White Collar Crimes
White Collar crimes are serious criminal offenses
If you are facing white collar criminal charges, you need to seek the advice of an experienced and aggressive California white collar crime attorney immediately. The Law Offices of Jonathan I. Kelman can provide you with the knowledge and experience that is crucial when defending you against white collar criminal charges.
The term “white collar crime”, generally refers to non-violent crimes involving business people and professionals who profit financially through the use of deception. Common types of white collar crimes are as follows:
Antitrust Violations: Antitrust violations include price fixing, creating monopolies, mergers and acquisitions that restrict or substantially lessen competition and restraint of trade.
Bankruptcy Fraud: Bankruptcy fraud can be committed by individuals and/or corporations who purposely conceal assets or mislead creditors.
Bribery: Bribery is the offer of money, goods, services, information or anything else of value, which is presented with the intent of influencing the actions, opinions, or decisions of the taker.
Computer/Internet Fraud: Computer and Internet fraud includes using or applying for credit cards online under false names, unauthorized use of a computer, manipulation of a computer’s files and computer sabotage.
Credit Card Fraud: Credit card fraud is the unauthorized use of a credit card to obtain merchandise.
Counterfeiting: Counterfeiting occurs when someone copies or imitates an item without having been authorized to do so and passes the copy off for the genuine or original item.
Economic Espionage: Economic Espionage involves the theft or misappropriation of proprietary economic information (trade secret) from an individual, a business, or an industry.
Embezzlement: Embezzlement occurs when someone who has been entrusted with money or property appropriates it for their own use and benefit.
Environmental Law Violations: Environment law violations include the discharge of a toxic substance into the air, water, or soil which poses a significant threat of harm to people, property, or the environment, including air pollution, water pollution, and illegal dumping, in violation of federal environmental law.
Extortion: Extortion is defined as “forcing a person to give up property through the use of violence, fear or under pretense of authority”.
Financial Fraud: Financial fraud involves fraud or embezzlement occurring within or against financial institutions that are insured or regulated by the U.S. Government. Financial fraud includes commercial loan fraud, check fraud, counterfeit negotiable instruments, mortgage fraud, check kiting and false applications.
Forgery: Forgery is defined as the “making or altering of a false writing with intent to defraud”.
Government Fraud: Fraud against the government may consist of fraud in connection with federal government contracting and fraud in connection with federal and/or federally funded entitlement programs, including public housing, agricultural programs, defense procurement fraud, educational programs, and corporate frauds.
Healthcare Fraud: Healthcare fraud includes kickbacks, billing for services not rendered, billing for unnecessary equipment, and billing for services performed by a lesser qualified person.
Insider Trading: Insider trading is trading that takes place when those privileged with confidential information about important events use the special advantage of that knowledge to reap profits or avoid losses on the stock market.
Insurance Fraud: Insurance fraud includes a variety of fraudulent activities committed by applicants for insurance, policyholders, third-party claimants, or professionals who provide insurance services to claimants. Such fraudulent activities include inflating or “padding” actual claims and fraudulent inducements to issue policies and/or establish a lower premium rate.
Kickbacks: Kickbacks refer to the return of a certain amount of money from seller to buyer as a result of a collusive agreement.
Larceny: Larceny is the “taking and carrying away of tangible personal property of another by trespass with intent to permanently (or for an unreasonable time) deprive the person of his interest in the property”. Larceny must involve personal property, and it must be capable of being possessed, and carried away.
Mail Fraud: Mail fraud occurs when the U.S. Mail is used in furtherance of a criminal act.
Money Laundering: Money laundering is a process or series of actions through which income of illegal origin is concealed, disguised or made to appear legitimate to evade detection, prosecution, seizure and taxation
Public Corruption: Public corruption involves a breach of public trust and/or abuse of position by federal, state, or local officials and their private sector accomplices
Perjury: Perjury is the “willful and corrupt taking of a false oath in regard to a material matter in a judicial proceeding”
Securities Fraud: Securities fraud includes theft from manipulation of the market, theft from securities accounts, and wire fraud.
Tax Evasion: Tax evasion is fraud committed by filing false tax returns, or not filing tax returns at all.
Telemarketing Fraud: Telemarketing fraud is any scheme to defraud in which the perpetrators use the telephone as the primary means of communicating with the potential victims of the scheme.
White collar crimes are generally prosecuted in federal court although they may also be enforced at the state level. The government employs several different agencies to assist in regulating white collar crime including the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, the Secret Service, U.S. Customs, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Securities and Exchange Commission. All of these agencies have the authority to investigate you if they suspect that you are involved in a white collar crime. A Los Angeles white collar crime defense lawyer who is used to the federal court process can provide a very successful defense.
If you are accused of committing a white collar crime, it is crucial that you contact a California business crime defense attorney who is experienced in defending federal court matters as well as state matters. Many people accused of white collar crimes can successfully defend and win their case before it ever gets to court. As soon as you are aware that you are under investigation for committing a white collar crime, you must begin your defense. A white collar crime attorney who is experienced in business law, criminal law and federal law, and who is a skilled negotiator can often convince the government to discontinue its investigation before you are indicted.
Given the complexity of criminal defense in general and white collar crimes in particular, it is vital that you choose a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who combines experience with a good track record, a thorough understanding and familiarity with the law and the local courts, and a commitment to each and every client. If you have you been accused of a white collar crime in California, your time to get the right experienced criminal defense attorney is limited. The Law Offices of Jonathan I. Kelman has successfully represented numerous clients charged with white collar offenses throughout the State of California. The Law Offices of Jonathan I. Kelman prides itself on aggressive representation with a personal touch. Armed with the knowledge and experience to build a winning defense, Jonathan I. Kelman is accustomed to taking on the criminal justice system and achieving the best results for his clients.
When your future is on the line… Call the Law Offices of Jonathan I. Kelman immediately. Your phone consultation is free and completely confidential.