From the category archives:

Theft/Fraud

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 [...]

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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.  [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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