Queens

The Queens criminal lawyers at Saland Law have the knowledge, experience, and resources to protect your rights and interests if you are facing prosecution in state or federal court. We have compiled decades of service as prosecutors and thus are familiar with the strategies that the other side may use against you. The stakes in these cases are high, while understanding their nuances is not always straightforward. We can negotiate with the prosecution on your behalf or fight for you at trial if needed. You should contact us as soon as you have been arrested or even before then if possible, since we can often prevent charges from being filed by intervening in the investigation process. Our firm also represents people who need assistance with immigration or family law matters.

The violent crime rate in Queens is about 3.3 per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the overall rate of 3.76 per 1,000 residents in New York State. The property crime rate is about 10.2 per 1,000 residents, which is also much lower than the state rate of 15.5 per 1,000 residents. Recent studies suggest that Queens is safer than 53% of U.S. cities. However, since the borough is so densely populated, the number of crimes per square mile is 330, which dwarfs the statewide ratio of 40 crimes per square mile.

At Saland Law, one of our lawyers is a former Assistant United States Attorney who understands what it takes to represent a defendant in federal court. We assist our clients in securing bail as well as attacking the underlying charges. Federal crimes often involve offenses related to firearms, immigration, fraud, and other crimes that involve interstate activities. They also include crimes committed on the property of the federal government. You should be aware that some offenses charged in federal court may result in mandatory minimum sentences. These are sentences that a judge does not have the authority to reduce based on extenuating circumstances in a defendant’s favor. We will take action immediately if you are facing an investigation by a federal agency, seeking to prevent charges from being brought and developing your defenses from the very beginning of the case.

You may think of sophisticated white collar crimes like embezzlement when you think of theft offenses, but these crimes extend across a broad spectrum. People who shoplift from stores may face charges of petit larceny, for example. However, we can investigate the circumstances of the alleged theft and help you identify any available defenses. In some cases, a defendant took property because they believed that they owned it. If they did not have the intent to steal the property, the prosecution likely cannot sustain the charge.

Our criminal lawyers can assist Queens residents with defending against complex charges based on financial crimes, which are often known as white collar crimes. At Saland Law, we can represent defendants who are facing these types of charges in both state and federal courts. White collar crimes may involve embezzlement, identity theft, insider trading, and crimes involving the Internet. In some cases, it can be challenging for the prosecution to prove that a specific individual was responsible for committing a crime that involved an entire organization. We can try to raise a reasonable doubt about who was actually accountable, among other strategies.

We understand the stress that you may feel if you are facing threats, harassment, extortion, or blackmail. While the situation is unnerving, you should know that you have legal options. Working with former detectives, we can carefully investigate the situation and compile records to show the police or prosecutors that you have a strong case. In some situations, we may even be able to resolve the matter without getting law enforcement involved, such as by sending a strong cease and desist letter. You certainly can bring the matter directly to the attention of law enforcement or pursue an order of protection in family court, but these proceedings are public, and you will have less control over your case. If you want to handle the matter discreetly, retaining your own attorney can make a huge difference.

One of the most common types of white collar crimes is fraud, which can occur in person, over the phone, in the mail, or online. We can look into the circumstances surrounding the charge to determine the applicable defenses. Fraud is based on the concept of a deception on which a victim relies, causing the perpetrator to receive a benefit. There are several elements in these types of offenses, so there may be multiple ways to convince a judge or jury that your conduct was not criminal.

New York does not permit drivers to get behind the wheel if they have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08. This likely will result in a DWI arrest and charge. Moreover, you may face the lesser charge of DWAI if your BAC is lower than 0.08 but at least 0.05. This is charged as a traffic infraction and carries less serious consequences. In some cases, a defendant who is initially charged with DWI may be able to persuade the prosecution to reduce the charge to DWAI, as long as their BAC was not very high. Or they may be able to get the charge dropped or dismissed altogether if they can attack the basis for the arrest or the procedures that law enforcement followed afterward.

Many of the most commonly charged felonies and misdemeanors in New York involve controlled substances. The penalties for manufacturing or trafficking in drugs tend to be greater than the penalties for possession, but any drug crime needs to be taken seriously. Defenses in this area of criminal law often involve procedural as well as substantive arguments. Your Queens criminal attorney may be able to show that the police failed to obtain a warrant when it was required. This would mean that any evidence secured without the required warrant should be suppressed upon a motion to the court. The prosecution might not be able to meet its burden of proof without this evidence.

New York does not allow someone convicted of a crime to have their record expunged, but they can have it sealed from public view. Our Queens criminal lawyers can help you get your record sealed so that you can pursue the education or job of your choice without dealing with a stigma. People who were caught with marijuana or committed non-criminal violations or juvenile offenses, for example, may be able to go through the record sealing process. This involves filing a petition and potentially confronting opposition to it.

Asset forfeiture is a process that often follows a crime that involved the defendant receiving property. Law enforcement has the power to confiscate their ill-gotten gains and equipment or materials that the defendant used to perpetrate the crime. However, there are certain types of property that cannot be confiscated, depending in part on the type of crime. We can help you protect your property against overzealous asset forfeiture.

In addition to serving as criminal attorneys in the Queens area, we can represent college students in disciplinary hearings under Title IX. The standard of proof in these hearings is different from the standard that the prosecution needs to meet in criminal proceedings, so a college student may face a suspension or expulsion even if they would not be convicted of any crime. Since your education has a huge impact on your future, it is critical to put your best foot forward at a Title IX hearing. We can help make sure that your side of the story is heard.

People who have been affected by revenge porn or related behaviors, such as sextortion or online harassment, have rights to assert. Our firm can guide you through the process of having the inappropriate material taken down from the Internet. You may be concerned that people could find it when searching your name or related terms, but we can address this issue as well. In some cases, we may be able to help you pursue an Order of Protection against the perpetrator or ask a prosecutor to bring charges. Civil remedies may be available too.

Foreign nationals have several different ways to come to the U.S., but most of them involve meeting complicated requirements and filing substantial paperwork. To avoid any missteps in this process, you should consult an immigration lawyer at Saland Law. We can help you pursue a family visa or an employment visa, and we also are familiar with the processes of getting a green card (legal permanent resident status) and pursuing citizenship. When we represent foreign nationals in criminal proceedings, we take the immigration consequences of any conviction or plea deal into account in advising and advocating for them.

No matter the type of crime with which you have been charged, Saland Law is ready to advocate for you to the fullest extent of the law. We also can assist people who need guidance in obtaining or preserving their immigration status or navigating the aftermath of a divorce. Contact us online or at 212-312-7129 to learn more about how we can help you.