When you consider someone who has committed a white-collar crime, you may envision someone in a business suit cheating people out of their rightfully earned money. This is a hyperbolic representation, and it’s far from reality. White-collar crime includes a variety of types, including embezzlement and insider trading to tax evasion and bribery. While some people may view white-collar crime as informal, these acts are quite harmful.
The victims of white-collar crime are not restricted to criminal prosecutions. Money laundering and theft have real consequences for citizens’ lives. Maybe you’re a small company owner who has been victimized by white-collar crimes of many types. Or perhaps you’re a businessperson who has been accused of various white-collar criminal charges in your line of work. And whether you’re dealing with state or federal attorneys, you’ll need legal counsel.
You should be receiving legal counsel from a law firm with prior experience in this area of the law. Let’s take a look at various business crimes that would necessitate the services of a white-collar crime lawyer, which is the sort of prosecutor or criminal defense attorney you’ll want on your side.
Electronic Payments and Credit Card Fraud
If you own a small or medium-sized business that conducts independent sales (ISO) or takes credit and debit card payments, you should be on the lookout for potential problems. These sorts of transactions are a breeding ground for various types of crime, including identity theft and skimming extra money off each transaction for personal profit. If your company suffers as a result of this, it may be added to the MATCH (Member Alert to Control High Risk) list.
The MATCH list is maintained by MasterCard and catalogs merchants who have had their card transactions refused. This may appear to be a wonderful thing, but there’s a catch. If you’re on the MATCH list as a result of no fault of your own, you won’t like where this leads you. Being on the MATCH list might be harmful to your business and getting off it is difficult.
If you’re not guilty of a white-collar crime, you’ll need to hire a white-collar crime lawyer with MATCH list expertise. While it’s good that law enforcement is protecting customers from fraudsters, you must also defend yourself.
Business Litigation
However, some commercial litigation is simple to handle— organizing an LLC, entering into contracts with new employees, and the like. To manage these difficulties, you don’t need a fancy legal education in how to file motions or enforce case law. Some business litigation, on the other hand, is considerably more difficult.
It’s time to call someone with experience in the practice of law if you’re dealing with trade secrets, a contract dispute, or even an employee who has mishandled sensitive information. While an internal investigation is crucial, navigating the murky waters of contract disagreements (for instance, an employee claims you forged documents while another employee claims you leaked confidential information) and sensitive information leaks require experienced help.
Fortunately, some individuals have gone to law school and received legal training to deal with situations like this. A single phone call may get you a free consultation from a legal firm that employs lawyers with years of expertise dealing with claims of this sort.
Tax Evasion, Tax Fraud, and Securities Fraud
Unless the defendant has been charged with evading state tax laws, tax evasion, tax fraud, and securities fraud are all areas in which federal prosecutors (the IRS, particularly) might become involved. If a defendant is accused of federal tax fraud, he or she may be dealing with a financial catastrophe.
Even if they don’t go to jail, defendants must have a basic knowledge of the criminal justice system to prevent bankruptcy. Perpetrators are required to pay for any losses incurred because of their actions.
This is a non-violent felony that may leave the criminal unemployed and bankrupt, even if no money is owed in taxes to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). This, like other forms of business crime, is another instance where legal counsel from a white-collar crime attorney is strongly advised.
Contact Global Legal Law Firm
If you’re having issues and need assistance for corporate crime, why not contact Richardson Lissack?