Criminal Organizations / Gangs Attorney
Reputation is Everything
Ms. Jakobe is taken seriously by the State, and there is nothing more serious than being charged with a crime and facing jail time. When you are charged with a crime, you need a lawyer who is respected for years of aggressive representation and successful outcomes in cases.
When we say “criminal organizations” we do not mean you are a criminal organization or a gang, we mean the State is accusing you of being one. The State of Arizona has some of the most vague and ambiguous gang laws in the United States. All it takes is for law enforcement to point at two individuals and say, “You are a gang because you meet two of the seven criteria under Arizona law, and you are committing, attempting to commit, or facilitating the commission of any felony.” Additionally, only one of the two people has to actually be a member of a gang, the other person is merely a friend of the alleged bona fide gang member. The seven available criteria for law enforcement to show alleged gang membership are:
Self-proclamation.
Witness testimony or official statement.
Written or electronic correspondence.
Paraphernalia or photographs.
Tattoos.
Clothing or colors.
Any other indicia of street gang membership.
In short, almost any two co-defendants can be labeled a “gang” in the State of Arizona because law enforcement says so.
Historically, Arizona and Federal law enforcement have used unconstitutional and surreptitious tactics to attack and break up legitimate clubs and associations using Arizona’s criminal street gang statute. Law enforcement is well aware of the unfettered discretion and authority it has under this statute, which triggers mandatory prison time. When it comes to this unique area of the law the State does not play fair. Every facet of the investigation must be questioned, scrutinized, and attacked. Even the integrity of the law enforcement officers involved in the case must be examined.
Jakobe Law has decades of experience representing individuals charged with criminal street gang allegations. It takes a wealth of knowledge about the intricacies of true criminal organizations versus a lawful association of individuals and their activity. Ms. Jakobe works with one of the top gang experts on the West Coast in order to attack the credibility, experience, and knowledge of the State’s alleged gang experts. This collaboration has the ability to prove that certain activity whether it is criminal or non-criminal, is not done on behalf of or in furtherance of an alleged criminal street gang. This is essential in order to fight off a mandatory prison sentence.