Saturday, November 2

Tag: prosecutors

Boosting A Nationwide Trend In 2020 Elections Progressive Prosecutors Scored Big Wins
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Journalism

Boosting A Nationwide Trend In 2020 Elections Progressive Prosecutors Scored Big Wins

Despite the broad political polarization in the United States, the 2020 election confirmed a clear movement across both red and blue America: the gains made by reform-minded prosecutors. Running on progressive platforms that include ending mass incarceration and addressing police misconduct, candidates defeated traditional “law-and-order” prosecutors across the country. Elected prosecutors – often called state’s attorneys or district attorneys – represent the people of a particular county in their criminal cases. Their offices work with law enforcement to investigate and try cases, determine which crimes should be prioritized and decide how punitive to be. After decades of incumbent prosecutors winning reelection based on their high conviction rates or the long sentences they achieved, ...
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State prosecutors and voters – not the feds – can hold corrupt officials accountable
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LAW ENFORCEMENT

State prosecutors and voters – not the feds – can hold corrupt officials accountable

Two high-ranking officials with ties to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie hatched a plot in 2013 to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, a town adjacent to the George Washington Bridge – the busiest bridge in the world. The reason for targeting the mayor: his refusal to endorse Christie for reelection. To inflict pain on the mayor, the aides ordered lane closures on the bridge under the guise of a sham “traffic study,” causing massive backups – with school buses idling in traffic for hours and emergency vehicles and ambulances blocked. A public uproar ensued. The press swarmed, the plot unraveled and the state legislature began an investigation, as did the U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Two aides were charged and convicted under a federal wire-fraud statute for misusing fede...
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Prosecutors are increasingly – and misleadingly – using rap lyrics as evidence in court
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IN OTHER NEWS, Journalism

Prosecutors are increasingly – and misleadingly – using rap lyrics as evidence in court

Rapper Darrell Caldwell, better known to fans as Drakeo the Ruler, was on his way to stardom. Hailed as one of the most original rappers to emerge from Los Angeles in a generation, he had garnered hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, tens of millions of views on YouTube and the attention of media outlets like SPIN, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Now he’s on trial for his life, and prosecutors are planning to do what they’ve done to hundreds of other accused hip-hop artists: Use his own lyrics as evidence against him. Because my research centers on African American literary and musical traditions – with a particular emphasis on hip-hop culture – I was asked by the defense to testify as an expert witness in Drakeo’s first trial. This is work I’m called to do qu...
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Prosecutors Seek 10-Year Jail Term Over Money Laundering in Bitcoins and Link to Silk Road
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LAW ENFORCEMENT

Prosecutors Seek 10-Year Jail Term Over Money Laundering in Bitcoins and Link to Silk Road

A Former CEO has run into deep trouble with the Japanese legal system. Tokyo based prosecutors are seeking to have the former CEO sentenced to over ten years in prison for the embezzlement of company’s funds, money laundering in bitcoins, and his link to the infamous dark web marketplace called the Silk Road. Mark Karpeles, the former CEO at Mt. Gox, is facing charges for abuse of power, embezzlement of the company’s funds and money laundering in virtual currencies during his term in office. According to the report by a local Tokyo-based news outlet, Mark Karpeless embezzled over $3 million (340 million yen) in digital currencies – money that belonged to the company. He is said to have transferred the loot into his several e-wallet personal accounts to minimize the chance of being trac...
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