Archive for May, 2008
« Previous EntriesMay 31st: Happy Tax Protester Day!
Saturday, May 31st, 2008May 31st is the annual anniversary of Lady Godiva’s infamous naked ride through town which took place roughly 950 years ago. The Saxon Lady was a teenager at the time, and she complained mightily to her elderly Danish Lord husband that the tax rates imposed on his tenants in the town of Coventry were too [...]
Judgment Day, the Final Chapter
Monday, May 19th, 2008The jury continued deliberating this morning but just couldn’t reach a unanimous decision on the four remaining tax evasion charges, so a mistrial was declared on those counts. Bottom line, the detective was convicted on two felony counts, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of $250,000. He still has to pay [...]
Judgment Day, Part I
Friday, May 16th, 2008GUILTY Count 5: Federal income tax evasion for 2005 Count 9: DC income tax evasion for 2005 NOT GUILTY Count 1: False refund claim – 2002 Form 1040EZ Count 2: False refund claim – 2002 Form 1041 Count 6: Fraud in the First Degree against DC NO VERDICT YET Count 3: Federal income tax evasion [...]
Day 8: It's all up to the jury now
Thursday, May 15th, 2008The jury came in to the courtroom at 11:05 am to hearing closing arguments. The courtroom was so crowded (more than 85 observers) that 15 lawyers (including Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman and Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Marella) were allowed to sit along the bench inside the bar.  Imagine how nerve-wracking that must have been for the [...]
Day 7: Just when you think the Judge couldn't get any slower
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008At the end of the day on Tuesday, the jury was told not to come back until 1:15 today. The judge needed to make some decisions on the jury instructions and he put aside a half day for that discussion.  Seriously, a half day. Since jury instructions are about as exciting as watching golf on [...]
Day 6: Doesn't everyone have carburetors in their living room?
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008You just know it’s not going to be a good day for a criminal defendant when a federal prosecutor immediately starts shooting at him with the really big guns… Prosecutor: You put people in jail for breaking the law, isn’t that true? Prosecutor: To be a good detective, you need good instincts … common sense … [...]
Day 5: The detective takes the stand
Monday, May 12th, 2008Finally, we got to hear from the detective himself. Michael Irving grew up in DC and attended Howard University for two years before dropping out to become a “journeyman meat-cutter” at Safeway in Georgetown. He joined the Metropolitan Police Department in 1989 and worked his way up to Homicide Detective First Class where he ended [...]
Curiouser and curiouser
Sunday, May 11th, 2008I’m posting two blog entries again today. Be sure to read “Day 4″ first. I’m really interested in hearing from the defendant in this case, and I would imagine the jurors are too. Based on the strong evidence the jury has heard so far, the defendant is going to have to take the stand if he hopes to [...]
Day 4: I hope the Redskins were worth $19,169
Sunday, May 11th, 2008You know how I said that the government’s case had finally picked up some momentum on Thursday? All gone. Two government witnesses that should have taken up no more than three hours between them dragged out into an all day event, thanks to a glacial-paced judge and a defense attorney who — well, you’ll see. [...]
Day 3: Death by papercut
Thursday, May 8th, 2008Housekeeping: In an attempt to catch up on my blogging, (I blame the apple martini) I’m posting two entries today. If you haven’t checked the blog in the last couple of hours, be sure to scroll down and read “Day 2: Popsicle toes and many unhappy returns” prior to reading this entry. There was a [...]
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