Fraud Defense Lawyer Serving Mesa, Glendale, and Scottsdale and all Arizona
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone that, according to a number of statistical studies in the United States and elsewhere, white collar crimes are on the rise. This is due to a number of factors, most of them tied in one way or another to the expansion of technology. Because so much data is available on the internet, the range of crimes that can be committed online is increasing exponentially.
If you have been arrested for a white collar crime, you already know that you are in legal jeopardy, at risk of heavy fines and lengthy imprisonment. If you live and work in Arizona, Arizona Lawyers, an accomplished team of criminal defense attorneys based in Phoenix, is prepared to defend you with strength, acuity, and compassion. We are aware of the intricacies and scope of white-collar crime and have a well-earned reputation for successful courtroom defense.
White Collar Crime Defined
White collar crime is a crime committed in order to make financial gain through deceit. It is not a violent form of crime, though in certain cases, force and coercion may be used to perpetuate it or conceal it. White collar crime seriously affects tremendous numbers of people annually, depriving them of their hard-earned wages, savings, and investments, and depleting businesses, corporations, government agencies, and public and private schools. At Arizona Lawyers, we are well aware of how easy it is to get sucked into white collar crime, at times because someone you work with has already paved the way, and at other times because you take a small misstep that goes unnoticed, enticing you to commit a bigger indiscretion. Whatever the reason you have been arrested, we always assume that you are innocent until proven guilty and work diligently to defend your rights and your freedom.
Types of White Collar Crime and Fraud
There are a great many varieties of white collar crime, including:
- Bribery
- Counterfeiting
- Credit card fraud
- Embezzlement
- Forgery
- Identity theft
- Immigration fraud
- Insurance fraud
- Internet fraud
- Money laundering
- Mortgage/real estate fraud
- Ponzi schemes
- RICO/Racketeering
Some of these categories of white collar crime, for instance, RICO charges, overlap into various other types of criminal behavior. A few of these types of white collar crimes are detailed below:
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is a common type of white collar crime. The crime is defined as stealing money from people who have trusted you with their funds. Embezzlement occurs when accountants steal from their clients, employees steal from their employers, or elected officials steal from their constituents. In all such cases, the embezzlers have siphoned money belonging to others into their personal accounts.
Identity Theft
Identity theft has become so common that the general public often tries to take specific steps to prevent being victimized. Identity fraud occurs when a person obtains a significant piece of personal information, such as a Social Security number or a driver’s license number and uses it to impersonate someone else. Such impersonation is typically used to open credit cards or obtain loans using that individual’s credit rating and borrowing power.
Insurance Fraud
When an individual attempts to claim monies to which he or she is not entitled from an insurance company, this is considered insurance fraud. Insurance fraud can also work in reverse in cases in which the insurer intentionally denies a benefit the claimant is entitled to receive in order to retain illegal funds.
Money Laundering
Money laundering is a crime in which the origins of illegally obtained money are concealed, usually by means of transferring money into foreign banks or into apparently legitimate businesses.
Mortgage Fraud
If you lie about your income, debts, or other financial information when applying for a mortgage loan, you are guilty of mortgage fraud, that is, trying to obtain a loan for an amount the mortgage company wouldn’t lend you if you hadn’t lied.
Securities Fraud
Those who trade in stocks and other securities and provide deceptive information in order to lure unsuspecting investors to invest in unstable stocks, are guilty of securities fraud. Securities fraud includes insider trading, an illegal practice in which a person with inside (private) information about a particular company uses that information for personal gain.
Possible Defenses Against White Collar Crimes
Depending on the circumstances, your criminal defense attorney may base your defense on one of the following:
- Duress, meaning the illegal act was committed under threat of serious harm or damage
- Ignorance of the illegality of an act that was done at the behest of a superior
- Impaired judgment by reason of intoxication, medication, or mental incapacity
- Entrapment by authorities
Entrapment is the most common defense used in cases of white collar crime.
Contact Our Phoenix Fraud Defense Lawyer
At Arizona Lawyers we have comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of the statutes regarding all types of white collar crime and the legal know-how to defend you against any and all charges. We also have the resources and capability to perform thorough investigations and to interview witnesses with pertinent knowledge of the events. In addition, we know experts in related fields, such as forensic accounting and appraising, who can be invaluable in providing information to help us determine how best to strategize a defense in your particular case. If you have been arrested for a white collar crime, do yourself a favor and get in touch with skilled attorneys to give yourself the best possible chance of a successful outcome. We can be reached by phone or by filling out a contact form on our website.
Arizona Lawyers serves clients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale, and throughout the state of Arizona.