White-collar crimes are financially motivated actions that often involve the theft of money or services. These acts usually do not involve direct physical violence but are a breach of trust that harms others. The penalties upon conviction can be severe.
Any criminal conviction can wreak havoc on someone’s future, but a conviction for a white-collar crime can destroy your accustomed way of life. People in a position to commit these crimes are often leaders in the community, business owners, and government professionals.
When you are under investigation for a white-collar crime or face charges, contact a trusted criminal defense attorney immediately. A skilled New River white collar lawyer from the Grand Canyon Law Group can represent your best interests during investigations and offer a vigorous defense to the charges.
Any attempt to secure financial or other benefits through deceit could be a white-collar crime, and the law describes multiple examples. Our New River attorneys have years of experience helping people mitigate the damaging impacts of a variety of white-collar crimes, including:
Embezzlement is a specific type of theft when a person has the authority to handle assets and diverts them to their use without authorization. Business or charity bookkeepers, treasurers, and financial officers might face embezzlement charges if they use another party’s assets for their personal benefit.
Embezzling less than $1000 is a Class 1 misdemeanor, but other embezzlement crimes are felonies. For example, embezzling between $3000-$4000 is a Class 4 felony, and stealing property with a value exceeding $25,000 is a Class 2 felony.
Stealing another person’s identifying information to obtain benefits is a common occurrence. People can obtain identifying information in many ways, including data breaches, phishing, and hacking WiFi networks.
Stealing one person’s identity is a Class 4 felony. Using the identities of three or more people is aggravated identity theft, which is a Class 3 felony, and selling or trading anyone’s identity is called identity trafficking, and it is a Class 2 felony.
According to Arizona Statutes § 13-2310, fraud is an intentional scheme to gain a benefit through deception or false pretenses. Prosecutors frequently bring charges alleging fraud in insurance claims, real estate transactions, tax matters, and obtaining public benefits like Worker’s Compensation and welfare. Some forms of fraud, like insider trading or Medicare fraud, usually result in federal charges. Local officials prosecute other forms of fraud. State fraud charges are Class 2 felonies.
One of the essential elements of most white-collar crimes is intent. The accused must have knowingly used deception or other improper means to gain a benefit. Attacking a prosecutor’s evidence of intent can often lead to a reduced charge or favorable plea deal.
Many white-collar crime prosecutions are based on documents—tax returns, financial statements, bank records, and similar evidence. Our white-collar defense attorneys in New River used to be prosecutors. This unique insight gives us an upper hand in effectively representing our clients’ best interests. We also have significant experience analyzing the types of records commonly used as evidence to find weaknesses or disparities. In many cases, a different interpretation of the evidence is possible, raising doubts about whether a crime occurred.
Additionally, our team often reviews the police officer’s conduct to ensure they respect the accused’s Constitutional rights. If law enforcement officers overstepped, the judge might suppress any evidence they collected through illegal means.
Convictions for a white-collar crime can lead to a prison sentence and substantial fines. Even if an accused escapes a prison sentence, a conviction can result in a loss of reputation and a suspension or revocation of some professional licenses.
Working with a New River white collar lawyer can help minimize these damaging impacts on your personal and professional life. Call the Grand Canyon Law Group to learn more about how we can provide you with dedicated guidance.