Attorney Murat Erkan's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

Fentanyl conspiracy charge carrying 12 year mandatory, client sentenced to 3 to 4 years

Jul 09, 2019

OUTCOME: Sentence reduced to 1/4 minimum allowed by law

Essex Superior Court case no. 1777CR000435 charging trafficking heroin/fentanyl over 200 grams, trafficking cocaine over 36 grams, conspiracy. Government alleges client is mastermind of large-scale her ... oin delivery enterprise. Following extensive discovery litigation, we generate evidence calling into question reliability of government informant. Though client faces 12 year minimum mandatory, and client has served two prior prison sentences for similar offenses, government agrees to resolve case with a plea to 3 - 4 years committed.

Violent crime

Stabbing charges dismissed

Jun 03, 2019

OUTCOME: Case dismissed

Lawrence District Court case no. 1918CR001207, charging attempted murder. Government alleges our client stabbed her boyfriend in the chest. On 6/3/19, the Court allows our motion to dismiss the compl ... aint; our client is released from custody.

Criminal defense

Wrongful conviction vacated; case dismissed

May 13, 2019

OUTCOME: Conviction set aside; case dismissed

Roxbury division of the Boston Municipal Court case no. 1402CR002233, charging distribution of cocaine in a school zone. On 11/7/14, on advice of predecessor counsel, client admits to sufficient facts ... and is placed on probation. On 2/12/19, client is taken into immigration custody for immediate deportation as a result of this conviction. On 2/22/19, we file a motion to vacate his admission. The court conducts an evidentiary hearing at which plea counsel testifies he rendered legally competent advice. On 4/2/19, the Court issues an order allowing our motion for new trial. On 5/13/19, the government assents to our request to dismiss the complaint.

Criminal defense

Unjust conviction overturned; case dismissed

May 07, 2019

OUTCOME: Case dismissed; client is no longer deportable as a result of this conviction

Malden District Court case no. 0850CR000637, charging 3 counts assault dangerous weapon, failure to stop for police, driving to endanger. Government alleges that when officers attempted to stop client ... in connection with a suspected drug transaction, client attempts to run down the officers with his car. On advice of predecessor counsel, client admits to sufficient facts and is placed on probation on 12/18/08. Client retains our firm after learning his convictions trigger deportation consequences. Following adversarial hearing, the Court enters an order dated 6/5/18 allowing our motion for new trial based on ineffective assistance of plea counsel. On May 7, 2019, we appear for trial. The case is ordered dismissed pursuant to G.L. c. 276, §87.

Criminal defense

Client saved from deportation resulting from wrongful conviction

Apr 30, 2019

OUTCOME: Conviction vacated; case dismissed; client no longer faces immigration consequences as a result of his conviction.

Lynn District Court case no. 0213CR001164, charging distribution of heroin in a school zone and related charges. On advice of prior counsel, client pleads guilty to distribution of heroin on 8/3/04. ... Client consults with immigration attorney to seek green card. There, he learns that his guilty plea places him at risk of immediate deportation, then retains our office for help. Following an adversarial hearing on March 26, 2019, the Court vacates client's conviction. On April 30, 2019, the Court orders the case dismissed.

Criminal defense

Assault and battery case dismissed on payment of restitution

Apr 23, 2019

OUTCOME: Case dismissed

Lawrence District Court case no. 1918CR00147, charging assault and battery in connection with allegation that client forced way into apartment and assaulted her boyfriend's friend and smashed furniture ... . Incident occurred in the presence of alleged victim's young children. Following negotiations, government agrees to dismiss case upon client's payment of replacement cost for destroyed furniture.

Violent crime

No charges issue following hockey brawl

Apr 23, 2019

OUTCOME: No charges issued

Peabody District Court case no. _____, charging assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Client recreational hockey player accused of beating opposing player unconscious with hockey stick. Follow ... ing two-day hearing, clerk magistrate finds no probable cause to issue criminal complaint; case dismissed.

DUI and DWI

Drunk driving, second offense charge dismissed

Mar 28, 2019

OUTCOME: DUI charge dismissed, client receives probation on lesser charge

Lawrence District Court case no. 1818CR4555 charging OUI/DWI second offense, driving without a license, negligent operation and failure to stop for police. Government alleges client was drunk, led pol ... ice on a chase, smashed into parked cars and dumped his car, while on probation for first offense OUI/DWI. Probation seeking one-year jail sentence. We appear for trial. Government agrees to dismiss lead charge of operating under the influence, second offense. Client is sentenced on remaining charges to probation concurrent with his prior probation and to pay a $100 fine.

Criminal defense

Client saved from immigration removal proceedings following unlawful conviction

Mar 27, 2019

OUTCOME: Case dismissed

Worcester District Court case no. 0962CR009194, charging distribution of heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin. On advice of prior lawyer, client pleads guilty to possession with inte ... nt to distribute heroin. Years later, client learns that his plea subjects him to deportation. We file a motion to vacate his plea, which the government concedes on 2/27/19. On 3/27/19, the case is ordered dismissed pursuant to G.L. c. 276, §87.

Criminal defense

Leaving the scene of personal injury accident charges dismissed

Mar 21, 2019

OUTCOME: Case dismissed

Lawrence District Court case no. 1818CR006022, charging leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury. We determine that the criminal complaint issued in violation of client's right to a sh ... ow-cause hearing (clerk's hearing), rendering the case vulnerable to a motion to dismiss. On 3/21/19, we appear to litigate the motion to dismiss. The government concedes the motion and the case is dismissed.

Murat Erkan's Legal Cases (100)

Fentanyl conspiracy charge carrying 12 year mandatory, client sentenced to 3 to 4 years

Stabbing charges dismissed

Wrongful conviction vacated; case dismissed

Unjust conviction overturned; case dismissed

Client saved from deportation resulting from wrongful conviction

Assault and battery case dismissed on payment of restitution

No charges issue following hockey brawl

Drunk driving, second offense charge dismissed

Client saved from immigration removal proceedings following unlawful conviction

Leaving the scene of personal injury accident charges dismissed