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Federal Crimes

Federal charges in the Southern and Central Districts of California. 172 articles and videos.

• FLOCK CAMERA Searches Violate the 4th Amendment; Federal Judge Throws Out ALL Evidence!
  October 7, 2026 · ▶ Video

  A federal judge just ruled that a cop's FLOCK CAMERA search violated the 4th Amendment and threw out all the evidence. United States v. Kyle explained.

• Scratched Serial Numbers Enhancement Does NOT Count If Gun Is Traceable. Glock Machine Gun Switch.
  September 30, 2026 · ▶ Video

  A Glock with a machinegun switch had its serial number stamped in three places. Two were scratched off. The Fourth Circuit says that is not enough for…

• Can Cops Use a Thermal Camera on Your Home Without a Warrant? | Kyllo v. US
  July 22, 2026 · ▶ Video

  Can police point a thermal camera at your house and use it as evidence — without a warrant? That’s exactly what happened in Kyllo v. United States, one…

• “He Put Stuff in My Room, Bro” — Kid Destroys 4th Amendment Defense (US v. Gatkuoth)
  June 10, 2026 · ▶ Video

  A man flees a traffic stop, runs into a stranger's house, and hides a — then claims the police violated his 4th Amendment rights.

• FBI Raids Home, Refuses to Show Warrant — State Can’t Just Take the Feds’ Word for It. 4th Amendment
  June 3, 2026 · ▶ Video

  The FBI shows up to a man’s home with 80 agents, an armored tank, and a sealed federal warrant — and when he asks to see it, nobody shows him one. Then…

• San Diego Alien Smuggling Attorney
  Guide

  Charged with alien smuggling in San Diego? Attorney Anton Vialtsin at LAWSTACHE Law Firm has direct experience defending 8 USC 1324 charges in the…

• San Diego Federal Drug Trafficking Attorney
  Guide

  Facing federal drug trafficking charges in San Diego? Attorney Anton Vialtsin at LAWSTACHE Law Firm has defended clients in the Southern District of…

• San Diego Federal Firearms Attorney
  Guide

  Facing federal firearms charges in San Diego? Attorney Anton Vialtsin at LAWSTACHE Law Firm defends clients against 18 USC 922 and related federal…

• San Diego Money Laundering Attorney
  Guide

  Charged with federal money laundering in San Diego? Attorney Anton Vialtsin at LAWSTACHE Law Firm defends clients against 18 USC 1956 charges in the…

• San Diego RICO Attorney
  Guide

  Facing RICO charges in San Diego? A RICO indictment is one of the most serious charges in the federal system — carrying mandatory forfeiture, civil…

• San Diego Second Offense DUI Attorney
  Guide

  Facing a second DUI in San Diego? The stakes are significantly higher than your first offense. Attorney Anton Vialtsin at LAWSTACHE Law Firm fights…

• San Diego Wire & Mail Fraud Attorney
  Guide

  Charged or under investigation for wire, mail, investment or real estate fraud in San Diego federal court? Anton Vialtsin, 400+ federal cases. Call 619-357-6677.

• Craigslist Child Enticement Sting: How Federal Agents Caught One of Their Own (ICE Supervisor)
  April 29, 2026 · ▶ Video

  ICE supervisor caught in a sting, nearly 100 text messages, and 135-month

• Local Fentanyl Dealer Worked From HOME — And It Cost Him Extra Years in Prison b/c Home Enhancement
  March 18, 2026 · ▶ Video

  In this video, we break down United States v. Tekola (9th Cir. 2026), where court upheld a 2-level enhancement U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(12)

• Border Patrol Tracked Him in Real Time & His Old Guilty Plea Buried Him in the New Crime
  March 4, 2026 · ▶ Video

  Border Patrol agents ran a real-time records check that pulled the car's travel history, checkpoint records, and registration data

• Border Patrol Tracked Him in Real Time & His Old Guilty Plea Buried Him in the New Crime
  March 4, 2026 · ▶ Video

  Border Patrol agents ran a real-time records check that pulled the car's travel history, checkpoint records, and registration data

• Probation Officer Walked Into Her Home Without a Warrant — Federal Court Says UNCONSTITUTIONAL
  February 25, 2026 · ▶ Video

  Federal probation officers showed up at Deanna Coleman's door, but a federal appeals court just ruled the entire search was unconstitutional.

• New 2025 Federal Sentencing Guidelines Just Changed Everything for Drug Cases. Are You Eligible?
  December 24, 2025 · ▶ Video

  Transporting drugs across San Diego-Mexico border, 2025 federal sentencing guideline amendments significantly reduce your prison exposure

• Top 10 Criminal Law Cases and Myths | PART 10: Don’t wait until things go wrong to hire a lawyer.
  December 3, 2025 · ▶ Video

  If you’ve ever wondered why “my lawyer didn’t help me” rarely works on appeal — this is the video you need to watch.

• Top 10 Criminal Law Cases and Myths | PART 9: Everything you need to know about your SENTENCING.
  November 12, 2025 · ▶ Video

  Learn how United States v. Booker (2005) changed federal sentencing by making the guidelines advisory and restoring judges’ discretion.

• Our Federal Justice System Is Collapsing
  Guide

  The U.S. justice system is collapsing — innocent people are jailed without counsel, and Sixth Amendment rights are being violated.

• Expunged But Not Forgotten: How the Feds Use ‘Dismissed’ Charges Against You. Is PC 1203.4 worth it?
  July 23, 2025 · ▶ Video

  In this video, attorney Anton Vialtsin breaks down the Ninth Circuit’s 2025 ruling in United States v. Robert Louis Carver — a major case on how…

• Tom Homan claims ICE officers ‘don’t need probable cause’ to ‘briefly detain’ people. Is that true?
  July 16, 2025 · ▶ Video

  🚨 USA v. Bejar-Guizar (2025) – Border Patrol Stop & 9th Circuit Immigration Ruling Explained 🚨 In this video, we break down the 9th Circuit Court of…

• Firearm Ban After Domestic Violence? 9th Circuit Shakes Up Federal Firearm Law! #2ndamendment
  July 9, 2025 · ▶ Video

  Can a misdemeanor conviction really strip you of your Second Amendment rights? In this video, we break down the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ major…

• Is there a JURY in Federal Supervised Release Revocation Hearings? Federal Probation Violation?
  June 4, 2025 · ▶ Video

  The panel affirmed the district court’s revocation of Jackson Daniel Bowers’ supervised release in a case in which Bowers argued that Article III,…

• 58% less FRAUD prosecutions. FBI’s new focus on Trump’s immigration crackdown. “Loss” in FRAUD cases
  May 28, 2025 · ▶ Video

  The latest government case-by-case records reveal that as of March 31, 2025, federal efforts to prosecute white-collar crimes have continued to decline…

• Police Must UNDERSTAND LAWS, They Are Entrusted to Enforce and Obey. No Registration Sticker Needed
  May 14, 2025 · ▶ Video

  What Officer Hill reasonably suspected, namely that Lopez–Soto had not affixed a registration sticker to his rear window, simply was not a violation of…

• Immigration Detentions Up, Federal Prosecutions Down: What’s Going On Under Trump’s Second Term?
  March 26, 2025 · ▶ Video

  The latest available data from the Justice Department show that during January 2025 the government reported 3196 new immigration prosecutions.…

• Federal Court Can Give LOWER Sentence to Defendant Who DIDN’T Know the Purity of the Drugs Delivered
  March 12, 2025 · ▶ Video

  Jesus Munguia Mendoza appeals the sentence imposed following his plea of guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, a violation…

• How a Massive Government Negligence Got This Case Dismissed. 8 Years on the Run?
  January 22, 2025 · ▶ Video

  Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647 (1992), is a Supreme Court case addressing the right to a speedy trial under the Sixth Amendment. Facts: Marc…

• Top 3 of 2024: Police enter home without a warrant to arrest a felon, ruse checkpoint, & containers
  January 1, 2025 · ▶ Video

  Thank you all for an incredible year! I experienced the biggest surge in viewership, and it’s all because of your amazing support in sharing my videos.…

• After waiting just 20 seconds, police used a battering ram on the door to execute a search warrant.
  October 23, 2024 · ▶ Video

  We review questions of probable cause de novo, but with “due weight to inferences drawn from [the] facts by resident judges and local law enforcement…

• Can police search your home if they found a small amount of drugs in your car during a traffic stop?
  October 9, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Ninth Circuit has repeatedly affirmed searches of homes of suspected drug dealers even where there is no direct evidence linking the homes to…

• Police persistently pounded on the front door and windows for 2.5 minutes at 9:00 at night.
  October 2, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The general rule in the Ninth Circuit concerning knock and talk encounters is: Absent express orders from the person in possession against any possible…

• ATF agents LIED to the resident that someone had planted a BOMB to gain CONSENT to search.
  August 30, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Agent Brenneman told Mr. Harrison they were there because, “our office received an anonymous phone call there were drugs and bombs at this apartment,”…

• DOJ to reclassify cannabis to schedule III, drug priors trigger mandatory min., say sorry to a cop.
  August 30, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Justice Department Publishes Proposed Rule to Reclassify Cannabis, Begins Accepting Public Comments The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) proposes to…

• Felon in Possession Unconstitutional, Right to Protest, and Cryptocurrency, own cases
  August 30, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Ninth Circuit Holds Felon-in-Possession Unconstitutional as to Non-Violent Offenders After Bruen May 9th 2024, in United States v. Duarte, No. 22-50048…

• Police aimed his gun at her nose, told her to freeze, and detained: ARREST and NOT a “Terry Stop.”
  August 30, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Robertson: Robertson encounters a fundamental obstacle: standing. A defendant must show standing even if the government has not pressed the issue in…

• Police enter a home WITHOUT consent for welfare check, find woman unharmed, ILLEGALLY search anyway.
  August 30, 2024 · ▶ Video

  During the evening hours of January 5, 2019, officers were dispatched to Dane Arredondo’s (“Dane”) house on a neighbor’s report of a woman screaming…

• Police Helicopter Lit Up the Suspect’s House Like a Christmas Tree. Forcing to exit = illegal arrest
  August 30, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Nora next contends that, even if the officers had probable cause to arrest him, they arrested him in violation of Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 100…

• I was just a passenger in the car with secret compartments filled with pounds of drugs. Am I Guilty?
  August 26, 2024 · ▶ Video

  This appeal stemmed from two individuals’ cross-country car trip. Inside the car were secret compartments containing bundles of methamphetamine. But to…

• NOT a crime for citizen to refuse entry to her home to police who do not have an appropriate warrant
  August 26, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Supreme Court has held that police need no warrant to arrest a felony suspect on probable cause in a public place; United States v. Watson, 1976,…

• No way of knowing that drugs found in a trash came from defendant’s residence. Invalid Warrant.
  August 23, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Constitution’s Fourth Amendment provides that “no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly…

• Police block a person’s car in a narrow parking lot. Was this a seizure under 4th Amendment?
  August 23, 2024 · ▶ Video

  A Fourth Amendment seizure occurs “when physical force is used to restrain movement or when a person submits to an officer’s ‘show of authority.’ ”…

• Police got in wife’s car, directed her to nearby parking lot while husband was arrested at home.
  August 23, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Defendant-Appellant Lucas Gregory Fox entered a conditional guilty plea to one count of possession of an unregistered shotgun with a barrel less than…

• Police had no reasonable suspicion to detain for 45 minutes on belief that power washer was stolen
  August 23, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Fourth Amendment’s protections extend to brief investigatory stops that fall short of a traditional arrest. Ramirez v. City of Buena Park, 560 F.3d…

• Teenager detained by police was a de facto arrest! Without probable cause the arrest became illegal!
  August 23, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Supreme Court itself has recognized that distinguishing a Terry investigative stop from a de facto arrest “may in some instances create difficult…

• Can police remove a car cover off a vehicle without a warrant to inspect for a VIN number?
  August 22, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Government obtained the civil forfeiture of a 1986 Dodge Ram Charger and $277,000 in U.S. currency found in this vehicle, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §…

• Did police illegally seize a luggage bag when they removed it from cargo area of the bus?
  August 22, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Supreme Court held in United States v. Jacobsen, 466 U.S. 109, 104 S.Ct. 1652, 80 L.Ed.2d 85 (1984), that a Fourth Amendment “`seizure’ of property…

• Police inserted a key into car’s door to see if the car belonged to Dixon and then searched it.
  August 22, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Fourth Amendment protects “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and…

• Police “secured” the home & didn’t let the husband back inside after suspicious death of his wife
  August 22, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Following the unexpected death of Defendant Walt Shrum’s common law wife at the couple’s home around 5:30 a.m. on March 11, 2015, police officers in…

• Can police search a bag you left behind in someone’s apartment? Jail and prison calls are recorded!
  August 21, 2024 · ▶ Video

  “The Fourth Amendment is a vital safeguard of the right of the citizen to be free from unreasonable governmental intrusions into any area in which he…

• Airport Worker Searches Luggage in Hopes of Getting a Monetary $$$ Reward From the DEA.
  August 20, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The United States appealed from orders of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Donald S. Voorhees, J., granting…

• Can CBP Search A Passenger Cabin Aboard a Cruise Ship Without Suspicion of Criminal Activity?
  August 20, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Fourth Amendment protects “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and…

• Can Police Search a Tent Illegally Placed on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Without a Warrant?
  August 20, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Sandoval’s expectation of privacy was also objectively reasonable. In LaDuke v. Nelson, 762 F.2d 1318, 1326 n. 11, 1332 n. 19 (9th Cir. 1985), we held…

• Know Your Rights: Can Police Search a Tent Located on a Public Campground? Can They Arrest Occupant?
  August 20, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Gooch must have had both a subjective and an objectively reasonable expectation of privacy in the tent. Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 361, 88…

• Unlawful Police Home Entry: Violating Fourth Amendment Rights of House Guests | Girlfriend Apartment
  August 20, 2024 · ▶ Video

  In Steagald v. United States, 451 U.S. 204 (1981), the Supreme Court held that, in the absence of valid consent or exigent circumstances, warrantless…

• Phone Searches at the Border: What CBP Can and Can’t Do
  May 23, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Fourth Amendment provides that “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches…

• Unbelievable Injustice: How the Government Failed to Prosecute for 8 Years | Case must be dropped!
  May 23, 2024 · ▶ Video

  In February 1980, petitioner Doggett was indicted on federal drug charges, but he left the country before the Drug Enforcement Agency could secure his…

• Disturbing Police Overreach: unreasonable GPS tracking after owner no longer drove the car
  May 2, 2024 · ▶ Video

  “To invoke the Fourth Amendment protections, a person must show that [they] had a legitimate expectation of privacy.” U.S. v. Shryock, 342 F.3d 948,…

• Abuse of Power? Examining Police Use of ‘Community Caretaking’ in Illegal Hotel Room Searches
  May 1, 2024 · ▶ Video

  Under the Fourth Amendment, defendant had a legitimate expectation of *320 privacy in his rented hotel room. See Stoner v. California, 376 U.S. 483,…

• PART 3: “GPS Tracking Initiated at the Border” | 4th Amendment and the Border Search Doctrine
  May 1, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Border Search Doctrine is one of the longstanding warrantless search exceptions to the 4th Amendment. Most searches at the border do not require a…

• PART 4: “GPS Tracking Initiated at the Border” | US v. Ignjatov, GPS installed without a warrant
  May 1, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Court concluded that “[o]nce the entity at issue is beyond the border, the concerns animating the border search doctrine, namely the integrity of…

• Intoxication and Miranda Rights: Can Drunk Individuals Validly Waive? Spontaneous Statements
  April 24, 2024 · ▶ Video

  But intoxication alone does not preclude a valid waiver. See United States v. Figueroa-Serrano, 971 F.3d 806, 815 (8th Cir. 2020) (finding a valid…

• Injustice Unveiled: Shocking Police Searches Targeting Uninvolved and Innocent Property Owners
  March 19, 2024 · ▶ Video

  One might think that someone who didn’t commit any crimes or even suspected of committing a crime would be afforded some protection under the Fourth…

• Police search a semi-truck hauling a ford explorer. 40 pounds of meth found. Fourth Amendment.
  February 27, 2024 · ▶ Video

  “An individual asserting Fourth Amendment rights must demonstrate that he personally has an expectation of privacy in the place searched, and that his…

• Why did the police remove the defendant’s Buick key from his belt loop during a stop-and-frisk?
  February 27, 2024 · ▶ Video

  The Fourth Amendment guarantees “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches…

• Can police search a camper truck without a warrant under a pretense of helping wife get her property
  November 14, 2023 · ▶ Video

  Can police search a camper truck without a warrant under a pretense of helping wife get her property? San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyers

• Was defendant “in custody” for MIRANDA purposes following discovery of a firearm in a trash can?
  November 14, 2023 · ▶ Video

  Was defendant "in custody" for MIRANDA purposes following discovery of a firearm in a trash can? San Diego Criminal Defense.

• Can FBI record citizens in a hotel room with a secret hidden camera without a warrant? Nerber (2000)
  November 13, 2023 · ▶ Video

  Can FBI record citizens in a hotel room with a secret hidden camera without a warrant? San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney Anton Vialtsin.

• UNCONSTITUTIONAL: 922(k), prohibits possession of a firearm with altered or removed serial number
  November 13, 2023 · ▶ Video

  922(k), prohibits possession of a firearm. Attorney Anton Vialtsin explains. San Diego Criminal Defense.

• UNCONSTITUTIONAL: 922(n), which makes illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment.
  November 13, 2023 · ▶ Video

  922(n), which makes illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney Anton Vialtsin explains.

• Florida Federal Judge tosses suit challenging GUN BAN for medical marijuana patients. (POST-BRUEN)
  October 10, 2023 · ▶ Video

  Federal law prohibits certain people from possessing firearms. 18 U.S.C.§ 922(g). Post Bruen Developments.

• Opening box truck’s cargo door constitutes a search under 4th Amendment and police needed a WARRANT.
  October 3, 2023 · ▶ Video

  Yuen contends, inter alia, that Officer Kline’s opening the rear cargo door without his permission violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States…

• When should I call a criminal defense lawyer?
  Guide

  San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney Anton Vialtsin explains when should I call a criminal defense lawyer. 619-357-6677

• How do I bail someone out of jail?
  Guide

  Attorney Anton Vialtsin explains how to bail someone out of jail in San Diego State or Federal Court. Call 619-357-6677

• Officer threatens suspect that he will search his backpack in violation of the 4th Amendment, Part 1
  August 23, 2023 · ▶ Video

  San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney Anton Vialtsin discusses a case dealing with a search of a backpack by police.

• Acceptance of responsibility levels under § 3.E1.1 of the federal sentencing guidelines.
  August 18, 2023 · ▶ Video

  San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney Anton Vialtsin discusses acceptance of responsibility under federal law. Call us at 619-357-6677

• Reasonable Suspicion can’t be a broad profile casting suspicion on entire categories of people
  August 18, 2023 · ▶ Video

  San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney explains how reasonable suspicion cannot be a broad profile casting suspicion on entire population.

• After the end of traffic stop, police officer did not inform driver that he was free to leave.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Facing federal or state charges in San Diego? Attorney Anton Vialtsin explains US v. Gonzalez, vehicle searches, and ATF involvement.

• Buyer-Seller Relationship defense to conspiracy to distribute drugs. Large quantity of drugs.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Charged with federal drug conspiracy in San Diego? Learn how the buyer-seller relationship defense can protect your rights.

• Can police SEARCH your RENTAL car if you are NOT an authorized driver on the rental agreement?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Can police search a rental car without your consent? Learn about your Fourth Amendment rights, Byrd v. United States, and recent cases.

• Defining “victim” under federal fraud sentencing guidelines. Sentenced to 27 Years.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Who counts as a fraud victim under federal law? Learn how courts define victims in fraud cases, sentencing enhancements, and defenses.

• Facing State & Federal charges? Do sentences run concurrent (same time) or consecutive (following)?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Notably absent from the court’s explanation was any mention of U.S.S.G.§ 5G1.3(c), which provides: (c) If . . . a state term of imprisonment is…

• Federal Firearms Trafficking | Review of Gun Control Act and Brady Act. Licensed & Private Markets.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The Gun Control Act of 1968 required those who engage in the business of manufacturing or dealing in firearms to be licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol,…

• Firearms and mental illness. 5th amendment right to be tried only on charges in the indictment.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Robert Earl Tucker, Jr., was found guilty of three counts of makingfalse statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer in violation of 18U.S.C. §…

• How police should NOT conduct a knock-and-talk at your door step. Illegal conduct & tainted warrant.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The knock-and-talk exception permits police “to encroach upon the curtilage of a home, for the purpose of asking questions of the occupants.” United…

• Not paying taxes because of religious belief – he must NOT contribute $ used to facilitate abortions
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Both this Circuit and the United States Supreme Court have repeatedly rejected the proposition that a taxpayer may withhold tax money owed because…

• Minor Role under federal sentencing guidelines §3B1.2 and the factors that judges heavily rely on.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Fact-Based Determination.—The determination whether to apply subsection (a) or subsection (b), or an intermediate adjustment, is based on the totality…

• This case is solely about a question of fact, namely consent. US v. Delgado-Salazar
  Guide · ▶ Video

  San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney explains a case dealing with consent to search a luggage.

• Part 3: Conspiracies | Elements of the crime and Overt Act definition from U.S. v. Rabinowich
  Guide · ▶ Video

  A conspiracy, having for its object the commission of an offense denounced by the Bankruptcy Act, is not, in itself, an offense arising under that act…

• Part 7: Conspiracies | Defenses | Mere Presence and Mere Association Does Not Equal Co-conspirator.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Holding that the defendant’s looking left and right in the vicinity of the defendant’s brother’s cocaine deal was not sufficient to show participation…

• Part 9: Conspiracies | Statute of Limitations | How long does prosecution have to charge conspiracy?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Conspiracies are considered continuing offenses for the purposes of the statute of limitations and venue. A conspiracy is ongoing as long as overt acts…

• Part 3: Conspiracies | Elements of the crime and Overt Act definition from U.S. v. Rabinowich
  February 17, 2022 · ▶ Video

  A conspiracy, having for its object the commission of an offense denounced by the Bankruptcy Act, is not, in itself, an offense arising under that act…

• Every parent knows that teenagers make mistakes. BuyerSeller defense to drug distribution conspiracy
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The panel vacated convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine under 21 U.S.C. § 846, RICO conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), and…

• Part 2: Conspiracies | Pinkerton Liability | Co-conspirators responsible for each others crimes.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Where an indictment charges both a conspiracy to engage in a course of criminal conduct and a series of substantive offenses committed pursuant to the…

• Can California and Nevada robbery REALLY NOT be a crime of violence under federal law?
  January 27, 2022 · ▶ Video

  It is undisputed that §4B1.2(a)(2) ( lists robbery as one of the possible predicated offenses, but the analysis does not end there. To determine…

• Beware of jumping criminal history categories in Federal Court if you have pending State charges.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Learn about Hidey Diaz, charged with illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) after a state conviction. Call San Diego Criminal Lawyer

• Ex-Arizona politician and attorney devised and ran a criminal adoption scheme. Sentenced to 6 years.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Paul Petersen, a licensed attorney, devised and ran a criminal adoption scheme where he and others working for him profited by paying to induce…

• Is transportation of marijuana a “controlled substance offense” under Career Offender guidelines?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  David Martinez appeals his sentence following conviction for importation of marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. SS 952 and 960. Martinez argues that…

• Marijuana state prior doesn’t count as “controlled substance offense” under Federal Guidelines
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The panel filed (1) an order withdrawing an opinion filed November 23, 2020 (previously amended on December 11, 2020); and (2) an amended opinion…

• Medical marijuana use on federal supervised release when all medically prescribed alternatives fail?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The panel affirmed the district court’s denial of Richard Langley’s renewed motion to amend the conditions of his supervised release to permit him to…

• Certain felony convictions may NOT be used as a predicate prior in ‘Felon in Possession’ §922(g).
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Charged with felon in possession under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)? Learn what it means, recent case law, and how Lawstache defends firearm cases.

• United Constitutional Patriots or Armed Militia at the border, 10th Circuit Appeal: US Border Patrol
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Defendant-Appellant James Benvie was convicted of impersonating a government employee, 18 U.S.C. § 912, and sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment and a…

• Passenger REFUSES to show ID! Disobeying an UNLAWFUL order by the police officer?!?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  9th Circuit: Our question is whether law enforcement officers may extend a lawfully initiated vehicle stop because a passenger refuses to identify…

• Stateless Semi-Submersible (Submarine) Vessel with 4,400 Pounds of Cocaine. Discussing my own case!
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Jose Rosario Segura Balentierra, a Colombian national interdicted by the United States Coast Guard on a semi-submersible vessel containing…

• Beyond a reasonable doubt means “near certitude” of guilt. Prosecutorial misconduct!
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Facing criminal charges in San Diego? Learn how experienced LAWSTACHE™ attorneys protect your rights by challenging evidence

• Can you make a U-TURN before the border checkpoint? Reasonable suspicion to pull a vehicle over?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Can you legally turn around before a checkpoint? Learn what the Ninth Circuit ruled in U.S. v. Montero-Camargo and how it affects your rights

• Changing lanes, driver cover face, no rear seat, pull over to the shoulder = reasonable suspicion?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Pulled over for a lane change in California? Learn how courts view reasonable suspicion, what police can and cannot do in San Diego

• Children are often the “hidden victims” of the criminal justice system. Family ties departure.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Worried about what happens to your kid when you go to prison? Learn how courts consider family ties in sentencing, and how a lawyer helps.

• Concern about noncitizens (illegal aliens), who need aid, did NOT justify search of defendant’s home
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Learn how courts handle illegal alien searches and when evidence may be suppressed. Limits on warrants and exigent circumstances.

• Cop opens the passenger door and leans inside to speak to the driver. Illegal search? Ngumezi
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Can a cop open your car door during a traffic stop? The Ninth Circuit ruled officers cannot open a door without probable cause. LAWSTACHE

• Exclusionary Rule: unlawfully seized evidence cannot be used in State & Federal Courts. Mapp v. Ohio
  Guide · ▶ Video

  In a frequently quoted passage, Justice Clark reasoned: “Moreover, our holding that the exclusionary rule is an essential part of both the Fourth and…

• How long should police wait after knock-and-announce before making forcible entry? US v. Banks
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Officers executing a warrant to search for cocaine in respondent Banks’s apartment knocked and announced their authority. The question is whether their…

• If you are 4th Waiver on parole/probation, cops still need probable cause to search residence.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  In United States v. Grandberry, we learn that a law enforcement officer may not conduct a warrantless search of premises without probable cause to…

• LA medical marketing exec found guilty in brutal MURDER-FOR-HIRE plot. Unique argument on appeal.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  In a case in which the defendant was convicted of conspiracy to use interstate telephone calls in the commission of a murder-for-hire in violation of…

• “Particularly troubling false promise of access to the federal judiciary” by interrogating officer.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Learn about the federal appeals, including motions to suppress confessions, involuntary statements, and appellate court rulings.

• Plea Agreements. What to expect at a change of plea hearing? Judge fails to ask about voluntariness.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  In this video we are discussing plea agreements. The contents of a typical plea agreement in the Southern District of California, San Diego. I also…

• Received a TARGET letter from the US Attorney’s Office? What’s next & 6th Amd. right to counsel.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  If you received a Target letter from the United States Attorney’s Office, contact a reputable attorney. Do not ignore the letter. The request to begin…

• Revisiting the SCOPE of Terry v. Ohio frisk/search. 9th Circuit says illegal search!
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The panel reversed the district court’s denial of James Antonio Brown’s motion to suppress the fruits of a search of his pocket and his subsequent…

• Russian accused of a sham marriage to gain citizenship invoked a “marital communications privilege”
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The panel vacated the district court’s order denying a defendant’s motion to suppress recordings of his conversations with his wife and his wife’s…

• Sounds-Kinda-Like-Science, so we’ll call it … SCIENCE! Handwriting Experts and Daubert Hearings.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Defendant-Appellant Justin Foust appeals from his conviction on six counts of wire fraud, and one count each of aggravated identity theft and money…

• The case we were all waiting for! “And” is unambiguously conjunctive, so “and” means AND not OR.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Another Safety-Valve case! Title 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f), commonly called the “safety valve,” allows a district court to sentence a criminal defendant…

• U.S. Court upholds COVID delay in criminal trials, citing half million deaths. Speedy Trial Act.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The COVID-19 pandemic has presented courts with unprecedentedchallenges. Among these challenges is determining when and how to conduct jury trials…

• What is “beyond a reasonable doubt” and how is it different from the “regular” doubt?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  In this video, let’s figure out what reasonable doubt means? And how is it different from the everyday doubt we might all have. Remember, to convict at…

• What judge considers at sentencing? What judge CANNOT consider before revoking supervised release?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Before imposing a sentence, the district judge must consult 3553(a) factors, which are found below. In imposing or revoking supervised release under…

• What should you do while on pre-trial release? Post-offense rehabilitation. Gall v. United States
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Before sentencing an individual the just must consult the sentencing guidelines and sentence according to the 18 USC 3553(a) factors. Petitioner Gall…

• Your Speedy Trial Rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trust your lawyer.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  One year into the global pandemic, the federal district courts around the country still have active orders suspending jury trials. We are finally…

• 4th Amendment case by Hon. Amy Coney Barrett. Anonymous 911 call enough reasonable suspicion?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Learn how San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney Anton Vialtsin analyzes the Fourth Amendment and anonymous tip issues in Watson.

• Received a Notice to Appear (NTA) in San Diego Federal Court? What to expect at the first hearing.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The Southern District of California Federal Court made a number of changes to the way we handle criminal cases, particularly the transportation of…

• Safety-valve eligibility, mandatory minimum sentences, relevant conduct, and a gun.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Devin Hodgkiss pleaded guilty to distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in April 2018, see 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and to possessing a firearm…

• What is Minor Role reduction? How to calculate the federal sentencing guidelines in drug offenses?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  In this video, I will explain how to calculate the federal sentencing guidelines under two scenarios: with minor role reduction and without. Mitigating…

• Confession contamination and coercion during police interrogation. US v. Young
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Learn how coerced confessions can be challenged in court. San Diego defense lawyer explains coercion, voluntariness, rights under federal law.

• How to determine drug quantity and purity when drugs were never seized? US v. Houston
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Donald Lee Houston pleaded guilty to manufacturing, attempting to manufacture, and aiding and abetting the manufacture of five or more grams of actual…

• Can police listen to your conversation without a warrant? What’s a phone booth? | Katz v. USA
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Can police listen to your calls without a warrant? Learn your Fourth Amendment rights in San Diego from LAWSTACHE™ criminal defense attorney

• San Diego Federal Court closure | Coronavirus (Covid-19) | Update for clients and public 3/17/2020.
  March 17, 2020 · ▶ Video

  The District Court for the Southern District of California (Federal Court in San Diego and El Centro) issued a new order addressing concerns around the…

• The Case of the Polite Bank Robber | USA v. Perez
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Roberto Arturo Perez robs two banks. He was not carrying a weapon and gave the teller a note that read, “Put $5000 in an envelope. Put the note inside…

• What happens after Senate convicts on impeachment? Judicial review? | Nixon v. US
  Guide · ▶ Video

  After petitioner Nixon, the Chief Judge of a Federal District Court, was convicted of federal crimes and sentenced to prison, the House of…

• Searching Cell Phones and Computers at Airports and Ports of Entry | USA v. Williams
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Should the Border Patrol and Customs agents have reasonable suspicion before searching electronic devices at the border? Maybe. Or Not. It remains a…

• How to avoid federal mandatory minimum sentence with 2018 First Step Act.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  The First Step Act (P.L. 115-391) was signed into law by the President on December 21, 2018. The Act deals mostly with reentry of the incarcerated,…

• How to prepare for the detention hearing in Federal Court. | Release, Detention, Bail Bond Hearings.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  In federal criminal proceedings, release and detention determinations are governed by the Bail Reform Act of 1984. 18 U.S.C. §§ 3141-3156 (1990). These…

• What happens at the federal arraignment hearing? Arraigned on Information or Indictment?
  Guide · ▶ Video

  In this short video, federal criminal defense attorney Anton Vialtsin discusses what happens at the arraignment hearings in Federal Court. There are…

• 5 Steps to Calculating the Federal Criminal History Category | San Diego Federal Attorney
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Here, federal attorney Anton Vialtsin explains how to calculate the criminal history category under the federal guidelines in 5 steps.

• Substantial risk of injury enhancement in transportation of illegal aliens | 8 USC § 1324
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Creating Risk of Injury – §2L1.1(b)(6)* If the offense involved intentionally or recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily…

• How long can police hold a person’s cell phone without searching it or giving back? US v. Pratt
  Guide · ▶ Video

  We reviewed a number of cases dealing with the length of time police can seize (hold) a person during a traffic stop. You can watch those videos here:…

• Three (3) things to consider when charged in a drug case in Federal Court.
  Guide · ▶ Video

  These are the three things that you need to consider if you or your loved one is charged with a drug offense in federal court. 1. Bail Hearing. In…

• U.S. v. Knapp: Can Police Search a Handcuffed Suspect’s Purse?
  March 13, 2019 · ▶ Video

  In United States v. Knapp, officers searched the defendant’s purse despite the fact that she was handcuffed behind her back, her purse was closed and…

• Does a woman in a bathrobe have authority to consent to a search of a home? | US v. Terry
  February 22, 2019 · ▶ Video

  Two officers knocked on the door of defendant’s apartment, and a woman answered, wearing a bathrobe and looking sleepy. The agents identified…

• Reasonable Suspicion for Border Patrol to Stop a Vehicle on Interstate 8 | US v. Rodriguez
  February 16, 2019 · ▶ Video

  The fourth amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures extends to seizures of the person, including the brief investigatory stop of a…

• Should illegal aliens be able to possess firearms and weapons? 2nd Amendment | US v. Torres
  January 24, 2019 · ▶ Video

  The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” U.S.…

• I hear you knocking, but you can’t come in. Exigent Circumstances | US v. Lundin
  January 15, 2019 · ▶ Video

  This case goes just like Dave Edmunds’ song. Link at the end. Facts: Around 4:00 a.m. on April 23, 2013, three northern California law enforcement…

• 4th Amendment Waiver does not permit cops to search you… | United States v. Job
  January 10, 2019 · ▶ Video

  Facts: Police, looking for someone else, approach Travis Job. They patted him down because he was nervous and had many things in his pockets. They…

• Suspect “wasn’t going to say anything at all” half-way through Miranda Rights. | USA v. Abdallah
  January 6, 2019 · ▶ Video

  A suspect who interrupted his Miranda warnings about half-way through by stating that he “wasn’t going to say anything at all” did in fact…

• A man’s house is his castle! The owner cannot be excluded from its sanctuary. | U.S. v. SHRUM
  November 20, 2018 · ▶ Video

  Did the initial securing of the Defendant’s home constitute an unreasonable seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment? And if so, did such seizure…

• 8 U.S.C. 1324 | Smuggling, Transporting, Harboring, or Bringing in Illegal Aliens | San Diego Federal Attorneys
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Facing federal alien smuggling charges in San Diego? Attorney Anton Vialtsin offers experienced criminal defense in San Diego.

• What can police search for during a protective sweep of the house? | United States v. Raymond Brown
  November 8, 2018 · ▶ Video

  In Maryland v. Buie, 494 U.S. 325 (1990), the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Fourth Amendment permits a properly limited protective…

• FBI running a child porn website? Internet privacy and TOR. | USA v. Henderson
  October 25, 2018 · ▶ Video

  I know that most of the people do not want to hear anything about child porn. But this case is important from the online privacy standpoint. This case…

• Why federal court protected defendant’s identity? Identity Fraud? | United States v. John Doe
  September 12, 2018 · ▶ Video

  John Doe appeals his conviction of aggravated identity theft under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1028A, for knowingly possessing and using the name, birth date, and…

• Can 20 seconds of questioning unlawfully extend a traffic stop? | United States v. Lujan
  August 23, 2018 · ▶ Video

  On October 25, 2017, a police officer was traveling in the left lane on Interstate 24 in Winchester, Tennessee. He noticed a large passenger van in the…

• Presumptive Judicial Bias | The trial judge investigated for corruption by FBI agent (victim).
  July 31, 2018 · ▶ Video

  A story made for television: FBI agent murdered during a bank robbery. A confession obtained through torture by the Mexican police. The trial judge…

• How to Get Someone Out of Federal Custody in San Diego: Federal Bond and Detention Hearings
  Guide · ▶ Video

  Family member arrested by federal agents in San Diego? Federal court has no bail schedule; the bond goes through the defense attorney. Call 619-357-6677.

• Fast-Track Agreements, Deferred Prosecution, and Non-Prosecution
  Guide

  How fast-track plea offers, deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements can help avoid prison or a conviction in San Diego federal court. Call 619-357-6677.

• Violation of Federal Supervised Release
  Guide

  If you have been charged with Federal violation of probation or Federal violation of supervised release in San Diego federal court, contact LAWSTACHE™

• Can a company be prosecuted in the same way as an individual?
  Guide

  Facing corporate criminal charges in San Diego? Lawstache Law Firm provides skilled defense for both individuals and corporations.

• Illegal Re-entry Defense Lawyer In San Diego, CA
  Guide

  If you are charged with an illegal re-entry (1326) in San Diego Federal Court call us. Attorneys at LAWSTACHE™ have experience defensing 1326 case at trial.

• FBI versus Apple, the most significant privacy case of our lifetime?
  February 22, 2016

  The intensifying dispute between federal law enforcement officials and Apple executives over access to the encrypted iPhone of one of the San…

• National Registry of Exonerations 2016
  February 8, 2016

  2015 set a record for exonerations in the United States—149 that we know of so far, in 29 states, the District of Columbia, federal courts and Guam.…

• FBI abducting a person from foreign lands rather than following extradition procedure.
  February 4, 2016

  How does the government return a person to United States from a foreign country if it believes that he committed a crime in United States. The answer…

• FBI abducting a person from foreign lands rather than following extradition procedure.
  Guide

  It takes a lot of negotiation and time to bring a person back to United States to face criminal charges. Think of Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Viktor Bout.

• Can I mail marijuana via USPS?
  Guide

  Mailing marijuana is illegal under federal law. Our San Diego federal criminal defense attorneys at Lawstache Law Firm can help.

• Federal Clemency Attorneys- More Drug Offenders Will Be Eligible For Relief
  Guide

  If you have a loved one serving time in federal prison for a non-violent crime, he/she is able to apply for clemency under new rules were announced by…

• What does it mean when asked if you were formally charged?
  Guide

  A charge is a formal accusation of a crime, usually brought by a criminal complaints, indictments, or an information against you. If the charges were…