A joint task force of federal, state and local law enforcement just executed a parole sweep called “Operation Guardian” in Los Angeles County. The task force arrested 70 parolees and seized drugs, guns and found a bleeding parolee who officers took to the hospital to be treated for his wounds. The sweep was described by law enforcement as the largest parole sweep of its kind in county history. Officers knocked on the doors of around 400 parolees in search of any type of violation. Common parole violations are possessing firearms, narcotics, other dangerous weapons or hanging around with people one …

Many people are familiar with polygraph machines or polygraph examinations. Some people are even aware that their scientific value is sometimes questioned and the admissibility of examination results in court is highly limited. Why then would a criminal suspect or defendant submit to a polygraph examination? First, I would only submit a client to a polygraph under certain, very controlled circumstances. Second, I never submit any client to a law enforcement polygraph and never in an environment that is not controlled by me. Finally, I try to avoid polygraph examinations prior to reviewing all police reports regarding any particular investigation. …

42 people were arrested yesterday as federal agents executed warrants on members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seized along with the members were dozens of guns, cash and several motorcycles. The arrests came after a lengthy inditement was filed against members of the Outlaws. The indictment alleged activity such as drug trafficking, gambling, insurance fraud, money laundering, witness tampering and extortion. The charges were so widespread that every member of the Indianapolis Chapter of the Outlaws was arrested in the raids. In addition to Club members, club “associates”, and several others were also arrested. The investigation was …

The California Senate just signed a bill that will restrict state law enforcement agents from detaining illegal immigrants unless the immigrant has a prior conviction for a serious or violent felony. The bill is going to the State Assembly soon where it is expected to pass. The new law may lead to some conflicts between federal and state law. It sounds like law enforcement officers are going to have to think on their feet after they contact an immigrant while on duty. Police will have to make a determination whether or not the immigrant has a significant enough criminal history …

George Zimmerman was just released after he posted a one million dollar bail bond. His release surprised me because that is a high bond amount. Apparently Mr. Zimmerman has a lot of “friends” who helped fund this undertaking. Posting a million dollar bond normally costs the defendant 10 percent or $100,000.00. This fee is earned by the bond company as soon as the defendant is released from jail. In addition, and more important to the bond company is securing the bond should the defendant fail to appear in court as ordered. If the defendant does not go to court, the …

Will Lynch was found not guilty yesterday in all but one of the criminal charges against him. He was charged by Santa Clara County Prosecutors with two felony counts of battery and elder abuse both allegedly serious bodily injury was caused. After three weeks of trial jurors found Lynch not guilty on all but one count, a simple battery charge in which the juror was unable to reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared. Prosecutors must now decide whether or not to have a second trial on the misdemeanor battery count. I say bravo to defense attorney Pat Harris …

Known as “The Voice” of small businesses in America, The National Federation of Independent Businesses is a major player in the news and events for small business in The United States. Please visit their site at www.NFIB.com and read where they heavily quoted Mr. Vallens in their recent article about fraud in the workplace. If you have questions about criminal fraud, theft or any other criminal defense matter, please contact Jeffrey Vallens: (818) 783-5700 or (888) 764-4340 or email me at: vallenslaw@yahoo.com or visit my sites: www.4criminaldefense.com or www.westlakecriminaldefense.com

As the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office continues to investigate the allegations that City Councilman John Duran falsified expenses, the City of West Hollywood voted to defend the Councilman if charges are filed. Many of us in Los Angeles know John Duran, in my case from working in the County as a criminal defense attorney, and others know him through his hard work for the City of West Hollywood. The Los Angeles Times reports that Duran had more than $7,000 in meal expenses on city credit cards over a three year period. John, I’m not sure where you have been …

But I just spoke to another lawyer who said he would take my case for $1,500. How come you want $2,500 (Or more)? These are words that I hear a lot. I try not like to say things like “You get what you pay for” so I will simply explain why you shouldn’t hire the cheapest lawyer around. I will also explain why it may cost a little more to hire the right lawyer for your criminal defense case in Los Angeles. First, most lawyers have overhead or expenses associated with running their own businesses. I have an office, a …

How do you find the right criminal defense lawyer in your community? You do what everyone else does when you want something: You sit in front of your computer and you do a search — most of the time it is through Google. Great. I do my search for “Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer” and I get page after page of people I still don’t know. Some are advertisements and some are “natural results”. This does not help me. Shall I just pick one? Where do I go from here. My answer is still the same as it was one …