Top Things to Know About White Collar Crimes

If you are facing any type of criminal charges in Texas, you need to have an experienced and aggressive Dallas criminal defense attorney on your side. Whether you are facing state or federal charges, our firm can evaluate your case today and can begin discussing potential defense strategies to help you beat the charges. In the meantime, the following are some of the top things you should know about white collar crimes in Texas.

White Collar Crimes Are Extremely Serious

Although white collar crimes do not involve acts of violence, they are taken extremely seriously and can result in severe penalties—often penalties that involve significantly longer prison sentences than some violent offenses. Why are white collar crimes taken so seriously by government and law enforcement officials? The Federal Bureau of Investigation explains that white collar offenses “are not victimless crimes,” and emphasizes that “a single scam can destroy a company, devastate families by wiping out their life savings, or cost investors billions of dollars (or even all three).”

White Collar Crimes Take Many Forms

You should know that the term “white collar crime” does not refer to a single, specific offense with which a person can be charged. Rather, the term refers to a broader category of non-violent criminal offenses that often involve fraud or acts designed to obtain unfair financial advantages. Given that the term white collar crime is a broader category of offenses, you can face various kinds of criminal charges that may all be classified as white collar crime. Common types of white collar offenses include but are not limited to the following:

· Bank fraud;

· Wire fraud;

· Mail fraud;

· Healthcare fraud;

· Embezzlement;

· Money laundering;

· Insider trading; and

· Computer crimes, including identity theft.

Many White Collar Crimes Are Federal Offenses

Given that a majority of white collar crimes involve the use of electronic communication methods and thus interstate commerce, many white collar crimes are charged as federal offenses. Fraud crimes, in particular, can almost always be charged as federal offenses.

Convictions for White Collar Offenses Carry Severe Penalties

You should know that many white collar crime convictions carry extremely serious penalties. For example, many types of federal fraud convictions can result in fines of up to $250,000 and prison sentences of anywhere from 5 to 20 years for numerous offenses.

Lack of Intent May Be Your Best Defense

Most white collar criminal offenses, especially fraud charges, require the prosecutor to prove intent. Accordingly, although other defenses may also be applicable to your case, showing a lack of intent could be your best defense. A fraud defense lawyer in Dallas at our firm can help you to tailor your defense strategy to the details of your case.

Contact Our Dallas White Collar Defense Lawyers