Legal Information Center

Being arrested for shoplifting in Manhattan can be a frightening and confusing experience—especially when the police hand you a Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT). These tickets require you to appear in court on a future date and are commonly issued for lower-level, non-violent offenses like Petit Larceny (Penal Law § 155.25) and Criminal Possession of Stolen…

The federal government, through the offices of the U.S. Attorneys for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (“S.D.N.Y.”) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (“E.D.N.Y.”), has in recent years increasingly pursued foreign nationals who orchestrate wire-fraud schemes that target U.S. victims, leverage…

The synthetic opioid crisis in the U.S. has increasingly shifted upstream: rather than just prosecuting those who distribute the finished product (Fentanyl or analogues thereof), federal authorities are now focusing on the chemicals that go into making fentanyl (“precursor chemicals”) and the international supply chain.In particular, both the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York…

On October 23, 2025, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York unsealed a multi-defendant indictment charging 31 people — including NBA head coach Chauncey Billups — in a sprawling scheme to rig high-stakes poker games and launder the proceeds, and in a related set of allegations tied to illegal sports-betting activity.…

In an era of rising scrutiny on health-care billing, insurance practices, and fraud, whistleblowers have a growing role to play. Not only can raising concerns help protect patients, taxpayers, and the integrity of the health-care system—but today, those who come forward may also see real financial and professional benefits. The DOJ’s new corporate whistleblower award…

There are three major international airports in the New York City area – Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia. The attorneys at the Law Office of Matthew Galluzzo PLLC have represented many individuals arrested at these airports and accused of federal crimes based upon searches of those individuals’ electronic devices (cell phones, laptops, tablets etc.). Oftentimes, these…

What Is an “Illegal” Currency Exchange Under Federal Law? Under U.S. law, many businesses that exchange money are classified as Money Services Businesses (MSBs), which include: These businesses are regulated by the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and must register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), implement Anti-Money Laundering (AML) programs, and comply with record-keeping…

Yesterday, the jury in the Sean “P. Diddy” Combs federal trial in Manhattan announced that it had reached a verdict as to four of the five counts on the indictment, but could not agree as to the top count, RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). The judge did not do a formal Allen charge,…

On June 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in coordination with the FBI, DEA, HHS–OIG, and more, brought criminal charges against 324 individuals—including 93–96 licensed medical professionals—accusing them of orchestrating fraudulent schemes that targeted federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Those cases include federal criminal charges in the District of Connecticut and…

The illegal sale of firearms is a serious federal offense in the United States, governed by various statutes under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. These laws are enforced by agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Violations can lead to substantial fines and…