A mortgage broker pleaded guilty for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme that authoities allege resulted in $2 million in losses.  Federal agents claim mortgage broker Justin Zhu conspired  with real estate broker Darnell Mason to recruit straw borrowers for San Antonio homes used in the scheme that used fraud to induce loans.

Zhu was scheduled for trial Monday but instead pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud at a hearing Friday before senior U.S. District Judge harry Hudspeth.  Zhu admitted helping Mason concoct a scheme that exploited 100 percent financed state income loans, which require no down payment and do not require the lender to verify the applicant’s income according to Zhu’s plea agreement.

The straw home buyers were paid up to $3k in kickbacks for signing their names on loan paperwork for 17 properties whose loans were later allowed to go into default, court records said.  The scheme was uncovered by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service during Operation Stolen Dreams, which is a national crackdown on mortgage fraud.

Mortgage fraud will land you in federal prison for many years, if you or a family are facing criminal  allegations of mortgage fraud contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately at (210)225-6600

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

In Mcallen Texas an Austin attorney was arrested Monday on Federal racketeering charges alleging bribery of an already convicted judge as well as witnesses in state and federal cases.

Marc Rosenthal’s indictment is only the latest of several tied to former state district judge abel c limas who pleaded guilty to racketeering in march.  Charges in the indictment unsealed Monday allege that Rosenthal conspired to file personal injury cases in state and federal court based on false testimony and bribed witnesses and former state district Judge Abel C Limas.

Rosenthal turned himself over to federal authorities Monday in Brownsville and was later released on $100000 bond.  he entered a plea of not guilty.  Mr. Rosenthal’s firm declared his innocence and intent to fight the allegations

I’ve met Mr. Rosenthal and as a Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer I find the allegations hard to believe.  As white collar criminal lawyer with more than 35 years of success, nothing shocks me and I suggest Mr. Rosenthal calls me immediately at (210)225-6600 so we can put together the best criminal defense.

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Thursday charged Petroleum Wholesale LP, Sun Development LP and related defendants with unlawfully defrauding their customers by diluting medium and premium grade gasoline with regular unleaded fuel.

The defendants, both based in the Houston area are charged with falsigying octane levels, defrauding their customers and violating the Texas Decptive Trade Practices Act. 

The lawsuit is the third enforcement action by the state against the company.  Last year a Harris County jury returned a $30 million verdict against petroleum wholesale, accusing it of calibrating its gas pumps to deliver less than a full gallon of fuel. 

In 2009, Petroleum Wholesale was ordered to pay $100,000 for violating state identity theft prevention laws.  Accordin to attorney general Greg Abbott they discovered over 1,000 instances in which the defendants cross dumped fuel at 143 locations across Texas.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott takes manipulation or fraud in the market place very serious.  I will not be surprised if he seeks maximum penalties for every single instance of fraud.  As a criminal defense lawyer in Texas I’ve seen many fraud offenses and represented many individuals in both state and federal court. 

My consultations are free and confidential, I’m a white collar criminal defense lawyer prepared and ready to take the state on.  Call me at (210)225-6600.

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

FBI agents have arrested a Webb County deputy constable on bribery charges.  Eduardo Garcia 44 was apprehended Monday in Laredo on an indictment alleging he acted a an escort for a federal informant who Garcia thought was a drug smuggler, according to the U.S. attorneys office in Houston.

The indictment alleges that in 2007 and 2008 Garcia a mental health officer whose duties included driving a prison transport van , escorted laods of cocaine being transported through Laredo by a local trafficker.

Garcia would make $500 bucks for each load, according to the indictment.  If convicted Garcia a law enforcement agency since 1993, faces up to 20 years in prison on the three bribery charges and up to five years in prison on one charge of unauthorized access to protected computer information.

A public official has a hire standard than your normal citizens & any jury will have the same outlook.  Mr. Garcia must hire the best criminal defense lawyer he can afford or the entire weight of the federal justice system will come down on him.  I’ve been a criminal defense lawyer in San Antonio for more than 35 years, if you or a family would like a free consultation call my office at (210)225-6600

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

An attorney from a prominent Laredo family was handed a 2.5 year prison sentence Monday in a Dallas federal court for acting as a bag man for Mexican drug traffickers trying to pay off a government informant.

Alonzo Ramos, admitted that in 2008 he acted as an intermediary for Mexican drug traffickers who wanted to buy the silence of a Houston based smuggler who’d been busted.  Ramos offered $48,500 to Lizandro Tijerina who was on trial in New Orleans, in exchange for the smugglers silence Tijerina, it turned out was already cooperating with federal authorities and recorded his conversations with Ramos, later federal agents watch as Ramos delivered the cash to one of Tijerina’s relatives in Laredo.

Ramos declined comment Monday, but his lawyersaid that he asked for a lighter sentenced because Ramos was a young attorney who was eager to land big clients and ended up crossing the line trying to please them.

Sad excuse & in my opinion Ramos should face a maximum sentence.  Anyone living in South Texas understands that the drug cartels are very influential.  Drug cartels payoff hundreds of politicians from El Paso to Mcallen.  This is  a serious problem, the only answer is to stop the fight against drugs and begin the process of legalization along with taxation.

If you or a family is facing allegations of bribery or public corruption contact me a Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer with a more than 35 years of experience.

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

Presidential pools and spas ex owner faces up to two years in state jail.  He was found guilty Monday of cashing checks for projects he never bothered to complete.  Karl Keene faces up to two years in a state jail facility when he is sentenced before state District Judge Ron Rangel next month for misapplication of fiduciary property between $1500 and $20,000.

Keene came under investigation in 2008, after customers began calling the Better Business bureau and authorities with complaints that he was nowhere to be seen despite gaping holes in their back yards from unfinished swimming pools.

He was a simple guy trying to make a living, is how his criminal defense attorney & I would agree.  It seems to me that a hard working, small business owner came up short of cash flow.  A very similar situation to unions, banks, and the auto industry, but instead of bailing out the small business owners we are sending them to prison.

If you or a business partner is facing any type of white collar crime, like fraud, embezzlement contact me a Gifted White Collar Criminal Defense Lawyer in San Antonio.

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

The former owner of San Antonio based Dynasty Decks and Spa was ordered to serve 10 years in prison Friday after he failed to pay back more than $145,000 to 21 customers who said he ripped them off.  I wonder why he didn’t file bankruptcy.

Jeffrey Perry pleaded guilty in May to misapplication of fiduciary property.  Had he paid about half of the restitution back by Friday prosecutors had promised to remain silent as he asked state District Judge Maria Teresa Herr for probation, but he didn’t pay.

Every week a local business owner is contacting my criminal defense office to discuss very similar situations.  I’ve been a criminal defense attorney in San Antonio for more than 35 years & I’ve never seen an economy turn honest business woman/men into criminals.  Due to the increase in white collar crimes in San Antonio I offer free consultations & 24/7 bail bonds for all financial crimes.

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

A former executive with the Housing Authority of Bexar County pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzling more than $22,000 from the agency.

Lisa Ochoa was an HABC executive manager and amoung a handful of former employees accused of wrongly taking advantage of a policy that let them sell back to the agency their unused time off and claim in in pay.

Under the plea deal, Ochoa admitted she embezzled the money between February 2000 and April 2006.

Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery set her sentencing for Oct. 21.  She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, but could be eligible for probation.

Being charged with any type of financial crime is serious and if charged you should hire a white collar criminal defense lawyer with experience winning  Embezzlement cases.  I’m criminal defense attorney Robert I. Kahn and I win white collar crime cases.  Contact me at (210)225-6600 for a free consultation.

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

A former controller of a local printing company, the watermark Group, has been indicted on tax charges alleging she stole more than $500,000 from the company U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy said.

A federal grand jury in San Antonio on Wednesday returned a 14 count indictment charging Monica R. Richardson with 10 counts of failure to collect and pay withholding taxes and four counts of filing a false income tax return.

From 2005 to 2007, Watermark withheld tax payments from its employees paychecks.  But from July 2005 until September 2007, the indictment alleges Richardson caused Watermark to fail to account for and pay the internal Revenue Service approximately $554,305 in payroll taxes. 

She’s accused  of pocketing the money and filing fraudulent federal tax returns for 2004 through 2007 in which she understated her own income.  If convicted, Richardson faces a maximum of five years in prison.

When a business owner hires an accountant to manage the day to day financial transactions, that owner is putting enormous amount of trust into the employee.  One simple bad decision can multiply into charges of embezzlement.  I’ve been helping people accused of financial crimes for more than 35 years.  If you have been accused of any type of white collar crime, contact me immediately at (210)225-6600 for a free criminal defense consultation.

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions

A man charged with stealing identities to make purchases and lease an apartment in San Antonio was booked with Bexar county jail on Wednesday.  Trey Lane McCoy  is accused of stealing mail from Hill  Country Village residents to make multiple fraudulent drivers licenses and a medicare health insurance card according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

l A U.S. secret service agent had video surveillance of McCoy making fraudulent transactions at a Target Furniture Factor Warehouse and IBC Bank, the affidavit states McCoy also leased an apartment in the 1200 block of Blanco Road under a stolen name.

Lane is being held without bail on six counts of fraudulent use and possession of identifying information and four counts of check forgery.  He had been in the Guadalupe County Jail since May on separate charges of tampering with a government issued license and fraudulent use of identifying information.

Finding an experienced criminal defense attorney is easy, but find an attorney that has more than 35 years of experience fighting against fraud allegations is almost impossible until now.  I’m a dedicated Identification Theft Fraud lawyer in San Antonio and I offer free consultations 7 days week, 24 hours a day.  To schedule a consultation call my office at 210 225-6600.

Law Offices of Robert I. Kahn

111 Soledad St, Suite 1700, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 225-6600 Google Review | Website | Directions