Ventura White Collar Crime Attorneys
Protecting the Freedoms and Futures of Our Santa Barbara Clients
The term “white collar crimes” encompasses a wide range of nonviolent, felony offenses, typically associated with business professionals who exploit their positions for financial gain. Many white collar crimes involve defrauding their employer, their company’s customers, or some other organization or entity. They often involve great sums of money and can even attract federal regulatory attention, leading to unfavorable news headlines and serious felony charges.
Our Ventura white collar crime lawyers understand the high stakes of these types of cases and are prepared to do whatever it takes to help those accused achieve a favorable result in court. Individuals facing white collar crime charges can experience personal, professional, and financial consequences, even before any formal decision is rendered in court. Our legal team has spent decades litigating complex cases involving these and other crimes and are prepared to vigorously defend you and protect your rights.
If you are facing white collar crime charges, call (805) 819-7143 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.
Types of White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes can refer to a number of acts that typically involve some form of alleged deception and financial manipulation. White collar crimes often involve several unlawful acts working in concert, typically violating both state and federal laws, toward some form of financial gain. If the monetary scope of the crime is large enough, federal prosecutors often get involved.
Our Ventura white collar crime attorneys can assist individuals charged with any of the following offenses:
- Bank fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Securities fraud
- Credit card fraud
- Insurance fraud
- Wire fraud
- Mail fraud
- Money laundering
- Identity theft
- Extortion
- Embezzlement
- Bribery
Effects of Being Charged with a White Collar Crime
Being formally accused of any crime is a serious matter, but white collar crime charges can carry even more severe consequences. These effects are likely to be felt long before a single point is litigated in a courtroom.
Professionally, white collar crimes can end careers. Most white collar crimes If you worked independently, you are likely to lose the bulk or entirety of your existing client list when word of the accusations reaches them. New clients who research your history will discover the allegations quickly and likely be reluctant to work with you.
If you work for a firm, your employment will likely be suspended pending a decision in your case. More likely than not, companies – especially public-facing ones – will not want to continue a relationship with someone accused of white collar crimes, even if the charges are later dropped or you are acquitted.
Remember, because federal authorities often get involved, white collar crime allegations will often appear in business news headlines, damaging your and the company’s reputation. Even if you are never convicted, white collar crimes have the potential to do permanent, irreversible damage to your career.
You can also face overwhelming financial penalties if convicted of one or more white collar crimes. In general, white collar crimes tend to be more expensive than other charges, both in litigation and after a conviction. You are likely to be taken into custody upon your arrest, and, should you be granted a bail hearing, the bail amount will likely be quite high.
White collar crime trials tend to require a protracted amount of litigation. Should you be convicted, you may be held responsible for numerous legal fees, costs, and penalties.
Being convicted of a white collar crime can result in your needing to pay:
- Punitive fines
- Restitution to victims
- Legal fees of prosecution
- Costs of supervised release or imprisonment
The personal costs of a white collar crime charge can also be exorbitantly high. The loss of your job and financial implications of the charges are likely to generate substantial hardship and stress for your family and loved ones. They will also likely suffer some level of professional embarrassment given the extremely public nature of the allegations.
Should you be convicted of one or more white collar crimes, you may be charged with imprisonment or an extended period of house arrest. Judges tend to not hold back on sentencing in situations where one or more endured significant financial harm. Your absence or confinement can represent a tremendous burden to your loved ones, especially since you will not be able to contribute the income of your previous job throughout this period.
Avoid the Worst Consequences of White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes can do tremendous damage to an individual and their family’s lives. Even public allegations can trigger a series of destructive events that will require careful legal strategy to mitigate. Our Ventura white collar crime lawyers at Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP are prepared to defend you and limit the negative impact of these types of charges. We are familiar with how to litigate sizes of this size and complexity and have over 50 years of combined experience defending our clients.
Do not wait to get the legal assistance you will need if charged with a white collar crime. Call (805) 819-7143 or contact us online today.
