Have You Been Accused Of A White Collar Crime?
You are probably familiar with the terms “white collar” and “blue collar” to refer to occupations. White collar jobs generally require higher education, whereas blue collar jobs may require some vocational training or no education at all. These terms and their meanings can be applied to criminal offenses as well. White collar crimes are often committed by educated individuals, whereas blue collar crimes can be committed by anybody.
If you are facing a criminal charge in Appleton or Neenah, you need to work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can develop a strong defense strategy for your case. The attorneys at Hammett, Bellin & Oswald, LLC, have nearly 80 years of combined experience, and we will work directly with you to ensure that your rights are protected and your side of the story is heard.
What Is A White Collar Crime?
White collar crimes are criminal offenses that are only possible due to the offender’s privileged position as a professional or a member of the clergy. Typically, white collar crimes are financial in nature and because of their reliance on privileged information and access to funds, they can go for years without being discovered by victims or authorities.
White collar crimes include the following:
- Identity theft
- Fraud, which can take many different forms like health care fraud, mortgage fraud, securities fraud and computer fraud
- Money laundering
- Intellectual property theft
- Embezzling funds
- Antitrust violations
- Counterfeiting
- Economic espionage
- Bribery
- Tax evasion
Penalties for white collar crimes can include fines, jail time, probation, forfeiture, restitution, and the loss of the offender’s professional license, if the offense was made in conjunction with his or her profession. The penalties an individual can face for a white collar crime conviction depend on the type and nature of the offense.
Defenses Against White Collar Crime Charges
Defending your case against a charge of a white collar offense can involve similar strategies to defending a case against a blue collar charge. These include defenses involving:
- Wrongful identity
- Lack of sufficient evidence to prove the defender’s guilt
- Incapacity, meaning that you were not mentally or physically capable of committing the offense
Other defense strategies include pointing to the absence of intent to commit a criminal offense, which means that you did not intend to commit a crime and entrapment, which means that you were somehow coerced into committing an offense by law enforcement. Your lawyer can work with you to determine an appropriate strategy based on the facts of your case and the available evidence.
Work With An Experienced Appleton Criminal Defense Lawyer
Accusations of white collar crimes in Wisconsin, just like accusations of any other type of criminal offense, should be handled promptly with the aid of an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Your criminal record will impact you for the rest of your life – work with a lawyer who can help you develop a solid, effective defense strategy to have the charge lowered or even dismissed altogether. To learn more, contact our lawyers online or call 920-202-8872.
