White-collar crimes are non-violent, financially motivated offenses that often involve deceit, fraud, or violations of trust. These crimes can have severe consequences for individuals and businesses, leading to significant financial losses, damaged reputations, and even incarceration. This article explains the various types of white-collar crimes and why the services of a skilled Florida criminal defense lawyer are essential if you find yourself facing such charges.
At Stechschulte Nell, Attorneys at Law in Tampa, we have been successfully delivering skilled white-collar criminal defense representation to clients in federal and state courts for many years. We take pride in our record of effectively defending clients against government prosecution and working to obtain the best possible result for every individual through the application of the most appropriate strategy for the facts of the case.
If you are charged with a white-collar crime, call our office to discuss the best strategy for your defense.
Types of White-Collar Crimes
White-collar crimes include a wide range of offenses, each with its own specific characteristics, legal elements, and penalties. Any person charged with a white-collar crime in either federal or state court should immediately contact a criminal defense lawyer with a deep understanding of the financial aspects of the alleged offense.
While expert witnesses may be used by both the government and the defense lawyer, your criminal defense lawyer must be fully conversant with the financial transactions that occurred and how they may be misconstrued by law enforcement.
These are some of the most commonly charged types of white-collar crimes and some of the ones occupying the focus of federal and state prosecutors:
Embezzlement
Embezzlement occurs when an individual misappropriates funds or property entrusted to them, often by an employer or organization. This may involve skimming money, diverting company funds, or stealing assets over time. This offense is usually the subject of state prosecution.
PPP Fraud
Fraudulent activities can take many forms. One of the most frequently charged federal crimes in recent months involves allegations of fraud in the government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP program was hastily launched to respond quickly to the devastating effects that the COVID-19 outbreak was having on American businesses.
While some PPP fraud cases involve large scale schemes by foreign actors to steal massive amounts of federal dollars, most PPP fraud indictments are being filed against small and mid-size businesses whose owners were desperate for the funds and misunderstood the legal details or who did not appreciate the strict requirements governing the expenses for which the money could be used.
These charges are typically alleged in the form of wire fraud and mail fraud charges.
Identity Theft
Stealing someone’s personal information to commit financial crimes has also become a common basis for federal indictments. This could involve misuse of another person’s identification information, using their bank or credit cards without authorization, or even listing a person’s name on a false Medicaid or Medicare healthcare reimbursement claim. The US Justice Department has become much more aggressive in its inclusion of identity fraud in its recent indictments.
Insurance Fraud
Falsifying claims to receive insurance payouts. This can include anything as extreme as committing arson to collect insurance proceeds to something as seemingly minor as falsely inflating losses from a burglary.
Credit Card Fraud
Illegally using another person’s credit card information. Credit card fraud also covers offenses in which the credit card account holder sells their credit card to a third party who then runs up large charges which the account holder then claims to be unauthorized. Several federal consumer protection statutes provide for credit card account holders to be held harmless for debts run up without their authorization if they report those charges within a designated period of time.
Securities Fraud
Deceptive practices in the stock market or securities industry. Insider trading, stock price manipulation (pump and dump), cryptocurrency, and other securities may all be the subject of federal indictment.
Tax Evasion
Tax evasion involves the illegal act of evading taxes by underreporting income, inflating deductions, or using illegal means to reduce tax liability.
Money Laundering
Money laundering is the process of making illegally obtained money appear legitimate by passing it through a complex sequence of banking transfers or commercial transactions. Funds obtained through criminal activity might be used to buy real estate, which is then sold, or proceeds from crimes are invested in businesses or represented to be from a legitimate source.
Public Corruption
Public corruption cases involve government officials or employees misusing their positions for personal gain through bribery, kickbacks, or abuse of power. Such offenses are prosecuted on both the state and federal level and are treated very seriously by the criminal justice system. Prosecutors invariably seek prison sentences for those convicted of public corruption charges.
Healthcare Fraud
Healthcare fraud involves fraudulent claims, billing, or practices within the healthcare industry, potentially costing government programs and insurance providers billions of dollars annually.
The Importance of a Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer
When you’re facing white-collar crime charges in Florida, it is crucial that you do not speak to anyone about the facts of the case before seeking the assistance of a skilled criminal defense lawyer.
Only an experienced Florida criminal defense lawyer knowledgeable about white-collar crimes will best advise you about how to conduct your most effective defense. Consulting with a criminal defense lawyer immediately will answer all the legal questions you have, give you a sense of security that you have an ally who will handle all communications relating to the matter, and represent you zealously within the bounds of the law.
The experience of a criminal defendant is never pleasant. However working with a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer ensures that your case is handled in an optimal manner with the goal of achieving the best possible result for you and your family.
Aggressive criminal defense is empowered not by mere bravado, but by the skillful application of years of legal study and courtroom practice representing hundreds of similarly situated clients with favorable results. Your criminal defense lawyer’s reputation is built on results.
Contact Stechschulte Nell Law Today
At Stechschulte Nell, Attorneys at Law, we stand proudly on our reputation for effective criminal defense advocacy in both state and federal courts. Give us a call at 813-280-1244 for reliable defense today.
