Crime Attorney

1. What is White Collar Crime?

White Collar Crimes include: Antitrust Violations, Bank Fraud, Bankruptcy Fraud, Bribery, Computer/Internet Fraud, Credit Card Fraud, Counterfeiting, Economic Espionage, Embezzlement, Extortion, Forgery, Insurance Fraud, Money Laundering, Securities Fraud, and Tax Evasion. These are generally non-violent acts that involve some type of deception, most often committed by those in business or public office.

2. Can only businessmen be charged with white-collar crimes?

The early definition of white-collar crime focused on the status of the offenders when it identified them as professionals or businessmen. However, the current definition of white-collar crime focuses on the actions committed and not on the vocation of the offender. White-collar crime is using illegal acts involving deceit to obtain property or services or to gain a business or professional advantage. Drug dealers have been charged with the “white collar crime” of mail fraud when they have delivered controlled substances through the mail. A printer was convicted of securities fraud when he used information he obtained in the course of printing corporate documents to gain an advantage in the stock market.

The RICO Act is generally thought of as a white-collar crime prevention statute. It punishes anyone who engages in a pattern of racketeering to generate income to buy a business or to conduct a business. The pattern of racketeering refers to at least two criminal acts listed in the statute that have a relationship to each other and occur within ten years of each other. Originally passed to control organized crime, RICO has been applied to drug dealers, and other non-organized crime defendants.

3. What are the penalties associated for a white collar crime?

The penalties for white-collar crimes vary. Most of the laws authorize a monetary fine, a prison sentence, or a combination of the two. The criminal laws authorize maximum penalties, which are often quite severe. For example, the maximum possible sentence for credit card fraud is a prison sentence of twenty-five years, and a fine of $250,000. In addition, the court may order forfeiture of anything gained as a result of the fraud.

The maximum penalties are seldom imposed. Most defendants receive a lesser sentence that may, depending on the jurisdiction, be calculated according to sentencing guidelines. These guidelines are meant to ensure that criminal sentences are uniform, so the sentencing judge is often given very little discretion on the sentence imposed. The guidelines take into account the crime for which the defendant has been convicted, and any prior criminal record of the defendant. In some cases, the court may consider factors that will allow it to depart, or impose a sentence different, from the sentence required by the guidelines.

Defendants without a significant criminal record may be sentenced to probation, a suspended jail sentence, or a jail sentence far shorter than the maximum. They may have fines levied against them, and may be required to forfeit any profits, and pay restitution to their victims.

An experienced criminal defense attorney is best able to advise you regarding the likely sentence in a particular case.

The information you obtain from this article is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Mario Madrid discusses the different types of drug crimes he handles. The Law Firm of Madrid, Martinez & Associates handles all criminal cases including DWI, Drug Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Family Violence, Internet Crimes, Murder, Manslaughter, Robbery, Burglary and more in Houston, Texas. You can contact Mr. Madrid at www. mmalaw.com or by calling 800-724-1876.

Whether you want to prosecute or defend yourself, finding a criminal attorney in LA can be a daunting task especially if you don’t have or know someone having, links with an attorney. Most people find attorneys with references or suggestions from others. An attorney that clicked for others might or might not be the one to defend or prosecute on your behalf.

In any case you can be your own best judge when it comes to finding a criminal attorney in L.A. A few simple points can help you decide whether the attorney you want to hire is the right one.

An attorney could be a part of a criminal law firm or have his or her own solo practice. This has its own pros and cons. A law firm can give you a choice of attorneys to handle your case that can make finding a criminal attorney in LA easier. On the other hand an attorney having his own practice could strike the right chord with you from the very beginning.

Irrespective of whether you find a criminal attorney in a firm or working as an individual, you should be at ease and feel at home when discussing the case with him or her. Your attorney should inspire and lift your spirit whether you are defending yourself or prosecuting.

What does it take to find a good criminal attorney?

For finding a criminal attorney in L.A., make sure that you don’t go just by the cost of hiring an attorney but also consider his or her reputation. Give equal importance to good experience and cost before hiring an attorney. An attorney with less experience and high fees could be as bad as the one charging very low fees and paying less attention to your case.

An attorney who has experience, listens to your case, gives you ample time, has adequate staff to cover your needs regarding the case and more importantly discusses his own business as a criminal attorney instead of trying to demean a competitor, can be the right choice.

Some of the areas covered by criminal attorneys include Domestic Violence, Drunk Driving, Juvenile Crimes, Possession of Drugs, Assault and Battery, Burglary, Robbery, Fraud, Sex Crimes, Grand Theft, Terrorist Threats, Illegal Firearm Possession, Capital Offenses and White Collar Crimes.

Make sure that your attorney has a good investigative team to cover and analyze every aspect of your case. Finding a good criminal attorney in L.A. can make the difference between getting charges framed and proved, for or against you. Take your time discussing your case with an attorney till you reach your comfort level and feel confident, before hiring one.