I have a family member that has committed identity theft against myself, as well as my father. He has established credit cards under my name using my social security number and I am afraid that going to authorities will cost me money, or get him into some serious trouble. He has taken credit cards out in my name and they have now been handed over to collection agencies. Needless to say, my credit is screwed. He is will to admit his wrong-doings. Can the amounts be taken out of my name and somehow established under his own? The same with my father? What do I need to do to clear my name and hopefully, protect this family member at the same time, in terms of jailtime. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

From my and other people’s experiences, PayPal® is anti-customer, having identity theft possibly via PayPal® as well as other major financial issues. What other companies that offer the same services are there than using PayPal®?

Brad Gellert, left, probably didn't know the day he picked to wear his "I [Heart] My Marriage" shirt was also the day he'd get popped on domestic-abuse charges.

Gellert, 32, of Hillsborough County, allegedly tried to strangle his wife during an argument at their home Sunday night.

The Smoking Gun notes that Gellert's shirt was a promotional item from a recent Christian-themed film starring evangelical actor and former Growing Pains wunderkind Kirk Cameron.

Local police agencies say there's no evidence to support a rampant rumor circulating over text messages and the Internet that a gang is planning an attack at a South Florida Wal-Mart.   

"There's nothing to indicate this is rooted in fact,'' said Detective Rebeca Perez, a Miami-Dade police spokeswoman.  

The Broward Sheriff's Office called the threat a "long running hoax.''

BSO, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the Miami-Dade Police Department and Tallahassee police îîhave found no credible information to substantiate this threat,'' the PBSO said in a news release.

Dan Fogleman, a Wal-Mart spokesman said the company is taking extra precautions in light of the messages circulating.

"While we take these situations seriously, we regard this as only a rumor much like similar rumors that have circulated via e-mail in previous years,'' he said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the term "walmart gang initiation'' was one of the top searches on Google.

Suspect charged with four residential burglaries and one attempt residential burglary Blaine HeindelKenner, La. – On Monday, March 3, 2008, at 1034 hours, the Kenner Police Department received a complaint from a concerned citizen who reported suspicious activity. The complainant…

Eddie CoronadoKenner, La. – On Thursday, February 28, 2008, members of the Kenner Police Department Narcotics Division executed a search warrant at 3813 Connecticut Avenue, Kenner. As a result of the search warrant, approximately 8.8 pounds of marijuana, 7.3 grams…

Incident linked to drug activity A Kenner man has been booked with attempted murder in connection with a shooting last month in River Ridge. Devis Harris, 20, of 4021E . LouisianaState Drive, was booked with second-degree attempted murder and felony…

Kenner, La. – The Kenner Police Department is presently investigating a bank robbery that occurred at the Capital One Bank, located at 2510 Williams Boulevard, Kenner. At approximately 09:51 A.M., two black males, entered the bank an announced the robbery….

Blaine HeindelKenner, La. – The Kenner Police Department arrested Blaine Heindel, W/M, 09/20/1988, 0f 3614 Arkansas Ave, Kenner, for a series of burglaries in the GreenLawn Terrace Subdivision of Kenner. Blaine Heindel has been identified as the person responsible for…

Kendall JacksonKenner, La. – The Kenner Police Department have issued warrants for the arrest of Kendell Jackson, B/M, 09/27/84, of 4723 Majestic Oaks Dr, New Orleans, La. for a series of burglaries in the Highway Park Subdivision of Kenner. Kendell…

Kenner, La. – The Kenner Police Department have arrested Matthew Sherburne, W/M, 06/17/82, of 1903 Portsmouth Street, Apt 15, Houston, Texas in connection with a fatality accident that occurred in October 19, 2007 in the 300 Block of Interstate 10,…

Suspect booked with 5 counts of Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile Kenner, La. – On Monday, March 17, 2008, at 11:55 a.m., Michael Lyons, age 36, of 4141 East Loyola Drive, Kenner, was arrested at Isidore Newman School after…

Suspect arrested for internet sex crimes involving juveniles Source: Kenner Police Department Press Release Kenner, La. – On June 12, 2008 at approximately 2:30 P.M., William B. Mercier W/M, age 34, of 2783 Highway 51 SE, Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, was…

2006 murders: An interactive graphic displaying all open and solved murders that occured in 2006 as well as convictions. NOLA 2006 murders by the numbers 2007 homicide watch: The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com will follow every 2007 New Orleans homicide as…

Some thoughts from the fine folks at Baker Hostetler, via the New York Law Journal.

– MDT

Perhaps a response to being on the OECD’s draft blacklist of uncooperative tax havens? That is, after the Swiss got through whinging about being on the list in the first place.

None of these countries are quite prepared to rat on their own population, but foreigners should no longer count on the same discretion.

For its part the OECD doesn’t plan on changing the makeup of their naughty list prior to the G20, no matter what kind of pledges they receive – I’m looking at you, Monaco.

As the G20 meeting gets closer (early April) they’ll be plenty more pressure to go around and other traditional tax havens may also fall in line. But should they?

Some (ok, one guy from the Cato institute) says no.

– MDT

A little of that FCPA action we’ve been talking about. The U.S. government’s investigation goes (involving both the SEC and DOJ) back to 2007 and concerns allegations that reps of Royal Dutch Shell paid bribes to Nigerian customs agents, possibly through Swiss freight forwarding firm Panalpina. The SEC is investigating ten other firms that used Panalpina on suspicion of similar illegal payments. Shell has been running its own internal investigation alongside the U.S. Government probe.

– MDT

David Friehling, come on down…

– MDT

This Examiner recap of the Bloomberg effort features a cameo from the James Mintz Group, which sent undercover investigators into New York area gunstores in order to make illegal purchases as part of a sting operation.

– MDT

How high is the water mama?

Some big, big numbers here. According to recent testimony from FBI Deputy Director John Pistole before a House of Reps panel, the FBI is currently investigating 2,000-plus mortgage fraud fraud investigations ongoing in 2009 (up from around 900 in 2006) and 566 corporate fraud investigations 43 of which apparently derive from the current financial crisis.

Three feed high and rising.

Exponentially.

Pistole’s full testimony is right here. Well worth reading

– MDT

Too soon?

Yeah. Man, I miss this guy,

– MDT

Corporate investigators, your time is now.

You’ve been anointed by the New York Times as the new go-to profession.

– MDT

Stoneridge looms large in a decision that sees Refco lawyer Joseph Collins and the firm of Mayer Brown off the hook for the commodity firm’s fraud and subsequent flame-out. This would be a bit of a strikeout for Refco’s shareholders and for uber-securities litigator John Coffey of Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann.

You can view the judge’s dismissal order here, thanks to the AmLaw Daily. While your at it, check out Judge Gerard Lynch’s juicy footnote on page 25 where he basically calls the Stoneridge decision out as a steaming pile of crap that we’d be better off without. But he says it all Judge-like and nice.

Despite the decision in this case, none of these folks are quite done with Refco yet. John Coffee has more parties to chase on behalf of the aggrieved – someone signed off on those Refco books Grant Thornton . For Mayer Brown there is still the small matter of the Refco-related RICO suit brought by Thomas H. Lee Partners and a multi billion dollar lawsuit filed by Refco’s bancruptcy trustee.

Oh and Joseph Collins also has the small matter of his own federal criminal trial on security fraud charges. That’ll start in April.

Call it a full docket all around. More on this mess via Law.com

– MDT

The Park Avenue duplex once owned by Refco’s former CEO, Phillip Bennett (now serving a 16 year sentence) has gone on the market for $5.9 million. The property had passed into government hands after Bennett plead guilty to most of the available types of business fraud.

You can check out a floorplan here via the always awsome Curbed. Nice hardwoods! If you’d like to make an offer, I am sure Sabrina or Daniela would be glad to take your call. Open house this Wed!

– MDT

Mexican detectives are looking for five bodies after they found several coolers with five heads inside.

The heads were covered with tape. Each head had a threatening message aimed at drug traffickers.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix dove into a crowd of hecklers during his performance as a rapper on Thursday morning at the Fontainebleau Hotel's club LIV in Miami Beach.

Miami Beach police did not make any arrests. But was it artist's rage or publicity staged?

While on stage Phoenix said "I've got millions of dollars in my f*&** bank account. What do you got?" Then he proceeded to attack the heckler. Dozens of security guards pounced on the scuffle, as party goers jumped out of the way, witnesses told Crime Scene.

One of the event's hosts Alexis Mincolla said he thinks it may have been an act.

"The film crew he had with him seems like an act to me," said Mincolla. "Casey Affleck is working on a documentary" about Phoenix's career shift.

Affleck is Ben Affleck's brother and Phoenix's brother-in-law. 

Witnesses at LIV on Thursday morning may have criticized Phoenix's rapping skills, but his acting skills are still superb.

This is not the first time Phoenix abruptly leaves the stage. Watch him fall off stage during a performance at a club in Las Vegas on January.

You may be able to catch more Phoenix drama tonight – He and Demi Moore are set to attend an after party for the Miami International Film Festival at Bella Rose, 423 16th St., in South Beach.

Click here to view the invitation:

If this guy suffers from blackouts when he drinks, he was in for one hell of a surprise.

Robert Conde, 41, beat up his girlfriend Ruth Ann Trueblood to death because she wouldn't let him keep on drinking.

When his drunken rage was done, police say Conde attempted to have sex with her bloody body but couldn't. He covered the body with a blanket and fell asleep next to her.

Miami Herald Staff David Smiley has the story.

Authorities said Saturday that 44-year-old Raul Eiseman had tricked a man into making weekly payments for a year by saying he was a police officer.

Police said on Saturday that if Lindsay Lohan, 22, comes in contact with police, she is subject to arrest.

She has a pending warrant stemming from a 2007 DUI conviction, People.com is reporting.

Police accuse Ian Debeer, 21, also allegedly known as graffiti writer HERT, of causing $212,000 in damages in Pittsburgh.

Police said they had confiscated a total of $3,000 worth of spray paint cans, respirators, bags of custom-designed nozzles and books about graffiti from Debeer's apartment.

Authorities are increasingly using postings on MySpace and Facebook to track down alleged graffiti vandals.

But graffiti writers are also getting more creative. Writer RIZE in Danbury is using acidic solutions such as "Etch Bath" and "Armor Etch-All" to corrode glass so his tag appears as a milky-white stain on windows and doors.

Not at war in Sacramento, a business association is allowing graffiti writers to paint on certain walls this weekend.

 "People doing tagging are just people fighting anonymity," said a former Sacramento councilman.

For other trouble youth according to this Chicago report pursuing graffiti is an opportunity to stay away from engaging in more severe crimes. As my grandmother would say: "Esta complicada la cosa."

Some actors like to impersonate morbid reality.

The following videos are enacted crime scenes at a nightclub in South Beach. Do not click on play if you get easily scandalized. These are rated R.

Warning: Most of them contain partygoers' indecent displays of partial nudity and graphic content (fake blood).

BLACK SUNDAY- SPAGHETTI ALLA DEATH from Alexis Mincolla on Vimeo.

ART OF MURDER vs SLOPPY SECONDS (2.14.09) from Alexis Mincolla on Vimeo.

BLACK SUNDAY- DIRTY MUTHA from Alexis Mincolla on Vimeo.

Run on over to CNBC’s site for the personal finance show On the Money… I’ve answered a viewer “Ask the Experts” question about filing bankruptcy versus going through the debt settlement process. Bankruptcy often sounds attractive because it wipes out much of what you owe, but it’s not always the best option and you may [...]

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker had an opinion piece on the bailout madness in today’s Wall Street Journal. His legacy is holding the line of property taxes for Milwaukee County property owners. (i.e. He felt that we were already paying too much when he won the office several years ago, and has seen to it [...]

Top 10 Red Flags for Fraud at Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE:PPD)
1. Pre-Paid Legal press releases and earnings calls consistently tout the “record” numbers that the company has achieved. This leaves the impression that the business is increasing in strength.
TRUTH: Every key metric for Pre-Paid Legal’s business was down in 2008, again demonstrating the weakness [...]

In the world of Mary Kay Cosmetics, recruiting new victims into the multi-level marketing (MLM) system and frontloading them with large inventory packages is critical to the survival of the company. The company and the upper levels of the pyramid rely on repeated ordering of products by beauty consultants, and little attention is paid to [...]

Mark Jackson, president of EchoStar Corp. (NASDAQ:SATS), doesn’t have an engineering degree from Texas Tech, as had been claimed in numerous filings and public relations pieces. The fake degree was also listed in an annual report for ArchosSA, a French maker of portable music and video players.
The company’s explanation? It was a “clerical” error.  (Over [...]

From The Wall Street Journal:
It’s hard not to see the continued sell-off on Wall Street and the growing fear on Main Street as a product, at least in part, of the realization that our new president’s policies are designed to radically re-engineer the market-based U.S. economy, not just mitigate the recession and financial crisis.
The illusion [...]

I’ve written plenty here about perpetual money-loser Overstock.com (NASDAQ:OSTK) and its wacky CEO Patrick Byrne. Unfortunately, I’ve mostly lost interest in the topic. Why? It’s the same old, same old.
Overstock.com continuously loses money for shareholders. Byrne pretends that profits are right around the corner. More money is lost. Dishonest accounting tricks are used to pretend [...]

Wisconsin is one of the highest taxed states in the nation. If you live in Milwaukee, you’ve got it even worse. All taxes are through the roof… highest sales tax rate, highest property taxes, most “fees” that are nothing more than disguised taxes…
Every time we turn around, a politician is looking for new ways to [...]

Two weeks ago the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners sent out a survey to members, attempting to determine whether a bad economy makes fraud rise. I’ve written about this topic before, and the truth is that there is no way for us to know.
People suspect that a poor economy causes more fraud, but it’s absolutely [...]

Our laws have not kept up with technology. Social media like Twitter (with users posting “tweets” for others to read) and Facebook are having a big impact on life, and the impact on the legal system is yet to be determined. The one thing I’ve observed related to the legal system and social media is [...]

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