If you have been charged with a white-collar crime in Fort Worth, contact the law office of Cole Paschall immediately to discuss your options and how we would handle your case as your defense lawyers. Your case is important to us, and we will do everything we can to reach a positive outcome for your situation.
During your initial consultation, we will discuss the nature of your charges, and our history of experience with corporate and white-collar crime, and give you a better understanding of how we will work with you through the duration of our case. This initial consultation is a great opportunity for you to understand our approach to criminal law, and move forward with the confidence that you have selected the right legal representation. Read more about white-collar crimes, and schedule your consultation from our home page immediately to begin working on your defense.
What is a White Collar Crime?
“White-collar crime” is a blanket term for a wide range of specific crimes, but all have the same characteristics: white-collar crimes are crimes of financial gain that are non-violent and take place on business, government, or corporate levels. Something like petty theft is generally not considered a white-collar crime, even though it is non-violent. These crimes take place at a higher level involving business operations and finances. Take a look below at some examples of white-collar crimes.
Wage Theft
Wage theft can occur in a variety of situations where workers do not receive the wages that they have contractually agreed upon. This can include things like not being paid for overtime, not getting a final paycheck after leaving a company, not being paid for all hours worked, or not being paid at all. Employers must pay their employees exactly how they have agreed to in their working contract, and a violation of this agreement is theft.
Ponzi Schemes
A Ponzi Scheme is a complicated form of investment fraud where the individual or group operating the “investment fund” offers quick and enormous returns to initial investors by taking money from later investments. Ultimately, each new investment goes to pay a previous investor, and at some point, this scheme will come to an end where the late entrants are left with nothing. One of the most famous Ponzi schemes was operated by Bernie Madoff.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the theft or misappropriation of money that someone involved in a company is entrusted with. This can be a CEO misusing investments to pay for personal trips, rent or mortgages, or could be something like an accountant skimming money from a company by falsifying income and expense reports for their own gain. There are many people in companies who are responsible for portions of the money coming into the company, and if one uses this responsibility to steal, they are embezzling.
Insider Trading
Insider trading is the act of trading on the stock market using information that is not available to the general public. For instance, if an employee of a company knew that the earnings report that was to be released next week would cause stocks to drop, and they sold off a large amount of their shares before the news went public, this would be insider trading. Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in federal prison in 2004 for insider trading.
Money Laundering
When money is obtained through illegal means, or someone attempts to avoid paying taxes for large amounts of income, it must be “laundered” in order for them to use it. Money laundering involves a complicated process of transfers through legitimate businesses to make it appear as if ill-gotten gains came from legal revenue sources.
Penalties for White Collar Crimes
Since the term “white collar crime” is an umbrella term for a wide range of criminal acts, there is no one-size-fits-all for penalties and sentencing guidelines. In many cases, someone found guilty of a white-collar crime may be required to pay large fines, be barred from certain positions in public companies, or be given probation. In other cases, the criminal may be sentenced to extensive prison time.
With our team at your defense, we will be able to get a good idea of what penalties the prosecution is pushing towards, and what we can do to reduce these penalties through proving your innocence, reaching an agreement, or other options that can affect the outcome of a white-collar crime trial.
Federal Vs. State White Collar Criminal Charges
With most white-collar crimes, you can be charged under state or federal law, and in some cases, under both. Because the state of Texas and the Federal Government are separate entities, you can be brought before both jurisdictions successively. That’s why if you are charged with a white-collar crime in the state of Texas, it’s essential to retain the services of a law firm that can represent you in both the state and federal court systems. Cole Paschall Law has the capability and experience to defend you in both venues.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With an Experienced White Collar Criminal Attorney Today
If you have been charged with any sort of white-collar crime, contact us immediately to discuss your options for defense. We will work with you to understand all of the details of your situation, build your case, and work towards a favorable outcome for you. We will work with the prosecution and the courts to come up with alternative solutions if possible, in order to reduce your charges or your sentencing guidelines.
It is important to us that our clients receive fair treatment from the courts, and that their Constitutional rights are upheld through every step of the process. We will fight for you to make sure that this happens through your case, and we will work towards getting you the ruling we believe is the right one.
