North Carolina

North Carolina College Student Arrested For Counterfeiting Thousands Of Dollars

Published on: January 23, 2014 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime?”

A 19-year-old student from the University of North Carolina Greensboro is currently facing serious criminal charges after campus police say she was discovered with $13,000 in fake money. A search of the girl’s dorm room was conducted after police say she tried to use a fake $100 bill to purchase a gift card at a local drugstore.

Authorities say that Symone Vannessa Brown is now facing serious felony charges including obtaining property under false pretense and possession of counterfeiting tools. The fake money that Brown was found with was a pretty convincing copy, but for one problem, the bills were signed by “Moe Money, Proprietor of the Counterfeiting,” rather than the Treasury Secretary.

Police were first tipped off to the problem after Brown walked into a local drugstore and tried to use one of her bogus $100 bills to purchase a gift card. The clerk at the store thought that something was up and refused to accept the money. Eventually, a store manager called local police who were there waiting when Brown returned to the drugstore in an attempt to retrieve her fake money. When she walked into the store she was arrested.

Charlotte Fast Food Robberies Lead To Police Search

Published on: January 21, 2014 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “Should I talk to the police?”

Police say that they are looking for a man they believe is responsible for a series of robberies that have impacted several local fast food restaurants over the past month. Authorities recently released security camera footage showing the man robbing several Cook Outs spread across the Charlotte area.

Police say that four Cook Outs and one Wendy’s were robbed over the past month. The Cook Outs in Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Union and Rowan counties have all been hit, with the first robbery happening just under a month ago. The most recent occurred this past weekend.

Police say they are thankful that no one has been injured in any of the robberies, but that disaster could happen at any time given the way the robber has behaved during the encounters. Authorities say that the burglar fired a handgun several times in at least two of the robberies, leading police to fear that the man might lash out if provoked.

Police say they believe the robberies are related because the description of the burglar has been similar in each case. Additionally, all the robberies happened early in the morning, around 7 a.m. Store employees have said that the suspect is a black man in his mid-20s with shoulder-length dreadlocks. So far he’s worn a ski mask, which obscures the bottom portion of his face.

LAPD Announces New Oral Swab To Test For Drugs

Published on: December 31, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “What happens if I am convicted of a DUI or DWI in North Carolina?”

The Los Angeles Police Department made a surprising announcement recently when an official revealed that officers would begin carrying portable devices that can check drivers for drug use. Officials with the police department say that the tool will be rolled out to combat increased instances of drugged driving, often due to medical marijuana usage.

q-tip Charlotte Criminal Lawyer North Carolina DWI Attorney.jpg The new tools, which are swab-testing kits, will be used primarily during DUI checkpoints and in jails to test those who have already been arrested. The department intends to pair the devices with breathalyzers and subject drivers at checkpoints to both a breath test and mouth swab to detect the presence of drugs. The test has been designed to screen for the presence of methamphetamine, cocaine, benzodiazepine, methadone and THC, a component of marijuana.

An LAPD spokesperson said that officers would ask drivers to consent to a swab of their gum line. After the swab has been collected, the tool will then read the fluids and immediately alert officers to the presence of drugs. Previously, such a test would require blood samples taken by nurses, which would then be sent off for analysis.

Police officials have said that the growing prevalence of medical marijuana dispensaries has pushed the department to consider new strategies to detect impaired drivers. Law enforcement authorities say that driving under the influence of drugs, known as drugged driving, is just as dangerous as drunk driving and it will be an important priority of officers in the area to limit the ability of drivers to engage in similarly risky behavior. Officials with the city attorney’s office have said that nearly 600 DUI cases that were filed against LA drivers in the past year concerned the use of drugs, a number they want to see increase given the new technology.