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What To Know About Expungements In Texas
Having a criminal record can have a significant impact on your future. It can limit your job prospects, your ability to rent an apartment, and even your ability to obtain a loan. If you have a criminal record in Texas, it is essential to understand how it can affect your future and what you can do to minimize the impact.
In Texas, a criminal record can be expunged or sealed under certain circumstances. Expungement means that your criminal record is erased as if it never existed, while sealing means that your record is hidden from the public but still exists. The process of expungement is not automatic, and it oftentimes requires the assistance of a criminal defense attorney.
Expungement is available to individuals who have been arrested for a crime but were not charged, had their case dismissed due to lack of evidence (and so long as the statute of limitations has run), or were acquitted of the charges. If you were convicted of a crime, you may be eligible for expungement if you received a pardon or if you were declared actually innocent of the crime, but those are extremely limited exceptions.
The Consequences of Stalking in Texas
The Texas Penal Code defines stalking as the act of deliberately and repeatedly following or harassing another person, causing that person to feel fearful for their safety. It's a serious crime - much more than one would expect - and it comes with serious consequences. Our attorneys are experienced in stalking cases, and we can help.
How is stalking defined?
Stalking is a crime that can occur in a variety of ways, including:
- Following someone around or showing up at their home or workplace uninvited.
- Repeatedly calling, emailing, texting, mailing letters or gifts to someone.
- Sending unwanted messages through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
It can also include other threatening or intrusive behaviors such as:
- Using any kind of technology (such as a computer) to harass another person by posting harmful information about them online;
- Sending pornographic images of yourself to someone without their consent.
Barbieri Law Firm Founding Attorney Heather Barbieri Featured in D Magazine
Recently, D Magazine, an independent magazine that covers news impacting Dallas area residents and businesses, profiled Barbieri Law Firm's founding attorney Heather Barbieri. The article highlights Heather and the Barbieri Law Firm, focusing on the importance of the work that we do. Our entire team is proud of Attorney Barbieri and happy to see that she is getting the recognition she deserves. We look forward to more people learning about Heather Barbieri and Barbieri Law Firm, so that we may connect with more people who need our help.
D Magazine Profile Highlights Attorney Barbieri's Work as a Criminal Defense Lawyer and Leader in the Dallas Legal Community
Every year, D Magazine spotlights the Leaders in Law who have raised the bar inside the Dallas legal community, recognizing "stand-outs from the area's most reputable law firms" who are "committed to being a leader in their field." That is certainly Heather. The article discusses Attorney Barbieri founding Barbieri Law Firm and her role as CEO, specifically touching on Heather's many accolades, as well as the awards that Barbieri Law Firm has racked up over the years.
What Should I Know About the Federal Sentencing Guidelines?
There are many differences between US state court and US federal court. One of the major differences between the two is the existence of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Essentially, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines is the document most used to mete out punishments for individuals the courts convicted of federal crimes.These guidelines intend to ensure that the federal judges impose consistent and fair sentences on those the courts deemed guilty of federal crimes. According to the United States Sentencing Commission, lawmakers put forth the current sentencing table in 1987 and contains 6 levels of offenses.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Federal Sentencing Guidelines only apply to federal felonies or Class A misdemeanors. Lesser felonies do not use the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Overall, there are 43 different offense levels that exist within the guidelines. The higher the level of the offense, the more severe the crime is and the longer the prison sentence associated with the crime is.
How May False Statements Made to a Bank Become a Federal Offense?
If you provide inaccurate information during a transaction with a financial institution you may arouse suspicions of bank fraud. As shown by reporting in the Amarillo Globe-News, you may face federal charges if you submit false statements to an FDIC-insured bank and a U.S. Attorney convinces a grand jury you did so knowingly.If you submit purportedly false statements on behalf of a business as its owner or employee, you may face allegations of having committed a federal offense. As reported by the Texas Standard, administrative-level employees such as office managers may also face charges when business owners involve their companies in financial misrepresentations.
HOW MAY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES BECOME INVOLVED IN AN INVESTIGATION?
Based on 2019 figures, the FDIC insured more than 4,500 U.S. banks. Suspicions of fraud raised by any of these financial institutions may lead to an investigation by federal agencies such as the FBI or the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS.
What are the Consequences for Misusing Opioids?
One of the most commonly misused classes of prescription drugs in the United States is opioids. The opioid epidemic has taken many lives and left a brutal toll on American communities from east to west.In order to halt the scourge that opioids have left on many communities, understanding what they are and what the potential consequences for misuse are is paramount. As per to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an opioid is a medication that affects opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to lessen how intense pain sensations are.
HOW DO OPIOIDS WORK?
Once an opioid attaches to an opioid receptor protein, this causes the body to not be able to transmit pain signals as effectively. This is why they are good at reducing sensations of pain in thousands of patients. They can also make an individual drowsy, confused and produce nausea and constipation.
Because opioids also take effect on brain regions involved in reward, many people experience feelings of euphoria at very high doses. However, it is easy for people to develop a resistance to opioids, which is why many addicts resort to snorting or injecting opioids after prolonged use.
Building a Defense: What are White-Collar Cyber Crimes?
The phrase "white-collar crime" refers to criminal acts that are not violent and seek to benefit the perpetrator financially. Common examples of white-collar crimes are embezzlement, insider trading and wire fraud. Decades ago, people involved in such white-collar crimes had limited ways of carrying out the theft of money or information. Today, in Texas and elsewhere, computers open virtual doors for white-collar cyber crimes.
The Rise Of Cyber Crimes
Computers and access to the internet make it easier for cyber crimes to take place. Credit card fraud ranks among the top instances of cyber crimes. Fake merchant deals may lead people to provide their credit card numbers. In addition, hacking serves as a way to steal credit card information as numerous high-profile cases show that sophisticated hackers can circumvent even high-end cybersecurity systems.
Sometimes, a third party might try to procure information from businesses ranging from small ones to corporations. Phishing schemes could lead to someone giving up a company's passwords without realizing the mistake. People often provide passwords to bank and other accounts after responding to phishing emails. The simple scheme continues to work.
What is Prescription Drug Fraud?
Prescription drug abuse is one of America's greatest public health scourges. Prescription drug abuse tears families apart, devastates communities, and ends up making medical costs more expensive for everybody. This is why it is vital to understand what prescription drug fraud is and how to prevent it.Prescription drug fraud is all over the United States, but primarily in the American South. According to Blue Cross Blue Shield, prescription drug fraud happens when an individual acquires medications through means of deception.
HOW DOES PRESCRIPTION DRUG FRAUD HAPPEN?
There are multiple ways for an individual to engage in prescription drug fraud. Some people use forgeries in order to obtain medications from pharmacies. Others simply go "doctor shopping" until they find a doctor who is willing to prescribe them the drug that they want.
One major sign is if an individual has many prescriptions from many different doctors, particularly for tranquilizers, opioids, and painkillers. If an individual is traveling to a pharmacy far away from where he or she lives, this may also be a sign of prescription drug fraud.
The Correlation Between Transparency and White-Collar Crime
White-collar criminals in Texas often feel as though their behavior will not affect anyone else. Holding a position of power, having access to corporate financial information and possessing narcissistic qualities may all increase one's risk of unethical behavior.Just one of many ways that corporations can mitigate some of the risks of white-collar crimes is to incorporate transparency into the company culture.
Understanding Transparency
Transparency has benefits for every participant of a business endeavor including customers, employees, organizational leaders, shareholders and partners. According to Glassdoor, transparency is an effective information-sharing system that encourages everyone to share openly with each other. This communication takes place at different levels. For example, between team members, between executives and department managers, and between corporate representatives and the public.
Transparency fosters understanding and encourages unity and teamwork. With clear expectations and effective monitoring of employees, corporations can limit opportunities to commit crimes.
How is Medicaid Fraud Handled in Texas?
If you are facing Medicaid fraud charges as a health care provider, you probably have many concerns as a result of the case. You could worry about your reputation, ability to continue your career and the financial fallout of the allegations. It is vital to review your options closely and do what you can to protect your future.In addition to reviewing relevant laws and going over the details of your case, it is helpful to understand how the state of Texas handles Medicaid fraud.
Looking At Medicaid Provider Fraud Cases
On their site, the Bureau of Justice Statistics goes over the ways in which different states handle Medicaid provider fraud. In Texas, the attorney general deals with provider fraud. On the attorney general's website, there are separate sections for civil Medicaid fraud and criminal Medicaid fraud. The Office of Inspector General deals with Medicaid recipient fraud.
Dealing With Medicaid Provider Fraud Charges
As a health care provider, you have a lot at stake if these accusations surface. Sometimes, providers are falsely accused of Medicaid fraud, while others face particularly harsh outcomes because they fail to prepare for court or work through their case appropriately.
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