White Collar Criminal Defense

Helping Clients Defeat Their Charges

If you or a loved one is facing an Atlanta white-collar criminal charge, you may wonder what this means for your future. White-collar crimes include money laundering, fraud, insider trading, and tax evasion. These crimes are usually not violent and may occur when a person in a position of power abuses that power to obtain an unfair advantage or monetary gain.

A white-collar crime conviction can be devastating beyond the sentencing of jail time and heavy fines. Individuals convicted of white-collar crimes may have their entire futures wiped out because they lose their professional licensing, making them unable to practice in the field of their choice. A conviction on the criminal record can also have catastrophic results, as potential employers may not hire them because of their criminal history.

However, there is hope when you hire Atlanta, GA white-collar criminal defense attorneys like those at Mones Law P.C. Your lawyer will investigate what happened to provide evidence that you are not guilty or that your rights were violated during the police investigation. A good white-collar defense lawyer can help get your charges lowered or even dropped.

Please don’t feel that you have to face your white-collar charges alone. Contact our team of white-collar crime attorneys immediately for help navigating this complex legal issue. We can help you create a strong defense that gets you the favorable outcome you’re looking for. We will also ensure your rights are respected throughout the legal proceedings. Call 678-616-2647 today to schedule your complimentary 60-minute consultation and discuss your needs with our caring, capable legal team.

How Are White Collar Crimes Defined in Georgia?

White-collar crimes are usually categorized as non-violent crimes involving illegal financial gain. White-collar offenses may not involve physical force, but they can result in severe financial damages for the victims. These crimes are met with hefty penalties, including prison sentences, repayment, and a criminal record that can haunt the perpetrator for years to come.

Depending on the nature of the crime, a white-collar offense may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. These crimes may be carried out by individuals, business entities, government officials, or other professionals.

Some examples of common white-collar crimes in Atlanta, GA, include:

Identity theft
Embezzlement
Ponzi schemes
Wire fraud
Antitrust violations
Money laundering
Bankruptcy fraud
Credit card fraud
Healthcare fraud matters
Securities fraud
Bank fraud
Mail fraud
Tax evasion
Other forms of fraud

The potential penalties for a conviction can be severe. If you or your company is facing white-collar crime charges, please contact experienced attorneys immediately. White-collar criminal matters can mean jail time, thousands of dollars in fines, and the end of your business. Don’t risk fighting your charges alone or with an inexperienced lawyer. Call Mones Law P.C. today.

Why Do I Need an Attorney to Fight My White Collar Crime Charges?

Many Atlanta, GA, white-collar crime investigations are handled by federal agencies, making fighting the charges overwhelming and confusing. Government investigations should be handled by experienced trial and commercial litigation lawyers dedicated to winning for their clients. If your business has received a subpoena in grand jury investigations, was presented with a search and seizure warrant, or is under any other government or regulatory investigations, you should hire white-collar lawyers immediately.

Your lawyer can help by:

Investigating the claim to counteract the government’s evidence against you
Ensuring federal prosecutors respect your constitutional rights
Advising you on how to respond during internal investigations to avoid accidental self-incrimination
Offering advice on how to fight white-collar criminal charges, including helping you develop a strong, accurate defense
Representing you aggressively in pretrial negotiations
Arguing your case before the federal courts during litigation proceedings
Identifying cases where your rights were violated, which can result in lower sentencing or dropping of all charges

A white-collar crimes attorney is essential to fighting allegations of white-collar criminal offenses. Whether you are facing criminal or civil investigations, you need a law firm you can trust to get you the results you need. Our trial lawyers represent individual and corporate clients with skill and dedication. Our aggressive attorneys are routinely called upon to handle these complex cases, giving us the experience and resources to fight for you. Call now to learn how we can help you avoid the severe penalties of a white-collar crime conviction.

What Is Embezzlement?

Embezzlement is also known as “conversion” in Atlanta, GA. Embezzlement is often associated with taking a company’s funds for personal use. However, illegally taking non-monetary property or using the property for a purpose not authorized may also be considered embezzlement.

For an action to be charged as embezzlement, the following must be true:

The accused lawfully controlled another person’s money or non-monetary property.
The property was held under an agreement to be used for a specific use.
The defendant knowingly violated the agreement by using the funds or property for a use not permitted in the agreement.

An embezzlement conviction could result in jail time, fines of up to $100,000, years in prison, and a criminal record that could negatively impact the person’s employment and social life. Reach out to our white-collar crime attorneys for help defeating your embezzlement charges and clearing your name.

How Are Pyramid or Ponzi Schemes Charged in Atlanta, GA?

Pyramid and Ponzi schemes are similar tactics that fraudulently obtain money from unsuspecting investors. Both are considered illegal in Georgia and can result in criminal charges. In a pyramid scheme, investors appear to make money because lower-level investors recruit more victims who pay to be a part of the “company.” Ponzi schemes involve asking participants to invest by promising an unusually high return, then paying current investors with new investors’ money.

Each of these unscrupulous tactics is fraudulent and may result in misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the unique circumstances of the case. A conviction can result in years in prison, thousands of dollars in fines, loss of professional and business licenses, tarnished reputations, and freezing of business assets. Contact our attorneys for the best chances of avoiding the hefty penalties of white-collar convictions.

What Is Tax Evasion/Tax Fraud?

Defining tax evasion is simple enough: anyone who attempts to deceive the IRS to avoid paying taxes may be charged with tax fraud. Some examples of tactics that may be considered tax fraud include:

Filing a tax return, report, or refund claim with information the filer knows to be false
Intentionally omitting any information or facts that would otherwise affect their taxation rate
Evading taxes by scheming, deceiving, or tricking the IRS

It is important to remember that mistakes during tax filing do not constitute fraud. The individual must have knowingly and purposefully omitted or changed part of their tax return to be convicted of tax evasion. Our legal team can help if you are accused of tax fraud. Call now for a free consultation.

What Are the Penalties for White Collar Crimes in Atlanta, GA?

Just as there is a broad range of white-collar crimes punishable by law, the penalties also come in various forms and levels of severity. For example, some actions involve little money or are a first offense. These individuals may be charged with misdemeanors and face a short time in jail or a small fine. Other instances involve repeat offenders or companies managing huge financial accounts. In these cases, the federal government could get involved, and those convicted could face felony charges, years in prison, and fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Some examples of maximum penalties for a few common white-collar crimes include:

Embezzlement – An embezzlement conviction could be as little as one year in jail or $1,000 in fines or may lead to 1-20 years in prison.
Identity theft – The maximum punishment for identity theft is 15 years in prison.
Money laundering – Those accused of money laundering could face sentencing of up to 20 years in prison and up to $1,000 in fines depending on the amount of money laundered.

Please remember that the consequences of a criminal conviction do not end when the person walks out of jail or pays their fine. A conviction on your criminal record can impair your ability to work and live your life as you wish. Many convicts face social stigma and experience family problems, even after they’ve been released from prison. Even a non-violent white-collar crime can cause financial devastation for you and your family.

Call our highly-trained attorneys to protect your rights during government investigations and ensure you get the future you deserve. You can reach us at 678-616-2647 to schedule a free 60-minute consultation.

What Defenses Can Help Get Me Avoid Conviction or Get My Sentencing Lowered in Atlanta, GA?

Having the proper defense can mean your charges get reduced or thrown out altogether. An excellent criminal defense attorney with extensive experience can help during enforcement proceedings by structuring a defense that matches what happened during the incident and gets you the most favorable outcome possible. Whether you are facing charges under the False Claims Act, with the IRS, the Environmental Protection Agency, or another legal entity, there are ways to defeat your charges.

Our Atlanta, GA white collar crimes attorney can develop a strategy that overcomes your charges, including:

Lack of evidence – If the prosecution’s evidence is incomplete or inadmissible, this can lead to dismissal or lowered sentence.
Lack of intent – Proving that you did not knowingly or purposefully commit a white-collar crime is another powerful defense strategy.
Entrapment – Another white-collar defense involves proving law enforcement persuaded you to commit a crime.
Acting under duress – If you were coerced into committing a crime because of the threat of harm, your charges may be reduced or dismissed.

Our lawyers have substantial experience fighting white-collar crimes, making us your ideal allies in cases arising in Atlanta, GA. Call now for the representation you deserve at this critical time.

What Makes Your Criminal Defense Law Firm Different?

Unlike many law firms in Atlanta, GA, our team of attorneys does not shy away from a challenge. We represent our clients on the federal level, which is often necessary when dealing with white-collar crimes. We have extensive experience handling bank fraud, tax fraud, mail and wire fraud, health care fraud, antitrust crimes, and more.

We understand the importance of protecting trade secrets on behalf of our clients and will use discretion when handling internal investigations. If the government attempts to pursue charges, we will fight valiantly both in and out of the courtroom. We help our clients understand when to enter a plea agreement and when to take the matter to court. Reach out to our team of lawyers right away to learn more about how we can help you.

Should You Hire Our White Collar Criminal Defense Attorneys?

Facing any criminal charge can be frightening and discouraging. However, you do not have to just take whatever sentence the judge hands out. You can fight your charges with the help of our skilled team of attorneys. We use aggressive methods that give our clients favorable outcomes time and time again.

Hiring our law firm leads to other benefits, including excellent counsel based on decades of experience. We help our clients navigate the internal investigation period, including complex securities fraud investigations. We can help you answer investigators’ questions to avoid self-incrimination and protect yourself and your company.

When you face investigations for white-collar criminal matters, you need a white-collar criminal defense firm you can trust. Turn to our attorneys for advice and representation you can count on when it matters most. Don’t take the chance of hiring an inexperienced lawyer when the stakes are so high. Call Mones Law P.C. for skilled attorneys with a proven record of success and will fight for you both in and out of court. Call today at 678-616-2647 for your free 60-minute consultation!

White Collar Criminal Defense Attorneys in Atlanta, GA