Miami White Collar Crime Lawyer
“White collar crime” refers to offenses that are non-violent and are motivated by wrongful financial gain. While you may not imagine that these crimes are taken as seriously as violent offenses, many people facing white collar charges also face very serious consequences. Being convicted of a white collar crime can damage your professional life and your reputation, as well as result in punitive penalties.
At the Baez Law Firm in Miami, Florida, we understand that people charged with white collar crimes require skilled representation by a criminal defense lawyer who has particular experience handling this type of case. Please call our Miami white collar crime lawyers to discuss further how we can assist in your defense.
Common White Collar Offenses
There are many different offenses that are considered to be “white collar.” Some of the white collar charges our firm commonly defends against include:
- Money Laundering — Money laundering occurs when a person or organization makes a profit from illegal activities and tries to conceal the source of the money. Money laundering can occur in many different ways, including through purchase of real estate or business, or by making many small deposits in multiple bank accounts, among other ways. Funds that are laundered are often obtained through drug trafficking operations, tax evasion, embezzlement, or other fraudulent schemes.
- Embezzlement — Embezzlement is similar to theft, except an embezzler has permission to temporarily have control of the money or property and then decides to wrongfully keep it as their own. Individuals accused of embezzlement can include employees, corporate executives, bank tellers, and government officials, among others.
- Fraud — Fraud is a term that can refer to a wide variety of criminal acts that generally involve deceit for financial gain. Examples of white collar offenses that involve fraud can include identity theft, bank fraud, investment fraud, tax or bankruptcy fraud, Ponzi schemes, check kiting, and more.
As with most theft-related crimes, the penalties for white collar crimes can vary depending on the amount of money that was allegedly taken. For example, a single incident of embezzlement involving $100 can lead to significantly lesser penalties than a months-long Ponzi scheme that takes hundreds of thousands of dollars from investors. However, even less severe white collar offenses can result in jail time, fines, restitution, and more.
Protecting the Rights of People Facing White Collar Charges
An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you in many ways throughout your white collar case. First, white collar cases often involve a lengthy investigation before any charges are filed. If you are called in for questioning by authorities, you should always have a defense lawyer ensuring your rights are protected. In addition, your lawyer will likely have to examine a large amount of evidence in order to build the most effective defense strategy possible against your charges.
Consult with an Experienced Miami White Collar Crime Lawyer Today
The Miami white collar crime defense lawyers at the Baez Law Firm are committed to protecting your rights and providing the most aggressive defense possible. Please call us for a free consultation at any time.