When you’re arrested and charged with a crime, you may be a little confused about a lot of the terminology being thrown around about your case. For example, terms like “white collar crime” may be used to describe your situation. But what does that mean for your case, and how could it affect your day in the courtroom?
A white collar criminal conviction could affect your future, your career, and often, the company you work for. Because of this, you’ll need to understand your charges, so you can better prepare for your case and get the evidence you need to get those charges dismissed.
If you’ve been charged with a white collar crime, you’ve generally been accused of a nonviolent crime involving finances, often in the context of your employer. For example, fraud and money laundering are common types of white collar crimes. Corporate fraud, embezzlement, and scams often take advantage of people to make money.
For example, a Ponzi scheme can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a day or more. This money often comes from regular people who were convinced to invest in something that wouldn’t actually pay out for them.
Often, these crimes are different because they could be on a larger scale. For example, an assault or similar crime is usually handled on a local or state scale. A national corporation, however, could be affecting millions across the country by committing fraud. Because of this, you may instead be dealing with the SEC, or Securities and Exchange Commission.
Much like other types of crime, the penalties you face if you’re convicted of a white collar crime depend on the severity of your case. In some cases, the SEC will investigate your case and, if you don’t have an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Dallas on your side, may convict you, then sentence you based on the severity of the crime.
Often, these sentences involve fines or restitution for the victims. Because these crimes are mainly financial, the penalties often include some financial repayment or charge.
However, those aren’t the only penalties you could face if you’re convicted of a white collar crime. You could also face house arrest, community confinement, and even jail or prison time. Talk to your lawyer about what’s on the line if you don’t fight your charges.
Dealing with a white collar crime may not seem as severe as, for example, battery charges. However, these charges can still impact your life, and they could be financially costly. If you’ve been accused of a white collar crime, it’s important to understand what those charges really mean. That gives you a chance to fight back when you’ve been accused.
You may have more options to fight back than you realize. You may not have known about the criminal offense taking place in the company, for example, or maybe you were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Your lawyer can help you understand the charges, understand the scale of the investigation and case, and prepare for your day in court.
To learn more about the team at Chris Lewis & Associates P.C., call 214-522-9404 or visit our website.
