If you have been charged with a white-collar crime, there is no time to waste. Contact a Los Angeles white-collar crime lawyer right away. Obtaining an experienced legal team should be your top priority. Our defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Scott Henry could advocate aggressively on your behalf and use our extensive resources to get you a positive outcome. With over 40 years of collective experience, you can rest assured our team could pursue every legal avenue to protect your rights and avoid a conviction.
White-collar crime is a general term used to describe nonviolent, financially motivated offenses. These crimes are generally committed by financial and medical professionals, government officials and employees, and others in a position of professional trust. This includes physicians, mortgage brokers, real estate professionals, CEOs, CFOs, accountants, and stockbrokers. Some types of white-collar offenses include:
A lawyer in Los Angeles could help someone develop a defense strategy if they have been accused of a white-collar crime.
Often, white-collar investigations continue for years before an individual is charged. Therefore, those who are the target of this type of investigation are entirely may be unaware of it for months, sometimes even years. Ways you may learn you are under investigation include:
Being contacted by state or federal authorities – Agents at the state or federal level may reach out to you over the phone, through a letter, or in person. Though they will ask you to answer questions, remember that you do not have to answer. It is best to speak with a knowledgeable Los Angeles lawyer before speaking with authorities about a potential white-collar crime charge.
Receiving a Target Letter – A target letter is how the federal government informs an individual they are the target of a federal investigation. It notifies the recipient of their status as a target of a federal investigation, the crime(s) the recipient is suspected of committing, the recipient’s 5th Amendment rights, and information for obtaining court-appointed counsel. If you receive a target letter, it is crucial to contact a lawyer immediately.
Finding out you are under federal investigation is a frightening experience. The stakes are high, so it is essential to take the necessary steps to ensure you receive the best possible resolution.
Step 1: Do not speak with law enforcement. It is never a good idea to speak with investigators without your lawyer present. Even if you feel you are innocent and want to tell your side of the story, you may accidentally say something that could be used against you, or your statements may be misinterpreted. Decline to speak with them and ask for your lawyer.
Step 2: Do not destroy evidence. Destroying or tampering with evidence and telling a friend or colleague how to testify are considered obstruction of justice, which is a serious federal felony that carries harsh consequences.
Step 3: Do not speak with anyone about the alleged crime. If you are under federal investigation for a white-collar crime, your friends and colleagues will likely be interviewed by investigators. It is essential not to give them any information that could then be told to the investigators.
Step 4: Hire an experienced white-collar crime attorney in Los Angeles. These charges can be complicated. You need an attorney who has the legal knowledge, experience, skillset, and resources necessary to fight the charges against you effectively.
When facing these charges, it is always in your best interest to secure legal representation as soon as possible. Law enforcement often tries to convince you to make incriminating statements or takes action against you that generally would not happen if they know you have a Los Angeles white-collar crime lawyer on your side.
At the Law Offices of Scott Henry, we diligently represent the rights of those charged with serious criminal offenses. We are tenacious litigators who could do everything within our power to get you a fair outcome so you can move on with your life. Contact our offices today for a free consultation, with no obligation.
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