White Collar Crimes

White Collar Crimes Criminal Defense in Estero, FL

Some crimes are committed in the office suite, not in the streets. These are commonly called “white collar” crimes, because businesspeople and other professionals often commit them.

Historically, white collar crimes were perceived as less serious than street crimes like drug distribution, robbery, or rape. But over the past decade, prosecutors have aggressively pursued white collar cases and even seek media attention for “sticking it” to suspected white collar criminals. If you are charged with a white collar crime, you need effective legal representation. Contact one of our Estero white collar crime attorneys for more information.

Examples of White Collar Crime

There are too many white collar crimes to list, but some of the more popular with Estero prosecutors include:

• Bribery
• Extortion
• Insurance fraud
• Computer crimes
• Forgery
• Health care fraud
• Credit card fraud
• Embezzlement
• Money laundering
• Income tax fraud
• Mortgage fraud

White collar crimes can be felonies or misdemeanors. Sometimes, they are “wobblers” because they could be charged as either. We must look critically at the substance of the complaint to determine whether you should be charged as a felon.

If you have been charged with a non-violent crime, then an attorney’s help is critical. Most prosecutors are too aggressive when charging defendants, and there are weaknesses in almost every case.

How to Fight a Criminal Charge

Many criminal charges are not brought until police have conducted a lengthy investigation. Law enforcement from the state and even the federal government could be involved. However, our clients benefit from a lawyer’s help very early in the process.

As soon as you catch wind that the police or a regulator is investigating your conduct, call us. Many white collar cases stand or fall based on the information you share with the government. Investigators are very good at getting people to admit to conduct that sounds suspicious. Or they request mountains of paperwork to comb through, looking for mistakes.

The defenses we raise on behalf of our white collar clients will depend on the charges. Often, criminal intent is in dispute. Prosecutors typically must show you intentionally committed certain acts when, in reality, simple carelessness might be to blame. For example, many defendants are charged with fraud due to simple billing errors that stem from faulty accounting processes in the back office. Submitting an erroneous invoice might have been a mistake, not part of a fraudulent scheme.

In other cases, we can argue that the conduct in dispute was authorized. For example, your boss might have told you to deposit money into certain accounts or allowed you to use computers for a certain reason.

Protecting Your Reputation

Fighting the charges in court is only one part of defending our clients. Professionals and other members of the business community stand to suffer reputational loss if convicted. A person’s reputation takes decades to build. One criminal complaint could leave a permanent taint and make it difficult, if not impossible, to find employment in your field.

Contact Our Estero White Collar Crimes Attorney

The government zealously prosecutes white collar crimes, and you need the best attorney possible to fight back. Please contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.