By Attorney Nicole Masnica

White collar crimes such as fraud, money laundering, or securities and antitrust violations, bear severe punishment and a conviction for these types of charges can affect the rest of your life. These criminal investigations tend to be lengthy and complex, and a defendant may undergo a thorough sweep of their financial records. These investigations can be especially concerning if there are potential federal charges, including through the RICO Act. However, this act is not always fully understood, and defendants will want to determine how these types of charges may affect their case.

In June 2019, newly-elected Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers reversed the eight-year moratorium on criminal pardons imposed by the former Governor Walker, who refused to issue pardons during his two terms in office. Governor Evers issued Executive Order #30, which reversed Walker’s unprecedented shutdown of executive clemency. This Order reopens an avenue of potential relief for those who have lost some of their rights due to a criminal conviction.

Following his consideration of recommendations made by the Governor's Pardon Advisory Board after their October 14, 2019, hearing, Governor Evers issued pardons to eight individuals on November 8, 2019.  “Pardons play a very important role in our criminal justice system and society by giving deserving folks a second chance,” Governor Evers said. “For so many of these individuals, their past record has held them back from achieving personal or career goals, and I look forward to seeing how they use this second chance to give back to their communities and our state.”

While the criteria for pardon eligibility are spelled out (see links in sources section below), the process of obtaining a pardon can be complicated. This makes it advisable for those seeking a pardon to have an experienced criminal defense attorney to guide and assist them in record-gathering, application, development of reasons, references, and at the hearing before the Pardon Advisory Board.

By Raymond Dall’Osto and Jason Luczak

Today in America, we are regularly presented with headlines, promotions, and offers on digital and other media that tell us that by submitting a DNA sample (spit into small bottle and mail it in), this will provide a great way to connect generations, build a family tree, and find out more than just the place you’re from through Ancestry DNA and Ancestry Health. A different well-known firm, 23andme, offers equivalent services through its DNA Ancestry + Traits and Health + Ancestry. 

By Ray Dall’Osto

After passing the Wisconsin Assembly earlier this year as A.B. 33, the Wisconsin Senate adjourned this year’s legislative session, without taking action to approve the parallel bipartisan expungement bill pending before it, S.B. 39. The proposed expungement reform bill, which has long been supported by the State Bar of Wisconsin and was favorably considered in previous years and legislative sessions, would change state law involving getting a criminal record expunged. If passed by the Senate and signed by Governor Evers, the expungement reform bill will significantly help alleviate the negative impact a criminal record can have on individuals seeking employment, housing, volunteer work, and in other areas where the stigma of a conviction can pose a roadblock, even in cases where the crime was nonviolent, a misdemeanor or lower-class felony, and/or committed many years ago. 

By Patrick Knight, Ray Dall’Osto & Jason Luczak

Computer and digital technology is constantly changing and ever-expanding. As a result, certain types of activities that might not seem problematic at the time could end up causing serious legal problems. State laws governing theft, and its civil cousins misappropriation and conversion, have expanded to include unauthorized possession, use and misuse of computers and digital information, the internet, use of identity, and capturing and sharing images.  

Internet crimes are ever-increasing and the definitions applied and consequences change rapidly, with the sentences more and more retributive. Known collectively as computer crime laws, these statutes cover a wide scope of activities, and violations of these laws can result in a broad range of criminal penalties. In addition to criminal charges, these crimes and activities can also form the basis for restitution claims and large money damage lawsuits, which include punitive and treble damages.