Have you been charged with a white collar crime or informed that you’re under federal investigation? Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C. can help when you call (843) 620-1100. Contact a white collar crimes lawyer who will explain your situation, outline your options, and guide you toward the next steps in your defense.
After contacting the firm, you can learn more about what to expect as your case moves forward. The team can review the facts surrounding your charges, discuss potential strategies, and provide clear direction so you know how to protect your rights from the start.
Why Should I Hire Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C. if I’ve Been Charged With a White Collar Crime?
White collar cases bring lengthy investigations, dense evidence, and aggressive government scrutiny. You need a federal criminal defense attorney with the experience and insight to respond effectively, and Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C. provides exactly that.
There are several reasons to hire our team if you are facing a white collar prosecution:
- Our award-winning federal criminal defense law firm has 43 years of combined experience handling high-stakes matters in this area of the law. We’ll work hard to secure as favorable an outcome as we can for you, as the law allows.
- We understand how agencies such as the FBI, DEA, IRS, and SEC conduct investigations and collect evidence.
- We are skilled in responding to subpoenas and grand jury procedures.
- We know how to negotiate with federal prosecutors and seek reduced charges or pre-trial resolutions when possible.
- We prepare every case with the expectation that it may go to trial, which strengthens your defense strategy.
- We stay in constant communication with clients and ensure they understand each step of the process.
Hiring the right defense team early on can significantly affect the outcome of your case. Federal and state investigators often work for months before bringing charges, so you need to be prepared to respond appropriately.
Get in touch with us today to get started and to schedule an initial case evaluation.
What Are White Collar Crimes?
White collar crimes are usually defined as non-violent offenses that are generally financially motivated in some way. These cases often rely on extensive paperwork and electronic records, and they are handled aggressively by both state and federal agencies.
Examples of white collar crimes that we commonly handle include:
- Fraud: Fraud includes wire fraud, mail fraud, healthcare fraud, and other schemes involving false statements or misleading conduct. These cases often hinge on whether the government can prove intentional deception.
- Embezzlement: Embezzlement involves taking money or property that was entrusted to you. These cases frequently arise in corporate and bookkeeping settings, among others.
- Money laundering: Money laundering charges focus on attempts to conceal the source of funds. Investigators often rely on bank records and transaction patterns to support these allegations.
- Bribery and public corruption: These cases involve offering, requesting, or accepting something of value to influence an official act. They are prosecuted aggressively because they relate to public trust.
- Tax offenses: Tax crimes include evasion, false returns, and failure to report income. The IRS and federal prosecutors often collaborate in these investigations.
- Securities violations: Insider trading, market manipulation, and misleading investors fall under this category. These cases tend to involve large financial losses and significant documentation.
- Identity theft and cybercrimes: These offenses involve using technology to access or misuse personal information. Digital evidence and electronic records play a major role in how they are prosecuted.
To learn how we can help with your particular case today, contact Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C.
How Are White Collar Crimes Investigated?
Learning about how these cases begin is one of the most important parts of preparing an effective defense. White collar investigations are usually long and thorough. They often involve multiple agencies, sometimes on both the state and federal levels.
Investigations can begin in several ways:
- A complaint from a business partner or other involved party
- Suspicious activity reports (SARs) from banks
- Audits that uncover irregularities
- Whistleblower complaints
- Regulatory inquiries that evolve into criminal investigations
Once an investigation begins, agents may begin to collect records and take other steps that might occur under the radar, such as interviewing witnesses privately. Many people make damaging statements during this early stage without realizing they are the target of a criminal inquiry.
What Are the Penalties for White Collar Crimes?
White collar crimes can carry penalties that are just as serious as those imposed for violent offenses. Sentencing often depends on the amount of alleged financial harm, the defendant’s role in the offense, and whether the conduct involved federal agencies and/or programs.
Common penalties include:
- Lengthy prison sentences
- Significant fines
- Restitution
- Federal probation or supervised release
- Asset forfeiture
Judges also consider aggravating factors in these cases. These may include the number of victims and whether the alleged conduct occurred over a long period of time.
What Are the Collateral Consequences of a White Collar Conviction?
Criminal penalties are only part of the impact that a white collar crime conviction can have on your life. Many people convicted of white collar crimes face long-term consequences that shape their lives for years after a case ends.
Possible collateral consequences include:
- Loss of employment and professional licenses
- Loss of security clearances
- Difficulty securing housing or future employment
- Immigration consequences, if applicable
- Damaged business and personal relationships
- Inability to work in certain industries
Merely being accused of a white collar offense can cause serious harm. However, a conviction can create barriers that last long after any penalties imposed by the court have been fully served.
These consequences are one reason it is so important to have a qualified criminal defense lawyer on your side from the start.
How Can I Defend Myself Against White Collar Crime Allegations?
White collar prosecutions require the government to prove complex legal elements, often including fraudulent intent as well as things like financial misrepresentations. These concepts are often open to interpretation, which creates multiple avenues for an effective defense.
Possible defenses can include:
- The government misinterpreted routine business activity
- You did not intend to commit fraud or cause financial harm
- You relied on the advice of professionals
- Evidence was obtained through unlawful searches or seizures
- There is insufficient proof that you engaged in the alleged conduct
- Another party caused the financial losses in question
White collar defenses often rely heavily on expert analysis as well as substantial legal research. Hiring a firm experienced in navigating these issues can greatly improve your chances of a favorable outcome.
Also note that the prosecution must prove every element of your charges beyond a reasonable doubt. This is the highest standard found in the law, so don’t lose hope about what’s to come.
How Can a Criminal Defense Lawyer Help With a White Collar Case?
White collar cases require a detailed understanding of federal statutes and regulations on multiple levels. An experienced criminal defense attorney in this area of the law knows how to respond to these charges strategically.
A defense attorney can help by:
- Reviewing the allegations and identifying weaknesses in the case against you
- Challenging financial calculations or expert findings
- Responding to subpoenas and protecting your documents and communications
- Communicating with investigators to prevent missteps
- Preparing defenses based on the unique facts and circumstances of your case
- Seeking reduced charges or alternative resolutions when appropriate
- Managing negotiations with federal prosecutors
- Preparing the case for trial, if necessary
A lawyer also protects you from making statements that can be used against you, which is a common mistake in white collar cases.
What Should I Do if I Am Under Investigation for a White Collar Offense?
Many white collar cases begin long before charges are filed. In some cases, you might learn you are under investigation through, for example, contact from federal agents or internal company inquiries.
If this happens, take these steps immediately:
- Do not speak with investigators without an attorney present. Even casual conversations can be used against you.
- Do not destroy documents or attempt to hide information. This can lead to additional charges, including obstruction.
- Contact a white collar defense lawyer as soon as possible. Early legal intervention often changes the direction of the case.
- Follow your lawyer’s guidance on handling requests for information. Compliance must be handled carefully.
The earlier you involve an attorney, the more options you may have for avoiding charges or narrowing the scope of the investigation.
Contact Our White Collar Crimes Lawyers for an Initial Consultation
White collar allegations can affect every part of your life for the foreseeable future, but you likely still have time to fight back against the charges you’re facing. Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C. has the experience and resources to successfully defend clients nationwide in complex criminal matters.
Whether you are under investigation or are already facing charges, we can help you understand your options and protect your rights. Schedule an initial consultation with our white collar crimes lawyers today to get started.
