California Criminal Defense Attorneys

Local police have identified their prime suspect in a bank robbery that occurred last month, according to a recent article in The Orange County Register. A 27-year-old man believed to be from Newport Beach, whom police claim has a history of committing burglaries, is now being sought by police.

Police identified the man based on witness descriptions and surveillance video. They claim he robbed a U.S. Bank branch inside a Pavilions supermarket. He’s been known as the “silent bank robber” because he never spoke during the incident, instead communicating with the bank tellers with a note. At the time, eyewitnesses described the man as being about six foot two inches tall, thin, and between the ages of 25 and 35, with black marks on his teeth. Police used this information to narrow down their list of suspects. According to police, the man is probably still in the Orange County area and is believed to be driving a white Mercedes-Benz. He is not a suspect in any other crimes police are currently investigating.

The arrest and charging of suspects in a wide range of crimes often depends on the testimony of eyewitnesses. However, the stress of a crime like robbery or homicide can often affect a witness’s ability to remember details accurately, especially when several weeks or months have gone by. An experienced Orange County robbery lawyer can get to the bottom of an eyewitness’s story to help reveal any mistakes or inaccuracies.

If you or someone you love has been charged with robbery or another violent crime in Orange County, please don’t hesitate to contact attorney Maltaise Cini. Ms. Cini will examine your case carefully and fight to win you the best possible outcome. To learn more about you legal options or to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.

A woman from Orange County is facing serious criminal charges after a car accident left a bicyclist in Newport Beach dead, according to a recent report from local news affiliate KABC-TV.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the woman was allegedly driving on San Joaquin Hills Road while intoxicated and also reported to be texting on her cell phone. Due to her distraction, she purportedly drifted into the bicycle lane, striking a bicyclist who died from his injuries. Prosecutors also allege that the woman had been drinking at her workplace, a local cafe, before driving that evening. They also claim that her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of the fatal crash was .10 percent, .02 percent above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

The District Attorney’s office has charged the woman with one count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The woman is currently out of jail on bond and is expected back in court on April 4.

An aggressive defense from an experienced criminal defense attorney can have a strong impact on California drunk driving charges. Orange County DUI defense lawyer Maltaise Cini knows how to carefully examine the details of your case and fight for the best possible outcome. If you or someone you love has been charged with drunk driving in Orange County, please don’t hesitate to call the law offices of Maltaise Cini at 949-660-1389 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

A married couple who owned two separate Maki Maki Japanese Cuisine restaurants in Orange County appeared in court recently to be sentenced in a case involving over $2 million in insurance fraud and sales tax evasion, according to a news item posted by CBS News affiliate KPSP. The couple must now serve a combined six years in prison after pleading guilty to 14 fraud-related counts.

According to prosecutors, the couple allegedly began underpaying their workers’ compensation insurance premiums and unemployment insurance when they opened their first restaurant in 2001. They also purportedly underreported the amount of sales their restaurants made and wages they paid their employees. Prosecutors also argued that the couple failed to pay approximately $1.1 million in sales taxes, instead keeping the money for themselves. In 2009, the couple closed their restaurants without notifying their employees or paying the employees’ final paychecks.

The state of California expects business owners to comply with the law when it comes to insurance, taxes, and other business expenses. When business owners don’t keep accurate and complete records, or when they fail to pay their debts on time, serious consequences can result.

If you have been charged with fraud, tax evasion, or a similar financial crime in California, you need to be represented by an experienced Orange County fraud defense lawyer. Attorney Maltaise Cini has successfully handled many cases involving charges of financial wrongdoing, and she has the resources and experience necessary to fight for the best possible outcome in your case. To schedule a free and confidential case evaluation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.

A Newport Beach cyclist was killed after being struck by a 22 year old woman, suspected of driving under the influence. Paramedics pronounced the 41 year old cyclist was dead at the scene. Shortly after, Newport Beach police arrested the woman on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. According to the Newport Beach Police Department, field sobriety tests are given in all circumstances involving a vehicle accident fatality.

This tragedy marks the fourth cyclist death from a car accident in Newport Beach in the past two years. In response to the spate of fatal accidents, Newport Beach has launched an education campaign to educate both cyclists and drivers about the rules of the road. There is a clearly marked bicycle lane where the cyclist was struck and killed.

Vehicular Manslaughter, while intoxicated is a felony punishable up to 10 years in State Prison. In California an individual can be prosecuted for murder if he/she drives while intoxicated and causes an accident that kills another person. DUI second-degree murder (known as a “Watson murder”) is the most serious of the California felony DUI charges.

If you have been charged with vehicular manslaughter or a DUI contact an experienced Orange County DUI lawyer Maltaise Cini. Ms. Cini’s experience with DUI’s and her careful attention to the details of your case allow her to fight hard for the best possible outcome. For a confidential consultation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.

Ninety-nine members of the Armenian Power have recently been charged with a range of crimes, including kidnapping, extortion, bank fraud, and narcotics trafficking, according to a recent article released by CNN. The group, which is headquartered in southern California, is allegedly a transnational organized crime group that has caused $10 million in losses to Orange County residents alone.

In Orange County, district attorneys claim that twenty members of Armenian Power engaged in a bank fraud scheme, stealing money and information from elderly people in particular. The case also charges the twenty Armenian Power members with bribing bank insiders to obtain information about bank accounts, which they then allegedly took over.

In Los Angeles, where Armenian Power is purported to have gained another $10 million illegally from unsuspecting citizens, several alleged members of the group were charged with defrauding customers at 99 Cents Only stores. Prosecutors claim that the group’s members installed “skimming” devices at 99 Cents Only store checkouts that stole customer’s credit card information and then used the information to make counterfeit credit cards.

Prosecutors also allege that Armenian Power has connections to a number of other gangs in California, Mexico, and Russia.

If you are facing criminal charges in California, please don’t hesitate to contact experienced Orange County criminal defense lawyer Maltaise Cini. Ms. Cini has significant experience representing those charged with violence, financial crimes, and other complex schemes. She will review the details of your case carefully in order to fight for the best possible outcome. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.

A 29-year-old man faces heavy sentencing penalties after a jury convicted him on multiple violent crime counts, according to a recent article in The Orange County Register. The crimes were all part of a gang-related “crime spree,” prosecutors alleged.

The man faces conviction related to the death of an 18-year-old man who was shot in 2008 in Santa Ana. According to prosecutors, the man and a co-conspirator carjacked a vehicle earlier that night, forcing the car’s motorist to drive them several blocks before pushing him out of the car and proceeding on their own. The two men then drove to a nearby industrial complex, where members of a rival gang were. According to the district attorney’s office, the man fired a gun into the group six times, killing the 18-year-old victim.

At trial, prosecutors showed the jury DNA evidence found in the car that matched the man’s DNA, along with bullets removed from the man’s own car that matched the ammunition used to kill the 18-year-old.

The man was convicted on multiple felony counts, including special circumstances murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang, carjacking, and kidnapping during a carjacking. He now faces heavy penalties, including a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

As this particular case demonstrates, violent crimes carry heavy penalties in California, especially when the charges are linked to gang activity. If you’ve been charged with a violent crime in Orange County, you need an aggressive attorney who will build a strong and effective case on your behalf. Orange County criminal defense attorney Maltaise Cini has the courtroom experience and the personal commitment to fight for the best possible outcome in every case she handles. To learn more or to schedule a free and confidential consultation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.

In California, a charge of domestic violence may be based on any physical contact that occurs during an argument between spouses, fiancés, dating partners, the parents of a child, or roommates. If you have been charged with domestic violence in California, protect your rights by keeping a few tips in mind.

First, stay silent. Do not attempt to explain your side of the story to the police or anyone except your lawyer. If you are taken to jail, do not talk about your arrest with other inmates or over a jail phone. Do not make or sign a written statement. Anything you say, write, or sign might later be used against you in court.

Next, contact an experienced California domestic violence attorney as soon as possible. An attorney will stay alert for any violations of your rights and build a strong case on your behalf in court.

At all times when dealing with the police, cooperate with police, jail guards, and other authorities. With emotions running high, it may be tempting to fight back or argue with the police or guards, but doing so could easily harm your case.

If you are in jail, the first judge you see will set the conditions for your release. These often include requirements that you stay away from your accuser or places that person might be, such as their home or office. Do not violate these conditions. Your lawyer may be able to get them changed later, if necessary.

Those charged with domestic violence in California face heavy penalties if convicted. Experienced Orange County domestic violence attorney Maltaise Cini will carefully examine your case and fight to protect your rights while seeking the best possible outcome in your case. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.

The Orange County Register reports that students, teachers, and community supporters confronted the Orange County Board of Supervisors recently, as six UC Irvine students were called to face the grand jury just weeks before the statute of limitations is to expire on their alleged misdeeds. The students may face criminal charges.

The grand jury questioning was related to a student protest held on UC Irvine’s campus last year. During a speech by Michael Oren, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, students from the Muslim Student Council on campus protested Oren’s presence, shouting and chanting until their noise caused Oren to stop speaking for 20 minutes. The protesting students were held in a separate room and given citations for disrupting a public event, but were then released without further charges. UC Irvine placed the organization on probation following the incident.

Now, the Orange County District Attorney is investigating the possibility of bringing charges against the students. Students, UC Irvine faculty and staff, and other supporters gathered to protest the District Attorney’s actions, stating that any charges against the Muslim Student Council protesters is racially motivated and would also have a “chilling effect” on campus speech.

The freedom to speak out against ideas we disagree with is one of Americans’ most cherished rights. However, that right may come under attack when those who speak out then face criminal charges for their actions.

The help of an experienced Orange County criminal defense lawyer is invaluable when walking the fine line between criminal charges and Constitutional rights. Attorney Maltaise Cini has the practical experience and the legal resources that are required to seek the best possible outcome for each of her clients. To learn more or to schedule a free and confidential consultation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation opened a digital crime lab recently in Orange County, according to an article in The Los Angeles Times. The lab is designed to allow investigators to analyze evidence from devices like computers, cell phones, and other digital sources. It’s the third crime lab in California and the fifteenth in the nation to focus on electronic evidence.

According to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, the Orange County lab is merely another step in the FBI’s attempts to stay ahead of those who are increasingly using the Internet and computers of various kinds both to commit and to cover up criminal activity. The lab particularly focuses on cases involving fraud, public corruption, gang activity, and terrorism.

The computer lab shares space and staff with the Orange County forensic science lab, which allows investigators at both the state and federal levels to compare notes more easily, according to the district attorney’s office. Both the Orange County district attorney and the FBI hope that the lab will allow them to bring charges more quickly against those they believe are committing computer-related crimes.

The use of computers and the Internet has the potential to complicate criminal cases in terms of investigation, evidence, and other important aspects of legal proceedings. If you’ve been charged with a computer crime in California, please don’t hesitate to contact experienced Orange County computer crime defense lawyer Maltaise Cini. Ms. Cini’s experience with computer-related crimes and her careful attention to the details of your case allow her to fight hard for the best possible outcome. For a confidential consultation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.

An Orange County oncologist who pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud in May 2010 may lose his license due to the conviction, according to a recent article in The Orange County Register.

Last spring, the oncologist admitted in court that he had been involved in five counts of Medicare fraud, taking nearly $1 million from various medical insurance companies and the federal government as compensation for expensive cancer medications. According to prosecutors, the doctor billed for the expensive medications, but his patients actually received less expensive treatments. His sentencing is scheduled for the end of February 2011.

In addition to facing penalties from the court, the oncologist also faces the potential loss of his medical license. The California Medical Board has filed legal documents seeking to revoke the physician’s medical license on the basis of his fraud conviction. In addition to the chance of losing his license, the oncologist also faces up to 50 years in prison and as much as $1.25 million in fines.

The penalties for all types of criminal fraud are severe, and they reach beyond the fines and jail time imposed by the court. A fraud conviction can cause the loss of a professional license and the end of a career.

If you are facing fraud charges in California, please contact experienced Orange County fraud defense attorney Maltaise Cini. Ms. Cini has the experience that is needed to fight for the best possible outcome on your behalf. To learn more, call 949-660-1389 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.