federal crime

October 21, 2020

Chicago Prosecutors Remember the Famous Chicago 7 Trial

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

It was the kind of thing that you would see dramatized on television or in a movie. Only it was not dramatic irony, it was one of the most infamous criminal prosecutions in Chicago history. The defendants included notable left-wing celebrities such as Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Bobby Seale, the co-founder of the Black Panthers Party. He and the other defendants were accused of inciting riots during the Democratic National Convention. As soon as the case began, it started heading off the rails in a hurry.

Threatening Letters to Jurors

Hoffman is notable because he was a famous left-wing activist who was known for the civil rights movement and for writing a book called Steal This Book which was heavily anti-capitalist.

September 18, 2020

Chicago Public Schools Staffer Pleads Guilty to Lying to FBI

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

A former Chicago public school staffer has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI concerning the divulging of information related to a custodial contract to one of the bidders. Pedro Soto is accused of leaking bid information to one of the bidders and then lying about the fact to the FBI.

Soto resigned from his position as one of Janice Jackson’s top aides after it was discovered that he leaked deliberations concerning the $1 billion contract to one of the bidders in exchange for “various benefits.” The prosecution was the cherry on top of an investigation into Alderman Daniel Solis who was recorded trading favors on wiretapped conversations. Soto and Solis are linked together by a political operative known as “Individual B” who helped broker deals between the men. This individual has not been charged with any crime and thus their identity remains a secret.

Soto Reaches a Plea Deal

September 4, 2020

“Operation Legend” Reportedly Cracking Down on Illegal Guns

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

President Trump’s “Operation Legend” has been underway now for about six weeks. In that time, federal agents have charged looters, rioters, and others with 42 felonies (and counting). Surprisingly, however, the feds appear to be targeting felons with illegal weapons.

The feds, of course, are assuring the media that there are several anti-gang operations happening right now. These operations involve confidential informants, aerial surveillance, and dangerous street work. However, looking at the numbers, the majority of those who have been charged during Operation Legend are felons in possession of weapons.

Feds Target Man Parked 12 Inches From Curb

August 28, 2020

Man Will Face Federal Charges for Carjacking

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

24-year-old Darius Young will face charges related to a two-day crime spree during which he held up a UPS driver in broad daylight. Young will face one count of armed robbery, which will be prosecuted under the federal Hobbs Act.

The UPS driver says that he was approached from behind when a man ordered him to the ground. The man held the gun on him while two of his buddies rifled through the truck and removed packages. They sped off together in a “light-colored” vehicle.

During the robbery, however, a witness who was parking his car noticed the UPS driver face-down on the ground while several men were removing packages from the truck. The witness was able to record some of the robbery on his phone and emailed the evidence to Oak Park police.

August 26, 2020

Federal Authorities Arrest Two Men for Pharmacy Burglaries

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

Two men are facing charges for conspiring to burglarize Walgreens during the civil unrest that has been plaguing Chicago since the George Floyd murder. William Lorenz, 40, and Ivan Bermudez, 42, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit burglary of a controlled substance. The two men were arrested by federal agents, meaning that they will be facing federal charges.

Conspiracy Charges

As you may have noticed, the two men are not facing charges for committing burglary, they are facing charges of conspiring to commit burglary. However, the two men were arrested after illegally entering three Walgreens stores that were closed while looting and vandalism were occurring. The complaint accuses the men of entering the stores for the purpose of removing drugs from the shelves.

August 14, 2020

Chicago Butcher Facing Federal Charges Over Gambling

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

Renowned butcher and bookie, Dominic Poeta, will face federal charges over his illegal gambling operation. He is also facing tax evasion charges.

Federal agents believe that Poeta was operating a sportsbook out of his butcher shop. Poeta found himself jammed up in 2007 when federal agents attempted to collect on a judgment from Adam Resnick. Resnick, a degenerate gambler, went to prison over a $10 million check-kiting scheme that also saw the demise of Universal Federal Bank. Resnick likely found himself in the hole and owing Poeta money.

However, federal agents never brought charges against Poeta until last month. Poeta pleaded guilty to a gambling charge and form filing a fraudulent tax return.

July 29, 2020

Feds File RICO Charges Against Black Disciples

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

The feds arrested the alleged leader of the Black Disciples gang, Darnell “Murder” McMiller. The Black Disciples are believed to be involved in gun and drug trafficking and are one of the major players on Chicago’s south side.

These arrests come amid Trump initiatives to send federal officers into major cities, all democratic strongholds. Trump and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who initially opposed the move, came to an agreement. Trump appears to be interested in helping these democratic cities fight violent crime. However, his tactics have garnered nationwide condemnation in Portland, where allegedly plainclothes DHS officers grabbed people off the streets and took them to federal facilities without filing charges.

Most of the Portland mission seemed geared toward protecting the federal courthouse that had been vandalized by protesters over the course of several nights. This, however, appears geared toward reducing some of the violence in the most troubled parts of Chicago.

July 24, 2020

Derek Chauvin Facing Tax Evasion Charges

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

The man whose videotaped murder of a defenseless detainee resulted in several months’ worth of protests is now facing felony tax evasion charges. Chauvin will now face charges of second-degree murder and multiple felony counts of tax evasion.

Chauvin and his wife are accused of hiding income streams on their taxes including more than $95,000 in income from his side job providing security.

Is His Wife Also Guilty?

July 22, 2020

Feds File Criminal Charges Against ComEd

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

While Donald Trump has recently announced that federal authorities will be unleashed in major democratic cities, by now, federal involvement in Chicago has been an ongoing fact of life for major developers and politicians for centuries. Most recently, the feds filed a criminal case against ComEd, and they are also targeting House Speaker Michael Madigan.

The feds have lobbyist Mike McClain speaking to a ComEd executive. He told this executive that he should not put anything in writing and that putting things in writing could “only hurt ya.” The two men then discussed a favor for Mike Madigan that federal authorities believe is part of a larger bribery scheme.

How Did the Bribery Scheme Work?

June 24, 2020

Former FBI Agent Charged With Stealing Classified Documents

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

A top FBI agent who worked right here in Chicago’s organized crime division is being accused of stealing classified information and “hoarding” it. Yen Cham Yung managed to achieve top government clearance, but now he will be brought to Chicago to face charges.

Yung was accused of keeping hundreds of classified documents without consent. These documents did not contain information about spies or UFOs, but they did detail undercover informants, surveillance activity, and memos sent between supervisors concerning gang activity.

Yung also had a memorandum between CIA and FBI agents concerning activities in both the U.S. and abroad. Memoranda like these become necessary when the FBI and CIA are conducting operations against one another without realizing they are working for the same side. This memorandum was accessed by someone using Yung’s credentials.