First conceived in the early 1980s, the “blinding” algorithm developed by cryptographer David Chaum remains the foundation for private, decentralized financial exchanges. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, perhaps the most well-known of coins or tokens, can be used to engage in for virtually any private financial exchange…
Topic: Criminal Defense, White-Collar Crime
If the government is to be believed, the United States healthcare sector is plagued with fraud. And both federal and state authorities are cracking down on it. Simple billing errors by doctors or nurses (even if inadvertent) or misused prescriptions by pharmacists or patients (even…
Topic: Fraud
A guilty verdict (or even a guilty plea) may feel like the end of the line. But an appeal of a conviction and/or sentence always provides hope for a second chance and, perhaps, a different outcome. You have the absolute right in both the state…
The right to a jury trial is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and is the cornerstone of the American criminal justice system. Indeed, the independence of citizen jurors has always been understood as an indispensable structural check on executive, legislative and even judicial power. And…
Topic: Criminal Defense
Billionaire convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein recently committed suicide in the Special Housing Unit (the “SHU”) at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, a federal pre-trial detention facility in Manhattan, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Judge Richard M. Berman had earlier denied Epstein’s request for…
Topic: Criminal Defense
If you work in the securities industry, the responsibilities that you shoulder can be overwhelming. You are under tremendous pressure from your firm and your clients to make the most money possible. But the government’s regulatory agencies are watching your every move, ready to pounce…
Topic: Securities Litigation
The New York State legislature recently passed sweeping reforms to the operation of the state’s criminal justice system. Those reforms, which become effective in January 2020, will profoundly transform how criminal cases are litigated in the state. Among other things, cash bail has been eliminated…
Topic: Criminal Defense
To succeed in business often requires a measure of self-promotion and puffery. No matter how good your products and services are, you won’t sell them unless you know how to get noticed. But if you take it too far, you may find yourself in trouble…
Topic: Criminal Defense, Fraud
Recently, Lawyerist published their list of Top 10 Best Law Firm websites for 2019, and Protass Law PLLC is honored to be selected. Lawyerist complimented the site’s “dark mode” design, fast load time for various pages, and more, and NYC criminal defense attorney Harlan Protass…
Topic: Criminal Defense, Firm News
On December 21, 2018 President Trump signed the First Step Act into law. While there is much left to be done for criminal justice reform in this country, this recent legislative development is a welcome step towards increased fairness in the federal criminal justice system….
Topic: Appeals & Post-Conviction Litigation, Criminal Defense
Detroit Free Press
Written by Harlan Protass
Attorney Harlan Protass co-authored a piece with a federal inmate about the effects of stacking § 924(c) charges.
An executive at a Wall Street bank was alleged to have assaulted his girlfriend by pushing her into a closet – relatively straightforward charges that were complicated because he had been charged with assaulting the same girlfriend less than six months earlier and had violated…
A husband and wife who operated IDTFs (Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities) were recently charged in state and federal court for having operated a large-scale Medicaid fraud, submitting more than $42 million in fraudulent claims for various diagnostic tests (sonograms, neurological tests, and other diagnostic exams)….
