It can happen so easily. You offer or accept a gift and, suddenly, you’re being charged with bribery. It doesn’t need to be much to put your career and your future in jeopardy. There is too much at stake; you must do everything you can to protect yourself. That starts with hiring a defense attorney.
The Los Angeles bribery lawyers at Simmrin Law Group, available 24/7, may be able to sway the jury and negotiate with the prosecutor to reduce your sentence, or even get it dropped altogether.
The right Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer can make the difference between years in prison and carrying on with your life.
Is Bribery Considered a White Collar Crime in California?
In California, bribery is considered a white collar crime because it involves non-violent, financially motivated conduct intended to gain an improper advantage in business, government, or professional settings.
Under California law, this type of criminal activity can apply to public officials, jurors, witnesses, executives, and private employees, and it generally involves giving, offering, receiving, or soliciting something of value in exchange for influence over an official act or business decision.
These offenses are typically prosecuted as felonies and can result in severe penalties, including prison time, fines, restitution, and permanent damage to professional licenses and reputations.
For a free legal consultation with a bribery lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (310) 896-2723
Bribery Charges in California
Not every bribery case is the same. In general, the state law views bribery as the exchange of money or valuables, or the offer to exchange money or valuables, with the intent to influence the recipient’s decision.
In simpler terms, bribery is when you illegally pay or offer to pay someone to get them to do something for you. If you are facing accusations or charges, call our bribery lawyers serving Los Angeles 24/7.
There are actually different types of bribery, and each type has its own definition. Depending on what type of criminal charge you’re facing, you could be facing differing consequences. However, it’s always illegal to either offer or take bribes. The two most common types of bribery criminal charges are:
Political Bribery
When a political official takes money or anything else of value, it’s considered political bribery. According to California Penal Codes (PC) 85 and 86, it is illegal to pay a legislator to vote one way or another or not go to certain committees. Under this law, it’s also illegal to blackmail legislators.
Legislators, similarly, are forbidden from accepting bribes. However, state and federal government politicians and public officials can sometimes be falsely accused of bribery, either accidentally or maliciously.
Commercial Bribery
The business world’s equivalent of a bribery charge is known as commercial bribery. This occurs when an employee, agent, trustee, or other person affiliated with a business takes payment from someone other than their employer with the intent of using their position to benefit the person who paid them.
Again, there can be situations that are misconstrued as this specific type of bribery. There may also be people who want to untruthfully accuse professionals of wrongdoing.
No matter what type of bribery you’ve been accused of, it can be devastating for your career, even if you aren’t convicted. That’s why you need a legal defense lawyer who knows how to not only keep you from the worst possible consequences, but possibly even get your charge expunged from your record.
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How Much Is a Bribery Charge?
The consequences you could face for a bribery charge can vary depending on the amount of money offered in the bribe and the type of bribery it was. Your criminal penalties will also depend on how well your bribery attorney is able to negotiate with the prosecutor.
Commercial bribery can be charged either as a misdemeanor or a felony. If the bribe in question was under $1,000, it is a misdemeanor. That means a maximum of one year in jail. If the bribe was over $1,000, it is most likely a felony. That carries a higher penalty of up to three years in state prison.
What About Other Types of Bribery?
All other types of bribery are automatically considered felonies. If you’re charged with felony bribery, you could be facing up to four years in state prison.
These are the maximum punishments, though. An LA bribery attorney could get your sentence reduced or even dropped entirely.
To find out how long a jail or prison sentence you might be facing and how we can help, get a free consultation with one of our Los Angeles trial attorneys today.
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Can You Go to Jail for Bribery?
Yes, people convicted of bribery are often sentenced to either county jail or state prison, depending on the severity of their charge. That doesn’t have to happen, though. Judges commonly use formal probation as an alternative to jail time.
Formal probation, also known as felony probation, allows convicted offenders to avoid prison time by having a probation officer supervise them for a period of three to five years. The offender will have certain terms and conditions applied to their probation, and if they fail to meet those, they could face prison time.
Probation is often the result of negotiations between a defense lawyer and a judge. With the right criminal defense attorney, you could avoid prison altogether and be able to live your life outside of jail. Call our criminal defense firm now to boost your chances of reducing or avoiding criminal prosecution.
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Get a Free Consultation With a Bribery Defense Lawyer Serving Los Angeles Today
When you’re on trial for a crime as serious as bribery, you don’t want to leave anything up to chance. That’s why you shouldn’t wait to get legal representation from a defense lawyer.
Whether you’re a public official, a politician, or an everyman, the Los Angeles bribery lawyers at Simmrin Law Group can help you throughout the process and make sure your rights are protected. Call us or contact us online to get your free consultation with one of our defense attorneys. Visit our FAQ page to learn more.
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