The Federal Bureau of Investigation identifies white-collar crimes as financially motivated, non-violent crimes that are committed by business and government professionals.
At the Nava Law Group, P.C., our Houston, Texas white-collar crimes attorneys know that both local and federal law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to prosecute these cases, as these sophisticated fraud schemes can bankrupt businesses, family, and investors — or all three. That is why it is important to have an experienced Houston white-collar crimes lawyer by your side from the moment you learn you are being investigated or as soon as you are arrested.
Do not speak with investigators, law enforcement officials, or prosecutors before retaining counsel. Your rights and your future will depend on it.
What Are the Most Common Types of White-Collar Crimes?
Different than some thefts or robberies, white-collar crimes do not require physical force or threats to perpetrate.
They are characterized by their violation of trust, deceit, and concealment, which is typically far-reaching and motivated by financial gain or to avoid losing money, property, or services.
Some of the most common white-collar crimes can include, but are not limited to:
Bank Fraud
Bribery
Computer or Internet Crimes
Corporate Fraud
Consumer Fraud
Credit Card Fraud
Embezzlement
Election Law Violations
Fraud Against the Government
Fraudulent Use of an ID
Healthcare Fraud
Identity Theft
Insurance Fraud
Mail Fraud
Mass Marketing Fraud
Misappropriation or Unauthorized Use of Business Assets
Money Laundering
Mortgage Fraud
Ponzi Schemes
Public Corruption
Racketeering
Securities & Commodities Fraud
Social Security Fraud
Tax Evasion or Tax Fraud
Wire Fraud
White-collar crimes often begin with an extensive investigation, including the ongoing monitoring of the individual before any charges are considered or pursued.
That can include convening grand juries to hear expert witnesses testify about the evidence collected by local or federal law enforcement officials before serious charges are brought against the accused.
If you have been accused of committing a white-collar crime, your future and your freedom are at stake. The prosecutor is going to pursue the most severe charges available for the alleged crime and do everything they can to make an example out of you and your case, so everyone in the State of Texas knows these crimes are taken very seriously.
Do not attempt to negotiate your case on your own. Our Houston white-collar crimes attorneys will design the legal solutions you need to pursue the best outcome available for your charges and the circumstances that led to your arrest.
What Are the Penalties for White-Collar Crimes in Texas?
Because there are varying types of white-collar crimes, the penalties also range widely by the charges, the person who is charged, and their alleged involvement in the crime.
One thing is certain: The criminal courts will pursue the harshest penalties available in all white-collar crime cases. The broad application of white-collar crime penalties can lead to lengthy jail sentences and steep fines, which often do not match the crime.
White-collar misdemeanor convictions are often accompanied by a fine of up to $4,0000 and a prison sentence up to one year, or both.
Felony white-collar crimes penalties may include a fine of up to $10,000 and a prison sentence ranging from two years to life.
Conspiracy to commit an offense against, or to defraud, the United States
Mail and wire fraud
The Act increased the penalties to:
Up to $500,000- and five years’ imprisonment for recklessly and knowingly violating this Act
Up to $1,000,000- and ten years’ imprisonment for willfully violating this Act
What’s more is that even being accused of a white-collar crime can damage your reputation, jeopardize your business, and ruin your standing in the community.
Do not place your livelihood, your personal and business integrity, or your freedom in further jeopardy by facing the prosecutors alone. Contact the Nava Law Group, P.C. to get the legal representation you need to pursue results.
The prosecutor’s office — whether local or federal — is going to do everything they can to make white-collar crime charges proceed to conviction, so they can tout their victories to the public and make an example out of the accused. Sometimes, that means adding charges to the indictment, in hopes that any of the allegations will stick.
Contact Our Houston, Texas White Collar Crimes Attorneys for a Free Consultation Today
Our knowledgeable white-collar crimes attorneys in Houston are ready to counter those charges with a proper defense that meets each of our unique client’s needs.
If you are under investigation for a white-collar crime or have been arrested by state or federal law enforcement officials, contact our experienced criminal defense lawyers in Harris County at the Nava Law Group, P.C. today at (713) 661-9900, so we can begin focusing on the facts of your case to ensure you are getting the legal representation you deserve to produce results.
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