From the category archives:

Theft/Fraud

Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in D.C.: Man Masquerades as Metro Bus Driver

July 12, 2010 Theft/Fraud

According to the Washington Post, a 19-year-old man wearing a Metro bus driver’s uniform walked into the Bladensburg bus garage, got into a bus, and drove away. But instead of making off with the bus, the man drove the correct B2 route, picking up passengers along the way. It wasn’t until he crashed the bus [...]

Read the full article →

Shoplifting in Washington, D.C.

November 23, 2009 Theft/Fraud

In 2001, the actress Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting $5,500 worth of goods from a store in Beverly Hills.  As captured on the store’s surveillance tape, Ms. Ryder went into a Saks Fifth Avenue store and stuffed a number of garments into empty shopping bags.  Ms. Ryder then walked out of the store and [...]

Read the full article →

The Difference Between Robbery and Burglary in D.C.

November 11, 2009 Assault

How many times have you heard someone complain that he or she has been robbed?  A person returns home from vacation and finds a backdoor broken and a computer missing.  Oh my goodness, dear, we’ve been robbed!  A wallet is taken from a gym locker.  Someone robbed my wallet!

Technically, the people have not been robbed.  [...]

Read the full article →

The Vermeer and Modigliani Frauds

October 30, 2009 Theft/Fraud

In researching forgery and fraud laws in Washington, D.C., I was reminded of two of my favorite stories.  I tell the stories now not just because I find them entertaining, but also because I think they illustrate the differences between the modern day criminal offenses of forgery and fraud, at least as the two offenses [...]

Read the full article →

The Letterman Case: Extortion or Blackmail?

October 23, 2009 Theft/Fraud

David Letterman’s recent revelation that he had been having affairs with female members of his staff and his reason for making the revelation – threats by a CBS producer to reveal the indiscretions — bring attention to what I believe are two interesting and often misunderstood crimes:  extortion and blackmail.  While all the news reports [...]

Read the full article →