Syracuse & Central New York White Collar Crime Attorneys

White collar crimes defense attorneys

White-collar crimes are defined as criminal activities that are financially motivated, deceitful, and nonviolent. The reason for the name “white collar” is that the expression generally applies
to those who have some measure of business or governmental status. White-collar crimes are presumably committed by those who dress well for work and do not get dirty. Nonetheless, not all white-collar crimes are committed by CEOs, executives, and professionals; at times clerks or other relatively low-level employees may be charged with white-collar crimes — the distinguishing trait being that they are trusted with, and have access to, financial accounts.

White-collar crimes cover a broad range of misdeeds, including various types of fraud, embezzlement, forgery, money laundering, and tax evasion. Being accused of a white-collar crime can be not only unsettling but terrifying, considering that, if convicted your penalties are likely to be high fines and possibly long prison sentences. This is why, if you find yourself accused of committing a white-collar crime in Onondaga County or Central New York you should promptly contact one of the experienced criminal defense attorneys at CDH Law PLLC.

We Stand Ready to Defend You Against Both State and Federal White Collar Crime

Located in Syracuse, our CDH Law white collar crimes defense attorneys have the competence and resources to give you the aggressive, agile defense you need. We always assume that you are innocent until proven guilty and have successfully defended many clients who once went through the anxiety you are now experiencing.

Our attorneys have the skills, tactics, and resources to conduct thorough investigations and interviews, confer with forensic accounting experts, maintain strict confidentiality and cross-examine informants. We are also adept at protecting you from the media attention white collar crimes frequently attract. CDH attorneys are known for our creative critical thinking, enabling us to develop an innovative approach to your defense.

Types of White Collar Crime You May Be Accused of Committing

There are numerous varieties of white-collar crime, including those listed below.

Fraud

Defined as deceiving someone for monetary gain, fraud is the common denominator in several kinds of white-collar crime, such as:

  • Insurance fraud may be committed by a claimant who lies on an application form or intentionally makes a false claim of theft, damage, loss of property, illness, or injury with the intention of receiving undeserved funds. Insurance fraud may also be committed by an insurance provider who deliberately denies a valid claim, preventing the insured party from receiving the money he or she is entitled to.
  • Mortgage fraud is committed by individuals who include erroneous information or omit pertinent details on mortgage applications in order to get a more sizable mortgage or a mortgage that would have otherwise been denied. Others, besides the borrower, such as loan officers, real estate agents, or appraisers, may also participate in mortgage fraud.
  • Securities fraud involves luring potential investors by disseminating false or misleading information about the company’s prospects. Insider trading is a form of securities fraud in which a person with inside information (information unavailable to the public) uses that confidential knowledge to buy or sell off stock for personal profit.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement is defined as improperly taking money from someone who has entrusted you with funds. It may refer, for example, to an employee stealing from an employer or an accountant, lawyer, or investment counselor stealing from a client. Embezzlement is characterized by the fiduciary duty the alleged criminal has to the alleged victim.

Ponzi Schemes and Pyramid Schemes

These two types of white-collar crimes are related. In both cases, investors are lured in by the promise of enormous profits, and in both cases the first investors actually receive profits as new investors are recruited. The difference between the two is that in a pyramid scheme, the investors understand that their money is being made by pulling in more and more investors, which they themselves are involved in, whereas in a Ponzi scheme, the investors believe that they are receiving real profits based on the earnings of the company they invested in. Both types of schemes inevitably fall apart when investors try to cash in and/or new investors become harder to come by.

Money Laundering

Money laundering is a highly descriptive term for crimes in which money obtained illegally is transferred through or into a number of legitimate businesses or banks (often foreign as well as domestic) to conceal its origin. By such means, often involving a complex series of transactions, the “dirty money” is made to appear “clean.” Money laundering is intended to hide ill-gotten gains from law enforcement investigations in order to avoid both prosecution and taxes.

Tax Evasion

Tax evasion is a self-explanatory crime. While many people may cheat on their individual tax forms in small ways, if you are accused of trying to avoid substantial taxes by not reporting major income or profits, exaggerating expenses, not paying the full amount of sales tax you collect to the government, taking money “under the table,” or in any other way avoiding your tax responsibilities, you are likely to be in big trouble with the federal government.

Other White Collar Crimes

There are nearly unending types of white-collar crimes, including oldies like forgery, bribery, and counterfeiting, and trending ones like internet fraud and identity theft. No matter what type of white-collar crime you’re accused of, the consequences of a conviction may be grim, negatively impacting the course of your life and the lives of your loved ones. If you stand accused of a white-collar crime, reach out promptly to CDH Law. One of our talented white-collar defense attorneys will strenuously defend your rights, your reputation, your finances, and your freedom.

Defenses CDH Law May Use to Defend Your White Collar Case

There are many strategies our legal team may use to defend you from white-collar crime charges. At CDH Law, we have several viable strategies to use to provide you with a vigorous defense. Once you consult with us and we learn the specific details of your case, we will tailor our defense tactics to your particular circumstances. Some of the defenses we may use are:

  • Lack of intent to commit a crime (committing the crime by mistake or under the instruction of a superior or employer without understanding the criminal nature of the act)
  • Entrapment by a government agent
  • Duress (being forced by someone else to commit the crime under threat)
  • Intoxication or impairment by alcohol or drugs
  • Incapacity (lack of mental acuity, physical or psychiatric inability to function rationally)

Contact Our Syracuse & Central New York White Collar Crime Attorneys

The important thing to remember when you are charged with committing a white-collar crime is that you needn’t be alone or unprotected. Once you contact CDH Law you will have the best white-collar crime attorneys to defend your interests. We have comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of applicable laws and the legal prowess to level the playing field for you as we fight against large corporate interests or the federal government. We are gifted negotiators as well as tough litigators, so even if we can’t get your charges dismissed or if the chances of a successful courtroom victory seem slim, we are adept at getting charges and penalties reduced. The sooner you call us or contact us online the better your chances of a successful outcome.