Author: Mick Mickelsen

Finding out that you’re the subject or target of a federal investigation can be an extremely scary experience. There are several federal agencies that carry out investigations, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Additionally, there are many other agencies…

Almost everyone indulges in a few youthful mistakes when they’re a teen or young adult. This might include making a prank phone call on an unsuspecting victim. While this action might not seem like serious wrongdoing, prank calls can sometimes land a caller in hot legal water. In fact, there are several laws that police…

When a product or brand becomes popular, you can be certain copycats will follow. However, copying another product’s design or imitating a company’s logo can land you in hot legal water. According to reports, counterfeit goods make up a $461 billion global industry. In 2013, the Department of Homeland Security seized more than $1.7 billion…

Should you report a corporate crime that has occurred within your company or organization? Understand the reasons why businesses don’t report and why maybe they should rethink that approach. White collar crimes occur at a frequency that’s greater than many people realize. Within the scope of this category of illegal activities are corporate crimes, and…

Dogs have powerful noses. According to researchers at Florida State University, they can smell up to 100,000 times better than humans. Considering how amazing a dog’s sense of smell is, it’s probably no wonder why police use dogs to detect illegal substances. But what does the law say about drug sniffing dogs? Can police use…

When you ride as a passenger in a vehicle, you are giving a certain amount of control over to the driver. For example, if the driver is exceeding the speed limit, you could find yourself in a situation being pulled over and stopped by the police. What happens if the driver has an illegal substance…

For most taxpayers in the United States, an IRS audit is something you should try to avoid at all costs. Unfortunately, many taxpayers already know the stress that comes when the IRS knocks on your door to investigate a simple error. When the “simple error” results in a significant discrepancy in reporting, or failure to…

Is it possible to find work and rebuild your professional reputation after being convicted of a white collar crime? Here’s what you need to know about employment after conviction. When you’ve been convicted of white-collar crime, the residual effects of the conviction can last long after you’ve paid your dues. For people with a white…

Internet scams are a form of fraud, and a conviction for this type of computer crime can result in serious penalties, including years in jail. Recently, investigators uncovered a large scale phishing scam that targeted tech giants Google and Facebook. Using emailed invoices, a man was able to defraud the companies out of more than…

Could the Patriot Act affect your criminal case? You’ve probably heard about this powerful federal tool that gives authorities the sweeping ability to engage in surveillance tactics, but most people only know of the Patriot Act from what they see on television. What they may not realize is that the Patriot Act often allows law…