St. Louis White Collar Criminal Attorney

Facing charges such as embezzlement, fraud, or money laundering is a serious matter requiring a law firm with serious experience in criminal defense. These investigations are often lengthy, complex, and confusing to the average person, so depending on a skilled St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney is critical to reducing the penalties.

At JCS Law, we are ready to educate you about your options, examine the case against you, and prepare a tailored defense strategy for the best possible outcome. We draw on our extensive background and collaborate with experts to ensure we have a full understanding of your situation. Contact a St. Louis federal criminal defense lawyer today to schedule a meeting and learn more.

What are the white-collar charges we defend?

Our fundamental goal for each client is to help them avoid unnecessary trials, penalties, and charges. Your St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney will negotiate with prosecutors to secure the most satisfactory deal while protecting your interests and rights. We work to keep you out of the courtroom and jail as much as the circumstances allow.

Below are some common charges your St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney can help defend against.

Antitrust crimes

When individuals and corporate entities act in a manner that involves collusion or attempts to create a monopoly to undermine the free market, they may face charges of antitrust violations.

Bank fraud

If someone knowingly defrauded or attempted to defraud any financial institution, they can be charged with bank fraud. This is a federal crime that carries as much as 30 years in prison with fines up to $1 million.

Cybercrime

Cybercrime involves any illegal actions conducted through a computer or computer network, such as harming a person’s finances or security.

Defense procurement fraud

Contractors who overbill or otherwise commit illegal actions while working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) may be guilty of defense procurement fraud.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement is one of the most common white-collar crimes, consisting of wrongfully using funds entrusted to a person, such as a company treasurer skimming money from the business’s profits.

Identify theft

Identity theft has risen dramatically due to the ability to steal personal information over the Internet. Using any means to fraudulently obtain someone else’s bank account details, Social Security number or credit card statements with the intent of using this information illegally is identity theft.

Misbranding

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes ways to commit crimes in regards to mislabeling or misbranding items. Fraudulent branding may result from:

• Omitted details about the manufacturer or seller
• Inaccurate or misleading information about the contents, weight, or count of a product
• Inadequate directions for consumption or use
• Omitted descriptions of dangers, such as dosage, duration, or interactions

Money laundering

Money laundering involves the act or attempt to transfer money from an illegitimate source to a legitimate one, usually by using an intermediary business or other method to disguise the money’s origins.

Public corruption

When public officials have been elected or appointed to office, the people have a right to expect them to behave in a trustworthy and upstanding manner. When these officials betray that expectation to use the office for personal gain, they can be charged with public corruption. This is a federal crime, even if the official is in local or state government.

RICO violations

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act was developed to target organized crime enterprises. Instead of being limited to only charging individuals for individual offenses, RICO allows prosecutors to tie the defendant’s actions to an organized group.

Common RICO offenses include bribery, extortion, counterfeiting, mail fraud, wire fraud, and witness tampering. Proving conspiracy to commit these offenses is essential to securing a conviction, so your St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney will fight to disprove any arguments claiming your participation.

Securities fraud

Similar to insider trading, securities fraud usually applies to a stockbroker, brokerage firm, or investment bank misusing or misrepresenting information for financial gain.

Small Business Administration (SBA) fraud

The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides loans and grants to small businesses to aid them in getting started and growing. Providing false information, wasting or mismanaging funds, or committing other fraud against the SBA is a federal offense.

Tax fraud

Using loopholes, deductions, and credits is a valuable way to reduce the amount of taxes a person has to pay. However, when someone knowingly alters details on their tax return to avoid paying what they owe, it constitutes tax fraud. Failing to report income, omitting information, and claiming deductions a person does not qualify for can result in up to five years in prison and as much as $100,000 in fines.

Mail fraud/wire fraud

Mail fraud occurs when someone uses the U.S. Postal Service or a private mail carrier to defraud another person of their money or property. Wire fraud also involves the theft of money or property by using electronic means, such as phone, fax, email, or computer. These forms of fraud are commonly additional charges paired with more serious crimes.

What should I do after being charged with a white collar crime in St. Louis?

Many people believe that white-collar crimes are not as serious as violent crimes such as murder or assault. However, those who are convicted of embezzlement, conspiracy, and fraud often face lengthy incarceration and high fines. In addition, their personal and professional reputations can be ruined, along with losing essential rights as a citizen because they are convicted felons.

If you have been charged with any of these offenses in Missouri, it is crucial that you contact a qualified St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney County right away. Even if you suspect you may be charged, it is worth the time to speak with a professional at JCS Law to understand what you are facing.

Every case is unique, but our team will explore every avenue to help you avoid life-changing punishment that can be devastating to your career and personal life. We will work to have evidence dismissed, find loopholes, and bargain for a satisfactory ending.

What happens during white collar criminal investigations?

Investigations against those charged with white-collar crimes may take place at the state or federal level, with agencies often collaborating to secure a conviction. It takes a skilled St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney to understand the risks you face and how to effectively fight back against them to protect your rights.

Agencies that may be involved in white-collar investigations include:

• The U.S. Postal Service
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• State tax commissions
• State bureaus of investigation

White-collar convictions have serious consequences

The federal sentencing guidelines for white-collar crimes allow the courts to charge fines and incarcerate those convicted. The federal government can also force you to pay for the court costs, make you pay restitution to victims, and seize your assets. Federal judges tend to enact longer sentences beyond the already lengthy mandatory minimums.

You could spend years behind bars, risk financial ruin, and be followed by the consequences of a conviction for the rest of your life. Your best chance at avoiding these punishments is to speak with an accomplished St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney from JCS Law. We are ready to push back against excessive penalties and preserve your innocence in the minds of the judge and jury, so you receive a fair trial.

What are defenses we may use in your case?

The prosecutor will have the burden on their hands to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the offenses you are facing. Fortunately, this allows a skilled criminal defense attorney the ability to examine the evidence against you, develop targeted rebuttals, and request that evidence be dismissed and charges dropped. In many cases, our team of attorneys has been able to prevent clients from ever seeing the inside of a courtroom.

We will customize a defense strategy for your specific situation using a combination of techniques, including the following.

Fourth Amendment violations

A white collar criminal investigation can take months to build with many moving parts and individuals. Not all of them will follow the correct procedures all the time. Our team will review their methods and materials to determine if your constitutional rights were violated or abridged in any way. If so, we will argue that any evidence obtained by those methods or individuals be deemed inadmissible to court.

We can also request the charges against you be dropped completely.

Entrapment

When a government official, including law enforcement officers, pressures you to engage in illegal activities that you would not normally commit, your attorney can present this as entrapment. The key is demonstrating you are not the kind of person to commit a crime without inordinate pressure and encouragement.

Authorities will sometimes use this kind of pressure in undercover situations where they suspect a person of being involved in a conspiracy or scheme. Despite their intent to gather evidence, their entrapment actions may work in your favor to dismiss the charges.

Lack of intent

An essential element of a white collar criminal case is for the prosecution to prove your intent to commit a crime. Many charges, such as embezzlement, may arise from a misunderstanding of the facts surrounding the alleged misuse of funds. In many cases, the defendant was in the wrong place at the wrong time or perhaps was set up to take the fall for others who actually committed the crimes.

Your attorney will work diligently to poke holes in the prosecution’s claims of your intent, allowing you the chance to reduce or eliminate the charges against you.

Meet with a St. Louis white collar crimes attorney today

White-collar crimes are extremely serious, and there is nothing easy about fighting back to prevent a conviction. Federal and state agencies will perform thorough investigations attempting to obtain as many convictions as possible, and prosecuting attorneys are eager to add to their win column. You need someone who is experienced and tenacious on your side to stand up to those who would take away your freedom.

A St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney At JCS Law, cares about your life and how it is affected by these charges. We do not hold you in judgment in our offices, and we are dedicated to helping you avoid judgment in the courtroom, if possible. Our team is here to secure the most positive outcome we can and ensure your dignity throughout the process.

Contact us at (314) 561-9690 to schedule a consultation with a St. Louis white-collar criminal attorney and learn more about what we can do for you.