Reduced Charges for SNAP Trafficking: The Logue Law Magic!
Sometimes, doing people small favors might lead you to face legal consequences! And a recent case that our expert lawyers at the Logue Law Group handled is a glaring example of this situation!
A retail business owner in Leigh County, registered under the SNAP program, was accused of trafficking and was about to lose his license, along with several years in prison! Thankfully, he resorted to our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers for help and was saved miraculously! How? Well, let’s explore the blog to find out.
Why was Our Client Accused?
Our client owned a small retail shop in Leigh County. And being well-known in his community, customers would often ask him for some cash during emergencies or buy household supplies with their EBT cards.
Now, our client wasn’t aware that these little harmless gestures are actually claimed as ‘fraud’ by the government. He did it out of love and support for his community, until one day, he received a message from the Pennsylvania Inspector General, stating that he had been convicted of SNAP trafficking.
The Consequence
No matter what you think, the government of Pennsylvania is very stubborn, especially with violations related to government-aided programs. So, exchanging any kind of benefit other than food items is considered to be trafficking, and puts your whole future at stake.
As for our client, he was facing multiple felony charges for his multiple exchanges. So, he was looking at a minimum of 7 years in prison. Added to that, the state also threatened him of revoking his SNAP license with immediate effect.
How Did We Help?
Now, for a small business owner like our client, this meant sheer oblivion! Confused and overwhelmed, he called our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers and asked for help.
Our experts started by reviewing the investigator’s reports. After some deep research, we found out something even more interesting- our client was a respected member of his community and had no criminal records whatsoever. We understood that this was simply a mistake on his end, which escalated in the most unfortunate way.
However, we also knew that taking such cases to a full trial would put our client in trouble. So, we took a very different approach and chose to negotiate with the prosecution from the very beginning. We argued that every human deserves a second chance, and as for our client, his unawareness should not cost him jail time, as it would be unjust for a man like him.
The negotiation wasn’t a very simple task. But after reviewing the evidence and the defense claims, the prosecution finally agreed to reduce the charges to a summary offense. This meant that our client had to pay a fine, and would leave the entire case behind! He did not have to serve any prison time or any probation.
Logue Law Group – Your Friend in Hard Times!
This case is a glaring example of why an expert legal counsel, like a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer, is required to handle such complex situations. These experienced professionals have thorough knowledge of how things work and can guide you in the right way. Not just that, but they can also come up with a robust defense strategy to help protect your rights and your livelihood.
So, if you, or a loved one, have been accused of SNAP trafficking, don’t sit back and blame your fate! Instead, call us at 412-387-6901 and schedule a free consultation with our lawyers today.