White Collar Crimes Attorneys in Pittsburgh
Knowledgeable White Collar Crimes Defense Lawyers Serving Pittsburgh
The conviction of a white collar crime will not only land you in prison for some time, but it will also result in lasting consequences that will affect your ability to get a job in the future. It will ruin your reputation and place a permanent stain on your criminal record. With so much at stake, you want to ensure you turn to a knowledgeable defense lawyer who can properly handle all aspects of your white collar crimes defense.
Skillfully Addressing Embezzlement Charges
The term “embezzlement” covers several types of financial theft perpetrated by individuals in a position of trust. This most often arises in situations where employees of an organization siphon off funds into personal accounts. It can also occur with individuals who have fiduciary duties to nonprofit organizations and trust accounts.
Pennsylvania specifically calls out a handful of situations that count as embezzlement:
- Theft by extortion
- Theft by deception
- Theft of services
If you find yourself facing embezzlement charges in Pennsylvania, take immediate action to protect your rights and your future. Do not speak to law enforcements officials except to request an attorney. Then hire a lawyer you trust to put your best interests at the forefront at all times.
Adeptly Defending Clients Against All White Collar Crimes
In addition to embezzlement, our criminal defense attorneys represent individuals facing a variety of white collar crimes:
- Mortgage fraud
- Tax fraud and tax evasion
- Federal fraud
- Bank fraud
- Credit card fraud
- Real estate fraud
- Mail and wire fraud
- Insurance fraud
- Forgery
- Identity theft
- RICO/racketeering
The Difference Between White Collar & Criminal Cases
White Collar Crime Defined
Many people are familiar with the term “white collar crime” but are not sure exactly what a white collar type of offense is. This type of case can be brought by either state and/or federal authorities. Depending on the specific nature of the crime(s), the alleged offenses may be in violation of local, state or federal laws. The most significant difference between “white collar crime” and general criminal charges tends to be a lack of violence or weapons involved with the alleged criminal activity.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation notes that the term “white collar crime” is believed to have been coined circa 1939. Now, the term has come to be defined as the acts of lying, cheating, and/or stealing while in commission of any variety of fraud committed by business and government professionals.
Types Of White Collar Cases That Receive Federal Attention
Typically, federal authorities with step in to prosecute “white collar” crime cases dependent upon the involvement of interstate commerce in commission of the alleged criminal offenses. Also, federal authorities are usually involved in prosecuting complex cases that are large in scope.
Former Pennsylvania Township Tax Collector Federally Charged
A recent white collar criminal case in Pennsylvania involved a former township tax collector. Melissa Arnold of York, PA was the subject of a Criminal Information filing by a United States attorney. In the filing it is alleged that during 2008 and 2009 Arnold stole in excess of three hundred thousand dollars from tax payments made by the citizens of Spring Garden Township, York County. In Arnold’s case, she is alleged to have received tax payment checks that were made out to her instead of the township. In this way she was able to deposit the checks in her personal account.
Arnold’s case is somewhat unique in terms of the sheer simplicity of the deception. This is usually uncommon in white collar criminal cases. Due to the fact that the means of executing white collar crimes often involve technological sophistication, the FBI and other federal agencies employ significant resources and covert tactics and methods of investigation in such cases.
Why Choose DRK Lawyers to Defend You?
We have decades of combined experience working on both sides of the courtroom. The insight we gained working as prosecutors and the years we have worked side-by-side with defendants gives us comprehensive knowledge of the criminal justice system. We know what it takes to craft a winning defense strategy. Turn to us to put this knowledge to use in the defense of your white collar crimes charges.
