California White Collar Crimes Attorney

Orange County White Collar Crimes Defense Attorney | Orange County Professional License Defense Attorney

Southern California Criminal Defense Lawyer | Orange County Professional License Defense Attorney | Los Angeles White Collar Crime Attorney | Federal White Collar Crime Defense Lawyer

"White Collar Crimes" refer to crimes committed in a business or financial setting, such as embezzlement or fraud. These types of crimes are generally prosecuted in federal courts, as they violate federal laws. If you have been charged with a white collar crime, whether it is in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego or Riverside, you are no doubt confused and frustrated with the charges facing you, as well as worried about any possible personal and professional embarrassment. Hiring an experienced Southern California White Collar Crimes Defense Attorney from the Law Offices of Michael L. Guisti is your first step to getting your life back in order.

The Orange County White Collar Crimes Attorney with vast experience in California White Collar crime defense and Professional License Defense

  • Bank Fraud: Fraud against a banking institution, including check fraud, commercial loan fraud, check kiting, and mortgage fraud
  • Bankruptcy Fraud: Individuals or corporations who lie to creditors or bankruptcy officials about assets or debts
  • Bribery: Offering money or property with the intention of influencing the behavior of others
  • Computer/Internet Fraud: Using the Internet or computers to defraud others
  • Credit Card Fraud: Using someone else's credit card to purchase goods illegally
  • Counterfeiting: Copying goods (such as designer merchandise) or money, and passing off the copies as genuine
  • Embezzlement: Using money or goods entrusted to you for your own benefit
  • Extortion: Taking money from someone through force, coercion or threats
  • Forgery: Manipulating or changing a written document for monetary gain
  • Insurance Fraud: Defrauding insurance companies by exaggerating or fabricating claims
  • Money Laundering: Running money obtained illegally through a legitimate business
  • Securities Fraud: Can include insider trading and theft through market manipulation
  • Tax Evasion: Filing inaccurate IRS returns, not reporting income on tax returns, not filing tax returns

    California White Collar Crimes Penalties

    Being convicted of a white collar crime can have serious consequences, including heavy fines, forced restitution, forfeiture of some of your property, loss of professional licenses, and jail time.

    How can you tell if you are under investigation for committing a white collar crime in Southern California?

    Some potential signs include:

  • If you received a subpoena to produce business documents from a grand jury
  • If you are served with a search warrant regarding your business records
  • If you received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury
  • If you received a "subject letter" or "target letter" informing you that you are currently under investigation
  • If you are questioned by a state or federal investigator

    Many federal agencies are involved in tracking down white collar crime, including:

  • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • United States Treasury authorities
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Internal Revenue Service investigators (IRS)
  • Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Services)

    If you suspect that you are under investigation for a white collar crime, it is essential that you do not speak with or cooperate with investigators until you have consulted with a Southern California White Collar Crimes Defense Attorney. A common mistake made by many is to assume that if you cooperate and tell the investigators everything, that you will be OK. The goal of these investigators is simple - to find anything and everything that will strengthen their case against you.

    You will have a chance to explain yourself or tell your side of the story, but you need the protection and legal advice of an experienced Southern California white collar crimes defense lawyer first. A competent Orange County white collar crimes defense attorney or a Southern California Professional License Defense Lawyer may help to nip the investigation "in the bud", or should the investigation lead to criminal charges, work with prosecutors to reduce the charges or come to a plea agreement.

    Potential Defenses to A White Collar Crime Charge

    California White collar crimes often employ the same defenses as those of other crimes. Valid defenses may include insanity, incapacity (that is, you were not capable of the crime), duress (you were coerced into committing the crime), and entrapment (you were coerced by government officials into committing the crime).

    Of these, entrapment is one of the more common defenses. For the entrapment defense to be valid, it must be shown that you were enticed into committing the crime by a government official, and that you would otherwise have not committed that crime.

    Another defense to a white collar crimes charge used by some is the lack of intent to commit a crime; that is, you had no idea that your actions were criminal, and that had you known, you never would have done it.

    California White Collar Crimes and Federal Sentencing Guidelines

    Most federal crimes, including white collar crimes, come with mandatory sentencing guidelines that create uniform sentences for people who commit the same crime. An expert white collar crimes defense attorney can work to have any such sentences reduced by arguing for the presence mitigating factors, such as your not having a prior criminal history, or that your involvement in the crime was minimal.

    If you believe you are under investigation for a white collar crime in Southern California, your top priority should be to find an experienced white collar crimes defense attorney who has the experience in both state and federal court and who can fight aggressively to protect your rights. The Law Offices of Michael L. Guisti will vigorously defend your rights to a fair and unbiased trial and guarantees that you will receive the undivided attention you deserve.

    If you have been arrested or investigated for white collar crimes, whether in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego or Riverside or anywhere in Southern California, your white collar crimes or professional license issues, you should contact one of our Southern California white collar crimes lawyers or a California Professional License Defense Attorneys for a free consultation immediately, please call us today at (714) 530-9690 anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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