Beating Philadelphia Gang Crime Allegations

Beating Philadelphia Gang Crime Allegations

Getting caught up in allegations related to gang crime can be scary. Even if you’re innocent, proving it can be an uphill battle. But with some smart legal strategies, it is possible to beat these kinds of charges. This article will break down some of the best ways to fight accusations of involvement with gangs in Philadelphia.

What Constitutes a Gang Crime?

First, let’s clarify what makes something qualify as a “gang crime.” Basically, it means the crime was committed with other people as part of a criminal organization or syndicate. So if you’re accused of doing something illegal alongside known gang members, you could face prosecution under Pennsylvania’s corrupt organizations law.

Types of charges can include drug trafficking, assault, robbery, and even homicide. The key factor is that prosecutors believe the crime was done to benefit or further the interests of a gang in some way.

Penalties for Gang Crime Convictions

The stakes are high if you end up convicted. Gang crime penalties are much more severe than normal. You could be facing decades behind bars versus months or a few years.

Fines can also be massive — up to $25,000 per charge in some cases. And there may be asset forfeiture, meaning the government can seize your property and cash if they suspect it’s tied to criminal activity.

So fighting these allegations needs to be a top priority. An experienced defense lawyer can help avoid a devastating outcome.

How to Beat Gang Crime Charges

When facing accusations of gang involvement, having an aggressive legal defense is crucial. Here are some of the most effective strategies top attorneys use:

Dispute Gang Membership

If prosecutors don’t have enough evidence to prove you’re actually in a gang, the charges should fall apart. Police may claim you’re a gang member just because of who you hang out with or where you live. But affiliation alone is not illegal.

Your lawyer can argue there’s no documentation or proof showing you joined a gang. Things like not having gang tattoos or a criminal record can also help fight the allegations.

Challenge Evidence Gathering Methods

Another angle is questioning how evidence against you was obtained. If police used sloppy investigative work, that could spoil the case.

Your attorney can scrutinize things like:

• Confidential informants – Were they reliable sources or known liars?
• Witness testimony – Could witnesses be coerced or have reasons to lie?
• Wiretaps – Were warrants justified and properly obtained?

Aggressive interrogation of the evidence gathering process can uncover holes a skilled lawyer can exploit.

Shift Blame to Others

Gang crimes almost always involve multiple perpetrators. So an effective legal move is shifting as much blame as possible onto the other people.

If you weren’t the ringleader or driving force behind the crime, your case outcome could be less severe. Pointing out others had more responsibility shows you weren’t operating at the same level. It may even lead to reduced charges or dismissed counts against you specifically.

Negotiate a Plea Deal

Another way to minimize penalties is through a plea bargain agreement. Your attorney negotiates with the prosecution, potentially getting charges lowered or some dismissed entirely.

The tradeoff is you plead guilty, usually to lesser crimes or fewer counts. This spares time and expense of a trial while still reducing the punishment you face versus straight up conviction.

But you want an experienced lawyer handling plea deals to ensure you get all possible concessions.

Key Takeaways

• Gang allegations bring severe penalties so developing a strong defense is crucial
• Fighting gang membership claims and questioning evidence can beat charges
• Blaming crimes on other perpetrators may reduce your responsibility
• Plea bargains can get charges lowered significantly in exchange for guilty pleas

Having skilled legal representation gives you the best chance to avoid gang crime convictions. Philadelphia defense attorneys know how to exploit flaws in these cases to get charges dismissed or penalties lowered as much as possible. Don’t take chances – get experienced help fighting disturbing gang allegations.