Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

November 29, 2019

Federal Probe Takes Aim at Opioid Manufacturers

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Criminal indictments of major executives at pharmaceutical companies have made headlines across the county as local governments point fingers over the opioid crisis. Now, the federal government is getting involved, as well. At least six companies are the target of a federal probe into whether or not these companies violated the law.

Activists have been calling for the sanction of opioid distributors for their role in the opioid crisis. Among the major accusations such companies are facing is the question of whether or not they lied to doctors concerning the addictive properties of their medications. There is some indication that they may have sold their drugs as “less addictive” than older opioid-based medications.

Additionally, opioid companies are accused of oversupplying certain rural communities with enough pills to kill everyone in the county. These pills often made their way into pill mills and were sold on the streets to willing buyers.

November 27, 2019

Prosecutors Say Suspect Killed Student After Ignoring His Catcalls

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Parolee Donald Thurman is accused of raping and then murdering a University of Illinois honor student. Prosecutors say that he followed the woman to her car as she was coming out of class. They also say that she ignored several attempts to initiate conversation and that drew the ire of Thurman who put her in a chokehold until she passed out and then raped her in her own car. Prosecutors used surveillance footage of a nearby parking garage to show that Thurman followed the woman to her car. They traced a palm print from the woman’s car to Thurman and searched his home finding a distinctive white jacket that he wore in the video.

Thurman’s Confession

Thurman confessed to sexually assaulting the woman and physically attacking her, but he denied technically raping her. The woman was found in her car and pronounced dead at the scene. She died from strangulation.

November 22, 2019

Acquitted Chicago Cop Has Expungement Request Denied

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

LeRoy Martin, Jr., the Cook County judge presiding over the Dante Servin expungement denied an expungement request after he was acquitted of a fatal shooting during an off-duty altercation with a female bystander.

Judges can consider the strength of the prosecution’s case when deciding whether an expungement is warranted. While there will not be a conviction on his record, the charges will still be available through public records.

Servin faced a bench trial before Judge Dennis Porter. Police officers often request bench trials in these types of situations to avoid juries who may not be sympathetic to their cause. This is especially true in Chicago where police have earned themselves a less-than-stellar reputation as guardians of the community.

November 20, 2019

City Colleges Ex-Chancellor Indicted on Fraud Charges

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

The Chicago City Colleges ex-vice-chancellor has been charged alongside seven others for multiple counts of wire fraud. According to federal authorities, Sharod Gordon awarded contracts to a number of companies that had ties to Gordon’s relatives and other associates. In some cases, police say, no work was ever performed. Gordon’s ex-wife and other associates were charged in the $350,000 scheme to defraud the government. Gordon is accused of awarding the contracts in exchange for kickbacks—a clear violation of basic ethics and corruption statutes.

The current chancellor, Juan Salgado, said that new safeguards were to be put in place to avoid future problems. Salgado said the district will hire a procurement director to vet all contracts prior to them being offered. This includes requiring potential vendors to provide an economic disclosure statement and be in business for at least two years.

What was Gordon’s Role?

November 15, 2019

Testimony of Witness in Walmart Shooting Becomes Centerpiece of Confusion

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

In 2018, Alex Cordell Hughs was charged with shooting a victim in a Hobart Walmart. The incident began when Hughs and his girlfriend, Shaqueta Wright, were trying to put their cart back. The victim’s car veered into them prompting some kind of skirmish during which the victim was shot three times, allegedly by Hughs.

After being charged, Wright pled the Fifth and was given “use immunity” by prosecutors. Afterward, Wright provided the police with some information during a deposition which prosecutors requested be read into the record. Use immunity prevents a defendant’s testimony from being entered against them in a trial.

Wright’s attorney is also representing Hughs in the case against a false reporting charge. Naturally, Hugh’s defense attorney (who is also representing Wright) objected to the request on the grounds that the prosecution must give her use immunity while she is on the stand as well, the testimony might be able to open her up to other charges.

November 13, 2019

Another Murder Conviction Overturned Based on Dirty Detective Work

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A 1991 case involving Reynaldo Guevera has been overturned amid allegations of misconduct. Indeed, there are attorneys right now who only handle cases related to disgraced Chicago detectives and their shoddy and criminal police work.

Most recently, Demetrius Johnson will be allowed to move forward with a new trial after an appellate judge granted his request. Yet this time, Cook County prosecutors will move forward with retrying the case as opposed to dropping the charges against Johnson.

The defendant’s criminal defense attorney express confusion over the decision to press forward with the trial. Not only is it a major cost to the taxpayers, but it also depletes the resources of the prosecutor’s office. Any evidence that was presented by Guevera will be considered tainted. This will require the prosecution to present evidence at trial that is either not linked to Guevera or is linked to Guevera, but the defense will have the opportunity to attack the credibility of that evidence.

November 8, 2019

Pastor Comes Forward and Admits to Sexual Abuse

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Baptist Pastor, Charles W. Lyons, confessed to a crime he committed against a female relative when he was a teenager. Ostensibly haunted by the act, Lyons told other pastors that he would prefer that they hear it from him instead of some other way. He has since resigned from his position with the church.

The Chicago baptist church conducted an investigation of Lyons after he came forward with his confession. They investigated whether or not Lyons had taken any sexual improprieties with members of his congregation. He had not.

Now, it is unclear whether or not Lyons will face charges for sexual assault of a minor. For reasons of privacy, the victim has not been named nor is it apparent how old Lyons and his victim were when the sexual assault occurred.

November 6, 2019

Restaurateur Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Attila Gyulai, the owner of a fine dining establishment in the West Loop, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Gyulai had returned to Chicago to face four counts of fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 25th of 2020. He and his wife owned and operated Embreya restaurant, a high-end Asian establishment. The restaurant opened in 2012 and received excellent reviews, but shut down only four years later.

Examining the Plea Agreement

Gyulai’s plea agreement is interesting. Essentially, Gyulai admitted guilt to one allegation of wire fraud but also stated that he did not agree with all the details of the other allegations. The plea agreement essentially states that between 2014 and 2016, Gyulai defrauded minor shareholders in his restaurant and lied about how money generated by the restaurant was used. As part of the scheme, there was a nearly $15,000 money transfer out of the restaurant’s coffers.

November 1, 2019

Rep. Luis Arroyo Latest Politician to Fall Victim to a Federal Sting

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Federal agents are accusing Illinois state representative, Luis Arroyo, of paying a $2,500/month in kickbacks to a state senator for his vote to support legislation involving video gambling sweepstakes that would benefit one of his lobbying clients. I know what you are thinking: That is illegal? Does that not happen every day in politics? Is that not how American politics works?

Yes and no. Suffice it to say, there is a correct way of going about it, but directly paying bribes to state senators is not it.

Senator Not Named in Complaint

October 30, 2019

Chicago Cop Accused of Fatal Shooting

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Lowell Houser calmly called the police, identified himself as an off-duty Chicago police officer, and told the dispatcher that he had to shoot the man who just came after him. The man was Jose Nieves, a neighbor who was not found with a weapon, and the two were known to have issues with one another in the past. When prosecutors caught wind of that, they charged Houser with first-degree murder.

Now, another disgraced Chicago police officer will stand trial for abusing the public trust and tarnishing the badge. If convicted, Houser could face life in prison without parole.

Houser will claim that he was acting in self-defense and that the shooting was justified. He claims that Nieves threatened to shoot him and reached for his waistband.