San Antonio White Collar Crimes Lawyer

White collar criminal offenses are often viewed as less serious because they generally do not involve violence. But the consequences for a conviction can be severe, including prison, steep fines and fees, criminal and civil restitution, forfeiture, disbarment, loss of professional licensure,  and irreparable damage to a person’s reputation, career, and personal life.

These offenses are largely financial crimes, turning on issues of fraud and deception in the course of business. They can arise in a wide array of contexts, from small businesses to major corporations. White collar crimes may also be charged against an individual who commits certain offenses.

White collar crimes often involve complex facts and challenging legal issues. Often, the evidence needed to muster a strong defense is buried within tens or hundreds of thousands of pages of documents, emails, financial records, bid proposals, and other business records. For this reason, it is incredibly important to work with a San Antonio white collar crimes attorney who has the knowledge and skill to defend you against these criminal charges. At Hunter, Lane & Jampala, our legal team has the experience necessary to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case.

Consequences of a White Collar Crime Conviction

Convictions for white collar offenses can be severe. Punishments in white collar crime cases can vary considerably, depending on the amount of financial loss, the status of the victim, and other factors. An individual who is convicted of a white collar offense may be sentenced to a period of incarceration in jail or prison, and/or a period of probation.  

In addition, a person who is convicted of a white collar crime may face regulatory penalties, disbarment from future government contracting, and hefty criminal restitution. Civil asset forfeiture may also be a possibility, even without a conviction in a criminal case. This process allows the government to seize property that they allege was used in connection with an offense or were the fruits of criminal activities.

What Is a White Collar Crime?

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a white collar crime involves frauds committed by business and government professionals. These crimes are financial in nature, and are typically motivated by a desire to obtain or avoid losing money, services, or property, or to gain an advantage. 

White collar crime can occur in a number of contexts, including:

• Corporate fraud
• Insider trading
• Kickbacks
• Misuse of corporate property
• Falsification of net asset values
• False accounting entries
• Fraudulent trades
• Wire or mail fraud
• Illicit transactions
• Identity theft
• Financial institute or mortgage fraud
• Health care fraud
• Intellectual property theft or piracy
• Money laundering
• Ponzi or pyramid schemes
• Promissory note fraud
• Market manipulation
• Commodities fraud

Notably, many of these crimes occur within heavily regulated industries. This opens up the possibility of an investigation and action by multiple arms of the government, including regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The government takes these offenses very seriously. Because many of these cases involve a literal (or virtual) paper trail, prosecutors are often aggressive in their pursuit of a conviction. Given this reality, it is vital to hire a criminal defense lawyer with significant experience handling these types of cases, and a firm with the necessary attention to detail required to thoroughly test the strength of the government’s allegations. 

Examples of White Collar Crimes

Our law firm defends clients who have been charged with a federal or state white collar offense. We handle a wide variety of cases, including:

• Bribery
• Kickbacks
• Internet crimes
• Counterfeiting and forgery
• Bank fraud
• Health care/insurance fraud
• Wire fraud
• Mail fraud
• Embezzlement
• Extortion
• Identity theft
• Money laundering
• Perjury
• Racketeering (RICO)
• Tax evasion

Because white collar crimes often occur in the course of regular commerce, they are complex by nature. Your attorney must navigate financial institution regulations, accounting practices, tax laws, and the rules of legal privilege with regard to the roles of corporate counsel in order to learn the facts of your case and preserve valuable evidence. It isn’t enough to simply know the rules of procedure and the applicable criminal law. A white collar criminal defense attorney must also be familiar with the laws and regulations controlling the given industry or business in order to mount a strong defense.

How Can An Attorney Help If I Am Charged with a White Collar Crime?

Being charged with any type of crime can be an incredibly scary experience. If you have been charged with a white collar crime, you may be tempted to try to cooperate with law enforcement or take whatever deal the prosecutor offers you. Doing so without the help of a lawyer may compromise your legal rights – and can lead to significant consequences.

Whether a white collar crime is charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, a conviction can have a devastating impact on your life. In addition to having a criminal record, you may be sent to jail or prison for a lengthy period of time. You may also be required to pay steep fines and restitution, and spend time on probation or parole.

A white collar criminal conviction may affect your life in other ways. You may be barred from working in your chosen profession if you are convicted. You may also find it hard to get a job after being convicted.

A white collar criminal defense attorney will work to protect your legal rights. They will investigate every aspect of the case, searching for evidence and witnesses that may minimize some of these consequences. Your lawyer will also examine the charges against you to look for ways to have the charges reduced or dismissed entirely.

No matter what kind of charge you are facing, having a lawyer by your side is critical to protecting your constitutional rights. No matter how friendly the prosecutor or police may seem, they are not on your side. Your lawyer will advocate for you, and fight for you to achieve the best possible outcome.

White Collar Crime Attorneys in San Antonio, Texas

White collar crimes are taken very seriously by law enforcement and regulatory agencies. If you are under investigation for or have been charged with a white collar offense, you will need an experienced attorney to defend you. 

At Hunter, Lane & Jampala, we represent clients charged with both state and federal offenses, including both violent and nonviolent crimes. Our legal team has substantial experience handling white collar charges. We strive to obtain the best possible resolutions for our clients’ criminal cases using our knowledge of the law, negotiation skills, and trial experience.

To learn more or to schedule a free case evaluation with a San Antonio white collar crime lawyer, call our office at 210-202-1076 or fill out our online contact form.