Merry Christmas From The Goolsby Law Firm!

From our family of lawyers, at the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, in Augusta, Georgia, USA, we simply want to wish each of you and your families around the world: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fraud Against the Elderly: The Tire Repair Scam

As you know, I am a former federal prosecutor for over 20 years.  Presently, I am a criminal defense lawyer in Augusta, Georgia where I practice law with my son.  I have focused on handling white collar crime cases for much of my career as a Georgia attorney.

As we have often discussed in this blog, the elderly are frequently targeted by white collar criminals.  The number and types of scams appear to be endless!  I recently read about yet another fraudulent scheme focused on senior citizens which allegedly occurred in a nearby town.  Here is how it works:

The perpetrator drives around and looks for a potential target:  a senior citizen who is driving an automobile alone.  Then, the bad guy somehow gets the senior citizen's attention and gets them to pull over.  The bad guy then informs the elderly target that he has noticed something is wrong with the elderly target's tire.  Naturally, there really is nothing wrong with the tire.  The bad guy also offers to repair the tire for them.  Of course, the bad guy then demands an exhorbitant payment for supposedly fixing the tire.

In the case I recently read about, the bad guy was arrested and awaits trial.  Of course, no one disputes the fact that he is entitled to a fair trial.  But if a person is convicted of such a crime, then he should be thrown under the jailhouse!  Don't you agree?

A White (Collar Crime) Christmas

[Depiction of Dr. Seus book from swotti.com]

If you want to get depressed, then try googling the words "Christmas theft" and see how many examples of Christmas greed you will find!  Everywhere, some people are stealing other peoples' gifts from their cars, decorations from their yards, and even money from their charity's donation kettles!  Sometimes, it seems that our dreams of a white Christmas have become overshadowed by nightmares involving white collar crime!

Maybe I am more alert to this problem, because I am an Augusta, Georgia criminal lawyer and former federal prosecutor.  But you already knew about this problem, too, didn't you?  I'll bet that you have read about or experienced this seasonal problem -- of theft and greed at Christmas -- in your own home town.

So, please be careful!  Lock away your shopping purchases in your car trunks.  And be more alert to those around you at the mall.  Look, Christmas is still a wonderful time of year.  Most folks still believe in peace and good will.  But be careful and don't let a grinch take away your Christmas from you!

Congress and Insider Trading -- Should We Just "Throw Them All Out?"

[Photo of U.S. Capital from fws.gov]

In the book, Throw Them All Out, author Peter Schweizer recently exposed, among other things, the problem involving various members of Congress using insider information to profit in the stock market.  C.B.S. News also did a follow-up story on 60 Minutes in which they exposed that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allegedly profited from such insider information available only to members of Congress.

It is no wonder that Congress is rated below lawyers and used car dealers in the public eye! This practice is outrageous and should be illegal!  Part of the problem is that Congress had exempted itself, (its own members), from application of insider trading laws!  Now, Senator Lieberman and others are reportedly leading the way in Congress to change the insider trading law and make it applicable to members of Congress, too!

This legislation is long overdue.  But is it enough?  Do you believe the new legislation will solve the problem?  Maybe, Schweizer had it right!  Maybe, instead, we should just "throw them all out" and start over!  What do you think?

Election Fraud in Russia

[Photo from wikipedia]

As a former federal prosecutor, I prosecuted a number of election fraud cases, here in Georgia.  Election fraud and vote-buying appear to be a world-wide problem, to one degree or another.  Various news reports indicate that many Russians won't even vote in next week's parliamentary elections simply because they believe the election results will be manipulated.  Nearly fifty percent of those surveyed predicted there will be election fraud.  Vladimir Putin's party is expected to retain a majority in the Russian Parliament next week, but other parties appear to be positioned to post some gains. 

Of course, if Putin's party officials and bureaucrats are counting the votes, then one might wonder why only fifty percent of Russians believe the election results will be rigged! 

A Goolsby "War Story:" Some Vain White Collar Criminals I Have Prosecuted!

[Carly Simon and Song Depiction from wikipedia]

Surely, we all love the classic Carly Simon hit, "You're So Vain."  Over the years, as a former federal prosecutor for over 20 years, (and currently, as an Augusta, Georgia criminal defense lawyer), I have witnessed some vain criminal defendants!  Here are a few quick examples:

1.  I once prosecuted a nursing home bookkeeper who stole the patients' money so that she could feed her clothes-buying addiction.  She bought so many clothes that her husband had to build an extra room to hold them!

2.  I also once prosecuted a bank employee for embezzlement who was so vain that, when her daughter gave birth to a baby, the new grandmother allegedly broke off all ties with her daughter, (and new grandchild), so that her friends would not know that she was, in fact, old enough to have grandchildren!

Now, that's what I call vanity!  I'll bet you have met a few vain folks in the past, too!  

The Shameless Theft At Lincoln's Tomb

[Photo of Lincoln's Tomb from wikipedia]

Sometimes, it seems that nothing is sacred, or off limits, any more.  And sometimes, it seems that some white collar criminals have absolutely no consciences or sense of shame.  I am referring to the reported theft of a three-foot-long copper sword from atop President Lincoln's tomb in Springfield, Illinois.  Authorities have indicated that they have no clue who did it or when it occurred. 

We have previously discussed here the problem of the growing copper theft epidemic.  But this crime goes beyond that problem.  This crime offends the honor of a deceased president and strikes at the heart of all we hold dear and sacred in our society.

Sadly, due to budget cuts, security had been removed from the site over a decade ago.  And sadly, in my opinion, this is just another sign that some criminals have no sense of shame and that it sometimes appears we are all going to Hell in a handbasket. 

What do you think?