White Collar Crimes

Posted by William Aron | Jun 17, 2022

Financially motivated criminal acts committed by professionals or businesses are classified as white-collar crimes. Crimes of this nature usually involve fraud or abuse of power, without violence.

White-collar crimes, despite being non-violent, have high stakes. Such crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion, may be highly penalized. If you are being investigated or facing charges for a white-collar offense, contact an experienced California white-collar crimes lawyer to investigate the matter, structure a strong defense, and represent you in court.

The criminal defense lawyers at Aron Law Firm work diligently to protect our clients’ interests and legal rights. We work with you so that you understand what the law is, how it works, and the options available to you. Informing, educating, and guiding clients are paramount priorities of our firm. Informed clients are better prepared to make decisions, so together, we may achieve the best result in your San Luis Obispo white-collar crime case.

Common Types of White-Collar Crimes in California

A white-collar crime is any financial crime that negatively impacts a person, company, government, or the stock market. The white-collar criminal, in most cases, holds considerable authority, power, or trust—they might be a business partner, political figure, banker, broker, or other professional.

The following are some common white-collar crimes in San Luis Obispo:

Bribery: An illegal act consisting of the exchange of money and other things of value to influence the behavior of public officials
Fraud: Intentional dishonest acts to obtain economic or other gains, including tax fraud, insurance fraud, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, wire and mail fraud, healthcare fraud, and securities and exchange fraud
Embezzlement: The misappropriation of financial resources or assets by individuals or groups
Money laundering: Illegally acquired money is concealed through an elaborate series of banking or commercial transactions in order to hide its source
Forgery: The act of creating or modifying false writing for the purpose of deceit, most frequently manifested by falsifying another person’s signature on a legal document
Extortion: Violence, fear, or the presumption of authority used to coerce people to surrender their property, as in cases of blackmail
Perjury: Perjury is the act of lying under oath

Regardless of your circumstances, the Aron Law Firm is committed to preserving your freedom and defending your good name. Our San Luis Obispo white-collar defense attorneys are focused, passionate, and experienced. If you have recently been arrested or are the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, take advantage of our consultation. Proactive behavior may make a difference in the success of your case.

Potential Penalties for White-Collar Crimes in San Luis Obispo, California

White-collar crimes don’t involve physical harm, but they may cause considerable financial hardship to individuals, families, businesses, and the U.S. economy. A court’s sentencing decision considers the extent to which a victim was harmed as a result of the crime. The court considers several factors in your case, such as your criminal background, when determining an appropriate sentence length, fines, or restitution period. The following penalties may be imposed following conviction of a white-collar crime:

Jail or prison sentence
Probation
House arrest
Forfeiture of assets
Fines and restitution

California penalizes white-collar crimes severely. What makes the penalties more stringent is the amount of money involved. Once a certain monetary threshold is reached, white-collar crimes may be charged as a felony. A felony conviction on your record doesn’t just carry harsh penalties, but it also makes it hard to find work, build credit, or apply for housing. It is for this reason that our San Luis Obispo criminal defense lawyers intervene on your behalf and act as a voice of reason to the people deciding your punishment.

Possible Defense Strategies for White-Collar Crime Charges

At the Aron Law Firm, the San Luis Obispo white-collar criminal defense lawyers have successfully tried a significant number of cases in both civil and criminal matters. With our detailed analytical skills and thorough strategic planning, we prepare each case for trial efficiently. Our lawyers get to know our clients’ cases inside and out, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses to determine the proper course of action.

Listed below are some common strategies that may be used against white-collar crimes, whether you are charged by the state or federal government. Always be mindful that every situation is different. Hiring an effective defense lawyer may give you a better chance of crafting a defense that leads to a successful outcome.

Lack of intent: Prosecutors must prove that you intended to commit the crime. Suppose you make a significant error on your tax filing, for example, but the error was unintentional. That may be an example of lack of intent and consequently a defense to an allegation of a white-collar crime such as fraud.
Entrapment: Investigators may attempt sting operations when they suspect someone of criminal activity. In entrapment cases, the defense must prove that the engaging members of the police influenced the crime via their conduct.
Incapacity: The inability to comprehend the suspected criminal acts caused by physical or mental incapacity may constitute a defense for the accused.
Non-fraudulent statements: A common defense for making a false statement is the argument that you did so “in errors of judgment.” You believed you were telling the truth but were incorrect. In addition, not all deceitful statements constitute fraud. Opinion statements alone are not enough to constitute criminal fraud.

Crimes of white-collar nature are serious matters in San Luis Obispo and around California. The individual circumstances in your case may determine the criminal defense strategy to be employed. No matter what type of white-collar crime you face, you must find reliable legal counsel to construct a sensible defense.

San Luis Obispo White-Collar Criminal Lawyers on Your Side

At the Aron Law Firm, we have established a reputation for providing excellent legal representation across a wide range of criminal cases. Led by former District Attorney William M. Aron, our firm is known for its expertise in complex financial matters, which help defend those accused of white-collar crimes across California.

To discuss your white-collar case with a lawyer at the Aron Law Firm, complete our contact form or call us at (805) 500-0759 for a consultation.

What Are Common White-Collar Crimes in California?

White-collar crimes are financial crimes that impact a person, company, government, or the stock market. In most instances, the individual being charged with a white-collar crime holds great authority or trust—for example, as a business partner, politician, banker, broker, or other professional.

Common white-collar crimes in Santa Barbara include:

Bribery: This is the payment or acceptance of money or valuable goods in exchange for an official act.

Fraud: This term defines an act of dishonesty that is committed for economic or other gains. There are various types of fraud, like tax fraud, insurance fraud, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, wire or mail fraud, healthcare fraud, and securities and exchange fraud, to name a few.

Embezzlement: This type of financial fraud involves an individual or group of people misusing financial resources and assets that have been assigned to their care.

Money laundering: This is the criminal procedure of concealing the source of illegally acquired money by moving it through an intricate series of banking or commercial transactions.

Forgery: This is the act of creating or modifying false writing to deceive. A frequent example of forgery includes forging another person’s signature on a legal document.

Extortion: This is the act of forcing or coercing an individual to give up property, assisted through violence, fear, or the presumption of authority. An example of extortion is blackmailing.

Perjury: When a person lies under oath, they commit perjury. This criminal act is regarded as the deliberate and corrupt taking of a false oath in a court or legal proceeding.

If you have been alleged to have exploited your authority for financial benefit, you may be confronted with life-changing repercussions. You need an experienced Santa Barbara white-collar crime attorney on your side to fiercely advocate for your rights and freedoms.

What Are Potential Penalties for White-Collar Crimes in California?

While white-collar crimes typically do not involve physical harm, they may significantly damage the financial wellbeing of individuals, families, businesses, and the economy. During sentencing for a white-collar offense, the court considers the harm that victims endured due to the crime. The length of a sentence, amount of fines, or amount of restitution imposed as potential penalties depends on the facts surrounding the case.

Penalties following a conviction of a white-collar crime may include:

Jail or prison sentence

Probation

House arrest

Forfeiture of assets

Fines and restitution

White-collar crimes may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the dollar amount involved. For instance, a criminal charge of embezzlement for less than $1,000 may be a misdemeanor offense. Additionally, the prosecution may consider a defendant’s criminal background and specific details of the case.

What Are Legal Defense Strategies against Charges for White-Collar Crimes?

The Santa Barbara white-collar criminal defense attorneys at the Aron Law Firm have extensive experience in complex civil and criminal litigation when everything is on the line. Regardless of the state or federal white-collar crime you may be charged with, various defense strategies may be used in your defense, including:

Lack of intent: The prosecution must prove that you had criminal intent to commit the crime. Suppose you make a significant error on your tax filing, for example, but the error was unintentional. That may be an example of lack of intent and consequently a defense to an allegation of a white-collar crime such as fraud.

Entrapment: When investigators suspect someone of criminal activity, they may attempt a sting operation to apprehend the suspect in the act. If the defense demonstrates that participating law enforcement officers induced the crime through their conduct, this may be regarded as entrapment.

Incapacity: If the accused had the insufficiency, caused by either physical or mental inability, to comprehend the suspected criminal acts, then incapacity may be used as the defense.

Non-fraudulent statements: If the defendant is accused of providing fraudulent material to an accusatory party, the defendant may be able to demonstrate that the accuser behaved unlawfully. In that case, the defendant’s statement was mistaken for fraud when in actuality it simply did not benefit the accusing party.

Criminal allegations for white-collar crimes are severe matters in Santa Barbara and across California. Ultimately, the unique circumstances of each case may determine the criminal defense strategy used. No matter what type of white-collar criminal offense you may face, it is imperative to immediately consult a skilled white-collar defense lawyer to devise a thoughtful and robust defense against the allegations you may encounter.

Consult a Seasoned White-Collar Criminal Lawyer Today

At the Aron Law Firm, our Santa Barbara white collar crime lawyers have considerable experience with white-collar criminal and civil law practice that enables us to effectively defend our clients in court proceedings in both state and federal courts. Led by former Deputy District Attorney William M. Aron, our firm possesses expertise with complex financial matters, defending claims nationwide on behalf of those accused of white-collar crimes.

To speak with a white-collar defense lawyer at the Aron Law Firm, schedule a confidential consultation by completing a contact form or calling (805) 500-0759.

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San Luis Obispo White Collar Crime Lawyer