Election Day is here, and as we hit the ballot box, some overzealous campaigners may be accused of illegal tactics and charged with federal election crimes.
Election crimes like voter fraud, ballot stuffing, and illegal financing may seem like harmless and minor issues to some, but authorities take the offense very seriously.
Here's how to spot the three types of federal election crimes, as described by the FBI:
Oscar Sanchez was arrested last week for a money laundering scheme that sent millions of Medicare dollars to Cuba.
Prosecutors claim that Sanchez helped launder $31 million in fraudulent Medicare payments. His check-cashing business made it possible for Sanchez to launder Medicare checks and wire payments between 2005 and 2009, according to The Miami Herald.
This is the first money laundering scheme out of Miami that directly links Medicare fraud dollars to Cuba. The organization of the scheme was designed to hide the final destination of funds from the authorities.
A federal judge sentenced Las Vegas priest Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe, 59, to three years in prison earlier today.
The Roman Catholic priest pleaded guilty in October to embezzling $650,000 from the gift shop, candle collection, mission and prayer funds at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Summerlin.
He allegedly used the funds to support his gambling habit.
There may come a time when your checking account is low. Bills may be due, but your paycheck won't be issued for another few days. Should you still write a check? What if it bounces? Is it illegal to bounce a check? What if you have overdraft protection?
These are all incredibly important questions for anyone on a fixed budget. But the answers are unfortunately not very positive.
Bouncing a check is also known as writing a bad check. And bad check laws generally make the practice illegal.
Former Girl Scouts money manager Yaasmin Hooey, 35, was caught doing something decidedly against the organization's credo. Hooey is accused of pilfering $310,000 from the non-profit.
Hooey served as the organization's director of finance in New York. Authorities say she started stealing money in 2008. She wrote 65 checks using the director's forged signature. She also sent 9 wire transfers to her own checking account.
What did Hooey buy? Railroad tickets, groceries, and other items including a $13,000 diamond ring and a luxury cruise. That's the equivalent of... well, a whole lot of Thin Mints.
If you've ever thought about refusing a breathalyzer test or a field sobriety test you might want to think again.
Many states have enacted laws that dole out punishments if you voluntarily refrain.
Why exactly are you compelled to consent to testing? It's because most states have what's called "implied consent" laws.
Former Illinois Rod Blagojevich is guilty of corruption. Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial has ended with a guilty jury verdict on 17 out of 20 charges of corruption that were levied against him.
The jury deliberated for 9 days before reaching its decision.
Blagojevich took the stand earlier during the trial, testifying for 7 days. He repeatedly denied the allegations of corruption during his testimony, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
Is John Edwards' trial really going to happen? If so, what will John Edwards' defense be concerning the alleged misuse of campaign funds to cover up his affair and pregnancy with Rielle Hunter?
Edwards was indicted Friday on felony charges for soliciting and using up to $925,000 to hide Rielle Hunter and her pregnancy during his 2008 presidential nomination campaign.
The indictment came down after negotiations between Edwards' attorneys and prosecutors failed. They had been trying to agree on a charge that Edwards could plead guilty to. Prosecutors wanted Edwards to plead guilty on a felony charge, which would have put his legal license at jeopardy, reports the AP.
Even though it's never appropriate to drive under the influence, it's important to understand your legal rights so that you can make informed decisions.
With DUI checkpoints popular nationwide, you may be subject to police scrutiny after a few drinks. At some point, you may even have to decide whether to comply with a breathalyzer request or a field sobriety test.
If this is ever the case, this is what you need to know.
The BP oil rig explosion and subsequent oil spill killed eleven people and hundreds of thousands of sea creatures that formed a substantial part of the Gulf economy.
Rumor has it that the joint task force encompassing the Department of Justice's environmental and criminal divisions are currently determining who to hold responsible for those deaths. Talks are in the works to decide whether to bring manslaughter and perjury charges against the company and managers who oversaw the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
