Case Results – Prior Results do not Guarantee a Similar Outcome

Our client, a proprietor of numerous hotels in New York City, was charged with a "B" felony and faced a mandatory minimum sentence of up to three years in state prison and a maximum term of twenty five years. Although the Manhattan District Attorney's Office alleged that our client owed over $5,000,000 in back New York State and New York City taxes, interest and penalties, we successfully challenged certain definitions and criteria in the tax statutes utilized by the prosecution. Upon doing so, the District Attorney's Office permitted our client to plead to a felony, but, if he paid back approximately $1,800,000, instead of the $5,000,000, he would receive no jail at the time of his sentence. Moreover, he was free to challenge whether he owed the remaining tax assessment through civil means.

Our client, a restaurant owner, was accused of illegally withholding and stealing more than $180,000 in sales tax dollars for the state and improperly filing returns. Although prosecutors sought a felony plea, prior to surrendering our client an agreement was reached whereby the "theft" amount was reduced by $40,000 and our client would plea to a misdemeanor without any incarceration or jail. Ultimately, our client surrendered, was processed, pleaded and sentenced in one morning.

Our client was charged with multiple co-defendants in an Enterprise Corruption indictment alleging organized crime, gambling offenses and other criminal acts. Despite wire tap evidence, a successful motion to dismissed resulted in the dismissal of this "B" felony and top count indictment charge and removed our client from the greater case.

Our client was accused of a knifepoint abduction of our client's former spouse. In our client's car, police recovered duct tape, rope and zip ties. Independent eyewitnesses claimed they heard our client threaten to kill the complainant's mother. Our client refused any offers and faced five to twenty-five years in prison if convicted of Second Degree Kidnapping. After a two week jury trial, the prosecution dropped the Stalking charge against our client and the jury acquitted our client of all charges after deliberating for less than three hours.

Our client was charged in two separate cases with over twenty felonies including Forgery, Identity Theft, Grand Larceny, and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument. Prosecutors alleged our client stole over $70,000 from two individuals. After attacking the veracity of the complainants as to whether there was in fact a theft (our client had made a written admission under duress as to one of the complainants), prosecutors agreed to dismiss one of the cases in the entirety. In the second case, the prosecution agreed to reduce the theft to $20,000 and our client agreed to accept probation (no jail) on a misdemeanor plea to Petit Larceny (the "shoplifting" statute") and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. Our client had been facing up to seven years in state prison on each docket if indicted and convicted.

Our client, a trader in a hedge fund, failed to file years of state and federal tax returns. Prosecutors and New York State alleged that our client owed tens of millions of dollars in back taxes to New York. Although an arrest was threatened, prosecutors dropped the entire criminal case and our client filed years of old returns after we successfully negotiated on his behalf. Our client agreed to pay any deficiencies.

Our client was arrested for a felony hate crime Assault. It was alleged our client struck a man opening a gash on his head after the man claimed our client made slurs based on sexual orientation. Prosecutors initially sought an indictment but our investigation located a witness who corroborated no slurs were made and the defendant was the initial aggressor. Prosecutors only finally agreed to dismiss the case after a video recording from an ATM machine further corroborated our client was attacked by an apparently drunk complainant. The complainant clearly fabricated the allegations and the laceration was sustained after the complaint hit his head on scaffolding.

Our client was accused of and arrested for misdemeanor Stalking and other offenses after a woman he met years before in a grocery store claimed that two years later he appeared twice in front of her apartment in a vehicle and followed her into a subway station on another. Denying the allegations and refusing a six month ACD dismissal, our client elected to go trial. After cross examining the complainant and calling our client to testify, we argued that the complainant's fear was unreasonable. The complainant initially gave our client her number and our client, unknown to the accuser, had lived less than a block away for years above the subway in question and parked with regularity on the street. Additionally, if our client did try to introduce himself to the complainant it was for a legitimate purpose and any "following" of her into the subway was a misunderstanding on her part as he used that subway at least twice a day. Upon the closing of the defense's case, the judge immediately acquitted our client of all charges, removed the Order of Protection, and provided him with the exoneration he deserved.

Our client, employed in finance, was charged with felony counts of Grand Larceny, punishable by up to seven years in state prison, and other offenses in a case that riveted the city and captured the attention of the media throughout the state and nation. Our client was accused of going to open houses for apartment sales throughout New York and stealing all sorts of valuable property after posing as a potential buyer. After extensive negotiations with the prosecutor and presenting the prosecution with a "Clayton" type motion, the prosecutor agreed have our client return to Supreme Court a few times over the course of a year to make sure certain requirements were being followed. After that year, the prosecutor would move for an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD) thereby dismissing the case that was initially charged as a felony.

Our client was charged with 27 total counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second and Third Degrees as well as Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device. If convicted our client faced up to seven years in prison. Police alleged that the vehicle in which our client was riding changed lanes without signaling. As a result, the police stopped the car. Ultimately, the police went into the vehicle and recovered 15 credit and gift cards as well as a scanning device. After confronting prosecutors as to the legality (or lack thereof) of the stop and search, prosecutors agreed to offer our client a misdemeanor. Rejecting the misdemeanor, the case was ultimately dismissed.

Our client was charged with "Common Law" DWI, DWAI and driving without a license. Although prosecutors had offered a traffic infraction, we maintained that our client was not driving drunk and we demanded a trial. During cross examination, the arresting officer admitted that errors in his paperwork were done in such a manner because it was "easier" for him. Additional cross examination revealed that the officer did not smell alcohol on our client or notice any traits of intoxication for nearly twenty minutes after the officer interacted with our client. Ultimately, we obtained an acquittal of all charges at trial.

Our client, a student at a prominent university in New York City, was accused of sexual misconduct by two fellow students under the school's Title IX policy. One student accused our client of harassing and graphic text messages while the other alleged our client made unwanted physical advances. After multiple meetings and negotiations with school administrators, and after challenging the veracity of the claims, the college agreed to resolve the investigation without a hearing. Ultimately, the institution placed a temporary one year notation on our client's collegiate transcript. Our client graduated as planned and without delay. Additionally, despite one of the students' complaints to the NYPD, upon meeting with law enforcement, the assigned detective closed the case upon determining an arrest was unwarranted.

Our client, a bank manager, was arrested and accused of numerous crimes including Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Attempted Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. Prosecutors alleged that our client stole in excess of $100,000 from the bank's client's account and drew two checks totaling $275,000 from the same account in our client's name and that of a friend. Although the $200,000 check was redeposited in the bank's client's account, $75,000 remained outstanding. Despite prosecutors recommendation that our client receive 2-6 years on a Second Degree Grand Larceny plea, Saland Law successfully negotiated a time served sentence of 90 days jail on a misdemeanor Petit Larceny. Further, restitution was not part of the disposition even though the $75,000 was unaccounted for.

Our client caught her spouse in the midst of an affair with a close mutual friend. After waiting outside the concubine's home for her husband, our client approached the front door as both parties exited. Shocked to see her there, the two adulterers "freaked out" and slammed our client's arm in the front door to prevent our client from taking pictures. In the process of their attack, a small window broke in the door. Despite having injuries consistent with blunt force trauma and no cuts on her hand which one would expect if one smashed out a window with a fist, the NYPD arrested our client based on the adulterers' claims. Refusing to take responsibility for a crime she did not commit, our client exercised her right to a trial where the court found her not guilty, did away with the Restraining Order and provided our client with full exoneration. Adding to the justice of the acquittal, the cheating spouse could no longer attempt to use the non-incident as a sword in the matrimonial proceeding.

Our client worked for a restaurant where our client was alleged to have embezzled and defrauded the owner by conducting transactions for cash or voiding transactions and keeping the proceeds. In total, our client was alleged to have stolen approximately $30,000. After extensive negotiations, our client pleaded to a misdemeanor offense and avoided incarceration and probation after facing a "D" felony of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree punishable by up to seven years in state prison.

Our client procured funding for small films seeking millions of dollars in financing. A film company accused our client of deceiving them by, among other things, presenting a fraudulent bank statement and contract. As a result, our client was accused of obtaining approximately $17,500 through false pretenses. After extensive negotiations, our client voluntarily surrendered himself after we brokered a deal. That same day, the court arraigned our client on felony counts of Grand Larceny and Forgery. Prosecutors permitted our client to plea to a misdemeanor Petit Larceny (the "shoplifting" statute) and he was sentenced to a conditional discharge, the condition being he stayed out of trouble for a year. Not only did our client avoid the embarrassment of a public arrest, but he avoided a felony, jail, probation and community service.

Our client was charged with assault after striking another man in the head area multiple times with the handle of an axe. After obtaining his release at his arraignment we aggressively challenged the prosecutions case and established that our client acted in self defense. As a result, we obtained a complete dismissal of the charges on the first date our client returned to court.

Our client, a high level administrator at a not-for-profit, was accused to have embezzled and taken over $50,000 from the business account of the organization. It was alleged that these monies were taken during a period of time that exceeded well over a year. Although the Grand Jury indicted our client before we were retained, we worked out a disposition for our client where the client obtained no jail or probation and simply received a conditional discharge, the condition being that the client "stay of trouble." Our client had faced a sentence of up to 5 to 15 years in state prison.

Our client had been using his deceased mother's credit card since 1993 and owed approximately $27,000 on that card. After recognizing the alleged fraud on my client's part, the credit card company sought out my client in reference to payment and possible criminal action. After negotiating with the company we were able to obtain a written agreement halting the interest fees and reducing the amount owed to a set amount of $18,000. Moreover, the client was permitted to pay off the debt in three years and the credit card company agreed not to pursue any criminal charges with any law enforcement agency.

Our client was charged with assault after he allegedly punched an individual numerous times and broke that person's nose. Although our client had a criminal record relating to assault and robbery, we persuaded the court to release our client without bail. More importantly, we convinced the prosecution that our client acted in self defense. As a result, the case was dismissed on the first date our client returned to court.

Our client was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree for allegedly stealing over $20,000. Despite the fact that the case was a "paper case" and both credit card transactions and internal company records indicated that our client was responsible for the alleged theft, we negotiated a disposition for our client where she pleaded to a misdemeanor and avoided jail completely. If indicted, our client had faced up to seven years in prison.

Our client, an accountant for a not-for-profit, allegedly opened up a line of credit in the name of another board member by signing that board member's signature and providing his personal information. As a result, it was alleged that our client withdrew approximately $25,000 from the line of credit for his personal use. After arguing that our client had permission to open the account, prosecutors went back to the complainant and he acknowledged that he may have given permission to open the line of credit. Fortunately, our investigation revealed an old email from years earlier that reflected this assertion. Ultimately, prosecutors offered our client a Petit Larceny misdemeanor without jail (he had been facing up to seven years). Our client was ordered to pay back the $25,000 in restitution. Most importantly, our client did not have to plea to a felony that would have jeopardized his accounting license and career.

Two clients were charged with Burglary in the Second Degree and where facing mandatory minimum terms in state prison of 3.5 years and up to 15 years. Our clients allegedly went to another person's home, forced themselves in, struck the person and knocked out a window. After getting our clients released without bail, we confronted prosecutors with our exculpatory evidence. Prosecutors first offered an "A" misdemeanor. This was denied and prosecutors threatened a felony hearing. On the date of the hearing, prosecutors reduced the case to an "A" misdemeanor and offered a lower crime. This too was rejected. Ultimately, as a result of our aggressiveness, prosecutors offered our clients a plea to the violation of Disorderly Conduct. Our clients completely avoided a criminal record.

Our client, a business professional, was charge with Aggravated DWI after he blew a .192 on the intoxylizer. After some time, a motion was made to dismiss all charges. After a first court denied our motion and sent the case out to start a trial, we filed the motion a second time. The second judge review our motion and dismissed the case over the prosecution's objection.

In eight separate and unrelated cases, our clients were charged with possessing a loaded firearm at a New York City (Queens County) airport. Due to numerous mitigating factors, all five of our clients not only avoided jail, but criminal records at all. Three clients obtained an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal whereby the case was dismissed in six months and the other five clients received a Disorderly Conduct violation.

Our client, a nursing student and graduate of one of the top colleges in the nation, allegedly made a grave error when he opened up a credit card account after an application was incorrectly sent to him in the name of an unknown person. Upon opening the account, our client was alleged to have obtained a second credit card in our client's own name. Thereafter, it was alleged that our client used that credit card to purchase a Honda Accord worth approximately $25,000. Ultimately, our client was arrested for this alleged conduct. Fortunately, after months of negotiations, all felony charges were reduced and our client pleaded to a non-criminal violation of Disorderly Conduct.

Our client was charged with DWI after "blowing" in excess of the legal limit. Prosecutors offered our client a DWAI violation which was refused. Shortly after the trial commenced and during the cross examination of the arresting officer, it was revealed that evidence was missing and destroyed. Although it was likely that either a mistrial or ultimate acquittal was likely, our client decided to end the matter immediately after prosecutors offered a non-criminal Disorderly Conduct violation that removed the DWI collateral consequences from our client's future.

Prosecutors charged our client, a CEO of a mulit-million dollar international company, with Assault in the Second Degree, after an individual accused our client of attacking her and causing her to sustain, among other things, bleeding on the brain and a fracture to her skull. Along with our client, who was facing a felony and up to seven years in state prison, we thoroughly investigated the case as well as the alleged complainant as to the manner in which the Assault allegedly occurred, the extent of the alleged injuries and the likelihood those injuries were the result of our client's intentional conduct. Our investigation revealed that our client could not have perpetrated the crime in the manner claimed by the prosecution. As a result, the felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and our client received no jail at all.