How a Colorado attorney can help you face white collar crime charges
Legal representation can make all the difference when someone faces potential nonviolent crime accusations, which can have serious ramifications.
White collar crimes generally involve unlawful, nonviolent actions resulting in financial or economic harm or public corruption. A variety of white collar crimes exist under both federal and Colorado state laws. While it might seem that being convicted of a crime without violence should get you a lighter sentence, that is not always true, so anyone facing investigation or arrest for charges of a white collar crime should take the situation equally as seriously. The fallout on the accused’s life can still be catastrophic.
People accused of nonviolent offenses have the right to vigorous defense
This underscores the importance of having a seasoned criminal defense attorney at your side – the earlier the better, but legal counsel coming on board at any point can make a difference. You deserve aggressive, professional advocacy. People make mistakes or exercise poor judgment – and sometimes the prosecution overreaches to try to punish behavior that was not criminal.
What are common white collar crimes?
Examples of white collar crimes include:
- Public corruption
- Fraud, including mail, wire, health care, public benefit, insurance and other types
- Identity theft
- Credit card or account number theft
- Racketeering
- Extortion
- Bribery
- Blackmail
- Forgery
- Money laundering
Potential outcomes
Sentencing for an economic crime could include prison time, probation or parole, restitution, fees, fines and other punishments. Broader consequences can also be devastating such as the impact of a criminal record on your future employment and educational opportunities, loss of professional licenses and negative repercussions on your professional and community reputation, and even on family and personal relationships.
Even though white collar crimes are rarely accompanied by violence, judges take these convictions seriously. As the Colorado Court of Appeals said in People v. McKnight, “Prisons exist to punish for white collar crime, as well as for violent acts” and a major reason to impose incarceration on a financial criminal is to deter others from engaging in similar acts.
Attorney role in defending economic crime
Legal counsel can step in and communicate with authorities on your behalf during investigation or later stages, protecting your legal and constitutional rights. A lawyer may be able to prevent charges from being brought or have them reduced to less serious offenses.
An experienced defense attorney will understand all the factors to carefully consider in deciding whether to negotiate or accept a plea deal. This question varies with each defendant and their situation. Do they have a criminal record or is it a first charge? Are there mitigating circumstances that put the defendant in a more sympathetic light? Would the publicity of a trial be difficult for professional or family reasons? If the deal involves pleading guilty to a lesser charge, the person will need to consider the impact of a criminal record versus the unknown outcome of a trial.
A skilled lawyer will advocate fiercely at trial, if necessary, and for a fair sentence, if a conviction results. Depending on the law that applies, it may be possible to avoid jail time with a deferred judgment, addiction treatment, house arrest at home, community service or other, similar arrangements.
The criminal defense lawyers at Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C., in Denver advise and defend people in the Denver metropolitan area facing investigation for or charges of state or federal white collar crimes.