In recent years, the term “white collar crime” has been thrown around a lot, but what does it mean? A white collar crime is a crime that is typically committed by someone who holds a respectable position in society.
The most common form of white collar crime is financial fraud, which can include activities such as identity theft,
Ponzi schemes, and embezzlement. If you are convicted of a white collar crime, you could face hefty fines and even time in prison.
That’s why it’s important to seek legal help if you have been accused of this type of offense. A Gainesville, GA white collar crime lawyer, like the ones in Hines Law, can advise you of your rights and help you build a strong defense against the charges.
A white collar crime is generally defined as a nonviolent crime committed in an office, professional, or business setting. Most often, the perpetrator of the crime is employed in that particular industry or profession at the time the crime was committed.
The perpetrators are usually highly educated and well-paid members of society that work in respected positions within businesses, government agencies, and institutions. Most often, high-level professionals make up the pool of likely suspects when white collar crimes are investigated for prosecution.
White collar crimes can vary widely, but many fall under federal financial statutes involving fraudulent activity related to banking transactions,
bankruptcy fraud, income tax evasion, securities violations, and bribery charges against public officials.
Other charges are brought against people who have used their position to engage in illegal activities such as embezzlement, bribery, or kickbacks.
White collar crimes are prosecuted by both state and federal authorities. Most often, the local prosecutor will work closely with the federal law enforcement agencies to investigate, prosecute and successfully convict those that have violated financial laws.
As strict penalties are enforced for these types of charges, you must seek
to help defend against these charges.
White collar crimes are investigated by professionals who understand how business transactions take place to bring successful prosecutions against the alleged offenders.
Successful investigations require a full understanding of business practices, accounting procedures, and employment issues related to establishing intent on behalf of the accused individual.
Since most white collar crime cases involve detailed investigative methods along with complex financial records, they can be some of the most difficult cases to defend against.
White collar crimes are prosecuted at state and federal levels depending on which laws were broken and in what geographical jurisdiction. Most often, these types of cases may be:
You should seek legal counsel immediately after you have been accused of committing this type of crime because many business records that will be admitted into evidence can be very complicated for an uneducated layperson to understand when introduced as evidence during the trial.
White collar crimes come in many shapes and forms and can be charged as either federal or state offenses. They are typically the result of fraudulent activity, but not all white collar crimes involve fraud.
If you have been arrested or believe that you may be under investigation for any criminal offense, it is important to call a Gainesville, GA White Collar Crime Attorney immediately. Your first call should be to Hines Law, who has a lot of experience handling Gainesville, GA white collar crimes.
The firm has years of experience representing clients throughout the State of Georgia. It is available around the clock to take your call and offer you a free consultation.
