Recent Blog Posts

The Most Common Crime in New York

Musa-Obregon & Associates — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:50:00 GMT

New York is a tough city full of people, so there are many crimes that take place in the Big Apple. Interestingly enough, reports show that violent crime in New York has actually dropped in recent years due to the fact that there are more NYPD officials patrolling the streets and enforcing harsh penalties on violent crime offenders in the area. In the year 2012, there were 414 reported homicides in the state, which is the lowest number since 1963.

In 2005, New York City was declared the lowest crime late in the Top 10 Largest Cities in the United States and dangerous neighborhoods have now been declared very safe. IN 2007, the city installed cameras and roadblocks to detect, teach, and deter criminals and particularly terrorist in the United States.

On the other hand, one of the most common crimes in New York at present is drug possession. More and more attorneys are seeing clients come in with misdemeanor and felony drug charges. According to the Atlantic Wire, in 2010 there was a trend for weed possession. That year, there were 50,377 arrests for those in criminal possession of marijuana to the 5^th degree within the city. This was a spike from the 46,492 arrests in 2009 for the same crime. The Associated Press reported that one out of every seven arrests in New York City in 2010 was for weed possession.

If you are charged with weed possession in New York, then you can expect to receive a noteworthy sentence. While marijuana is not technically a controlled substance in the state, there are still certain penalties for possession and sale of marijuana. Oftentimes an arrest for the sale of marijuana will be a lot more serious than possession for the sale of the item.

Typically, possession of less than eight ounces of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor. At the most, an offender can merit one year in jail. Possession of over eight ounces of marijuana can be considered a felony and over 10 pounds of the substance can result to up to 15 years in jail. Selling marijuana can also come with significant penalties.

Selling less than two grams of the substance will result in three months of incarceration, while more than one pound the drug can come with a 15 year prison sentence. As well, selling marijuana to a minor in New York can come with seven years. Trafficking any amount of marijuana is also considered a felony and can lead to 15 to 25 years in prison. It is very important to remember the charges associated with marijuana, and to hire an experienced and reliable New York criminal defense attorney if you are caught committing this crime and need assistance at your trial.

NYPD's New Initiative to Reduce Juvenile Crime

Michael Musa-Obregon — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:45:00 GMT

In January 2007, the New York Police Department (NYPD) started a new initiative to combat juvenile crime in New York, known as Juvenile Robbery Prevention Program (JRIP). The program which was originally launched in Brownsville, Brooklyn was, because of its evident success, expanded to the Rockways in 2008 and to East Harlem in 2009.

The main objective of the JRIP program is to dissuade potential juvenile offenders using early intervention and monitoring of social media.

The JRIP programme is based on identifying and monitoring teenagers who have previously been arrested for robbery and who are potentially at higher risk of getting involved in criminal activities in order to prevent them from engaging in criminal activities in the future.

Police identify the names of the teenagers with previous criminal record, their place of living, friends and any gang connections and then keep monitoring them using surveillance techniques and monitoring their social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter, which often enables police to spot any imminent criminal activity before it takes place.

Some aspects of the JRIP program involve the NYPD officers visiting troubled teenagers at home and school, providing them with educational and employment opportunities and offering social services to the troubled teenagers and their family members.

Although the JRIP program has sparked some fierce discussions about acceptable crime prevention methods and violation of civil rights, it seems to have brought positive results since its launch in 2007. According to the NYPD's records, in 2007, the teenagers invited into the program were arrested for a total of 180 robberies prior to entering the JRIP program, and in 2008, out of the same group of teenagers, the NYPD recorded only 29 arrests for robberies.

According to the NYPD, the JRIP programme is about giving the juvenile offenders a choice between continuing in their criminal activities and consequently dealing with fast and severe punishment or, alternatively, they can choose to break the cycle and change their life by staying away from a criminal lifestyle.

However, not everyone agrees with the NYPD’s new approach to combatting juvenile crime. Some argue that the JRIP program intervenes too much with the basic civil rights, in particular with the right to privacy of the individuals involved in the program. Others argue that the NYPD ceased to fund other youth organisations and programs which were helping to reduce violence and crime and replaced them with the NYPD’s new initiative, the JRIP programme.

However, despite the above arguments the feedback from the teenagers involved in the JRIP program and their families seems to be fairly positive showing that the JRIP program might be just the step needed to give these troubled teenagers a new chance in life.

Get to Know Musa-Obregon & Associates Better!

Musa-Obregon & Associates — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:03:00 GMT

When you are looking for a criminal defense lawyer in New York City, you have a lot of options. Thousands of attorneys aspire to have a prominent firm in The Big Apple, but not many are able to actually reach that goal. Yet Musa-Obregon & Associates truly does stand out from the rest. The attorneys at this firm are dedicated and hardworking. All together, they have over 50 years of combined experience which they are willing to pool together in order to handle your case. The lawmakers in New York are some of the strictest in the nation and they have created harsh punishments for those that break the rules.

When you have been falsely accused of a crime or you believe that you are being unjustly sentenced for an offense, then you need an attorney to come alongside you. With a professional and aggressive New York criminal defense attorney like those at Muse-Obregon & Associates, you have a greater chance of achieving the verdict that you want. This firm can handle almost any type of criminal charge. Whether you have been accused of a DUI, a drug crime, assault, a white collar crime, a violent crime, a theft crime, or an internet crime, this firm can help.

They are also willing to defend those who want to take their case to an appeals court or those that have been charged with a theft crime or violent crime. Anyone who has ever violated probation, received a bench warrant, or been accused of a federal crime needs a hardworking lawyer to come alongside them and fight. The attorneys at Musa-Obregon & Associates understand that there are a lot of different ethnic groups speaking different languages in New York. That is why they have associates at the firm that speak fluent Portuguese, Arabic, Po Polsku, and Spanish. With people that speak so many languages ready and willing to help, these attorneys are able to reach those in need who would have a very hard time in court without an attorney that could discuss their case with them in their native language.

New York City is a large area, and Musa-Obregon wants to help as many residents as possible. They serve people that live in Manhattan and those that reside near and in White Plains. They are also dedicated to working with those that live in New Jersey. The firm does not want potential clients to feel constrained by their location. Instead, they want to meet the needs of as many men and women as possible. They have a variety of different offices, including one in Stamford, Connecticut, one in Fort Lee, New Jersey, one in White Plains, New York, and one in Jackson Heights, New York. They also have another office in Queens. The firm’s main office is located at 757 Third Avenue 20^th Fl. New York, NY 10017. If you live nearer to White Plains, then you can always visit the firm’s local office at 166 Main Street #704 White Plains, NY.

There are a variety of reasons that this firm is set apart from the rest but the most important and significant thing about the firm are the three hardworking and knowledgeable lawyers that work there. Attorney S. Michael Musa-Obregon is a native of New York who was raised in the Bronx. He earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 199 and then served as a judicial law clerk for a federal judge. This lawyer worked as a criminal prosecutor after he graduated, which means that he has a unique insight into the other side of the legal practice. He knows how prosecutors think and what they look for in cases, because he used to be one! During his time as a prosecutor working as an Assistant District Attorney, Attorney Musa-Obregon was able to learn a lot about criminal defense and get to know the judges and prosecutors of the state. He has relationships with these individuals, and they respect him in the court house.

Now, Attorney Musa-Obregon works at his private practice. He has been running Musa-Obregon & Associates for almost 10 years now, because he wants to focus on those that are accused. He has a compassion for citizens and immigrants who are accused of crimes. Because of his knowledge of criminal law, Attorney Musa-Obregon is constantly asked to speak at the New York Public Library’s Center for New Americans and he is asked to share his knowledge at colleges, universities, churches, temples, and high schools. He has even been featured as a commentator on many outlets and he regularly interviews for political, legal, and entertainment organizations.

Attorney Musa-Obregon has an 8.5 “Excellent” rating on Avvo because he has been recognized as a hardworking and impressive lawyer. He is accompanied at the firm by Attorney Arlene Gordon-Oliver and Attorney Benjamin Weisenberg. Both of these associate attorneys are hardworking and devoted to perfecting their abilities as criminal defense attorneys. Attorney Gordon-Oliver is a member of the New York State Bar, the United States Courts of Appeals, Second Circuit, and the United States District Court Southern District of New York. She can also practice law in United States District Court Eastern District of New York.

Attorney Gordon-Oliver is a member of the Board of Governors National Bar Association, the Westchester Magistrates Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, the New York State Magistrates Association, the National Association of Women Judges, and the Westchester Black Bar Association. No matter which attorney represents you, all the lawyers at Musa-Obregon & Associates are eager to work hard and give you the attention that you deserve on your case.

If you want more information about this firm, you can call them toll free at (888) 502-8461. The lawyers at Musa-Obregon & Associates won’t back down when faced with the hardest challenges. Check out their case results to see evidence that the firm is not afraid to work as hard as possible on their cases and take on even situations that may seem relatively hopeless. He has gotten prostitution and human trafficking cases dismissed, robbery suspects declared not guilty, and those charged with attempted murder have been able to leave the court room declared innocent of all crimes. Hire this devoted law firm today to get the representation that you need! You can also look them up on Yelp, Kudzu, or HG for more information. Feel free to visit the firm on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ as well if you want to get to know them a little bit better.

New Interrogation Pilot Program Raises Controversy

Musa-Obregon & Associates — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 21:31:00 GMT

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is testing a new pilot program that requires some criminal interrogations to be videotaped. Police precincts from each of the city's five boroughs (Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) will be required to record interrogations. In the United States, 18 states and Washington D.C. require some types of criminal interrogations to always be recorded. New York defense attorneys and advocates of criminal reform are hopeful that the new pilot plan will eventually lead to mandatory interrogation recordings throughout the rest of the state.

Why are the videos so important? Defense attorneys hope that recorded interrogations lead to fewer false confessions caused by police misconduct, abuse or coercion. Additionally, the NYPD and the City of New York could avoid false claims and lawsuits. So far, the only hindrance to the program is the actual process of storing and processing the video footage. Storing and processing the videos could become costly, and some aren't sure if the benefits are worth the cost.

The Detective Endowment Association (the union that represents detectives in for the NYPD) opposes the videotaping, too. According to the Detective Endowment Association, the tapes could reveal allow future interrogation subjects to become familiar with the process – rending their interrogation techniques less effective. Thus, the association is afraid that the videos will make it more difficult for detectives to legally procure legitimate confessions.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the program has been somewhat disappointing so far – mostly because of the small number of interrogations and case dispositions that have been returned. Additionally, there hasn't been an official method of tracking the recordings to test their effectiveness. Whether or not the new program will actually be effective is yet to be seen. Until then, proponents of the interrogation videotapes will have to wait and see if the program is truly worth expanding.

Expungement and Immigration: Should I Seal My Record?

Musa-Obregon & Associates — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:55:00 GMT

The process of sealing your criminal record is called expungement. Individuals may want to have their records expunged for a variety of reasons. For instance, a sealed record cannot be viewed by banks or employers. In other words, if your criminal record is expunged, you have a clean slate in the eyes of local and state law enforcement. However, expungement doesn't destroy your criminal record; it simply seals it. Additionally, the federal criminal database will retain your fingerprints.

While expungement may seem like a good idea, it can damage your immigration status. If you are seeking immigration relief, you must release information regarding all past criminal allegations held against you. If your record is sealed, you cannot provide this information. Additionally, you must demonstrate that you have good moral character by showing documents that demonstrate that you were not convicted of a crim.

If you were convicted of a crime you must be able to show that it did not lead to any immigration consequences. Expungement is especially unadvisable for individuals who were convicted of a crime that made them deportable or ineligible for any immigration benefits. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), even individuals with expunged records may be deported for a conviction. Even a criminal record reflecting only minor charges can affect the outcome of your case.

If you've been accused and convicted of committing any crime and are trying to obtain citizenship in the United States, talk to an attorney from our firm as soon as possible. At Musa-Obregon & Associates, we are wholly dedicated to helping people like you get the legal assistance they need. We are experienced in criminal law and immigration litigation. To see what an attorney from the firm can do for you, visit our website today.

Challenging Your DUI Charges: All Hope is Not Lost

Musa-Obregon & Associates — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:15:00 GMT

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, driving under the influence is a crime that in punishable by law. When accused of this crime, if convicted the driver may have their license suspended, face fines, and depending on the charge face time in jail as well. They claim that a person is considered to be unfit for driving based on five premises. First being how much alcohol has been consumed by the driver, what they ate during their time of drinking, how long ago the driver consumed it, how much they weigh and how tall they are. Each person handles alcohol in various ways, and this is why the police will determine whether you are impaired to drive by your blood alcohol content (BAC) level rather than asking how much you had to drink.

In the state of New York, any driver with a BAC over 0.08% is considered to be under the influence and unfit to be on the road behind the wheel. New York is also a state that charges for aggravated DUI if the drivers BAC level was over .18%, and when accused of this the penalties if convicted will be more severe. The question that many ask is how can a person challenge these charges so as to not be convicted in court? While no outcome can ever be guaranteed, with the help of a skilled defense attorney who has experience fighting DUI charges your chances may increase. At Musa-Obregon & Associates we are a criminal defense firm with years of practice under our belt and have many tactics that can be used in order to defend your case and fight for your innocence.

Here are a few tips to consider when you are accused of driving under the influence. First off, hiring a DUI defense attorney is crucial. Don’t rely on a representative of the court who is appointed to you, they may have no experience fighting these charges. By contacting a firm that has dealt with many cases, you are starting the process out correctly. There are many things that can be challenged in court by your attorney, and one of those situations is the initial arrest. At our firm we believe that adequate research is necessary in any trial and we want to make sure from start to finish that we understand every detail so that we can properly defend on your behalf. At the time of the arrest we will go through to make sure that the arresting officers saw to it that your Forth Amendment rights were considered.

This means that that had to have reasonable suspicions in order to pull your car over and arrest you; you are prevented from unreasonable search and seizures. The officer must be able to state clearly why they pulled your vehicle over whether it is because of reckless driving, or breaking a law, etc. there must be a probable cause. Also at the time of your arrest, making sure that the officer at the scene read you your Miranda Rights before arresting you, because every individual has the right to stay silent until their attorney is present. If the officers fail to read you your rights then as your attorney would then seek to dismiss any evidence that was accumulated during the period your rights were violated.

Another common challenge would be the BAC tests that the officers gave you at the time of the arrest. Many times the breathalyzer tests are not reliable and therefore their accuracy may be questioned. Also, some states allow drivers to have the right to be tested by their personal physician for blood alcohol content levels. Unfortunately, the reliability of an officer on duty may not always be the greatest, and because of this our firm will look into their backgrounds in order to determine whether their testimony of the arrest is trustworthy. This often includes looking into their history and past arrests, and perhaps it can be used to defend you in court.

There are situations by which the evidence against a driver accused of driving under the influence may be too thorough and in that case your lawyer would then seek to help you plea bargain. This is done in the event that your case can’t be dismissed or you prove not guilty in court, and your lawyer would then seek to lessen your punishments by offering a plea instead. This may reduce fines or the possibility of jail, etc. all depending on the charges that you face. Though, with the help of a skilled DUI defense attorney all hope is not lost! Contact Musa-Obregon & Associates today for more information regarding your DUI charges, we want to help you fight!

Alleged Criminals and Curfews

Musa-Obregon & Associates — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:45:00 GMT

Curfews have been around as long as anyone can remember. Young people dread them and, if imposed on adults, they are viewed as an impingement on freedom. In some situations, they only affect a small portion of the population, such as a driving curfew for individuals who have had their license for less than a year. In other situations, they are imposed by the government to facilitate keeping tabs on everyone. Despite many of the negative associations with curfews, though, in many cases in the intent behind the restriction is public safety.

In New York, the curfews that have always been present are now being enforced to a much greater degree. Manhattan's district attorney's office has found that curfews may be the key to keeping dangerous men off of the streets. Curfews are becoming more prevalent in bail packages and plea deals and now their enforcement is becoming prevalent as well. By teaming up with the New York police department, officials have found curfews much easier to enforce. The head of the DA's Crime Strategies Unit is now communicating with police units about who should and who should not be one the streets. If a defendant is given a curfew, their name is given to NYPD's North or South borough commands.

The new plan of attack has already had successful results. Local officers will either knock on the door of the offenders or keep an eye out for them while patrolling the streets. As an example, an 18 year old offender who had originally been arrested for drug possession was given a 7 p.m. curfew. Two weeks after the boy was released, officers saw him on the streets around 10 o'clock at night and detained him. Upon investigation, the cops found him in possession of a gun. Another man was given a 9 p.m. curfew after he had been arrested for dealing angel dust in the middle of the night. A month after his release, the police detectives knocked on his door. When it was discovered he was not there, he was found and sent back to jail.

Coordinating with the NYPD over curfews has been the key for prosecutors to keep dangerous men off of the streets. Keeping criminal offenders off of the streets is an important component of protecting overall public safety. Not all individuals accused of a crime, though, are guilty. Sometimes people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you have been wrongly accused of a crime and are unsure of how to defend yourself, the best decision you can make is to hire an attorney who will properly represent you. Curfews can be difficult to deal with but a solid defense may help to reduce or eliminate the charges against you. Work with Musa-Obregon & Associates to make sure you receive the fair trial you deserve.

Three Men Executed in a BMW

Musa-Obregon & Associates — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 19:41:00 GMT

The evening of June 7, 2012 brought an unwelcomed surprise for a number of Manhattan citizens. An unsuspecting pedestrian walking down a New York street near Columbia University came across a rather unpleasant sight: three men shot dead. The victims were in a gray BMW that was parked legally on the side of the road. The man instantly notified a passing police unit. After a quick investigation, it was revealed that the victims were all local young men from Manhattan.

The murder of these men did not appear to be a mistake or impulsively done out of rash anger. Instead, the killing was done in the style of an execution. The two men who were seated in the front seats of the car were both shot in the back of the head, in between the ears. The man in the back seat was shot in the left temple. Police speculate that the murderer was seated in the back seat behind the driver when he carried out the shooting. After the investigation was completed, it was surmised that the killing was drug-related. Apparently, the scene of the crime had all the marks of being a narcotics hit.

As in most tragic killings, the ramifications caused a large ripple effect. The pregnant girlfriend of one of the victim's showed up at the scene shocked and horrified. In fact, she could hardly believe the sight. The search for the murderer has turned up nothing as of yet, but the search has just begun. There was no weapon at the scene of the crime but the vehicle where the men were found is believed to have been stolen as its registration does not match its license plates. Police have few leads at the moment as no one in the vicinity heard any indication of a murder occurring. Officers began by reviewing the surveillance tapes from nearby buildings.

A murder is a very heartrending experience. The suffering it causes is deep and extensive. If you have been accused of a murder, you know how desperate of a situation it is. In fact, you may feel as though you are trapped and have no chance of regaining your freedom. The law has always come down heavily on murder cases and the consequences are severe. To make sure you have a chance at receiving a fair trial, you must hire the best criminal defense attorney available. Though well-intentioned, a public defender does not have the time or resources to devote the proper amount of effort to your case. Instead, you should hire a defense attorney who cares and has a history of success. The best legal team for you is the law office of Musa-Obregon & Associates.

New York Criminal Defense Blog

New York Criminal Defense Attorney — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:51:00 GMT

Welcome to our blog!