Cleveland White Collar Crime Lawyer
Examples of White Collar Crime Charges
At Patituce & Associates, LLC, we are not general practitioners and do not take every case that walks through the door. When it comes to white collar defense, we use our experience as ex-prosecutors to not only defend you from the charges but to guide you through the process. It is important you hire an attorney with real, significant courtroom experience. If you’ve been charged with a white-collar crime, contact a Cleveland white collar crime lawyer today.
Our firm can handle a wide variety of white-collar crimes:
- Mail or wire fraud – This type of fraud is commonly committed by disguising the sender as a legitimate business. Wire fraud is the electronic version of mail fraud.
- Prescription drug fraud – There are many types of fraudulent prescriptions, such as using stolen prescription pads to use fictitiously, altering legitimate prescriptions, and giving false callback numbers to verify prescriptions.
- Conspiracy – Conspiracy charges are brought about when there is a suspicion that two or more people are planning a crime. Conspiracy is very common, because it is hard for one person to complete significant fraud alone.
- Theft from businesses – Petty theft is the theft of goods under $1,000. A first degree felony charge may be given to those caught stealing more than 1.5 million dollars, and there are many types of theft charges in between.
- RICO – RICO stands for “Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations”. RICO charges are typically pretty serious. Someone might be slapped with RICO charges if they were committing crimes spanning years and with multiple persons in association with an organization.
- Tax fraud – Tax fraud is the intentional action to get out of tax payments. This can mean underpaying taxes or avoiding them altogether.
- Embezzlement – Embezzlement occurs when employees trusted to handle the funds of their employer in some way take part of the money as their own.
- Securities fraud – This is also called “stock fraud” or “investment fraud”. The basis of this crime is providing false information that influences investors to make certain decisions in the stock or commodities market.
- Mortgage fraud – If someone misrepresents themselves in order to get loan approval, that may be considered mortgage fraud.
The offense level and amount of time you’re looking at, if convicted, is based in large part on the amount of money the government alleges you stole. Often, this number is artificially inflated by the investigative agency because they do not understand where the money went, why it was transferred, or how it was moved. Often there are perfectly reasonable explanations for it; however, the government rarely investigates this upfront. This is why it is important to retain counsel that understands how to defend your legal rights properly.
Discuss your options in a free case review with our Cleveland white collar crime lawyers today! Call us at (440) 771-1175.
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ORC 2913.31 Forgery Laws
While many white collar crimes are prosecuted as misdemeanors, it is considered especially egregious when a person forges the signature of another in order to legitimize a document like a check or other instrument. Forgery in this manner is a fifth-degree felony and conviction can lead to a sentence of 6 to 12 months, plus fines.
Where financial loss occurred to another, the penalties and fines are higher. Forging identification cards or selling or distributing forged identification cards, is also prohibited under O.R.C. 2913.31. While technically a misdemeanor, a conviction of Forging Identification Cards can leave you in jail for six months and stuck with a $1,000 fine. Our Cleveland criminal defense firm specializes in defending people against forgery charges in the Cleveland area. We are experienced former prosecutors who know how to turn cases around for our clients.
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White Collar Crime Defense Strategies in Ohio
At Patituce & Associates, LLC, we are former prosecutors who have prosecuted everything from murder to financial crimes. As Cleveland white-collar crime attorneys, we have protected clients charged with all types of financial crimes (or white-collar crimes). These cases include defending people charged with stealing money from schools, mortgage fraud, theft from their employer, and many others.
What’s the difference between white collar and financial crimes? Read more in our White Collar vs. Financial Crimes blog post!
It is important to go with a lawyer looking to do more than just plead your case out. At Patituce & Associates, LLC, our Cleveland white-collar crime attorneys prepare every case as if it is going to go to trial. We do not plan to plea, but if the prosecutor offers you a deal that is too good to say no to, then we did our job.
- Prosecutors on both the state and federal levels are incredibly focused on prosecuting people charged with white collar crimes. There are many reasons for this. Just some include:
- They want to go after a conviction that is highly favored by the public
- They want to achieve a victory that plays to their goals
- They want to punish someone for just doing what it took to advance
At Patituce & Associates, LLC, we know what it took to get to where you are at. Our Cleveland white collar crime lawyers can help. Call (440) 771-1175 for a pressure-free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case.
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What Are White-Collar Crimes?
White-collar crimes refer to non-violent offenses committed for financial gain, typically in business or professional settings. These crimes can include fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, identity theft, and money laundering. Unlike violent crimes, white-collar crimes often involve deceit and are carried out by individuals or organizations in positions of trust. In Ohio, such offenses are taken seriously and can lead to significant legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. Due to their complexity, these crimes often require specialized legal expertise for both prosecution and defense.
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What are the Penalties for White-Collar Crimes in Ohio?The penalties for white-collar crimes in Ohio can vary significantly depending on the specific offense, the amount of money involved, and whether it is classified as a misdemeanor or felony. Generally, white-collar crimes can lead to substantial fines, restitution payments to victims, and imprisonment. For instance, felony convictions can result in prison sentences ranging from a few months to several years. In addition to criminal penalties, individuals convicted of white-collar crimes may also face civil suits and damage to their professional reputation, which can have long-lasting effects on their career and livelihood.
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Are White-Collar Crimes Prosecuted at the State or Federal Level in Ohio?White-collar crimes in Ohio can be prosecuted at both the state and federal levels, depending on the nature of the crime and the entities involved. State prosecutors handle cases that violate Ohio's laws, such as state fraud or theft statutes. However, if the crime involves federal agencies, interstate commerce, or significant financial impacts that cross state lines, federal prosecutors may take over the case. Federal white-collar crime cases often carry harsher penalties and can involve complex investigations by agencies like the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Therefore, the jurisdiction plays a crucial role in how these cases are handled.
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- Martha L.
Seeking representation for federal charges against my husband led me to engage with an attorney from this firm. Swiftly connected with Joe Patituce, we made the decision to enlist his services that very day, a choice we're grateful for.
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- Cora B.
Their friendly and approachable team provided unwavering support. They worked diligently to build a robust defense, ensuring my side of the story was heard and considered!!!
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- Former Client
Cate Purdum was present, attentive, always returned my calls (I had attorneys before who never call you back), answered my questions and never ignored my calls. If I ever need an attorney in the future I will definitely go back to her.
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- Roberto M.
Catherine Meehan did an amazing job. Very responsive, friendly, and obviously very good with words. She kept me out of jail and home with my kiddo. For that I can't ever repay the favor. Much appreciated hope I never need your assistance again but if so I'll definitely give you a call. Thank you again.
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- Thomas S.
I am very satisfied with Rachelle and Joe they were talking me through my whole case and when I told them I wanted a trial they agreed and said let’s go to trial with out hesitation they were very professional and I couldn’t ask for a better law firm to have my back in my court case thank you Rachelle and Joe I highly recommend them to everybody
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- Levi G.
Joe helped my brother beat a serious RICO charge. He is simply the best criminal defense lawyer out there, and provides a clear-cut path to victory. I am extremely impressed and thankful for the hard work and dedication the team at Patituce & Associates put in on this case. It feels great to come out on the winning side, and not have to sweat a thing during the whole process. I highly recommend hiring Joe and his expert staff if you ever find yourself in any legal trouble. Thank you Joe!
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So kind and helpful! Don’t know what I would’ve done without him. Joe was kind and informative throughout the whole- Maddy P.
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- Glenn G.
I engaged Joe Patituce's services for my DUI case in Rocky River, and I couldn't have made a better choice. He and his team demonstrated excellence throughout, managing my case with remarkable skill and professionalism.
