Recent Posts in Theft Offense Category

23-year-old Kainat Syeda allegedly stole money from the city of Anaheim from January 2006 to April 2009, while working as a uniformed cadet in the front lobby traffic bureau window of the Anaheim Police Department.  When people paid cash for the release of their impounded vehicles, Syeda would enter a "No Sale" in the cash register and take the payment instead.  She is accused of committing the act about 1,799 times, resulting in a loss of $225,000 for the city of Anaheim.

Syeda is charged with one felony count of the misappropriation of public funds, four felony counts of falsifying and altering records maintained at a public office and 40 felony counts of Grand Theft.  She also faces sentencing enhancements and allegations for theft exceeding $100,000 and property loss over $200,000.  If convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum sentence of up to 46 years in state prison.

If you or someone you know has been charged with Grand Theft, embezzlement or misappropriation of funds contact Robert M. Bernstein for a free consultation today.

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Robert M. Bernstein was hired to defend a client, David Brown, who had been charged with seven counts of armed robbery. Brown was accused of robbing medical marijuana dispensaries throughout Los Angeles several times. If he had been found guilty of the charges, he would have faced up to 20 years in state prison, in addition to a number of other penalties, such as probation, drug counseling, large fines, license suspension and more.

Mr. Bernstein argued that Brown has been misidentified, and that he was not involved in the robberies. He was able to effectively argue this point even though there were several witnesses and a video tape of the alleged robbery. Knowing that incorrect eyewitness identification is one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in the U.S., Mr. Bernstein made sure to argue this point.

After a two-week jury trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Mr. Brown was acquitted on all charges. He was found not guilty of all seven counts of armed robbery.

If you have been arrested or charged with armed robbery or another theft crime in the L.A. area, consider contacting Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Robert M. Bernstein. Mr. Bernstein has extensive criminal defense experience, and is prepared to work diligently on your behalf to help you overcome your charges!

Kanye West has been charged with three criminal misdemeanor offenses. The musician faces charges of vandalism, battery and grand theft stemming from a run-in with a cameraman in the Los Angeles Airport last September. West's manager Don Crowley has also been charged with two counts each of vandalism, battery and grand theft. Back in September, West reportedly broke a camera light on the equipment belonging to paparazzi while they were shooting footage of him in a public area of the airport. Crowley is accused of breaking both the video camera and a still camera also on scene. If found convicted and sentenced to the maximum, Kanye West faces up to two and a half years in jail while Crowley faces up to five. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned on April 14th in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Rap Star T.I. sentenced to prison in Federal Criminal Case

Rap star T.I. was sentenced in Federal Court in Atlanta, GA to serve one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay a $100,300 fine on weapons charges related to his purchase of machine guns and silencers. The rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, reached the terms of the sentence in a plea agreement with prosecutors last year. T.I. / Harris also was sentenced to some property forfeiture, supervised release for three years after his prison sentence, 365 days of home confinement and 1,500 hours of community service. He has already served 305 days of home confinement and 1,030 hours of service. In addition to his prison sentence, the rapper must also undergo DNA testing and drug counseling, he cannot own firearms and must submit to law enforcement searches without a warrant. The Rapper's sentence was a result of a plea bargain, if he not reached a plea deal he could have been facing up to a maximum of 10 years in Federal Prison.

T.I. / Harris was arrested in October 2007 in an Atlanta parking lot hours before he was to perform at the BET Award show. Harris was caught in a federal sting after his bodyguard-turned-informant delivered three machine guns and two silencers to him, prosecutors said. The rapper had provided the bodyguard with $12,000 to buy the weapons. Harris was already not allowed to posses and firearms as a result of his previous 1998 on felony drug conviction -- possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.