The state of California has some of the strictest laws in the nation pertaining to white-collar crime, leading to more and more people being prosecuted every year. Facing charges for a white-collar crime can completely alter the course of your career and upend your entire life plans, but it’s important to know that you do not have to go through this confusing and emotionally taxing time all by yourself. If you or someone you know is facing charges for a white-collar crime of any kind, then it is time to hire an Orange County white-collar crime lawyer from the Simmrin Law Group.
What Qualifies as White-Collar Crime
The term “white-collar crime” refers to a financially motivated and nonviolent crime committed by a person in a business and/or government setting. Oftentimes, white-collar crime is treated less seriously and seen as less harmful than traditional violent crimes, but this isn’t always the case. Especially in the state of California, where white-collar crimes can be quite punishing.
There are a wide variety of crimes that are considered white-collar offenses, some being:
- Tax Evasion
- Bribery
- Embezzlement
- Money Laundering
- Extortion
- Perjury
- Mortgage Fraud
- Unemployment Insurance Fraud
- Health Care Fraud
- Car Insurance Fraud
- Workers’ Compensation Fraud
On this list of different types of white-collar crime, fraud offenses were the most punishing and most widespread. In the latest year of reporting, there was a total of 5,428,613 incidents of fraud in the US, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. You or someone you know could find themselves in some serious trouble if they don’t act now.
To best avoid being convicted of fraud or any other white-collar crime, you will want to speak with one of our experienced Orange County white-collar crime attorneys.
Punishments for White-Collar Crime
In the state of California, the punishments for white-collar crimes can be more severe as compared to other states in the US due to the fact that our state has more instances of white-collar crime. According to TRAC Reports, in the last year of reporting, California lost $400.9 million to fraud offenses, which helps illustrate how big of a deal these white-collar crimes are in the golden state.
This is understandably worrisome if you or someone you know has been accused of a white-collar crime. It is important to know and recognize these penalties and the factors pertaining to them. Some of the penalties for white-collar crimes include:
- Embezzlement (petty theft, misdemeanor) – 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine
- Embezzlement (grant theft, felony) – 3 years in jail and a $10,000 fine
- Unemployment insurance fraud (misdemeanor) – 1 year in jail and a $20,000 fine
- Unemployment insurance fraud (felony) – 3 years in jail and a $20,000 fine
- Mortgage fraud (misdemeanor) – 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine
- Mortgage fraud (felony) – 3 years in jail and a $10,000 fine
This is just a short list of the penalties associated with white-collar crimes in the state of California, but it illustrates how severe these punishments can be. These penalties are determined with the help of some other contributing factors, including the amount of loss involved, the number of victims involved, and the sophistication level of the crime (like if it was premeditated or not).
To help clear your name, reach out to the Simmrin Law Group as soon as possible to get in contact with a white-collar crime lawyer in Orange County.
Defense Strategies
Being charged with and tried for a white-collar crime could spell disaster for your livelihood and career ambitions. It can become very difficult for you to keep your current job and/or find a new career job because nobody wants to hire someone who has been convicted of any sort of crime.
Our number one defense strategy for you will be to prove that there was no intent on your part when committing the white-collar crime. Mistakes happen, and they can happen to anyone. You could have made a simple mistake in the paperwork process when filing your taxes or filling out insurance forms. The prosecution must prove beyond doubt that a crime was committed.
Along with proving that there was no intent, there is a slew of other strong arguments we can make to either help reduce the charges or minimize the penalties. These include:
- There was no loss on the part of the victim
- There was no harm on the part of the victim
- There was a false accusation
- Entrapment occurred
- The prosecution’s evidence is weak
- The prosecution’s evidence was obtained illegally
In order to figure out what defense strategy would work best for you and your case, you should contact the Simmrin Law Group and speak with one of our seasoned Orange County white-collar crime lawyers today.
Contact the Simmrin Law Group Today
After you’ve been arrested for a white-collar crime, it can feel like your entire life is in chaos. However, when you hire a white-collar crime attorney in Orange County, you no longer have to feel this way. Our team of experienced lawyers and legal staff has over 15 years of working in the greater Los Angeles area, fighting and winning white-collar crime cases. Here at the Simmrin Law Group, our team works around the clock to clear your name of whatever white-collar crime you are being accused of, so reach out to us today for an easy, quick, confidential, and, most importantly, free case evaluation in order to start the process of getting your life back into your hands.