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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

If you are charged with a white collar crime such as fraud, you have the same rights as any other criminal defendant. For example, you have the right to remain silent. But if you choose to waive that right and testify at your trial, it is important to tell the truth. If you are caught […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

White collar crimes like fraud often involve the use of various interstate networks, such as the U.S. Postal Service or the internet. This means that even if the act of fraud itself is contained within a single state–i.e., a Texas resident is accused of defrauding a Texas business–the federal government may still have jurisdiction to […]