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

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

1988 conviction for felony larceny vacated.
Client came to my office seeking my advice about his potential for obtaining U.S. citizenship.

A review of his criminal history showed a conviction that subjected him to deportation.

Post-conviction relief was filed and granted after a contested hearing in Providence Superior Court.

Client is now no longer subject to deportation and is able to apply for naturalization.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

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

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

1999 conviction for second degree child molestation vacated pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision of Padilla v. Kentucky.

Client was never advised by his attorney that his conviction constituted an aggravated felony charge under immigration law requiring automatic deportation from the United States. An application for post-conviction relief was filed in Providence Superior Court and granted based upon the requirement under Padilla for counsel to correctly advise their clients as to the adverse deportation consequences of any criminal conviction.

Client is now eligible to re-open and terminate his deportation order.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

Post-Conviction Relief Immigration Lawyer MacDonald announces the resolution of a case.

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

2009 conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon vacated after a contested post-conviction relief hearing in Providence Superior Court.

Client was never advised by his attorney that his conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon constituted an aggravated felony conviction under immigration law.

After hearing, the trial court found that pursuant to the United State’s Supreme Court’s decision of Padilla v. Kentucky, the attorney had a duty to fully advise client about the certainty of deportation.

Client is now eligible to re-open and terminate removal proceedings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.