FEDERAL WHITE COLLAR LAW
The most common “
white-collar” offenses involve important crimes that don’t include violence (federal bank robbery) or drugs (federal narcotics trafficking). For these non-white collar crimes, please see our “
Federal Criminal Law” section.
FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, participate in the enforcement of federal white-collar crime legislation. In addition, most states employ their own agencies to enforce white-collar criminal laws.
The most common categories of white collar crimes are:
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Health Care Fraud
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Immigration Fraud
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Real Estate Fraud
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Tax Crimes
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Internet and Computer Crimes
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Securities Crimes
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Commodities Crimes
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Bankruptcy and Federal Services Fraud
A federal white collar attorney specializing in these areas is needed if you find yourself being questioned by a federal or state agency.
Congress has passed literally hundreds of new
white collar crimes over the past decade. Each year, the list of these crimes balloons by at least a dozen. Each time it does, a member of Congress can go home and tell his or her constituents that he or she is tough on crime. As a consequence, the number of pitfalls in the worlds of finance, immigration and taxation have multiplied.
These cases are serious. Prosecutors seek significant prison time for white-collar crimes.
The federal sentencing guidelines for fraud, for example, often call for massive sentences for people who are convicted of federal criminal charges. The days of white collar defendants receiving probation instead of jail sentences are increasingly rare.
White Collar Criminal Procedures
The procedures that the court or government will follow in a white collar case are the same – for the most part – as the procedures in any federal criminal case. If you’re concerned about a white collar case, you’d do well to call a competent federal criminal attorney in your area or jurisdiction. Mr. Culbertson serves all three Federal jurisdictions in North Carolina. His consultations for Federal white collar crimes are free: click here to
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A sample of some of the cases K.E. Culbertson has handled, including
Federal Criminal Law and
White Collar Crimes, may be found here:
In The News
Often, federal agencies and law enforcement investigating white collar crimes will want to interview a suspect. Even if you are only a potential witness in a federal criminal case, this interview alone may result in charges being filed against you if law enforcement in its own judgment determines that you’ve been less than truthful or honest. Therefore, there are two cardinal rules about what to do if you’re involved in an investigation for white collar crime:
Do not answer questions right away. Be polite and respectful, but firm. Tell the investigating agency that you’d like to speak to an attorney.
If you find yourself in dire circumstances and are facing
white collar criminal charges, you should seek the advice of an experienced criminal litigation attorney such as Krispen Culbertson.