EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS in New York City & Beyond

In what some considered a “surprise verdict”, a Cohen Forman Barone client was acquitted of selling drugs to an undercover police officer. During pretrial proceedings, prosecutors from the New York County District Attorney’s informed the court that they would be seeking a ten-year sentence if the defendant was convicted after trial. The DA’s position was based on what they deemed to be an “air tight” case and the defendant’s violent criminal history. Despite the fact that the other defendants accepted plea bargains and the lengthy sentence the Cohen Forman Barone client faced, the defense chose to take the case to trial. The prosecution’s case centered on an undercover officer “buy and bust” operation team who allegedly engaged in a drug sale involving multiple defendants. The Cohen Forman Barone client was alleged to be the primary supplier of the drugs. The defense focused on attacking the unreliability of both the police officers themselves and the “buy and bust” system in general, with Cory Forman calling it an “outdated, unreliable, and antiquated” system during closing remarks. The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before acquitting the defendant, who was able to celebrate the holiday season with his family.

A Cohen Forman Barone client was detained in March upon his arrival at Newark International Airport from a trip overseas. The basis of his detention was a 2009 theft conviction that rendered him inadmissible to the United States, despite his status as a lawful permanent resident. Additionally, he was not legally eligible for bond and, therefore, spent the next four months in a detention center. The attorneys at CFB applied for relief from removal under Section 212(h) of the Immigration Nationality Act (“INA”), which is available as a “standalone” application to lawful permanent residents deemed inadmissible after a trip abroad. The hearing was conducted on July 26, 2019 at the Elizabeth Immigration Court, and after reviewing the evidence submitted in support of the application, as well as hearing from the client and his witnesses, the Immigration Judge granted the application. The client was released from detention that day and is now back home in New Jersey with his family.

After years of denials and delays, a CFB client has finally been granted his green card. The client, who first submitted his petition more than a decade ago, had first been the victim of a series of improper denials. The denials were initially based on a number of factors, including the client’s criminal background. A subsequent application was filed with evidence to support the client’s claim that he was indeed eligible to apply for his green card and that his criminal history did not bar him from that benefit. After five years of government delays in adjudicating the application, the client became fed up and retained the services of CFB. The attorneys at CFB filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, naming the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) as defendant’s. One month later USCIS approved the green card application. The client is finally a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

CFB’s criminal defense team was up against video evidence from 2 different altercations, a 911 call describing their client as the perpetrator and a point out of CFB’s client by the victim. The prosecutor’s office smelled blood and refused to make any plea offer to SP. A trial was inevitable. At trial, David Cohen reenacted the alleged crime and identification of SP by the victim. Cohen used the courtroom as his stage and methodically demonstrated to the jury the circumstances of the “identification” of SP by the government’s witness. He challenged the witness on the witness’ ability to see what happened or to recall the event after the blow to the head. The jury deliberated less than two hours coming back with a not guilty verdict on what would have been a life sentence for SP. A CFB client facing a life sentence was found not guilty after trial by jury on what CFB argued was a misidentification.

A CFB client had been accused of a felony fraud from 20 years ago. Law enforcement said he was on the run and issued a warrant for his arrest. Despite living a law abiding life for the last two decades, he felt law enforcement was closing in on him. When he came to CFB his hopes of avoiding the charges, a criminal conviction and potential jail time were thinning. He was scared and his wife was overcome with anxiety and the resulting sleep deprivation. After spending several weeks collecting information from the client’s past the lawyers at CFB were able to present to the district attorney’s office a package highlighting the devastation that any conviction would hold for the client. With a mitigation package submitted to the prosecutor’s office outlining client’s exemplary lifestyle since the warrant was issued over two decade ago, CFB was able to obtain the best possible result for the client. All charges were dismissed the warrant vacated and his wife had finally gotten a good night’s sleep.

CFB client was approved for U.S. Citizenship in Newark, New Jersey after appearing at his second interview in a naturalization case where client had significant criminal and tax payment issues. With CFB’s careful and resolute guidance, client soldiered on and continued to pursue his naturalization despite the complications and was both approved and sworn in on the very same day after satisfying USCIS of his worthiness for U.S. Citizenship.

On April 23, 2019, an Armenian/Russian national CFB client facing a criminal prosecution in Russia was granted adjustment of status as relief in removal proceedings. The client was initially detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). A contentious bond proceeding was conducted in July of 2018, in which the government adamantly argued that the client should remain detained. The Immigration Judge ultimately agreed with CFB's argument that the client should be released and granted bond. CFB continued in its zealous representation of the client in his pursuit of a green card. After a contested hearing, the Immigration Judge ultimately granted him his green card and he is now a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

On February 2, 2018, the Criminal Court in Queens County granted Cohen Forman Barone attorney’s motion to dismiss the criminal case alleging assault and harassment against our client. Client and her family were elated with Cohen Forman Barone’s thorough and diligent representation in bringing about the dismissal of all charges.

CFB successfully secured a monetary bond for client previously detained in removal proceedings in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Client had a complex immigration and criminal history, including a pending warrant and open criminal case in two different states. Nevertheless, CFB devised a litigation strategy that successfully navigated client through these many challenges and ultimately resulted him regaining his liberty and returning to his loved ones.

On January 24, 2019 the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed an appeal filed by ICE/DHS after a win by CFB attorneys in immigration court. ICE/DHS appealed an immigration judge’s finding that CFB’s client was granted protection under the Convention Against Torture. Despite client’s lack of status and prior drug convictions here in the United States, CFB attorneys were able to successfully convince an immigration judge that client faced imminent danger at the hands of dangerous individuals in his native country of Dominican Republic. CFB represented client in both immigration court in front of an immigration judge as well as successfully defending client’s case against the appeal by the government.