Orange County White Collar Crime Lawyer

White collar crime defendants have found themselves under increased scrutiny after the collapse of the banking system and multiple corporate scandals involving stock trading or cyber crime. It can be difficult for a jury to feel sympathy for someone who is being charged with white collar crimes, so it is the defense’s responsibility to present a persuasive, solid case.

How Can A Laguna Hills and Orange County White Collar Crime Attorney Help?

Our team of Orange County criminal defense lawyers has been recognized for their superb trial work, being named as some of the top trial lawyers in Laguna Hills and throughout Orange County. This kind of skill and knowledge will help you defend yourself in the conservative courtroom where prosecutors aggressively pursue criminal charges. With a member of The SoCal Law Network on your side, you may have a better chance at achieving the best possible outcome for your case.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a white collar crime, contact the team at The SoCal Law Network to speak with a highly skilled Laguna Hills and Orange County criminal defense attorney. Call 949-305-7995 to schedule a free consultation today.

What are Common White Collar Crimes?

In California, there are numerous crimes that fall under the white collar crime umbrella, including bribery, forgery and extortion. However, the two most common forms of white collar crimes are fraud and embezzlement.

Fraud
There are countless types of fraud that can lead to criminal charges in the state of California, including:

California insurance fraud: attempting to receive insurance benefits or payments that you are not entitled to claim. It can refer to:
California real estate and mortgage fraud: false representation that is used at any point during a real estate transaction. This can refer to:
California financial fraud: receiving undeserved financial gain through fraudulent means. This can include:
California forgery and identity theft: forging any kind of document, especially those related to falsifying personal information. This can include:
California fraud involving elders: offenses where the victim is a senior citizen, including:

Typically, fraudulent crimes are carried out for personal financial gain or to escape some sort of criminal action, although this is not required in order for an act to be considered as fraud.

Embezzlement
In order to be convicted of embezzlement, the following must have occurred:

Someone trusted you with his or her property, either directly or indirectly
You took the property and fraudulently used it for your own benefit
You had the intention of depriving the owner of the property’s use

For example, an office manager who is in charge of collecting donations for a company charity initiative decides to pocket a few hundred dollars to help her pay mounting bills. This would be a crime of embezzlement since she was trusted to handle the money and misappropriated cash to use for her own benefit.

As you can see, there are many ways to be charged with fraud or embezzlement in California. These white collar crimes could result in serious consequences if you are convicted, so don’t waste anytime contacting an Orange County white collar attorney to begin defending your rights in court.

What are the Penalties for White Collar Crimes?

White collar crimes may carry serious penalties that could affect you and your loved ones’ lives for years to come.

Fraud
Because there are so many different fraud charges, the penalties may differ greatly depending on the specifics of your case and which type of fraud was committed. Most fraud crimes are generally wobbler offenses, so they can be either misdemeanors or felonies. In addition, many fraud cases may also carry federal charges that may lead to increased sentences and higher fines after conviction.

If convicted, the government may seize any property or money that was involved in or a result of fraudulent activity.

Embezzlement
Penalties may vary depending on the type and value of the property in question. Typically, grand theft embezzlement charges are issued if the property is:

Valued at over $950
An automobile
A firearm

Grand theft embezzlement is considered a wobbler, meaning it can be either a misdemeanor or felony charge. As a misdemeanor, you may face:

Probation
A fine of up to $1,000
Up to one year in county jail

In some situations, the grand theft embezzlement charge will be considered a felony. This is almost always true of cases that involve a firearm. For felony charges, you may face:

Formal probation
Up to three years in California state prison
A fine of up to $10,000

Petty theft embezzlement is any type of embezzlement crime that does not meet the requirements to be considered a grand theft. In these cases, you may be faced with penalties of:

Probation
Up to six months in county jail
A fine of up to $1,000

However, there are exceptions to every rule. The judge may hand down a harsher sentence even with petty theft cases if he or she feels that you took advantage of someone who depended on you, such as a mentally disabled individual or elderly person.

Orange County White Collar Crime Attorney

What is the Defense for White Collar Crimes?

White collar crimes are complex, so the earlier that you hire a Laguna Hills and Orange County white collar crime lawyer, the more beneficial it will be to your case. Our team of experienced lawyers at The SoCal Law Network will review your case to determine an appropriate defense strategy that will help you achieve the best possible outcome.

Fraud
There are many intricacies involved with fraud, so no two cases are identical. However, many fraud attorney defense strategies are crafted based on one of these tactics:

You did not have criminal intent.
You are a victim of mistaken identity.
The police coerced or lured you into committing fraud (known as entrapment).

Embezzlement
Experienced Orange County embezzlement attorneys can determine if any of these common embezzlement defense strategies will work with your case:

You believed that you had a right to the property.
You did not have criminal intent.
You were falsely accused.

Embezzlement and fraud cases are particularly complicated because of the paper trails and electronic communications that are commonly used. Because of this, it’s important to rely on a Laguna Hills and Orange County white collar crime defense attorney to review the case, help you understand the charges and prepare an effective defense strategy.

Have you or a loved one been charged with a white collar crime? Contact the team at The SoCal Law Network to speak with a highly skilled Orange County white collar crime lawyer to defend you against the charges. Call 949-305-7995 to schedule a free consultation with our criminal defense attorneys today.