Any type of white collar criminal charge represents a serious threat to your future and your freedom. If convicted, you could face fines, penalties and even time behind bars. It is in your future interests to take your case seriously, whether you are facing allegations of a misdemeanor offense or more serious felony charges.
White collar crimes are financially motivated offenses that involve taking money from another party. Many different types of actions qualify as white collar crimes, and the government takes them very seriously. Though these types of offenses lack an element of violence, the prosecution will likely still seek the maximum penalties possible under the law.
Examples of white collar crime
White collar crimes involve deception and other similar means to take money from someone or access sensitive financial information. From scams to intricate fraud schemes, these types of cases can be very difficult to investigate and prosecute. Some of the most common types of white collar crimes include the following:
- Embezzlement – Embezzlement happens when someone trusted with another person’s money, such as a financial advisor or employee, takes that money. This can happen in various ways, such as a lawyer using client funds for personal use.
- Tax evasion – This common type of white collar crime happens when a person does intentional things to avoid paying taxes or paying the full amount. This includes everything from refusal to pay to hiding assets to lessening tax obligations.
- Securities fraud – This is what many call insider trading and happens when a person uses privileged information, such as what he or she may know because of a job, for financial gain. There are various different types of securities fraud and insider trading.
White collar charges come with the possibility of steep fines, time behind bars and other penalties that can change the course of your life. This is why it is prudent to take your case seriously and start working on your defense strategy as soon as possible.
Fighting for your future
Your future is at stake when facing serious criminal charges that involve any type of financial crime. As soon as you learn you are under investigation, you may want to move quickly to seek legal guidance from a Massachusetts defense attorney regarding how you can confront the case against you, challenge the evidence brought by the prosecution and fight for your future interests.
