Denver White Collar Crime Lawyer
White collar crimes involve fraud and theft, without using physical violence or the threat of physical force. However, all white collar crimes are serious offenses that typically carry a potential jail or prison sentence. Moreover, each act of wire fraud, for example, is a separate offense. That means that defendants are usually faced with multiple or dozens of counts of white collar offenses, stacking up the potential incarceration term. If you are being accused of a white collar crime, whether it is embezzlement, wire fraud, identity theft, or misappropriation of company funds, Denver white collar crime lawyer Reid DeChant at DeChant Law is here to help you find a way out of it and prove your innocence.
What is a White Collar Crime?
The term “white collar crime” was coined in 1939 and was used to describe criminal economic offenses committed by people in the upper tiers of society in terms of social status and employment. Of course, one does not have to be a multi-millionaire executive to either commit or be accused of a white collar crime. Some of the most common white collar crimes include:
- Bankruptcy fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Identity theft
- Mail fraud
- Securities fraud
- Credit card fraud
- Tax fraud/tax evasion
- Wire fraud/computer fraud
- Healthcare fraud
- Embezzlement
- Extortion
- Bribery
- Political corruption
- Misappropriation of funds
- Money laundering
- Insider trading
- Ponzi schemes
- RICO violations / racketeering
People from all walks of life can be accused of white collar crimes. You do not have to hold a position of power, a business degree, or be a financial trader to be convicted of fraud or money laundering.
Punishment for a White Collar Conviction
There is an incorrect assumption that white collar criminals get a slap on the wrist, and maybe a few months in a luxurious, low-security prison that pampers its inmates. The truth, of course, is that white collar criminals are generally punished with equal severity to the economic harm they caused, or attempted to cause, to their victims, whether the victims are individuals, businesses, or governmental institutes. Penalties are also based on the nature of the offense. For example, extortion is a Class 4 felony, punishable by two to six years in prison, regardless of the economic harm it causes. Furthermore, white collar crimes are often tried in federal court, which has a high conviction rate and even lengthy prison terms, probation periods, and house arrest sentences. The fines for white collar crimes can easily extend into the six and seven digits, making the financial toll incredibly difficult to bear.
Call a Denver White Collar Crime Lawyer Today
White collar criminal convictions do not only penalize offenders with fines and jail time. Convicts often lose their professional licenses, making it impossible to rejoin their profession after they have served their sentence. Not only that, but their professional and personal relationship are typically served as well. If you were arrested for a white collar crime or being investigated for a white collar crime, we implore you to call a Denver white collar crime lawyer at DeChant Law at 303-409-7500 for a free case evaluation.
