A conviction for a white collar crime in Ohio can subject an offender to legal penalties, including high monetary fines and jail time. A white collar criminal offense may also result in prosecution at both the state and federal levels.
If you are currently pending a white-collar crime investigation, you must retain experienced defense representation as quickly as possible.
The knowledgeable and professional Akron white-collar crime lawyers at Patituce & Associates, LLC, can meet with you to discuss the pending allegations in your case and determine your eligibility for arguing a compelling legal defense at your criminal court trial. We can also secure a favorable plea deal from a state or federal prosecutor in your case. No matter the circumstances, you can be sure that we will explain all of your legal options in clear terms and obtain the best possible result in your case.
For a consultation with an experienced Akron White Collar Crimes lawyer, please contact our firm immediately.
Why Choose Us for Your Criminal Defense Representation?
White collar crimes in Ohio are a big deal for several reasons:
- Federal criminal charges and sentencing guidelines may apply to federal crimes in your case.
- White collar crimes typically involve thorough resources and investigations, and the prosecutors who handle these cases may not have significant caseloads. As a result, they have more time to concentrate on prosecuting the case at issue.
- In a white collar criminal case, one or more whistleblowers might have a financial incentive to reveal evidence to a federal agency involved in the case.
Given the potential penalties upon conviction for a white collar crime, you want the best possible legal team in your corner advocating for your legal rights every step of the way.
The knowledgeable Akron white collar crime attorneys at Patituce & Associates, LLC know what is riding on the line in your case, regarding potential legal penalties and collateral consequences upon conviction. We can immediately investigate the circumstances of your charge and arrest and determine your legal options before moving forward.
Our legal team has a combined 70+ years of experience successfully defending individuals against state and federal-level offenses. In addition, three attorneys who are currently on our legal staff were originally prosecutors. Therefore, we understand how both state and federal prosecutors build their cases and secure guilty findings and convictions against criminal defendants. We use that knowledge to formulate favorable legal defenses to our clients’ pending criminal charges and obtain successful results.
Our office is at 520 South Main Street, Suite 2511, Akron, OH 44331. Please contact us as soon as possible, and we can begin advocating for your legal rights and interests.
What are the Possible Penalties Following a White Collar Crime Conviction?
Like in any other criminal case, a state or federal prosecutor must fully satisfy their legal burden of proof to obtain a conviction against you on a white collar criminal charge.
We can formulate a successful defense to your pending charge to make meeting this legal burden an uphill battle. If the defense succeeds in court, the prosecutor may fail to satisfy their burden of proof and the court may dismiss your white collar crime charge.
If the state or federal prosecutor can meet their burden of proof, then a sentencing judge may impose various penalties against you. The penalties that you may receive for a white collar crime conviction will depend on the charge and whether the state or federal court system will hear your case.
Potential penalties upon conviction may include:
- High monetary fines
- Restitution to the alleged victim
- Required jail time (including jail time in a federal detention facility)
- Probation
In addition to these potential legal penalties, you can face numerous collateral consequences. For example, you may have difficulty finding a respectable place to live, obtaining employment, gaining admission to a college or university, or keeping scholarship funds (if you are a current student).
In addition, you may suffer significant harm to your personal and professional reputation in the community.
If a state or federal prosecutor ultimately obtains a conviction against you, we can aggressively represent you at your sentencing hearing and argue for the most minor possible penalty in your case. For example, depending on your circumstances, we can argue that you are a first-time offender or do not have a prior criminal history of arrests and convictions.
What are White Collar Crimes in Akron?
Ohio and the federal government recognize several white-collar criminal offenses, including:
- Mortgage fraud, where a party that is involved in the mortgage application process, such as a purchaser, bank, or other financial institution, provides information that is false to secure a mortgage
- Wire or mail fraud, where an individual uses electronic wires or the federal mail system as a means of carrying out some fraudulent activity
- Tax fraud, where an individual underreports information or attempts to evade taxes
- Investment fraud, where an individual or entity provides some type of false information as a way to encourage unsuspecting individuals to make certain financial investments
- RICO offenses, under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, where an individual allegedly commits a criminal offense in conjunction with some type of organization, such as where a person attempts to hide drug money by establishing a shell business
- Theft from businesses, where an individual incurs misdemeanor or felony charges, depending upon the amount of money or property that they allegedly stole
- Prescription drug fraud may involve both doctors and patients, including altering one or more legitimate prescriptions, billing for a prescription that a healthcare provider did not actually issue, or using prescription pads that someone stole
- Forgery, where an individual distributes or sells identification cards that someone allegedly forged
- Embezzlement, where an employer entrusts an employee with money, property, or assets that the employee misappropriated for their own personal use or financial gain
If you are currently facing a criminal investigation or charge on one of these white collar crimes, quickly talk with our Akron white collar crimes lawyers. Our legal team can immediately start investigating the circumstances of your charge and determine the potential legal defenses you can raise at your criminal court trial.
Potential Defenses to an Akron White Collar Crime
If you are currently facing a white collar crime investigation, we can raise one or more legal defenses in response to your charge. If the defense succeeds, it might prevent the state or federal prosecutor from satisfying their legal burden of proof. Consequently, the court may dismiss your criminal case.
First, an individual pending a white collar charge can allege they lacked the necessary specific intent or knowledge to commit the underlying offense.
Similarly, they may allege that a police officer or investigator violated their constitutional rights. For example, if a police officer arrested an individual, the arrestee asserted their Fifth Amendment right to have legal counsel present during questioning, but the officer continued questioning them, then the court may suppress any incriminating statements.
Next, an accused individual can allege that a police officer or investigator obtained specific evidence illegally. For example, they may not have had the necessary probable cause or warrant to lawfully get evidence.
Our legal team can determine if you may be eligible to raise one of these legal defenses or some other defense at your criminal court trial. If so, we can argue the appropriate defense(s) on your behalf when we represent you in court and pursue a complete dismissal of your case.
Our Akron, Ohio, Law Office is Prepared to Serve You
Patituce & Associates is conveniently located in Downtown Akron at 520 S Main Street, Suite 2511, Akron, OH 44331. Visit our office or reach out to us by phone or on our website, and a member of our team will contact you right away to discuss your potential case.
Negotiating a Favorable Plea Deal With the State or Federal Prosecutor in Your Case
Sometimes, an individual facing white-collar criminal charges can introduce a favorable defense at their criminal court trial. If the accused has a solid legal defense, they may want to take their case to trial.
In other situations, a state or federal prosecutor may place a plea deal on the table that we can negotiate further. Prosecutors might suggest a plea deal if they have insufficient evidence to prosecute or are not confident in their ability to secure a conviction against you at a criminal court trial.
In a plea deal arrangement, the prosecutor typically offers some concession, such as a reduced criminal charge or a period of probation, in exchange for the accused pleading guilty to a criminal offense. If the prosecutor offers probation, and the accused successfully completes all of their probationary terms, then they may not be subject to a conviction.
Our legal team can use our knowledge and experience to advise whether to accept a pending plea deal or take your case to a criminal bench or jury trial.
If you decide to accept a pending plea deal from the state or federal prosecutor, you will give up certain legal rights. First, you will give up your Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury. Additionally, you will give up the right to appeal your case result in the court system.
Also, if you decide to accept a plea deal from the prosecutor, you must appear in court and place that plea deal on the record. When you do so, the judge will ensure that you agree to the plea deal voluntarily and freely and that no one coerced you into making the plea deal.
Once you place the necessary statements on the record, the state or federal court judge may then accept your guilty plea.
Steps to Take After an Arrest
If a police officer or investigator arrests you on a white collar criminal charge, immediately invoke your right to the presence of legal counsel during any questioning. Otherwise, the state or federal prosecutor can use anything you say against you at your criminal court trial. You want legal counsel present during any questioning by a police officer or investigator.
In addition, you need to collect and retain essential documents in your case, including citations, charge paperwork, and anything that you can use as potential evidence in your case.
Finally, speak with an Akron white collar crimes attorney immediately after your arrest. Once you forward us your charging documents and other paperwork, we can complete an accurate assessment of your case and explore your potential legal options. We can also determine if you can beat your pending criminal charge by raising a successful legal defense in court.
One grave mistake many criminal defendants make is waiting too long to secure legal counsel to represent them. A lawyer needs time to review evidence, speak with witnesses, and formulate possible legal defenses before trial.
Additionally, if you show up to a criminal court proceeding – including a trial – without a lawyer present, the judge may determine that you waived your right to the presence of legal counsel and might go forward with your criminal court proceeding. Given the potential penalties upon conviction, you do not want that to happen in your case.
Call an Akron White Collar Crimes Attorney Today
Many people underestimate white collar charges, as they are non-violent offenses. However, both the law and law enforcement take white collar offenses very seriously and pursue harsh penalties for convictions. Always take your charges seriously and hire an experienced Akron criminal defense lawyer immediately. Failing to do so can put your future at risk.
At Patituce & Associates, LLC, our legal team can explore all of your legal options and seek the best possible result in your criminal case, whether through a complete dismissal or a favorable plea deal with the state or federal prosecutor handling your case.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced Akron white collar crimes lawyer, please call us at (440) 641-4434 or contact us online.
Patituce & Associates, LCC – Akron Office
520 S Main Street, Suite 2511
Akron, OH 44331