Post-Conviction Relief Attorney John E. MacDonald announces the successful resolution of another case.

Post-Conviction Relief Attorney John E. MacDonald announces the successful resolution of another case.

2004 conviction for possession of several kilograms of cocaine was vacated based upon the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Padilla v. Kentucky.

Client has received a lengthy suspended sentence in 2004 and remained trouble free but was recently arrested by ICE officials and placed into removal proceedings.

Since the conviction constitutes an aggravated felony conviction under the INA, client was subject to automatic removal.

Now that the conviction has been vacated, client may re-open and terminate removal proceedings.
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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

Immigration Attorney MacDonald and the New Naturalization Certificates

Immigration Attorney John MacDonald posts an article regarding the recent changes to naturalization certificates.

The changes will include embedded photos and signatures, as well as high-tech ink designs aimed to deter counterfeiting the documents.

The full article follows below.

U.S. naturalization certificate gets high-tech redesign

Aimed at reducing fraud, the documents will now feature embedded photos, signatures and color-shifting ink patterns

By Abby Sewell

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Monday the launch of a redesigned certificate of naturalization aimed at reducing fraud.

The certificate will be given to new citizens in the Southern California district that includes San Luis Obispo County. The agency estimated that it would issue more than 600,000 of the new certificates in the next year. Locally, the district includes the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. The agency naturalized more than 65,000 people in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

The certificates given to new U.S. citizens will now feature embedded photographs and signatures and a color-shifting ink pattern on the background. Officials said the new features will make the documents more difficult to forge.

“We are confident that the new enhancements will prevent fraud and will enhance the security of the process,” spokeswoman Mariana Gitomer said.

Although most of the nation began issuing the redesigned documents Monday, the Los Angeles district will wait to launch them in November. A group of 9,900 newly naturalized citizens will receive the old version at a ceremony in Los Angeles today. Gitomer said the district wanted to ensure that there would be no technical issues with the new documents before issuing them to such a large group.

Previously issued naturalization certificates will remain valid.

The agency also plans to fully automate the process of producing the certificates by the end of 2010, beginning with the Atlanta, Denver and Baltimore offices.

The changes in the certificate of naturalization follow the launch of a redesigned permanent resident card — commonly known as the green card — in May. The new card includes radio frequency identification capability, to allow border officers to read the cards from a distance.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

RI Defense Attorney Posts Article Regarding Double Attempted Murder in Tiverton RI

RI Criminal Defense Attorney MacDonald posts the following article concerning a Tiverton man who was charged with murdering his father and attempting to murder his mother. The full article follows below.

RI man charged in stabbing death of father

September 5, 2010

TIVERTON, R.I.—Police say a man fatally stabbed his father and tried to stab his mother to death at their home.

Tiverton police say Joel Beaulieu (Bull-'Yuh) is charged with murder in the death of his 62-year-old father, Conrad Beaulieu, and assault with intent to murder his mother, Diane Beaulieu, early Sunday morning. The couple were teachers in Tiverton.

The 29-year-old Joel Beaulieu was injured. He was treated and released from Rhode Island Hospital.

Police say the 58 year-old Diane Beaulieu remains at Rhode Island Hospital, which said it has no information on her condition.

Police say they responded to 911 calls from neighbors who reported screams. A motive has not been determined.

The 29-year-old Joel Beaulieu is to be arraigned Tuesday at Newport District Court.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

Multiple Felony Charges in South Kingstown Death of Gas Station Attendant

A felony charge of driving to endanger death resulting against a RI man was decided in Washington County Court on Tuesday. RI Criminal defense attorney John MacDonald posts the entire article below regarding the conviction which resulted in a South Kingstown man receiving life in prison, plus 20 years.

RI man gets life in death of gas station attendant

Associated Press

October 12, 2010

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island man has been sentenced to life in prison, plus 20 years, for fatally striking a gas station attendant with his car and then speeding off and getting into a fight with a police officer who responded to his home.

David J. Catalano, of North Kingstown, pleaded guilty in Washington County Superior Court on Tuesday to multiple felony charges, including driving to endanger, death resulting.

Prosecutors say he drove home after striking the gas station attendant in East Greenwich in May 2009, then shot a police officer who responded to his house and fled in the officer's car. The officer survived.

Catalano's lawyer says his client has been receiving treatment for mental health issues.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

RI Immigration Attorney Secures Post Conviction Relief Decision

US Immigration Post Conviction Relief Attorney MacDonald posts the following results from a case involving vacating a drug trafficking sentence and application for naturalization.

Client appeared at our office in April of 2010 concerned about her immigration situation.

She was ordered removed from the United States in 2000 by way of an in abstentia order.

The basis of removal was a drug trafficking conviction from Massachusetts. Client had hired two other attorneys to vacate this conviction without success. Client hires our services. We retain Massachusetts counsel to vacate the plea.

Once vacated, we successfully moved to reopen the immigration case and terminate proceedings.

Client’s application for naturalization was granted in October of 2010.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

Voyeurism Sexual Offense Needs a RI Criminal Defense Attorney

RI sexual assault involves more than just rape cases. Many individuals behave in a manner that could be categorized as sexual assaults of various levels without realizing that the activity may be criminal in nature.

It is always advisable to seek the professional advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney if you or someone you know has been charged with a sexual offense of any kind.

Criminal Defense Attorney MacDonald posts the following article as an example of behavior that is considered to violate the rights of another person sexually and therefore considered a sexual offense.

RI minister accused of voyeurism

Cops: minister made videos up women's skirts

September 9, 2010
Nancy Krause

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - As many as 50 women may have been the victim of an accused video voyeur, Providence police said.

Investigators arrested Miller Flambert, 49, on charges he used a pen-shaped video camera to record under the skirts of women without their knowledge or consent and then downloaded the images on his home computer.

Flambert, a self-described part-time Evangelical minister, was arraigned Tuesday on a felony count of video voyeurism.

According to Police Maj. Thomas Oates III, investigators were alerted about Flambert's alleged actions after an incident at a Walmart pharmacy on Silver Spring St. After further investigation, troopers seized memory cards and a computer from Flambert's North Providence apartment.

Oates tells The Providence Journal that police believe the man has recorded about 50 women at Rhode Island stores in the last six months.
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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.

RI Criminal Attorney MacDonald Speaks on the Impact of the Supreme Court Ruling in Padilla v. Kentucky

On December 8, 2010, Attorney John E. MacDonald, Esquire will speak at the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ annual Fall Continuing Legal Education Seminar regarding Developments in Criminal Law and Procedure. 

Attorney MacDonald will present an update relative to the recent Supreme Court Immigration ruling in Padilla v. Kentucky. The seminar will encompass effective strategies and tactics for providing effective assistance of counsel, and avoiding removal in criminal and immigration matters.

The case of Padilla v. Kentucky is a precedent setting Supreme Court case involving the rights of a criminal defendant to be informed regarding the possibility of deportation when entering into plea agreements, or being found guilty of all but the most minor criminal offenses. With the recent changes to the Immigration laws, private counsel is now in the position of having to inform criminal clients about the possibility of deportation in all but the most obscurely referenced Immigration laws. In all criminal cases involving immigrants, counsel must at least inform the client that the chance of deportation exists.

Attorney MacDonald is known for his experience in Criminal matters that also involve Immigration issues, and when asked about his engagement to speak at the CLE seminar dealing with this issue stated, “Padilla is a landmark decision from our Supreme Court. It places an affirmative duty on criminal defense lawyers to properly advise their clients as to the immigration consequences of a plea. Lawyers can no longer turn a blind eye to the harsh immigration consequences that may result from a plea to a criminal case.”

The CLE seminar will take place on Wednesday December 8, 2010 from 4:00 to 7:00PM at the Frank Licht Judicial Complex, 250 Benefit Street, Providence, Rhode Island.

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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

To learn more about The Law Office of John MacDonald, please visit his website at AggressiveLegalServices.com.