If you are under investigation for wire fraud or mail fraud, or if you have been arrested for either of these white collar criminal offenses in Texas, it is critical to understand more about these crimes and what the consequences of a conviction could look like. By learning more about wire fraud and mail fraud […]
Wire Fraud Versus Mail Fraud: What Should You Know?
January 29th, 2022 by Tad Nelson in White Collar
Houston Judge Reverses Jury, Orders Acquittal in Adoption Mail-Fraud Case
June 29th, 2020 by Tad Nelson in White Collar
White collar crimes such as fraud often involve alleged conduct that takes place over an extended period of time. In attempting to prove a criminal charge, however, prosecutors need to show the defendant not only devised the scheme to defraud but also acted with specific intent to defraud. And as with any criminal case, the […]
Fifth Circuit: BP Not Entitled to “Restitution” for Its Costs in Helping FBI Catch Rogue Employee
April 29th, 2020 by Tad Nelson in White Collar, White Collar Crime
When a person is convicted of certain federal crimes, they can be ordered to pay restitution–i.e., compensation–to their victims. This goes for white-collar crimes as well as violent offenses. That said, the law does restrict the types of restitution that the government may seek to recoup on behalf of a victim. Restitution Law Meant to […]
Houston Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Passport Forgery
January 31st, 2020 by Tad Nelson in White Collar, White Collar Crime
White collar crimes include a wide variety of offenses related to forgery and counterfeiting. For example, under federal law, it is a felony to use or attempt to use a forged passport for any purpose. And depending on the defendant’s purpose in using a forged passport, they can face a prison term of up to […]
Federal Court Upholds Houston Doctor’s Sentence in Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy
December 23rd, 2019 by Tad Nelson in White Collar, White Collar Crime
White collar crimes such as fraud often involve multiple defendants accused of participating in a conspiracy. While prosecutors must prove that each defendant had “knowledge” of the conspiracy, that does not necessarily require proof of direct knowledge. In fact, the prosecution may prove its case by showing a defendant acted with “deliberate ignorance.” Put another […]
Houston Woman Receives 6-Year Sentence After Trying to Cover Up Grant Fraud
December 3rd, 2019 by Tad Nelson in White Collar, White Collar Crime
The federal government takes fraud seriously, particularly when it is the victim. Individuals charged with defrauding federal programs often face severe sentences if convicted, and in many cases, those sentences are “enhanced” under federal guidelines to account for other things such as the defendant’s refusal to cooperate with investigators. Take the recent case of Shonda […]
Texas Jury Convicts Man for Role in Multi-State Check Fraud Scheme
August 28th, 2019 by Tad Nelson in White Collar, White Collar Crime
The two biggest mistakes that criminal defendants make is speaking to the police outside the presence of a qualified criminal defense attorney, and consenting to a search of their property. This is not only true for people charged with violent offenses, but also white collar crimes like fraud and counterfeiting. 5th Circuit: Defendant Consented to […]
Embezzling from Your Employer Can Lead to Serious Felony Charges
June 26th, 2019 by Tad Nelson in White Collar, White Collar Crime
White collar theft is treated just as seriously in Texas as any other crime. Embezzling money from your employer, for example, is a type of theft. And if the embezzlement occurs over an extended period of time, you can even be charged with “aggregate theft” for the total value of the money or property that […]
What Is the Penalty for Using Counterfeit Money in Texas?
May 30th, 2019 by Tad Nelson in White Collar
Theft is theft even when there is no violence involved. For example, if you “purchase” goods from a store using counterfeit currency, you can be charged with a felony. Although counterfeiting is generally considered a white-collar crime, the penalty for such an act is actually more substantial than if you were simply caught shoplifting, which […]
How Failing to File Your Employment Taxes Can Land You in Jail
February 28th, 2019 by Tad Nelson in White Collar, White Collar Crime
White collar crimes cover a variety of offenses in Texas. For instance, one of the more common types of white-collar charge involve tax crimes in one form or another. Most of us pay our taxes on-time and without incident. But some of us neglect to file all required returns or pay the tax owed in […]