White Collar Crimes Attorney in Westchester County, New York

White collar crimes encompass a variety of offenses that typically do not involve force or the threat of force. While “blue collar crimes” involve force or weaponry, white collar criminals use a pen or a computer. These acts are mostly committed by professionals such as business people, doctors, lawyers, bankers, and the occasional politician. However, not all white-collar crimes are committed by professionals—everyday people commit them too. If you were charged with such an offense, it is important to get help from a Westchester white-collar crime lawyer who can ensure your rights are protected throughout the process. At the Law Office of Michael D. Litman, we bring more than a decade of experience to help you obtain the best possible outcome for your situation.

Call us now or contact the Law Office of Michael D. Litman online for a free consultation about how to deal with the charges.

When white-collar crimes make the news, they draw a lot of attention from the media, leading law enforcement to expand the number and scope of their investigations. If you even suspect you are the target of a white-collar investigation, the best way to get out in front of it is to hire a seasoned criminal defense lawyer immediately to defend your interests during the investigation.

Common forms of white-collar crime include:

• Identity theft: The fraudulent acquisition and use of a person’s private identifying information for financial gain. It can be the victim’s driver’s license, Social Security number, or any other uniquely identifying information. Reselling this information to a third party can also be prosecuted as either a state or a federal white-collar crime.

• Bank fraud: Using illegal means to obtain money, assets, or other property owned or held by a financial institution, or to obtain money from depositors by fraudulently posing as a bank or financial institution.

• Bankruptcy fraud: Misrepresenting personal assets to gain an advantage, such as concealing assets during bankruptcy to avoid having to forfeit them, intentionally filing false or incomplete forms, or attempting to bribe a court-appointed trustee.

• Bribery: Taking or receiving something with the intention of influencing the recipient—perhaps a politician or some other government official—in some way favorable to the party providing the bribe.

• Computer crimes: A very broad category of offenses such as larceny or fraud, except that a computer or the Internet is used in the commission of the crime.

• Counterfeit and forgery: Creating false financial notes or using someone else's finances without their knowledge or permission.

• Credit card fraud: A wide-ranging term for theft and fraud committed using or involving a payment card (credit card or debit card) as a fraudulent source of funds in a transaction.

• Embezzlement: The act of withholding assets for the purpose of conversion (theft) of the assets, by one or more persons to whom the assets were entrusted.

• Government benefit fraud: Committed by a person against a government to fraudulently receive money to which they are not actually entitled. Crimes commonly associated with this offense include Medicare, Medicaid, government housing, SNAP, or any other government-funded assistance.

• Insider trading: Illegally trading on the stock exchange to one’s own advantage by benefiting from access to confidential information.

• Insurance fraud: Occurs when someone knowingly lies to obtain a benefit or advantage to which they are not otherwise entitled, or knowingly denies a benefit that is rightfully due to another entitled person or party.

• Securities fraud: Also referred to as stock fraud and investment fraud, this is a deceptive practice in the stock or commodities markets that tempts investors to make purchase or sale decisions based on false information—frequently resulting in losses—in violation of securities laws. When committed by using a telephone or telegraph, the suspect may also face federal wire fraud [18 U.S. Code § 1343].

• Tax fraud: Willfully attempting to evade tax law or defraud the IRS. Tax fraud occurs when a person or company “intentionally fails to file an income tax return or willfully fails to pay taxes rightfully due.”

White Collar Criminal Penalties

Many believe those convicted of white-collar crimes get off easy, carrying out “Club Fed” sentences in penitentiaries that resemble resorts rather than prisons. Unfortunately, this is not true. Those convicted face the same criminal penalties as those convicted of more violent theft crimes, such as robbery and burglary.

A white-collar conviction carries penalties such as:

• Years of time behind bars

• Fines in the tens of thousands of dollars

• Requirement to pay back what is stolen to the victims

• Home detention or halfway house following release from prison

• Community service, possibly in the hundreds of hours

If the feds can make a case for Money Laundering [18 U.S.C. § 1956] or a RICO (Organized Crime [18 U.S. Code § 96]) case, they will add them to the original charges and leave you facing federal sentencing guidelines, with long sentences that are nothing short of Draconian.

If you have been charged with a white-collar crime, or are being investigated for one, put experienced defense counsel on your side. Call us now.