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
The statistics on securities class-action lawsuits for 2018 are in and, though some numbers will come as no surprise, there are some trends to watch for in 2019. According to the New York Law Journal, the total number of securities-related class-actions decreased slightly in 2018…
Topic: Securities Litigation
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged boxer Floyd Mayweather and music producer DJ Khaled with illegally promoting investments into Initial Coin Offerings, more commonly known as ICOs. This is the first time the SEC has taken regulatory action against people promoting investments in…
Topic: Criminal Defense
Two prominent American media companies and their owners are facing criminal charges brought by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York for allegedly defrauding their banks. IBT Media, also known as Newsweek Media Group, and Christian Media Corp (CMC) took out millions of dollars…
Topic: Criminal Defense, Fraud
Everyone has heard the phrase “white-collar crime.” But when it comes to explaining these types of offenses, people often repeat common misconceptions.
Topic: Criminal Defense, White-Collar Crime
A Nebbia hearing is an important part of the federal criminal justice process. If you have been arrested and charged with a federal crime, you will need to post bail to remain free while your case makes its way through the system. A Nebbia hearing,…
Topic: Criminal Defense
White-collar crime is often viewed as victimless. But that is not exactly true. Financial frauds such as embezzlement, money laundering, securities fraud, insurance fraud and tax evasion can have significant consequences for businesses, their clients and partners and consumers. That is why white-collar crime is…
Topic: 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.
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)….
A man convicted of running a large-scale crack cocaine distribution organization in the late 1980s/early 1990s turned to an appeals and post-convictions attorney at Protass Law PLLC for help in seeking a reduced sentence. Because parole does not exist in the federal criminal justice system,…
