FRIVOLOUS APPEALS

An appeal is considered to be frivolous if it lacks merit. An appeal lacks merit if a trial court committed no error in a defendant's case. Attorneys generally have a duty not to file frivolous appeals. However, even though an attorney may deem that a defendant's appeal is frivolous, he or she may be required to file an appellate brief. Such a brief is called an "Anders" brief.

VIOLATION OF A PROTECTIVE ORDER

A person commits the offense of violation of a protective order when the protective order has been issued on behalf of a protected person and when he or she commits an act of family violence, when he or she communicates directly with the protected person or a member of the protected person's family, when he or she goes near the protected person's residence or employment, or when he or she possesses a firearm.

Food Drug and Cosmetic Act

A corporation, a corporate officer, a corporate director or a corporate employee may be charged with violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Act prohibits the misbranding and adulterating of food, drugs, or cosmetics. A violation of this act is generally classified as a misdemeanor. However, if the defendant violated the Act with the actual intent to defraud or mislead, the classification of the offense is elevated to a felony.

Money Laundering

Money laundering is a federal offense that is defined as the unlawful transfer of money that flows from racketeering or some other illegal sources into legitimate channels so that the original illegal source of the money cannot be traced.

Larceny and Conversion of Government Property

Larceny or the theft of government property is a federal offense. In order to prove the crime; the prosecution mustprove the following: A wrongful taking or carrying away of property; the property belonged to the United States; the defendant took the property without the consent of the United States; the defendant had the intent to deprive the United States of the property.