Augusta Criminal Defense Blog

Drug trafficking is a growing concern in many communities across the country. For some people, trafficking drugs may seem like the only option to make a living or to get themselves in a better situation, but the reality is that it can ruin lives and lead to harsh penalties if they're caught.

Drug trafficking can involved people of almost any age, even though it's often associated with younger individuals. Take, for example, this case out of Georgia in which a woman was arrested on a felony drug trafficking accusation.

Most consumers do not check their credit card or bank account transactions regularly. Even with the capability of accessing this information remotely from their own home computers or cellphones, many in Georgia will simply pay their credit card bills without a thought or assume they have a general idea of the balance in their checking accounts. Fraudsters can take advantage of this, sometimes using someone else's account for months before the consumer discovers the theft.

If you have recently reported a discrepancy on your bank or credit card statement, you may be surprised to learn that you may also be the subject of an investigation when authorities look into the matter. In fact, investigators may suspect you of committing one of several types of e-commerce fraud.

Georgia, like most states, has its own way of handling criminal acts. From the possession of a weapon to drug charges, Georgia has laws that dictate how you'll be charged and potentially how you'll be sentenced.

With federal charges, you're dealing with a double blow. A federal case faces federal charges and penalties. Federal offenses, usually felony charges, often come with long prison sentences and severe fines.

There are many federal crimes that people should not partake in, but one that needs to be discussed is a forgery. Forgery is an interesting kind of white-collar crime. It happens when a person copies or reproduces a document, signature or other item and claims it is the original, authentic item.

Not all instances of putting someone else's signature on a document constitutes a forgery. There are specific rules in place to make sure that only those who intend to harm others through forgery and truly break the law face penalties.