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A white collar crime can describe many different types of offenses. White collar crimes are motivated by financial gain and typically take place in white collar workplaces, such as offices or corporations. Common examples include embezzlement, fraud, and money laundering. The penalties for white collar crimes can be immense in Arizona depending on the severity of the offense. Whether you have already been arrested or suspect you are involved in a white collar criminal investigation, contact a qualified Phoenix white collar crime attorney at AZ Defenders for a free consultation. We answer the phones 24/7 at (480) 456-6400 to offer free case reviews.
A white collar crime describes an offense that uses deceit to steal money or make financial gain. It is a serious crime that can deprive companies, businesses, governments and schools of their hard-earned assets. White collar criminal offenses are often committed by indivduals with professional careers, such as those who work in stocks or finances. Depending on the circumstances, white collar crimes can involve a variety of legal violations. Arizona takes white collar crimes very seriously. The courts impose severe penalties on those convicted of committing fraud and other such crimes. It is wise to hire a Phoenix white collar crime lawyer regardless of the type of white collar criminal charge brought against you.
An occupational white collar crime specifically abuses the system in place at the offender’s workplace. It resembles organized crime. Occupational crimes generally involve employees and managers who seek personal gain through deceit or fraud. In many cases, employees at the company work together to commit occupational crimes. Examples include altering records or processing fake returns to pocket money that would have otherwise gone to the company.
The penalties for occupational white collar crimes depend on the value of assets stolen or misused. The courts may charge crimes that involve high-value assets, expensive property damages, immense harm to the environment and highly offensive violations as felonies. Otherwise, the crime may be a misdemeanor. A conviction for an occupational crime could result in fines and jail time.
Corporate crime describes a white collar crime committed by the company or business itself rather than its staff members. It refers to organizational crimes committed to benefit the corporation as a whole instead of personal gain. It can be difficult to draw the line between legal business tactics and corporate crime. Many offenders do not realize they were committing crimes since they were simply acting as part of the work environment. Some companies condone or even encourage criminal behaviors.
Examples of corporate crimes include environmental pollution, the manufacture of dangerous products, false advertising, and patent violations. The courts in Arizona often penalize corporate crimes intensely due to the large scale of the offense. When a corporation knowingly commits a crime, the violation could have a major impact on the industry, competitors, and thousands of consumers. Like occupational crime, the size of the offense will decide the penalties.
At AZ Defenders, in our years of experience, we have helped clients work through many types of white collar crime cases. This is a broad practice area with many different types of crimes. If you believe you are facing charges for any kind of white collar crime in Arizona, do not hesitate to contact our Phoenix white collar crime attorneys for a free consultation.
Several of these white collar crimes overlap with other state and federal law violations. You could get into more legal trouble with multiple criminal charges against you related to a white collar crime. At AZ Defenders, our white collar crime lawyers in Phoenix have experience navigating the most common types of white collar crime cases, including the following.
Embezzlement is when someone legally trusted with another person’s money or assets betrays this trust by stealing the property or using it for personal gain with the intent of depriving the legal owner of it forever. An example is an employee embezzling money from a company.
Trading in the stock market often requires assistance from a financial advisor. If an advisor trades stocks and securities deceptively to trick investors or make a profit, it is the white collar crime of securities fraud. A common example is insider trading.
White collar crimes may utilize the internet to trick victims or execute more sophisticated scams. Cybercrimes often involve stealing sensitive personal information, such as credit card numbers, from computers or websites and using it for personal gain.
Prosecutors during white collar crime cases are typically government attorneys who work for the prosecutor’s office in the county where the alleged crime took place. The prosecutor’s office is in charge of reviewing alleged legal violations – often by looking at police reports – and deciding whether or not to bring charges against the person. The prosecutor will also decide which charges, if any, to file.
The prosecution attorney will have the burden to prove that you committed the crime in question beyond a reasonable doubt. This is the highest evidentiary standard. It is important to protect yourself by hiring an attorney to help you go up against a prosecutor. Hiring a lawyer can even the scales between you and the prosecutor. Your Phoenix white collar crime attorney will know how to poke holes in the case against you using a strong defense.
You may face a criminal charge for a white collar crime if someone noticed evidence of an alleged crime, such as fraud, and turned you into the authorities. If a coworker, customer or someone else suspects a white collar crime and your involvement in it, that person may report the incident to a federal agency such as the Internal Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, or Department of Justice. The agency will then conduct its own investigation into the allegations and decide whether or not to involve the police.
The people investigating a white collar crime will differ from those you might encounter during a drug or violent crime case. White collar crimes often involve documents, bank statements and financial accounts. These cases may require forensic accountants, bank investigators, federal investigators, financial regulators and authorities within the state government for an investigation. Luckily, you have the right to hire an attorney to help you defend yourself against any alleged evidence an investigation may discover.
In many cases, someone higher up in the company will be aware of an ongoing investigation before the person facing the charges. If your boss or someone else starts asking you strange questions or treating you differently, consider whether you could be the focal point of a white collar crime investigation at your workplace. Contact us right away if you believe someone has launched an investigation at work that may concern you. Hiring a defense lawyer from the very beginning is the best way to protect yourself.
If you received a subpoena to produce financial records, were investigated by the police with a valid search warrant, received a subject letter about an investigation or were contacted by the government, your business could be under investigation for a suspected white collar crime. Call AZ Defenders immediately for assistance. Waiting too long to hire a Phoenix white collar crime attorney could negatively impact your case, as important evidence for your defense may no longer exist. You could also say or do something that further incriminates you. Hire a lawyer at the earliest sign of a white collar crime investigation for the strongest possible defense.
The Arizona courts heavily penalize white collar crimes. Since these crimes often rob corporations and civilians of significant funds or assets, the state takes them very seriously. Since there are so many different types of white collar crimes, the penalties vary significantly depending on the specific case and conviction. Here are some examples of the penalties for common white collar crimes in Arizona.
The penalties you could face for committing a white collar crime range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars in fines, as well as months to years in prison. The possibility of life-changing criminal consequences is why you should hire a lawyer to defend you during a criminal case. A defense lawyer from AZ Defenders will work hard to resolve your case with mitigated charges and penalties – or a not-guilty verdict, if possible.
If you are facing white collar crime charges in Arizona, it is critical to talk to a Phoenix white collar crime lawyer who can defend you during the case process. You may not have to go to trial with the right lawyer by your side. The attorneys at AZ Defenders know when to negotiate with prosecutors for the best possible plea deals and when to go to trial. If your case does end up in court, your defense attorney can guide you through the legal process. Your lawyer will prepare a strong defense strategy based on your specific needs.
The skill of your defense attorney could determine the outcome of your criminal case. A strong defense strategy could protect you from the worst possible sentences for the crime in question. Your lawyer will negotiate with the courts to try to mitigate the charges against you. Your lawyer may be able to argue a felony charge down to a misdemeanor if you have a clean criminal record, for example. Your lawyer may also be able to work out a plea deal that results in fewer penalties or a shorter sentence. If your lawyer believes you have a chance at fighting the charges at trial, your lawyer will do his or her best to achieve an acquittal.
Facing any type of criminal charges in Arizona can be overwhelming. A guilty verdict for a white collar crime, however, could lead to hefty fines, time spent behind bars, the loss of your job, and many other life-changing consequences. Contact AZ Defenders 24/7 for a free consultation with our white collar crime defense attorneys. We may be able to help you keep your life on track. Call (480) 456-6400 as soon as possible to speak to our lawyers in Phoenix, AZ.