Ohio White Collar Crimes Lawyer
Defending You Against Serious White-Collar Charges
White-collar crimes are non-violent offenses committed by professionals in business, finance, or government. These crimes are often financially motivated and can have devastating consequences for the accused. A conviction for a white-collar crime can result in significant fines, prison time, and reputational damage that can impact your career and personal life.
If you are facing charges for a white-collar crime in Ohio, it is essential to have a defense attorney by your side who can protect your rights and fight for your future. At Patituce & Associates, LLC, our attorneys have over a decade of experience defending clients against damaging criminal charges.
We are committed to providing the best possible legal representation and fighting to achieve the optimal outcome for our clients.
Contact us today at (440) 771-1175 to learn more about our legal services and how we can support your case.
-
Types of White-Collar Criminal Charges
At Patituce & Associates, LLC, we understand the complexities of white-collar criminal charges and the potential consequences they carry. As former prosecutors, we leverage our experience to not only defend you against these charges but also guide you through the legal process.
Our firm represents Ohio residents in a wide range of white-collar criminal cases, including the following:
- RICO Charges: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges are typically serious. These crimes are often committed over multiple years and involve multiple people associated with an organization.
- Embezzlement: This crime occurs when employees who are trusted to handle the funds of their employer take part of this money as their own. In Ohio, criminal charges for embezzlement depend on the amount of money taken.
- Securities Fraud: Securities fraud is a type of white-collar crime that involves the provision of false information that influences investors to make certain decisions in the stock or commodities market. This can involve insider trading, market manipulation, or Ponzi schemes.
- Tax Fraud: Tax fraud refers to intentional actions to get out of tax payments. This can mean underpaying taxes or avoiding them altogether. Common forms of tax fraud include hiding income or assets, claiming false deductions or exemptions, and failing to report all income.
- Mortgage Fraud: Mortgage fraud occurs when someone misrepresents themselves to get loan approval. This can involve lying about his or her income, employment, or assets, or providing false documentation to support their application.
- Mail or Wire Fraud: Mail or wire fraud is a type of fraud that is commonly committed by disguising the sender as a legitimate business. Wire fraud is the electronic version of mail fraud. This can involve schemes like phishing or investment scams.
- Conspiracy: Conspiracy charges are filed when there is a suspicion that two or more people are planning a crime. This is very common in white-collar crime because it is difficult for one person to complete significant fraud alone. This can involve a wide range of criminal activities, from insider trading to Ponzi schemes.
- Prescription Drug Fraud: Prescription drug fraud involves obtaining or distributing prescription drugs illegally. This can involve using stolen prescription pads to obtain drugs, altering legitimate prescriptions, or giving false callback numbers to verify prescriptions.
- Theft from Businesses: This type of white-collar crime involves stealing goods or money from a business. Petty theft is the theft of goods under $1,000, while a first-degree felony charge may be given to those caught stealing more than $1.5 million.
-
Penalties for White-Collar Crimes in Ohio
White-collar crimes are serious offenses that can result in severe and long-lasting consequences for those convicted. Penalties for these crimes can include imprisonment, fines, court costs, criminal forfeiture of personal and real property, and payment of other additional costs. Typically, white-collar crimes charged at a federal level result in harsher penalties than those charged at the state level.
Most white-collar crimes in Ohio can result in either a misdemeanor or felony conviction. Certain offenses in Ohio require mandatory prison sentences, which means that offenders will be required to serve a certain amount of time behind bars, regardless of any mitigating circumstances.
For example, a first-degree misdemeanor conviction can result in up to 180 days in jail and/or fines of up to $1,000. For crimes that are charged as first-degree felonies, the convicted offender could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000.
-
Defense Strategies for White-Collar Cases
If you are facing charges for a white-collar crime in Ohio, it is important to have a criminal defense attorney on your side who can help to minimize the potential penalties and consequences. As former prosecutors who have prosecuted everything from murder to financial crimes, the attorneys at Patituce & Associates, LLC are well-versed in the complexity of financial investigations. We know the techniques employed by prosecutors to obtain convictions in these cases and, as such, we are uniquely qualified to mount a strong defense and obtain the best possible outcome for our clients.
In white-collar cases, the optimal defense strategy will depend on the unique circumstances of the charges. Below are some common strategies we employ:
- Entrapment: If we can prove that you would not have committed the crime without the influence of an undercover officer, we can employ an entrapment defense.
- Lack of Intent: The prosecutor usually needs to show that the defendant acted with the intent to defraud or illicitly obtain money or assets. If he or she cannot prove intent, we can argue that the case should be dismissed.
- Insufficient Evidence: We can argue that there are holes in the prosecution’s argument or a lack of evidence to prove the element of the crime.
- Illegal Search or Seizure: We will investigate and question the integrity of the investigation and any evidence that was obtained. If evidence was illegally obtained, we can request that the judge dismiss it.
- Statute of Limitations: Most crimes have a statute of limitations within which a prosecutor must file charges. If charges are not filed within the applicable time limits, we can raise this defense.
- Coercion or Duress: If you commit a crime due to physical or verbal threats, we can argue that you acted under duress or external pressure.
-
- 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.
-
- 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!!!
-
- 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.
-
- 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.
-
- 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
-
- 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!
-
So kind and helpful! Don’t know what I would’ve done without him. Joe was kind and informative throughout the whole- Maddy P.
-
- 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.
Contact Patituce & Associates, LLC Today
White-collar criminal cases are complex and require a strong defense strategy. At Patituce & Associates, LLC, our attorneys can guide you through the legal process and work tirelessly to protect your rights and your future.
Call us today at (440) 771-1175 for a free consultation and take the first step toward building a strong defense.
