White collar crimes pertain to the business or commercial dealings and are usually alleged to involve an individual’s financial gain. If you have been charged in a white collar crime or have been informed that you are under investigation, you should immediately seek legal counsel from Dothan Law Group. Our experienced attorneys will examine financial records, witness testimonies, and other evidence to give you the expert defense to stop an investigation from moving forward or minimize its impact on you by negotiating a deal with prosecutors that avoids formal charges.

A white-collar conviction will damage your personal and professional reputation. Charges involving more that $2,500 worth of property or records are considered Class B felonies in Alabama and are punishable by up to 20 years in prison which includes fines and restitution.

White Collar Criminal Crimes

White collar crime is a term that could include many different criminal acts. Some of the most common types of white-collar crimes include:

Bank and Check Fraud

Examples of bank fraud include altering checks, forging signatures on financial documents, using identity theft to obtain credit or a loan, and check kiting. This is a federal crime that carries penalties of up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines for each offense per 18 U.S.C. Section 1344.

Forgery

Forgery is a federal crime pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sections 470 through 514. It refers to the falsified signatures on financial instruments as well as other legal documents. Penalties include imprisonment of up to 20 years and substantial fines.

Embezzlement

According to 18 U.S.C. Sections 656 and 657, embezzlement is a white-collar crime that takes place when a person who is an officer or an employee of an FDIC-insured bank, obtains funds from a federally-insured institution through improper means.

Healthcare Fraud

Federal authorities use different statutes to investigate and pursue healthcare fraud cases, including the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the False Claims Act. The penalties for private insurance or federal healthcare (Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare) fraud will vary.

Wire and Mail Fraud

Under 18 U.S.C. Sections 1341 and 1343, it is unlawful to use the internet, the U.S. Postal Service, or any electronic device to commit a white-collar criminal offense. Each instance of fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Tax Evasion

The fines and other penalties for tax evasion include jail time.

Securities Fraud

Charges from securities fraud could include money laundering, racketeering, identity theft, counterfeiting, insurance fraud, among others. These are federal charges that can result in heavy fines and imprisonment. If you have been charged with a crime, contact Dothan Law Group today to discuss your circumstances.

Have Your Assets Been Frozen?

The Supreme Court recently ruled that the government cannot seize or “freeze” assets that are unrelated to the crime in question because Freezing assets is a common tactic used by authorities with the goal of leaving defendants with little or no resources to use for their defense. In many cases, these actions are not justified, and Dothan Law Group can help you get them reversed.

White Collar Criminal Defense in Dothan, AL

At Dothan Law Group, we have experience presenting an aggressive defense for clients who have been accused or who are under investigation for a white collar crime. Our legal team has years of experience handling all types of state and federal criminal cases.