Los Angeles State and Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer – Frequently Asked Questions

While adult and juvenile crime continues to be a concern in Los Angeles and across the nation, criminal defense lawyer Sara Azari is committed to ensuring that the rights of the criminally accused are upheld.  Whether facing charges related to sex offenses, drug offenses, homicide, DUI, or theft, individuals will naturally have questions about the criminal proceedings pending against them. Ms. Azari is committed to providing the honest answers they deserve. 

The answers provided to the following questions are highly general and intended for educational purposes only.  For answers to specific questions you have about your case, please contact the Law Office of Sara Azari.

• Do you provide defense representation for juveniles?
• Do you provide other services related to criminal defense representation?
• What is professional licensure defense?
• What are white-collar crimes?
• What are forfeiture laws?
• What is illegal search and seizure?
• What do I do when confronted by law enforcement?

Do you provide defense representation for juveniles?

With juvenile crime an issue both in Los Angeles and throughout the nation, it should come as no surprise that many of the criminal charges that adults face have analogues in juvenile crime.  For that reason, Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Sara Azari also represents juveniles who have been charged connection with drug offenses, DUI and traffic offenses, sex crimes, homicide, and more.

In California, the juvenile justice system focuses more on rehabilitating juvenile offenders rather than on punishing them.  With that in mind, the consequences of juvenile crime may include:

• Payment of fines
• Participation in treatment programs
• Community service
• Probation – either formal or informal
• Detention

Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Sara Azari is committed to protecting the rights of adult and juvenile clients alike and ensuring that each client receives the thorough legal representation and fair trials to which they are entitled.

Even though the juvenile justice system stresses rehabilitation over the strict punishment of juvenile offenders, prosecutors, probation officers, and police tend to be very aggressive in their prosecution of minors.  In some cases, a juvenile may be tried as an adult and become subject to all of the penalties that accompany an adult criminal conviction.  Criminal lawyer Sara Azari is dedicated to providing the most effective defense in these matters and ensuring that the rights of the accused are upheld. 

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Do you provide other services related to criminal defense representation?

As part of her commitment to providing A-to-Z representation, Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Sara Azari does not limit her client involvement to the trial phase.  In addition to the powerful legal representation she provides, Ms. Azari routinely provides representation prior to the filing of any charges and subsequent to the final disposition in her clients’ cases:

• Post-conviction Relief and Appellate Representation – This can include assisting clients with the preparation of writs and post-conviction motions, modification of probation terms, advocating for early termination of probation, representation in probation violation matters, and petitioning and arguing for expungement of past criminal proceedings and/or sealing of records.
• Bail and Detention Hearings – Ms. Azari provides important pretrial representation in matters concerning bail and detention.  An experienced criminal defense lawyer can argue for the reduction or waiving of a bail amount to obtain freedom from incarceration pending the outcome of the trial.  Such tactics apply only to adult proceedings, as juvenile courts do not offer bail.  Instead, defendants are either detained or non-detained.  In these hearings, Ms. Azari will argue for the release of the juvenile into the custody of his or her legal guardian(s).  
• Pre-filing Investigation – Criminal lawyer Sara Azari utilizes the services of experienced investigators in order to prepare the most effective defense on behalf of her clients.  Mere suspicion is enough to seriously jeopardize an individual's reputation.  In cases in which criminal charges have yet to be filed in court, an experienced criminal defense lawyer such as Ms. Azari will conduct skillful negotiations with prosecutors from the investigating agency in an effort to hammer out a deal to dispose of the charges before they are filed.
• Drug and Alcohol Addiction Counseling – Through her training and experience in drug and alcohol abuse counseling, Ms. Azari is able to provide the resources and referrals necessary to help individuals overcome their diseases.  Additionally, she is acquainted with a network of Southern California treatment and alternative sentencing programs that she can present to courts and prosecutors as an alternative to jail or prison time.

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What is professional licensure defense?

Obtaining a professional degree or license requires extensive education, cost and effort, so it is important to note that an arrest or criminal conviction often has devastating consequences on the person’s right to practice in his or her chosen field. If you are facing criminal charges or have been questioned by any administrative agency, your professional license may be in jeopardy.  Even if criminal charges are never filed, mere allegations can be damaging and sufficient evidence for administrative agencies to revoke your license or subject you to discipline. An aggressive and highly qualified state and federal criminal defense lawyer, Sara Azari provides skilled representation and negotiation services on behalf of her professional clients in formal hearings before such administrative boards and agencies including:

• Medical Board of California
• California Department of Real Estate
• Dental Board of California
• California State Board of Registered  Nursing
• California Board of Vocational Nursing
• California Department of Consumer Affairs
• California Department of Insurance

Ms. Azari has provided invaluable legal representation to many of her clients and succeeded in preventing the suspension or revocation of professional licenses while in some cases effecting the reinstatement of the licensure that had been suspended or revoked.

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What are white-collar crimes?

Unlike rape and sexual assault, robbery, or homicide, white-collar crimes do not typically involve physical violence; rather, they are often crimes involving illegal financial gain.  Sara Azari represents individuals and businesses charged with state and federal white-collar crimes, including those involving:

• Antitrust Violations – Federal antitrust laws are intended to protect competition in the marketplace. Competition is a crucial component to the nation's economy due to its influence on product pricing and quality.  In order to succeed in a competitive market, companies must offer lower prices or higher-quality products to attract and retain consumers’ business successfully.  To preserve competition, antitrust laws have been enacted that are designed to level the playing field and ensure that no single business obtains an unfair advantage.  Individuals or businesses charged with antitrust violations face allegations that can include price fixing and creating monopolies, often through large mergers and acquisitions that impede competition. 
• Fraud – Fraud can assume many forms, from healthcare and insurance to mail and wire fraud, and involves the misrepresentation or concealment of facts with the deliberate intent of engaging in deception in order to gain unfair profit.  Healthcare providers, in particular, face an increasing number of fraud accusations related to their demands for payment for services or care that insurance providers allege were never actually rendered.
• Racketeering – Racketeering is the act of conducting an illegal business or enterprise in order to achieve financial gain.  Perpetrated by large corporations, small businesses, and individuals, racketeering often involves the commission of crimes such as bribery, illegal gambling, or counterfeiting. In many cases, racketeers hide their illegal activities behind legitimate businesses, using elements of fraud and theft to extort money.  A charge of racketeering is serious, and it is crucial for those individuals accused of this crime to have an experienced and powerful federal criminal defense lawyer on their side.
• Money Laundering – Money laundering is the act of concealing the source of illegally obtained funds in an effort to “clean it” so that authorities cannot trace it back to illegal activities. The crime is commonly committed by drug-dealers and others who want to make it appear that their assets were obtained through legitimate enterprises. The act of laundering money is often uncovered by police using elaborate evaluation of a defendant’s financial activities.

In any charges involving white-collar crimes, a skilled criminal lawyer is crucial to mounting a successful defense.  Mere accusation does not establish guilt, and an aggressive criminal defense lawyer experienced in litigating white-collar crimes is, undoubtedly, a valuable asset.  Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and communities throughout California and across the United States, federal and state criminal defense lawyer Sara Azari is committed to protecting her clients' right to a fair trial and provides the decisive representation that they need to ensure their cases are thoroughly defended and successfully resolved.     

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What are forfeiture laws?

The rise of cases involving cash and property forfeiture represents an alarming trend in American justice.  The law allows our government to confiscate property suspected of use in a crime; however, this power is often abused and misused. 

Civil asset forfeiture occurs when the government seizes an individual's personal property or money and permanent legal title is subsequently transferred to the state or federal government.  The primary function of asset forfeiture is to allow the government to confiscate personal property allegedly used or gained in the commission of a crime, particularly federal white-collar crimes such as fraud and embezzlement. The actual guilt or innocence of the property owner is inconsequential in these actions. Large amounts of cash and vehicles are routinely seized by authorities investigating drug dealing on the grounds that the cash and other property were gained through illegal activities.

Due process of law – including the basic rights to an attorney, to trial, against self-incrimination, to protection against double jeopardy, and even to the fundamental belief that one is innocent until proven guilty – does not apply in civil asset forfeiture cases.  In cases involving forfeiture, guilt rests on the property, not necessarily the owner.  This means that if an individual loans his or her car to a friend, and that friend – without the owner's knowledge – uses the vehicle during the commission of a robbery, a drug deal, or some other crime, the car can then be seized by the government without compensation to the owner.

The government still bears the burden of proof in civil forfeiture cases, and it must clearly demonstrate that the property it confiscated was indeed used in the commission of a crime. Fighting such cases can be difficult, and individuals must document the earnings and source of funds they used to purchase the property. They must also be able to demonstrate that neither they nor any members of their families had any knowledge about or involvement in any illegal activity involving the property.

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What is illegal search and seizure?

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects citizens against illegal search and seizure. Evidence that is seized by police during unlawful searches is not admissible in court. Authorities most often must have a search warrant or some other authorization to conduct searches of a person, house, car or other location.

Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Sara Azari successfully argues search and seizure motions so that evidence recovered as a result of illegal searches is ruled inadmissible.  The inadmissibility of evidence often causes charges to be reduced and/or dismissed.  False arrests are some of the most common accusations leveled against law enforcement officers, often arising from an individual’s assertions that evidence against them was discovered in illegal searches and seizures.

Also, search and seizure issues often arise in narcotics arrests, since evidence of alleged drug-dealing commonly recovered during the course of a warrantless search of a suspect’s person, car or residence.

Defense attorney Sara Azari is passionate about her clients’ rights to be free from unreasonable search and seizure of their personal effects. To that end, Ms. Azari often defends clients against forfeitures of property on a contingency basis so as to minimize further financial harm as a result of the seizure. This means if Ms. Azari does not succeed in returning your seized assets, you pay nothing for the legal services rendered to you.

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What do I do when confronted by law enforcement?

What you say and do when confronted with law enforcement is critical to the outcome of your case should one be filed against you. Read Sara Azari's article "Protect Your Rights: What to Say and Do When Confronted with Law Enforcement" (PDF) to learn what you can do to protect your rights.

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Contact Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Sara Azari

If you or someone you know has been charged with an adult or juvenile crime, contact Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Sara Azari for honest answers and premier representation.

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2009, 2010 & 2011 Super Lawyers® Rising Star of the Year

8961 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 2C
Los Angeles, California 90069

Tel: 310.246.0770
Fax: 310.246.0880

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