Board-Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer
A white collar crime is an offense in which a party engages in fraud or deceit to commit the offense, usually to secure money or other valuable benefits. This category includes a wide range of offenses.
Common Examples of White Collar Crimes in Florida
Some of the most frequently charged white collar crimes in Florida include:
- embezzlement – A person commits the crime of embezzlement when they convert property entrusted to them for their own benefit or for the benefit of a third party. For example, a party may embezzle funds in an organization’s bank account when they can access it.
- Money Laundering – Money laundering involves putting illicitly obtained funds through a series of transactions to conceal their origin and identity, enabling a party to use those funds for legitimate purposes.
- Identity Theft – A person engages in identity theft when they use another person’s identifying information or false identification information to defraud another party, including to obtain goods or services or avoid civil or criminal liability.
- Bribery – Bribery involves giving money or other benefits to a person to induce them to either take or refrain from taking some action. It commonly occurs with elected or public officials.
- Credit Card Fraud – Credit card fraud may involve using another party’s credit card account for transactions or providing false identity information to obtain a credit card.
- Insurance Fraud – A party may commit insurance fraud when they submit a false or misleading claim to obtain benefits from a commercial liability, homeowner’s, auto, or other insurance policy.
- Healthcare Fraud – Parties commit healthcare fraud by submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims to health insurers or government health benefits programs, such as Medicaid or Medicare.
Penalties for White Collar Crimes
A person convicted of a white collar crime may face various penalties. Although white collar offenses typically do not involve violence or result in physical injuries, state and federal criminal law impose significant consequences for white collar convictions. Sentences for white collar crimes frequently involve prison terms that last for years or decades, depending on the severity of the offense. Defendants convicted of white collar crimes also face financial penalties for their offenses, including substantial fines and restitution obligations, which require defendants to reimburse their victims for the financial losses caused by the defendant’s crime.
Defenses to White Collar Charges
A person facing white collar charges in Florida may have various factual or legal defense strategies they can pursue to obtain a favorable resolution to their charges. Common defenses in white collar cases include:
- Lack of intent
- Legal authorization or consent to conduct the transaction
- Duress or coercion
- Entrapment (government agents induced the defendant to commit a crime they otherwise had no intent to commit)
- Insufficiency of evidence
Defense strategies may also involve challenging the admissibility of the prosecution’s evidence. For example, they may argue that investigators obtained evidence through unlawful searches that lacked warrants or probable cause or secured incriminating statements during interrogations that violated the suspect’s rights.
How a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help with White Collar Charges
White collar crime cases frequently involve complex evidence, including computer logs and financial records. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you by sifting through the evidence and identifying potential defense strategies, working with experts as needed to review technical information. A lawyer can also explain your charges and legal rights so you can make informed decisions at each stage of the criminal justice process. A defense attorney can fight the government’s case by moving to exclude unlawfully obtained evidence or dismiss the case for lack of evidence. If necessary, a criminal defense lawyer can present a compelling defense at trial when you choose to fight your charges.
Contact The Sombathy Law Firm Today
If you’ve been charged with white collar offenses in Florida, you need experienced legal counsel to help you prepare and present an effective defense. Contact The Sombathy Law Firm today for a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney to discuss how we can help you defend your rights, reputation, and future against white collar criminal charges.
