On December 4, 2009, Ken Schmitt, principal attorney at US Legal Solutions, was hosted by the St. Louis County Bar Association and spent two hours with St. Louis Area attorneys and judges discussing the implications of various State and Federal criminal charges on the immigration status of non-US citizens.  Ken was joined by Shawn Goulet, experienced criminal defense attorney in Clayton, Missouri and former director of the St. Louis County Public Defenders Office. 

Often times what may normally be a great plea bargain or outcome in a criminal case for a US Citizen can be a disaster for a non-US citizen's immigration status.  Seemingly minor criminal offenses and even Suspended Imposition of Sentence dispositions (generally considered not to be a conviction for state law purposes) can have disastrous consequences for the non-US citizen and result in the immigrant/defendant being deported from the United States or losing any chance of relief in Immigration Court. 

Ken and Shawn spent this time sharing their considerable experience in these matters and discussing the way aggravated felonies, drug offenses, crimes involving moral turpitude, domestic violence and other crimes can effect or ruin a non-US Citizen's immigration status if not handled creatively. They provided a basic outline of how to first assess the immigration status of the non-US citizen client facing criminal charges and then formulate a strategy to preserve their client's immigration options.  They shared their thoughts and experiences in developing various strategies under different circumstances and the intricacies in negotiating these charges with local prosecutors on behalf of immigrants. 

To download a copy of the materials offered at the presentation, click here.  To learn more about Ken's experience and qualifications, click here.