controlled substance. He claims the accusations are nothing more than an attack on his father for what he stands for, and said as much on a Facebook post following the arrest. Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has been involved in a legal battle regarding gay marriage after he issued a controversial order to halt same-sex marriages, even thought the U.S. Supreme Court ruled they could continue in the state.

Court documents claim that police received a report of an attempted home break-in in Troy in the 1200 block of Allen Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered five men outside the location near a pickup truck; on of the men was Caleb Moore. Officers said the truck had a strong odor of marijuana. The suspects claimed there were no drugs in the truck, however upon searching it officers discovered Moore’s passport, along with a bag of marijuana that also contained several Xanax pills.

After being arrested and transported to the Troy jail, Moore was released on a total bond of $8,500. He posted on Facebook that the arrest was nothing more than a prime example of how crooked police officers and the media are trying to destroy both his father’s career, and their family. Moore went on to say that the drug test he took will prove that he is not a drug user, and that justice would be served in regards to the possession charges.

March 17, 2015

Motorists Alarmed by Swerving Woman Driving Through Holland Tunnel; Brooklyn Minister Arrested

by Scott Grabel

On Friday March 13, motorists were both frightened and alarmed as a women who appeared to be drunk weaved and swerved through the Holland Tunnel during rush hour, her tires striking the curb in the underwater tunnel that leads to Jersey City. According to an article at the New York Daily News, several drivers became so alarmed they dialed 911.

Upon exiting the tunnel, police pulled the driver over. It turned out to be 53-year-old Diane Reiners, a Brooklyn Episcopalian minister. Upon pulling her over, police found not only an open bottle of Absolut Vodka, but prescription medications for pain and anxiety, along with a second bottle of alcohol. The open bottle of vodka was found sitting in the center console of her vehicle, according to reports.

Police administered a field sobriety test after pulling Reiners over, which she reportedly failed. As of Friday evening, her arraignment hearing was pending.

March 17, 2015

Former Detroit Resident Pleads Guilty to Operating Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Refund Scheme

by Scott Grabel

Recently, it was announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut that 36-year-old Kenya Malcolm, a former resident of Detroit who now resides in Surprise, AZ, pleaded guilty to operating a fraudulent federal income tax refund scheme.

According to the press release, Malcolm, along with co-defendants Bernard Brantley, Charles Ross, and others, conspired to file fraudulent federal income tax returns with the IRS using the names of other individuals without their knowledge. These accusations were supported by statements made in court and court documents during late 2012 through May of 2013.

Malcolm, who at one time resided in Detroit, operated “Biggest Refund Taxes,” a business based in Arizona in which Malcolm claimed to be a CPA, or certified public accountant. The scheme involved Malcolm paying Charles Ross to recruit clients for her tax preparation business. After recruiting new clients, Ross contacted Bernard Brantley, offering him a portion of his own earning for recruiting clients if Brantley would himself recruit clients for Biggest Refund Taxes. Ross is a resident of Surprise, AZ and Brantley a resident of Waterbury, CT.

March 13, 2015

Ex-boyfriend of Fatal Shooting Victim in Auburn Hills Arrested, Charged with First-Degree Murder

by Scott Grabel

On Sunday, March 8, Troy police announced they had taken a man into custody in connection with the fatal shooting death of an Auburn Hills woman. On the previous Saturday evening, 21-year-old Jamila Monet Vigier-Cage was found slumped over the steering wheel of her vehicle. Now, 24-year-old Cory Daniel Mullen has been charged with first-degree murder in the case.

According to news articles at Mlive.com and Clickondetroit.com, the victim was found dead in a parking lot in Troy where she worked; she was found by a co-worker, and had allegedly been shot twice, once in the head and once in the chest. Vigier-Cage was employed at One Source, a talent agency that books actors and models.

Police asked for the public’s help in finding Vigier-Cage’s killer, and release a description of his vehicle, a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. He was located within hours in Detroit, and taken into custody for further questioning. Mullen was charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm; he was arraigned on Tuesday in 52-4 District Court, where he pleaded not guilty.

March 12, 2015

Virginia Court of Appeals Upholds Culpeper Town Police Officer’s Conviction in Manslaughter Case

by Scott Grabel

In December of last year, Daniel Harmon-Wright’s appeal of a conviction on voluntary manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Patricia Cook was struck down by the Court of Appeals in Virginia. Following the rejection, Harmon-Wright and his attorney, Daniel Hawes, took the appeal to the state’s Supreme Court, who just this week refused to hear the case.

Harmon-Wright, who is 35-years-old, is a former Culpeper police officer who was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter after he shot a woman, allegedly in self-defense, while responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a church parking lot. According to news articles, the incident took place in February of 2012. Harmon-Wright responded to the call, finding 54-year-old Patricia Cook in the parking lot of the church. He maintains that the woman tried to drive away while his arm was caught in the window of her vehicle, and that he shot in self-defense.

Hawes appealed his client’s conviction on two counts, invoking the “double jeopardy” protection in state and federal law. Under the law, an individual cannot be found guilty for the same offense twice. Hawes maintains that Harmon-Wright was convicted of both unlawful shooting into an occupied vehicle, and unlawful shooting into an occupied vehicle resulting in death. In addition, Hawes argued the evidence against his client was insufficient to support his conviction.

March 10, 2015

North Carolina Woman Arrested, Facing Felony Drug Trafficking Charges

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday, March 7, Melanie Ann Pruitt was arrested on felony drug trafficking charges after authorities asked for the public’s help in locating the 39-year-old Salisbury, NC woman. Her boyfriend, 50-year-old Robin Lee Guest, was also arrested.

According to a news article at the Salisbury Post, the two shipped large amounts of methamphetamine from Salisbury to California through the U.S. Postal Service from July to October of last year. The two were caught when they allegedly sold meth to undercover investigators.

Pruitt was found hiding inside a closet at a rented residence. Guest was arrested on the Catawba College campus, and is said to be in federal custody at the present time. According to the college, he worked there and was suspended before being terminated from his job.

March 9, 2015

Connecticut Man Arrested on DUI, other Charges Following Brookfield Crash

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday, March 7, 46-year-old Jason Lapointe was involved in a two vehicle crash that occurred just after 7:30 in the evening in Brookfield. While there was no mention whether he was injured in the accident, two people in the other vehicle did suffer minor injuries, according to police.

Upon investigation of the accident, police suspected Lapointe was driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was given a field sobriety test, which he failed according to a news article at the Connecticut News Beat blog. Following the investigation, Lapointe was charged with failure to drive in the proper lane, failure to carry insurance ID/certificate of registration, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Lapointe was released from jail on a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Danbury on the charges on March 17th.

March 6, 2015

Maureen McDonnell Appeals Conviction for Corruption

by Scott Grabel

In February, former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell, wife of Governor Bob McDonnell, was sentenced at a federal court after she was convicted on corruption charges. Now, according to news reports, she is appealing the conviction.

McDonnell was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, while the former Governor was sentenced to 24 months in prison for the corruption scandal in which the two allegedly promoted health products for businessman Jonnie Williams Sr. in exchange for $177,000 in loans, gifts, and vacations.

According to the Washington Times, former Gov. Bob McDonnell appealed his conviction to the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, the same court his wife is now appealing her conviction in. Oral arguments in the former governor’s case are scheduled for the week of May 12.

March 3, 2015

Store Managers in Southwest Detroit Plead Guilty to Failing to Maintain Effective Anti-Money Laundering Program

by Scott Grabel

On February 25, 55-year-old John Miri and 38-year-old Wisam Daman pleaded guilty to charges of failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, according to a press release issued by U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade. Miri operated and managed Junction Party Store, and Daman operated and managed Big Apple Fruit Market, both located in Southwest Detroit. Jarod Koopman, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge, joined McQuade in the announcement.

Both stores were registered as MSB’s, or Money Services Businesses with the state. Essentially, Junction Party Store and Big Apple Fruit Market would cash checks in amounts of more than $1,000 for their customers, for a fee. Under the Bank Secrecy Act, businesses who provide this service for their customers are qualified as financial institutions. Because the two stores are considered financial institutions, they are required to file CTR’s or Currency Transaction Reports with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. When a customer cashes a check for an amount greater than $10,000, a CTR must be filed. In their positions as managers/operators of the stores which were considered financial institutions, Miri and Daman were obligated to develop, enforce, and maintain effective anti-money laundering programs.

Between late 2011 and early 2012, the two store owners cashed a total of nearly $15 million in refund checks issued by the IRS for Juan Carlos Pena-Lora, checks which were issued to alleged taxpayers in New Jersey, New York, and other eastern states. In all, there were approximately 2,000 checks cashed by both stores combined. Daman and Miri charged a fee for cashing the checks, a fee which is based on a percentage of the total amount of each check. The IRS refund checks were issued after false income tax returns had been filed using names/social security numbers that had been stolen from Puerto Rican nationals. On the dates Daman and Miri cashed checks for Pena-Lora, those payments were greater than $10,000, however the two business owners did not file CTR’s for some of the cash payments as required. Because of this, the two men were charged with failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, an offense punishable by fines of $250,000 and/or up to five years in prison.

March 2, 2015

Wildomar, CA Chase Results in DUI Arrest

by Scott Grabel

On Sunday morning March 1st, a car chase followed by a foot pursuit resulted in the arrest of a man in Wildomar, CA for suspicion of reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, and driving under the influence of drugs, according to news sources. Jonathan Iniguez, a 23-year-old resident of Riverside, was booked into the Southwest Detention Center following the incident.

The Press Enterprise news article said the incident took place just before 4:30 in the morning when deputies who were on patrol noticed a 2005 Toyota Corolla weaving from lane to lane. The deputies followed the Corolla in an attempt to get the driver to pull over, however he continued driving erratically, swerving into oncoming lanes and failing to stop at traffic signals.

Eventually, Iniguez lost control of his vehicle and struck a fire hydrant in front of a grocery/liquor store, according to a written statement from sheriff’s officials. He then fled on foot, however deputies apprehended him on Shay Lane. Upon being caught, Iniguez was taken to a hospital after complaining of pain.