California prosecutors take white collar crimes seriously. If you’re facing charges, a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer can help you mount a defense. White collar charges can derail your career, and a conviction could upend your life. But you don’t have to defend your reputation alone.
The team at Simmrin Law Group has decades of legal experience. If you’ve been charged with a white collar crime, a Los Angeles white collar crime lawyer from our team can take on your case and fight to clear your name.
Why Do I Need a White Collar Crime Lawyer?
White collar cases can be complex, and self-representation can lead to undesirable outcomes. An attorney can:
- Analyze the evidence: A lawyer can scrutinize the prosecution’s case to identify weaknesses.
- Negotiate a plea deal: A lawyer can work to secure reduced charges or a lighter sentence.
- Develop a defense strategy: An attorney can craft a defense that’s tailored to your case.
- Represent you in court: If your case goes to court, a lawyer can advocate for you before a judge and jury.
Above all, a white collar crime attorney in Los Angeles can protect your reputation and livelihood.
For a free legal consultation with a white collar crime lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (310) 896-2723
Criminal Offenses Our White Collar Crime Attorneys Handle
White collar crime covers a broad spectrum of offenses. Our experienced attorneys handle cases involving:
- Medi-Cal fraud: This occurs when individuals or organizations submit false claims to California’s Medi-Cal program. Penalties include fines, repayment of funds, and potential jail time.
- Workers’ compensation fraud: Common examples of workers’ compensation fraud include exaggerating injuries or filing claims for non-existent injuries. Consequences can involve restitution and even prison.
- Healthcare fraud: Healthcare providers may be accused of billing unnecessary procedures or inflating charges. Penalties include license suspension and criminal charges.
- Auto insurance fraud: This includes staged accidents or false claims for damages. Convictions can lead to hefty fines and even imprisonment.
- Unemployment insurance fraud: Submitting false information to obtain benefits can result in severe legal repercussions, including repayment of benefits and criminal charges.
- Mortgage fraud: This involves misrepresentation during mortgage applications or property transactions. Penalties range from fines to federal imprisonment.
Los Angeles White Collar Crime Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Penalties for White Collar Crime in California
California imposes severe penalties for white collar offenses. These penalties can include:
- Insurance Fraud:
- Up to 5 years in state prison
- Fines ranging from $50,000 to double the amount of the fraud
- Restitution to victims
- Embezzlement:
- Up to 3 years in state prison
- Fines up to $10,000
- Restitution to the victim
- Tax Evasion:
- Up to 1 year in county jail or 3 years in state prison
- Fines up to $20,000
- Requirement to pay back taxes, penalties, and interest
- Mortgage Fraud:
- Up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $1 million
- Significant restitution
- Identity Theft:
- Up to 3 years in state prison
- Fines up to $10,000
- Restitution to victims
A white collar crime lawyer in Los Angeles can help minimize the consequences of your charges.
Click to contact our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers today
Defense Strategies for White Collar Crime
Building a robust defense is critical to challenging white collar charges. Common strategies include:
- Lack of intent: Demonstrating that the accused did not knowingly commit a crime
- Insufficient evidence: Highlighting gaps or inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case
- Entrapment: Proving that law enforcement induced the accused to commit the offense
- Mistaken identity: Showing that someone else committed the crime or establishing reasonable doubt
An experienced criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles can develop a personalized strategy based on your situation.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
How Can a White Collar Crime Conviction Affect My Job Prospects?
This kind of conviction can have lasting effects on your career, especially in industries that require high levels of trust, such as finance, law, and healthcare.
More specifically, a conviction could have the following effects:
- Difficulty entering certain industries: Fields like finance, law, and healthcare may be off limits due to employers’ need for high integrity and trustworthiness.
- Ineligibility for professional licenses: A conviction could disqualify you from obtaining or renewing licenses in certain fields.
- Increased scrutiny from employers: Even if you’re not automatically disqualified, employers may hesitate to hire someone with a criminal record.
- Delays in finding employment: The application process may take longer as employers review your background, and some may not consider you at all.
How Can a White Collar Crime Conviction Affect My Reputation?
A guilty verdict in a white collar case can have a profound impact on your personal and professional reputation. Here’s how one can affect you:
- Damage to relationships: Colleagues, clients, and business partners may distance themselves due to concerns about trust and integrity, making it difficult to rebuild professional networks.
- Loss of community standing: A conviction often leads to public scrutiny, particularly in high-profile cases, which can harm your standing in your community or social circles.
- Media exposure: Many white collar crimes receive media coverage, which can amplify the damage to your reputation and make it harder to move on even after you’ve served your sentence or fulfilled your legal obligations.
- Loss of opportunities: Employers, lenders, and even landlords may view a conviction as a red flag, which can limit your access to opportunities in various areas of life.
A skilled Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer works to minimize your public exposure and limit the reputational harm of your charges.
Will I Go to Jail?
When it comes to white collar crimes, the possibility of jail time depends on several factors, including:
- The nature of the crime you’ve been charged with
- Whether the charges are state or federal
- The outcome of your case
For instance, federal crimes like wire fraud or securities fraud can carry lengthy prison sentences, while state-level crimes might result in shorter sentences. In some cases, a Los Angeles white collar crime lawyer can negotiate for alternative sentences such as probation, home confinement, or community service, depending on the specifics of your case.
Can My Charges Get Reduced?
Yes, white collar crime charges can be reduced, especially if you cooperate with authorities or have mitigating factors in your case. For example, a charge of wire fraud may be reduced to a lesser offense, such as criminal misrepresentation.
Your odds of reducing your charges depend on the specifics of your situation, your criminal history, and the willingness of the prosecution to negotiate. A white collar crime lawyer with strong negotiation skills can fight for the best possible outcome for you.
Can My Charges Get Dismissed?
It’s possible for your charges to be dismissed in certain situations, though this is not always easy to achieve. Dismissals typically occur if there is a lack of evidence, a violation of your constitutional rights, or if the prosecution fails to meet its burden of proof.
A lawyer can review your case and look for weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence. If there are any legal grounds to challenge the charges, your lawyer may file motions to dismiss based on procedural errors, insufficient evidence, or improper conduct by law enforcement.
What Is White Collar Crime?
White collar crime encompasses non-violent offenses committed primarily for financial gain. These crimes often involve deceit, fraud, or breach of trust. Unlike street crimes, white collar crimes are typically committed by professionals in business or government settings.
Common Types of White Collar Crime
Many types of crimes could be classified as white collar. Some of the foremost kinds include:
- Fraud: This includes securities fraud, insurance fraud, credit card fraud, tax fraud, real estate fraud, mail fraud, healthcare fraud, and accounting fraud, all of which involve deceiving others for financial gain.
- Embezzlement: This refers to the misappropriation of funds entrusted to someone’s care. Embezzlement often occurs in workplaces or financial institutions.
- Tax evasion: This involves illegally avoiding tax payments by underreporting income or inflating deductions.
- Bribery: This involves offering or accepting benefits to influence decisions in business or government contexts.
- Identity theft: This occurs when someone uses another person’s personal information without consent for financial or other gains.
- Money laundering: This involves concealing the origins of illegally obtained money by passing it through legitimate channels.
- Forgery: This refers to the creation or alteration of documents (often legal documents or financial statements) with the intent to defraud others.
- Cybercrime: This covers a wide range of illegal activities conducted online, including phishing scams or hacking for financial theft.
Each type of white collar crime requires a different defense strategy, which is why legal assistance is critical.
State vs. Federal White Collar Crimes
White collar offenses can be prosecuted at both the state and federal levels. The primary difference between state and federal white collar crimes lies in the severity of penalties, jurisdiction, and the investigative powers of authorities.
State-level white collar crimes are typically less severe and may involve offenses like theft, embezzlement, or fraud. Local district attorneys prosecute these crimes, and penalties can include fines, restitution, probation, and imprisonment.
Federal white collar crimes involve more serious offenses that cross state lines or affect national institutions, such as wire fraud, bank fraud, insider trading, or money laundering. Charges pressed by the federal government tend to carry harsher penalties.
Relevant California Penal Codes
Several California laws address white collar crimes, including:
- Penal Code § 470: Prohibits forgery, including signing another person’s name without authorization or falsifying documents
- Penal Code § 503: Criminalizes embezzlement, or the fraudulent appropriation of property by someone entrusted with it
- Penal Code § 550: Prohibits insurance fraud, including submitting false claims to insurance companies
- Penal Code § 182: Outlaws conspiracy, including agreements between individuals to commit fraud or other white collar crimes
Who Investigates White Collar Crime?
Various government agencies carry out this kind of criminal investigation, depending on the nature of the offense:
- California Department of Insurance: Investigates insurance fraud, including auto and health insurance scams
- Employment Development Department (EDD): Handles unemployment insurance fraud cases involving false claims or misrepresentation
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Investigates large-scale financial crimes such as securities fraud, money laundering, and Ponzi schemes
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Focuses on tax evasion and other tax-related offenses
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Oversees securities fraud, insider trading, and market manipulation cases
- Local District Attorneys: Prosecute smaller-scale white collar crimes like forgery and embezzlement
These agencies often use forensic accountants and advanced technologies, making it vital to hire an experienced lawyer who understands their methods.
Who Prosecutes White Collar Crimes in California?
White collar criminals may be prosecuted at the state or federal level. Key players include:
- District Attorneys: These attorneys typically handle state-level prosecutions for white collar crimes such as embezzlement, fraud, and identity theft.
- U.S. Attorneys: These prosecutors manage federal cases, including large-scale financial crimes like securities fraud, money laundering, and Ponzi schemes that cross state lines or involve federal laws.
- California Attorney General: In cases involving significant or high-profile white collar crimes, the Attorney General may step in to oversee the prosecution, especially when there is a public interest or complex legal issues at stake.
Regardless of who’s prosecuting, an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can help you build a strong defense.
Contact a Los Angeles White Collar Crime Attorney Today
Time is of the essence in white collar crime cases. Your reputation and livelihood are at stake the moment your charges are pressed. For this reason, it’s critical to seek legal assistance as soon as possible.
If you’re facing white collar crime charges, you don’t have to fight them yourself. An experienced Los Angeles white collar crimes attorney from Simmrin Law Group can analyze the evidence against you and develop a winning legal defense.
Don’t hesitate to seek help. Schedule a free consultation today to take the first step toward clearing your name.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
