About Edward Martinovich, Esq. Expertise Please do not ask me questions regarding possible terms of imprisonment. Further, if your question has to do with statutes of limitation, be aware that if you have been out of the state to avoid the charges, the statute will not apply. Finally, do not ask questions such as "I want to make a will for my kids, can you write it and email it to me"
I can answer any questions regarding the criminal justice system, from arrest all the way through appeals, and for that matter, many other generic legal issues as well.
Experience I am currently a criminal defense attorney. I have approximately 5 years of experience in both civil, constitutional, labor, and criminal law. I am a member of both the California and New York bars. I am currently an attorney for Johnny Cochran's criminal defense firm.
I worked for the Legal Aid Society of New York City. I worked for the NY Civil Liberties Union, and for the New York State Attorney General-Civil Rights Division.
Education/Credentials I graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State Univ. of NY at Albany. I graduated from City University of NY School of Law in 2001, at near the top of my class. I passed both the NY and California bar exams on the first try, widely considered to be the most difficult exams in the nation.
Question A friend of mine had been using an online dining service over the last month
in charges adding up to around 800-1000 dollars. I had preciously used his
computer to also pruchase something from this site. My information had
been saved on his account which he used to make purchases. He voluntaril
ordered about 20 times before my bank, which is a foreign bank contacted
me and i noticed it on my account. I told them that i had not ordered in those
amounts, and my signature was not present on the recepits. I contacted him
and he told me that he had used it and offered to pay me back, but the dining
website based in MA and my bank based in UAE have already started to push
forth with the fraud. I do not want my friend sued, penalized, deported, or
criminally chased by anyone as i completely understand what happened and
he is already paying me back the amount spent.
what do i do so that nothing happens to him, (we are both foreign college
students in MA on visas), and also what could happen to him?
what would happen if i tell both companies that i will take teh charges and
then have him pay me? will they stop their investigations on him?
I need an answer fast, i dont know what to do...i dont want my friend to get
arrested or anything. and i am willing to take the charges and then have him
pay me, as i dont want the company sueing him or anything.
Answer Joseph:
I really am not sure there is anything you can do. If you're really concerned, perhaps call your bank and CC company and offer to let the charges stand, tell them that you intend to pay for them, let them sit on the Credit card, that they are legitimate charges.
Then you're friend can pay back the monthly amounts.
