Tax crimes are among the most commonly prosecuted forms of white collar crimes in Texas. Indeed, one of the easiest ways to find yourself in the crosshairs of the IRS or the U.S. Attorney’s office is to file a fraudulent tax return–or even worse, to file multiple such returns on behalf of other people. This […]

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 […]

A white collar criminal conviction often carries more than a prison sentence. In cases involving fraud, embezzlement, or other financial losses, the court will order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim. This can take the form of a single lump-sum payment, a payment plan over time, or even “in-kind” payments in the form […]

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 […]

With income tax season upon us, many Houston-area residents are scrambling to gather their receipts and visit their accountants. Few of us consider getting taxes done a pleasurable task. But even fewer of us want to face potential criminal charges for white collar crimes, such as tax evasion, under-reporting of income, or filing fraudulent documents […]