Author Archives: Gary Gerson
Backlog reduction benefits criminal defendants
Four years ago, the Allegheny County criminal charge backlog had added up to nearly 15,000 cases. Now, the region is improving its dedication to timely criminal proceedings by setting aside special courtrooms three times each week to handle minor cases. The new system has cut the waiting time from charge to disposition of minor crimes from… Read More »
Allentown man arrested for 50 sex crimes
An Allentown, Pennsylvania, man is facing sex crimes charges after authorities reportedly found hundreds of child pornography files on his personal computer. The man, who is also accused of taping a sexual assault on a minor, is charged with 50 counts of possession of child pornography, along with indecent assault, disseminating photographs of sex acts and… Read More »
Tax man accused of $1.3 million in public theft
A tax collector in a small Pennsylvania town has been accused of embezzling more than $1 million in public money to invest in personal accounts. The man, age 77, will have to mount a criminal defense in the matter. He is accused of gambling with the Delaware County entities’ money, losing it in high-risk stock investments…. Read More »
Teacher charged in alleged DUI death of driver
A woman from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, is facing drunk driving charges in connection with a fatal car accident in the area. The woman must mount a DWI defense against the allegations, which state that the 30-year-old high school teacher was intoxicated when she collided with another vehicle, reportedly killing a 72-year-old man who was delivering flowers…. Read More »
New computer virus generates fake social media buzz
There’s a new internet crime sensation that is sweeping the nation. That description is more accurate than you may think. Many people may not know what the “Zeus” computer virus is, but you’ve likely encountered something like it before — or you likely know someone who has. The Zeus virus is a common computer… Read More »
Excessive incarceration dealt blow by US Attorney General
While criminal activity has always been associated with a subsequent jail sentence, these terms in prison can vary wildly depending on the case. When it comes to drug crimes, the sentencing protocols can heap many extra years behind bars on an accused person, even if the person’s alleged crimes or actions don’t necessarily warrant such… Read More »
Heroin distribution ring busted in Pittsburgh, 13 people arrested
A massive international drug trafficking operation, functioning here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was recently busted after roughly a year investigating the drug ring. In all, 13 people were arrested, with the type and quantity of charges differing greatly from person to person. The police say about $300,000, four kilograms of heroin and a number of… Read More »
Man wins settlement after being locked away and forgotten about
The following story may not have occurred here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but the extreme circumstances of an imprisoned man who was locked away and forgotten about — literally — will resonate with people locally and nationally. A 25-year-old college student in California was arrested on suspicion of drug crimes by the Drug Enforcement Agency in April… Read More »
Complaints about combating internet crimes are growing
There are two sides to every coin; and if we make the “coin” in this statement “the internet,” then the two sides could not be further apart. A lot of good can be done over the internet; and there can also be some truly bad things that occur because of the internet. The question… Read More »
Traffic stops and seizure of drugs on Pennsylvania Turnpike
I am a Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney with extensive experience representing individuals charged with Delivery, Possession with Intent to Deliver or Possession of Controlled Substances in state and federal courts in Western Pennsylvania. Frequently, my clients are arrested based on the seizure of drugs resulting from a traffic stop. In Pennsylvania, a traffic stop is… Read More »
