White Collar Crime Lawyer California Let Us Protect Your Rights
It Is Never Too Soon to Hire an Attorney
If you are under investigation or face prosecution for a white collar offense, you need a California white collar crime lawyer with the right resources and experience. When your livelihood is at stake, Law House is a law firm that stands ready to provide the criminal defense you need.
Book a Case Review with with a Lawhouse Attorney
We understand the unique challenges you face. We are ready to create an effective criminal defense strategy to help you avoid the astronomical fines and jail time that can result from a white collar crime conviction. Law House is ready to fight for what you hold dear as a professional and an individual. It is never too soon to call Law House for a consultation. You can reach our California white collar crime lawyers online or by calling:
Types of White Collar Crime
This type of crime can take many forms, and our firm is ready to create a defense strategy no matter what type of white collar charges you face. Some of the most common crimes include:
Securities Fraud
Securities are tradable financial assets, and securities fraud (sometimes called investment fraud or stock fraud) involves a stock broker or other individual deceiving investors into making certain purchase or sale choices. Fraud of securities can include insider trading, Ponzi schemes, and pyramid schemes.
Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud generally involves deceiving the insurance process for monetary gain. Insurance fraud is committed when someone unlawfully falsifies an insurance claim to seek benefits they are not entitled to.
Bribery
Bribery is when you offer, provide, or agree to provide any financial benefit to someone with the intent to influence their vote, opinion, or judgment in an official capacity.
Money Laundering
Money laundering is a type of fraud that involves hiding the origin of money or attempting to elude the government’s ability to trace the money. It is basically taking "dirty" money (such as funds collected through an illegal activity like drug trafficking) and deceptively turning it into "clean" money to legitimize the source of income.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of stealing or misappropriation of property entrusted to you. An embezzlement charge is treated similarly to theft and can be considered a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the value of the property stolen.
Forgery
Forgery is the act of making or using falsified documents or instruments with an intent to defraud. Forgery is a type of fraud that often happens in conjunction with other white collar crimes.
Tax Evasion
Tax evasion is willfully avoiding paying taxes that you legally owe. In California, tax evasion can be a misdemeanor or felony.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is knowingly using or possessing another person's personal identifying information or financial identifying information with the intent of enriching oneself. It can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony in California, and it is also a federal crime under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998.
We Serve Clients Throughout California Request Your Consultation Today
From offices throughout California, the defense attorneys of Law House offer dedicated, personalized legal counsel. If you are not able to meet in person, our California white collar crime lawyers also offer virtual consultations and remote representation. To arrange for an initial case review with our team, please contact us online or call:
Don't Leave Your Freedom Or Your Rights to Chance Let an Attorney with Law House Protect You
Our criminal defense attorneys are ready to protect your freedom through compelling, evidence-based litigation.
Important Distinctions
Felonies vs. Misdemeanors
California classifies white collar crimes as either felonies or misdemeanors. Felonies are more serious violations and involve more severe consequences. Usually, the classification of a white collar crime will be determined by the value of what was stolen. Defendants can sometimes negotiate with prosecutors to reduce felonies to misdemeanors.
State vs. Federal Crimes
If a white collar crime is committed in California and only affects residents of California, it will probably be prosecuted in state criminal courts. However, if the crime is committed in multiple states, or victimizes residents of another state, then that crime can be prosecuted at the federal level. Federal charges tend to involve harsher penalties.
The Penalties of White Collar Crime Prosecuted at the State Level
| Maximum Fine | Maximum Prison Time | |
| Securities Fraud | $10,000,000 | 5 years |
| Insurance Fraud | $50,000 or double the defrauded amount | 5 years |
| Bribery | $10,000 or double the bribe amount | 4 years |
| Money Laundering | $250,000 or double the laundered amount (for a first offense) | 4 years |
| Embezzlement | $10,000 | 3 years |
| Forgery | $10,000 | 3 years |
| Tax Evasion | $20,000 (for individuals) | 3 years |
| Identity Theft | $10,000 | 3 years |
Developing
Your Criminal Defense Strategy
There can be many defenses to charges of fraud, theft, and other white collar crimes. If you are facing white collar crime charges in California, your attorney from Law House will examine your case and develop a defense strategy. Your criminal defense lawyer can identify the weaknesses in the prosecution's case and determine your best line of defense. Examples of defense strategies an attorney can use against charges of white collar crime include:
Absence of Intent
Your California white collar crime lawyer will demonstrate a lack of intent to commit the crime, or that the action in question was not intentionally done for financial gain.
Entrapment
Entrapment occurs when the defendant did not have the intent to commit the white collar crime acting alone, but law enforcement officials coerced criminal activity.
Don't Delay Contact Law House Today
If you are under investigation for a white collar crime, it's vital that you enlist professional legal aid as soon as possible. Your prosecutor is already hard at work collecting evidence and building the case against you. The sooner you put our criminal defense attorneys to work for you, the better prepared we'll be for your legal proceedings. Law House has white collar crime lawyers throughout California who are ready to protect your rights, your property, and your freedom. Get started today by contacting us online or by giving us a call.
Call Law House: 818-824-5800
Fearless Criminal Defense
No case is too big or too complex for our California white collar crime lawyers. No matter your circumstances, when you hire our defense attorneys, we will work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for you. Even if that means going to a jury trial, our lawyers will not back down from the challenge.
California White Collar Crime FAQs
What if I broke the law by accident?
California laws related to taxes, securities, and insurance are numerous and complicated. It's easy for everyday people to make some sort of clerical error that ends up misrepresenting some property's value or miscalculating income. Fortunately, if we can prove that you unintentionally violated one of these laws, you won't face criminal penalties. However, you will most likely be required to return any funds that you wrongly received.
Who prosecutes white collar crime in California?
White collar crime in California can be prosecuted by district attorneys or the California Attorney General’s Office, depending on the specifics of the crime. Of course, if the crime has federal implications, it can be prosecuted by the federal courts.
Is it identity theft if I had the other person's permission?
If you used another person's personal information with their consent, then it should not be considered identity theft. This argument represents a valid defense strategy that our lawyers may explore when preparing for your identity theft case. If you had someone else's permission to use their personal information, you should work to secure evidence of that consent, and Law House can provide assistance.
Can my spouse accuse me of identity theft?
Yes. Even though you are married, you do not have the right to use your spouse's personal information without their consent. However, because spouses usually share property, bank accounts, and other financial information, these cases are usually more complicated than identity theft against a stranger. If your spouse is accusing you of identity theft in California, you should contact Law House.
When should I speak with an attorney?
You should contact the criminal defense team at Law House as soon as you become aware that you are being investigated for white collar crime. If you wait too long to obtain legal advice, you may unintentionally compromise your chances of success. The more time our California white collar crime lawyers have to work on your case, the stronger your defense will be.
Meet with a White Collar Crime Lawyer
The lawyers at Law House are able to provide effective representation to anyone facing charges of money laundering, tax evasion, insurance fraud, or other financial crimes. To set up an initial consultation, contact us online or call our main line.
