UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REMAIN CONCERNING FISA ABUSES

[Photo from wikipedia]

Many questions remain concerning the alleged abuses of the FISA court process by top DOJ lawyers and FBI agents during the 2016 presidential campaign and thereafter.

For example, will Attorney General Jeff Sessions appoint a special prosecutor to investigate this abuse of power? In an interview yesterday with Fox journalist Shannon Bream, Sessions again indicated that the FISA abuses would be investigated and that he has also appointed an experienced DOJ attorney from outside Washington to look into it.

How does the FISA Court feel about reportedly being abused in this manner?

But I also wonder how much information was obtained by federal agents?  How far did this corruption extend, after they allegedly abused the FISA court to spy on the opposition candidate during an election year, while using opposition research paid for by the Clinton campaign and the DNC? In other words, has anyone investigated how many tape recordings were made and with whom, or how many emails were tracked, and on whose private conversations did agents eavesdrop?

Many questions remain and yet there are so few answers! Here's hoping that somebody, perhaps the Inspector General or maybe Mr. Session's unnamed attorney friend, will shake some trees and get some answers!

The Goolsby Law Firm Brag Board

[Photo of the Goolsby Law Firm, 233 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA]

Recently, I included a post in which I bragged about my second son Blake's passing the Georgia bar exam and joining our Augusta, Georgia family law firm. Today, I hope you don't mind that, as a proud father, I once again want to brag a little bit--this time about my third son, Zachary. Zach is home for Christmas break and has now passed the midway point of law school! 

In other words, Zach has three semesters down and only three more semesters to go until graduation! Then, I believe we will be the only law firm in the history of the State of Georgia composed of a parent and three children--practicing law together--who are attorneys!

As Augusta, GA lawyers, we primarily handle divorces, child custody cases, adoptions, personal injury cases, and criminal cases, in both state and federal court. I believe I am the only former twenty year federal prosecutor in the Augusta and Evans, Georgia area. I have handled some of the largest, most complex fraud and public corruption cases in Georgia and U.S. history.

My first two lawyer sons, Richard (Ric) Goolsby, Jr. and Blake Goolsby, with whom I presently practice law in Augusta, both graduated from Mercer Law School. My third son, Zach Goolsby, presently attends the University of Georgia School of Law, which is where I also graduated. He and I will be the two "Double Dawgs" in our family law firm!

So, thank you for understanding and allowing me--a proud father--to brag once again! 

Congrats, Zach! We are very proud of you and look forward to your joining us at The Goolsby Law Firm! 

Identity Fraud: Georgia's Fastest Growing Crime

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other news reports, reported cases of identity fraud and theft are sky-rocketing in the State of Georgia, and elsewhere.  For instance, according to reports, the number of reported identity fraud cases doubled in Fulton and Cobb Counties during the past year alone.

As a former federal prosecutor, (currently, I am an Augusta, GA criminal defense lawyer with my sons), I tried to make identity fraud a prosecutorial priority. Also, although I was unable to get my bosses to follow though, as a former AUSA, I had also advocated the establishment of an identity theft  task force.  Fortunately, in federal court, penalties are serious enough to "get the attention" of identity thieves. However, on the state level, identity thieves often receive probationary sentences, at least for their first offenses.

Another problem with combating identity theft and fraud also exists in the State of Georgia. It involves law enforcement budget problems. I'll bet you didn't know that, just a couple of years ago, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, (GBI), was forced to eliminate its identity fraud unit, following state budgetary cutbacks.

As a result, sadly, just when the identity fraud rate is escalating across this state, Georgia law enforcement has been rendered less capable of dealing with it.  What do you think should be done?

DOJ Strikes Out at Second Roger Clemens Trial

[Photo of Roger Clemens from wikipedia]

It appears that, following the not guilty verdict in the John Edwards trial, the Department of Justice has struck out yet again in another high profile criminal trial. This time, it is the Roger Clemens trial. 

Today, various news reports indicate that Clemens, the former professional baseball pitcher, has been found not guilty on all counts by a federal jury in Washington.  As you will recall, Clemens was charged with allegedly lying to Congress in 2008 about his alleged lack of steroid use while a pitcher. You may also recall that an earlier trial of Clemens, last year, ended in a mistrial, after government prosecutors offered inadmissible testimony.

Now, following two trials, and following the expenditure of millions in taxpayers' dollars, another high profile defendant has been acquitted.  As a former federal prosecutor, and, currently, as an Augusta, Georgia criminal defense lawyer, I don't know exactly where the government went wrong, but it surely is a shame to see such a waste of scarce tax dollars on criminal cases which probably should never have been brought in the first place! Don't you agree?

Ponzi Scheme Nets 110 Year Sentence for Allen Stanford

[Allen Stanford Mug Shot from wikipedia]

Did you hear the news about the sentencing yesterday of Defendant R. Allen Stanford in a Houston federal court?  He was sentenced to serve a whopping 110 years in federal prison!  

In March, a jury reportedly convicted Stanford on thirteen counts of mail and wire fraud for his role in a massive $7 billion ponzi scheme.  According to government prosecutors, Stanford treated investors "like road kill" in an international investment fraud scheme, whose scope was apparently exceeded only by the ponzi scam of investment fraud "king," Bernie Madoff. According to news reports, Stanford's criminal defense lawyers plan an appeal.

Stanford's 110 year sentence was surpassed by Madoff's 150 year sentence.  But is there really a difference?  

As a former federal prosecutor, (and currently as an Augusta, Georgia criminal defense attorney), I am reminded of a story once told by a judge about another sentencing.  The judge had sentenced a bank robber to serve 77 years in prison.  The defendant told the judge, "But I can't make 77 years!"  The judge replied, "Well, just make it the best you can!"

Well, I guess Mr. Stanford, like Mr. Madoff, will just have to make it the best he can, too.  What do you think?

A PROFILE OF RICHARD H. GOOLSBY, SR.

The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC. is a father and son general law practice, conveniently located at 4416 Columbia Road, Ste. 100, in Martinez, Georgia, just outside Augusta, Georgia.

Richard H. Goolsby, Sr., son and grandson of Southern Baptist preachers, has been an attorney and member of the Georgia State Bar for over 30 years. He is a 1978 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. He is also an experienced former prosecutor, including 6 years as a state prosecutor and over 20 years as a federal prosecutor in Augusta, Georgia.

Before going into private practice in 2007, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Richard Goolsby, Sr. was the lead prosecutor in some of the largest, most complex federal criminal cases ever prosecuted in the history of the State of Georgia. These cases include the successful recent public corruption prosecution of State Senator Charles Walker, along with his prosecution of the Healthmaster Medicare fraud case, the largest home health care prosecution in U. S. history. In each of these complex white collar crime cases, Goolsby handled over a million pages of documentary exhibits. In addition, Goolsby successfully prosecuted the largest vote-buying case in U.S. history, (Dodge County, Georgia: 28 defendants tried and convicted). While an Assistant U.S. Attorney for over 20 years, Richard Goolsby, Sr. also won 3 prestigious Department of Justice awards for his significant federal prosecutions, along with the 2007 Common Cause of Georgia Democracy Award. In sum, Richard Goolsby, Sr. is one of the most experienced former federal prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers throughout the State of Georgia who now handles criminal law defense in both state and federal courts in a wide range of criminal cases, from complex fraud cases, tax evasion cases, and other white collar crimes to drug and firearms cases.

Along with his son, Richard Goolsby, Jr., (a 2006 graduate of Mercer Law School and a "rising star of the Augusta bar"), Richard Goolsby, Sr. and The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC also handle all types of family law matters, including Georgia divorce, adoption, child custody, and child support cases, along with personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases, and other general litigation. The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC., which offers FREE INITIAL CONSULTATIONS, (706) 863-5281, includes two Augusta, Georgia lawyers, father and son, who focus on providing experienced, personal service for all their clients’ legal needs. If you need an attorney in the Augusta, Georgia area, or anywhere in Georgia, then please call our law firm now, at (706) 863-5281, for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION, directly with an attorney, and let our family of Augusta lawyers help you and your family!