Fort Lauderdale White Collar Crime Lawyer
Online fraud accounts for nearly $9 billion in annual losses, according to the FTC, impacting millions of Americans. With phishing, hacking, other forms of identity theft, and credit card fraud at all-time highs, Florida prosecutors seek heavy penalties in all white-collar cases, whether the victim is an individual, institution, or business. Our Fort Lauderdale white collar crime lawyer at Haber | Blank LLP is extremely well versed in all forms of white-collar crimes, and has the experience needed to protect your rights and ensure a best-case scenario resolution in this matter.
Common Types of White-Collar Crimes
There are dozens of different types of white-collar crimes, which are loosely defined as fraudulent acts that do not require violence or the threat of violence. While money laundering and racketeering often make the headlines when it comes to white collar offenses, phishing and other forms of identity theft, as well as credit card fraud, are exceedingly common. Examples of white-collar crimes we handle include:
- Identity Theft—Illegally obtaining a victim’s personal identification for the purpose of selling their information, stealing credit cards or tax refunds, etc. Phishing is a common example of identity theft.
- Credit Card Fraud—Theft of someone’s credit card information for the purpose of making unlawful transactions
- Bank Fraud—An illegal scheme used to steal money from a financial institution
- Conspiracy to Commit Fraud—Conspiring with others to commit fraud
- Healthcare Fraud—Illegal billing practices used to defraud an institution, like Medicare, or an individual.
- Mail Fraud and Email Fraud—Using the United States Postal Service or email to commit fraud
- Embezzlement—Theft of a business’s shared funds for personal use.
- Money Laundering—Converting illegally acquired assets to “clean money,” for tax purposes
- Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO)—Racketeering is a coordinated scheme that uses coercion, fraud, extortion, and other illegal acts to consistently collect a profit. Under the RICO Act, it is a major felony and punished as such.
Penalties for White Collar Offenses
The severity of the penalties you may be facing depends on the amount of money that was involved, the number (counts) of offenses for which you were convicted, the number of victims involved, the age of the victims, and more. Because there are sometimes many victims in one act of fraud, you could be facing multiple offenses for just one act, or the penalties could be enhanced from a third- or second-degree felony to that of a first-degree felony. For example, defrauding 10 elderly victims in one count of fraud that equates to $50,000 or more is a first-degree felony.
Call a Fort Lauderdale White Collar Crime Lawyer Today
If you are convicted of a white-collar crime, you may be facing a jail or prison sentence, high fines, restitution, probation, and other penalties. It is important to understand that convicted white collar offenders can end up spending years behind bars and pay hundreds of thousands in fines and restitution. For experienced legal representation, call the Fort Lauderdale white collar crime lawyer at Haber | Blank LLP today at 954-767-0300 to schedule a free consultation.
