What are Your Rights? 

The Fourth Amendment provides clear and consistent protections for those facing federal searches, including the following:

• You have the right to remain silent. You don’t have to tell agents anything, and it’s wise to keep mum because anything you do say could wind up causing problems for you as the case moves forward.
• You have the right to an attorney. Yes, federal agents can go ahead with their search before your attorney arrives, which means you should make a very quick phone call to your lawyer. Ultimately your legal counsel can work to keep the search within the scope of the warrant.
• You have the right to read the warrant. If agents fail to produce a warrant, they cannot conduct a search. Be sure to obtain a copy of any warrant immediately and check that agents are at the right location, and know the specifics of where they can look and what they are looking for.
• You have the right to Watch the Search. Don’t let agents force you to wait outside while they go through your home. As long as you’re not getting in the way, you have every right to be there.
• You have the right to have your property protected. Agents are not allowed to tear apart your house unnecessarily and damage your property during the search.
• You have the right to be protected from overreach. The warrant has clear parameters, and officers are not allowed to search beyond them without your permission—which you are under no obligation to provide. If officers are looking for a stolen car, it’s not reasonable for them to search your bedroom, for example.
• You have the right to record the search. Feel free to videotape the search, or, at the very least, take notes during the search—but do so without obstructing their work. This documentation could prove useful if undue damage occurs or there are other issues down the road.

After the Search

Your rights don’t end when the search is over. The experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law are dedicated to protecting your rights from beginning to end of this experience and always fight for the best possible outcomes. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

fletc.gov/audio/search-warrants-mp3

Registration

After being released from prison  or after moving to the state of Nevada every convicted sex offender in the state of Nevada is required to register with the Nevada Sex Offender Registry  (NSOR) within 48 hours of determining their residence, and they must check in at regular intervals determined based on the level they are assigned.  These tiers are determined based on the crime:

1. Tier I:  These are low-risk offenders who have been convicted of misdemeanors. Such individuals are required to be registered with law enforcement for 15 years, although they are not required to be named in the online sex offender register unless their crimes involved children.
2. Tier 2:  Moderate risk offenders who are convicted felons for crimes such as child pornography must remain on the registry for 25 years.
3. Tier 3: High risk offenders who have been convicted of crimes such as sexual assault or rape are required to register for the rest of their lives.

Nevada Registration Requirements

The registration process involves informing law enforcement of living arrangements, employment, student status, volunteer work, vehicle information, and driver’s license number, and updates are compulsory when there are changes to this information. Anyone who lacks a permanent residence must update the registry monthly to notify police where they sleep. Additionally, offenders must periodically update this information (quarterly, biannually, or annually, depending on tier). Updates occur when the NSOR mails a verification form that is non-forwardable. This form, along with a current photo and set of fingerprints, must be returned within 10 days of receipt.

Failure to Comply

Offenders who fail to comply with these requirements could be charged with a felony, resulting in up to four years behind bars and $5,000 in fines. Subsequent offenses could mean an additional year in prison and a doubling of fines.

Additional Restrictions

Offenders may be subject to restrictions on phone, computer, and digital use depending on  the crime and other factors.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

Do you need a lawyer? If you are dealing with sex offense charges, the answer is a resounding YES! The experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law always fight to achieve the best possible outcomes for you. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-179b.html

Concerning Allegations 

• A seven-year-old who was accused of stealing $3.00 from her teacher was told to remove her leggings and underwear by the school’s administrator.
• A security officer in a high school ordered a student who had autism to undress in a classroom while other students were present. The student was required to pull down both his pants and underwear as the officer looked for a vape.
• A menstruating eighth-grader with special needs was required to strip, lift her breasts, and spread her legs in front of the school principal, who was looking for marijuana.
• A five-year-old was forced to undergo more than one vaginal exam by school nurses who were looking for indications of abuse.

Some Statistics

The reported cases are cause for alarm:

• 30 percent involved students being forced to pull down their pants and/or lift up their shirts;
• In over 12 percent of cases students stripped down to only underwear;
• Students were told to remove their underwear in 15 percent of cases;
• In just under one percent of situations vaginal exams were performed;
• Officials from the schools were looking for drugs, vapes, or money 45 percent of the time;
• 10 percent of searches were for weapons (in which none were found);
• Adults were looking for signs of abuse in 30 percent of cases;
• In over 37 percent of cases, the search was conducted by an adult of the opposite gender;
• Over 80 percent of searches were conducted by school staff, with the remainder being conducted by school police officers.

How it Affects Kids

Intrusive? Traumatic? Demeaning? Humiliating? These words and more describe strip searches for students in schools. The American Bar Association writes that strip searches are harmful, violating students’ sense of dignity and impacting healthy brain development. The fact of the matter is, many, if not most schools, have no policy addressing strip searches. And as dehumanizing as it may be, it is not illegal, as long as there was reasonable cause to conduct the search. Justice David Souter of the Supreme Court wrote that the “content of suspicion” must “match the degree of intrusion.”

Fighting to Protect Your Rights 

At Lobo Law, our experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys are dedicated to protecting your rights.  If you believe they have been violated, give us a call in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/human-rights/archive/strip-searching-children-state-imposed-trauma/

Firearms Definitions Aligned

Machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) are able to transform semiautomatic guns into completely automatic weapons. These kits, sometimes referred to auto sears or Glock switches, have been demarcated differently in the Gun Control Act and the National Firearms Act, which has led to some confusion and capricious applications. The new law clarifies that MCDs are to be treated as machine guns, affecting potential enhancements in a unifying manner.

Enhancements for Restraining Victims

There have been dissimilar understandings among circuit courts as to what constitutes restraining a victim during the commission of a crime. New rules narrow the definition of restraint to mean the physical restriction of a person by tying them up or through similar physical means. No longer will courts be able to interpret the restricted movement of victim’s movements by intimidation with a gun or other weapon as a possible enhancement for sentencing, which will impact the ability of prosecutors to add time to charges.

Supervised Release 

New rules are focused on reducing supervision for people who may not require it following a period of incarceration. Individualized sentencing determinations are intended to lead to more options to assist in rehabilitation, rather than simply serving as an extension of punishment. New requirements call for the following:

1. Weighing the circumstances of the crime, as well as characteristics and history specific to the defendant;
2. Sentences must be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime and must be geared toward public protection, deterrence, and providing the education and medical care necessary for success;
3. An effort to reduce sentencing disparities;
4. A requisite delivery of victim compensation following a conviction.

Fentanyl Misrepresentations

Defendants who deliberately misrepresented what was in a product containing fentanyl were formerly able to get around federal statute by claiming they didn’t know that the substance they were selling as, say, cocaine, contained fentanyl in reality. Their claims of “I had no idea,” were helpful in avoiding certain enhancements unless the prosecutor could demonstrate that there was willful blindness associated with the claim. That’s been changed to reckless disregard, which will be less difficult to prove.

Retroactivity 

Since some of the changes will reduce sentences, the Commission must examine whether the changes will apply retroactively to people who are currently incarcerated.

Defending Against Federal Charges 

If you are looking at the possibility of federal prison time due to federal charges, the experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law are here to help. Schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.

Source:

ussc.gov/guidelines/2025-guidelines-manual

What is the Alford Plea? 

Nevada law allows defendants who maintain that they are innocent despite significant evidence to the contrary to enter the Alford plea. It’s essentially a nolo contendere—or no contest—plea, meaning the defendant may be convicted and sent to prison without ever having to admit guilt.

Benefits of the Alford Plea

• Initially, the Alford plea affords defendants a fast and inexpensive way to address their charges. A long and costly trial is avoided, meaning the stress and uncertainty of a trial is also bypassed.
• Defendants are allowed to maintain their claims of innocence, which is important for many individuals who wish to have that on the record rather than plead guilty to lesser charges.
• It can be a way to lead into discussions toward a plea bargain for those interested.
• The ambiguities of a trial are eliminated, and a trial verdict is no longer a concern.
• Defendants are able to be sentenced without the trauma and emotional upheaval of a trial.
• In cases that are high-profile where finding an impartial jury is a concern, the concern is obliterated.
• The spectacle of a court case is avoided, giving the defendant a quiet, private resolution to the case.
• In some cases, the court may believe a lighter sentence than what a jury might choose is appropriate.

The Downside of the Alford Plea

• The defendant will still be sentenced, have a criminal record, and suffer all the effects associated with that, from social stigma to housing and employment challenges.
• Some research suggests that defendants actually receive longer sentences when choosing an Alford plea compared to those who simply receive a guilty verdict.
• Some defendants may feel pressured to take an Alford plea because they are so fearful of the case going to trial, even if it is not the best option for them.
• When it comes time to petition for parole, defendants may be viewed as lacking remorse since they’d maintained their innocence throughout the process.
• The public may misinterpret the plea and be confused about the actual innocence or guilt of the defendant.
• Victims and their families may find the outcome unsatisfying.

What’s Right for Your Situation? 

Decisions about pleas of any kind are weighty. Having a Las Vegas criminal defense attorney who is willing to fight to protect your rights and jockey to get the best possible outcomes for you is more important than ever. At Lobo Law, you can count on experienced, ethical legal assistance. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

leg.state.nv.us/courtrules/nrap.html

The Charges 

Mr. Weisselberg was accused of, and copped to, some serious crimes, including grand larceny, conspiracy to commit fraud, falsification of business records, and tax evasion—15 felonies in all. Mr. Trump himself has not been personally charged with anything, although the family business profited by evading payroll taxes on huge sums of money.  The Trump Organization, therefore, and not Trump personally, is a defendant in a current case, looking at the same charges Weisselberg confessed to.

Why Charge a Company?

There are real benefits to charging a corporation rather than individual executives in cases like this.  This is true when illegal actions have been going on for a lengthy time period and are ubiquitous, making it difficult to institute changes. Particularly in cases like this one, where the company has shown no interest in addressing the wrongdoing on its own, legal action is often warranted. The penalties and fines associated with a successful prosecution can accomplish a number of things, including:

• Millions—even billions of dollars can be recouped from the business;
• It can result in changes to business operations;
• It often encourages individuals to cooperate with parallel investigations;
• It sends a powerful message of intolerance to industries that play fast and loose with the rules.

When are Prosecutors Hesitant to Charge a Business?

In some cases prosecutors are reluctant to prosecute businesses because it can result in the needless harming of innocent employees or businesses.  That’s because companies often choose to close their doors the minute a legal charge is filed, putting people out of work.

Defending Charges

At Lobo Law, our experienced Las Vegas white collar defense attorneys are familiar with the thinking and procedures associated with cases like this.  If you are facing  similar circumstances, you need adept and creative legal work on your behalf.  To discuss the possibilities, schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.

Source:

npr.org/2022/08/19/1118365588/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-ex-cfo-pleads-guilty-to-felony-charges

AI to Blame

It turns out that the prosecutor’s office was using AI to beef up their briefs, and in each case there were grave misinterpretations of law, in addition to quotations that did not ever appear in cited text. It was a clear indication that AI was the culprit. That led defense attorneys to take the case to the California Supreme Court, in hopes that they would find a pattern of fictional legal interpretations and case citations. That led to some interesting conclusions.

Problems 

Defense attorneys had 22 technology researchers and legal scholars by their side in court who cautioned that the unbridled use of artificial intelligence in the legal field could result in wrongful convictions. They noted that legal documents were full or errors due to the use of Gemini and ChatGPT, which are commonly used to prepare anything from emails and essays to legal briefs. When the use of AI goes unchecked, the pitfalls can be catastrophic, since these tools have been proven to invent answers to legal questions that are complete fiction.

One Arizona State University law professor acknowledged that errors in court papers that are the result of AI tend to be an indication of negligence, not intended deception. Nevertheless, because AI is programmed to be sycophantic, it often stretches the truth to find an answer that supports a particular argument. Commonly referred to as hallucinated content, nearly 600 cases have been detected worldwide, over 60 percent of which occurred in U.S. courts — which leads to some compelling questions:

• With 75 percent of lawyers planning to use AI in their work, how will it impact legal outcomes?
• With studies indicating that up to 82 percent of legal queries on chatbots result in hallucinations–prompting a 2023 warning from Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts for lawyers to beware — can court documents created with AI be trusted?
• When even AI tools that claim to reduce such errors produce errors anywhere from 17 to 34 percent of the time, should there be restrictions on the use of AI in legal work?

Protecting Your Rights

The experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law always fight for the best outcomes for our clients. To discuss your case, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

nytimes.com/2025/11/25/us/prosecutor-artificial-intelligence-errors-lawyers-california.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Limits 

Charging decisions must take into account requirements related to equal protection and due process, within the scope of a prosecutor’s discretion. Likewise, rules of professional responsibility call out statutory provisions that require following certain protocols, as well as a duty for prosecutors to act when encountering a wrongful prosecution. In general, it can be said that any limits on prosecutorial discretion lean toward a prosecutor’s bringing charges, not their decision to decline them.

The Fifth Amendment

The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution does limit a prosecutor in some ways, in that it requires a grand jury indictment for felony offenses. That means a grand jury must be presented with enough evidence to say that there is probable cause to believe a felony offense has been committed. Additionally, the Fifth Amendment:

• Does not allow for double jeopardy (charging someone for the same crime twice);
• Requires that no one be deprived of life, liberty, or property without experiencing due process;
• Requires no selective prosecution based on arbitrary classifications such as race or religion;
• Prohibits vindictive prosecution based on retaliatory justifications.

Cloudy Requirements

Prosecutors are not only authorized, but are required to bring cases involving particular civil rights violations. Similarly, The DOJ has been instructed to pursue cases brought to them when Congress refers someone for contempt. However, the DOJ has taken the stance that these requirements cannot supersede prosecutorial discretion, and the Supreme Court has not taken a stand on the matter.

Another murky matter lies in a judge’s ability to accept or reject a plea agreement. If the prosecution agrees to lessen or drop charges, as prosecutorial discretion allows, the ability of a judge to reject the agreement is in question.  It all boils down to the fact that there are no absolutes here.

Fighting Federal Charges

Anyone facing federal charges knows how devastating a conviction can be. The dedicated and experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law always fight for the best possible outcomes for you. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11326

Background

All people are an amalgamation of their past history and experiences, of course. Jurors come to the task with their own attitudes, emotions, and biases, through which every piece of evidence in a trial will be filtered. While they are instructed to make their decisions based only on the evidence presented in court, it’s impossible to know just how much influence their backgrounds have on their thinking. For example:

• Many people have real prejudices about race, gender, sexual orientation, the justice system, police officers, and more, whether the bias is conscious or not.
• Education, financial status, employment standing, living situation, and even zip code can sometimes be a window into a particular person’s world view.
• Some jurors may be experiencing stressors in their personal lives that impact their thinking and emotions.
• Past experience will have led to predeterminations and emotional leanings for or against particular people or circumstances.
• Some people are deeply empathic, and will sympathize so completely with one party that they cannot view a situation with a logical perspective.

Cognitive Bias

Another factor in the way jurors weigh what occurs in a courtroom is the possibility of cognitive bias. While one juror may cling to evidence that corroborates existing beliefs, another may be easily swayed by initial insights and be closed to later revelations in a trial. Still others may see one specific positive (or negative) quality in a person and be unable to see any other side to that person.

Voir Dire 

Attorneys use the voir dire process to select jurors for a particular trial. They have the opportunity to question each potential juror, and do so with the intent of discovering any bias that may impact their ability to weigh the evidence in an impartial manner.

What Impacts Thinking? 

How can a juror’s mind be swayed? Certainly, the presentation style of the attorneys is critical. Additionally, each witness will be judged to be credible or self-serving. And the demeanor of the defendant will be carefully observed and judged. In some cases, prior knowledge about a case or the defendant will influence a juror’s thinking. It is hoped that the judge’s instructions will have the heaviest impact and will guide each juror to a fair and careful judgment of the facts, outweighing any previous biases.

Fighting for You

The dedicated and experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law always fight for the best possible outcomes for our clients. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

• According to ESPN, the Lucchese crime family was behind a network of bookmakers across the nation who facilitated roughly $2 million in illegal betting over recent years. The family is facing charges of money laundering, conspiracy, and gambling offenses involving at least two college athletes and up to 30 individuals..
• Illegal sports betting and rigged poker games have been discovered involving a number of NBA teams, including the LA Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Miami Heat.
• MLB is responding to a huge scandal involving two pitchers who threw predetermined or bad pitches in order to earn big bucks for betters. Luis Ortiz and Emmanual Clase face 65 years in prison, and several others have received lifetime bans from baseball.
• NHL’s Shane Pinto was suspended for 41 games due to sports betting involving proxy betters who placed bets on his behalf, although none of those bets involved hockey.

Federal Law

The FBI is tasked with combating illegal sports and gaming, which generally includes:

• Illegal operations involving sports and gaming;
• Match-fixing, or game manipulation;
• Doping charges;
• Bribery involving in individuals and/or institutions;
• Threats and/or extortion of athletes, staff, or officials.

Illegal Sportsbooks

The Corruption in Sport and Gaming (CCSG) program looks into illegal sportsbooks, which often operate illegally as a way to ease entry and evade taxation, which occurs because there are no betting limits and reporting requirements. Organized crime frequently uses the profits made from such illegal gambling sites for their other illegal operations, including human trafficking, weapons, and drugs. When unsuspecting individuals get involved with illegal sportsbooks, it can lead to extortion or threats, which can be motivators for debt collection.

Game Manipulation

Officials, athletes, and staff may be approached by criminal entities demanding game manipulation to affect the outcome of specific plays or games, financially benefitting bettors.

Illegal Sportsbook Vendors 

Here in Nevada, it will be a long while before FanDuel and DraftKings, the two biggest sportsbook vendors, operate again. That’s because the Nevada Gaming Commission found that the two organizations had the intention of engaging in illegal activities in the sports gambling world.

Nevada Penalizes Operators

Illegal and unlicensed operators — whether in Nevada or not– who accept bets from Nevadans will face new penalties in addition to a $50,000 fine after recent legislation:

• They must forfeit earnings to Nevada’s general fund;
• Some misdemeanor charges will be bumped up to felonies;
• Sweepstakes casinos will face stiffer penalties.

Fighting for You

The experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law always fight for the best outcomes for our clients. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/46957471/14-arrested-mafia-backed-betting-ring-involving-athletes