White-collar crime allegations, including those about fraud and embezzlement, can wreak havoc on your life. They might cause you to lose your job and your standing in the community, and they can threaten you with an extensive amount of time in prison should you end up convicted. Although those realities can be incredibly stressful, you should find some relief in the fact that criminal defense options are available to you. Picking the defense strategy that’s right for you To choose the right defense strategy, you have to know your options and how they apply to your set of circumstances. This is ..read more

What do professionals in the loan transaction chain, house flippers and potential homeowners all have in common? All could engage in acts of fraud. Sometimes, in an effort to maximize our own profits or qualify for a mortgage for our dream home, we engage in acts that could be considered mortgage fraud. What is mortgage fraud? Fraud in general involves deception on some level via the misrepresentation of facts or figures. Mortgage fraud involves deception relating to property being sold or a mortgage applied for. The victims of mortgage fraud can be underwriters or lenders who give out a loan ..read more

Under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1341, it is unlawful to use the U.S. postal service, or private mail carriers (e.g., UPS or FedEx), to facilitate a crime or send or receive anything related to a crime. Even if mail fraud is just one small part of a much bigger crime, you could still face up to 20 years in federal prison and up to $1 million in fines for mail fraud alone. These penalties will likely be added on to any penalties you may face for the bigger crime committed (e.g., tax fraud or other forms of financial fraud). Prosecutors will have to prove two main elements when establishing mail fraud: The ..read more

Recently, a business relationship manager at a financial company in Manhattan has been allegedly committing financial fraud and embezzlement to rob his former clients of their money from within their accounts. The FBI and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York charged him. Allegedly, the financial employee abused his position and took advantage of access to his clients’ accounts to steal more than 2 million dollars. From the perspective of the authorities, not only was it important to stop the alleged criminal from continuing his activities but it also represented a chance to make ..read more

Most of us dutifully submit our federal income tax returns on time and fill them out to the best of our ability. While a few people may try to cheat the system, most of us certainly do not intend to do so. But what if after filing your return you realize you made an honest mistake. If so, will you be charged with tax fraud? What is tax fraud? Tax fraud exists when there is an obligation to pay taxes and an intent to defraud. For example, a person commits tax fraud when they purposely lie or omit information on their tax return so they can claim deductions or credits they are not otherwise enti ..read more

When we think of hostage scenarios, most of us conjure up the image of a person being abducted. Then the abductors send the person’s loved ones a sketchy note or phone call requesting money with the threat of harming the abductee if they do not get it. However, ransom crimes have entered the digital age. These days, it is possible for a person to use technology referred to as “ransomware” to commit a financial crime that is in some ways similar to traditional hostage scenarios. Ransomware crimes Ransomware is a type of computer software. It is used to hold another person’s computer “hostage” b ..read more

The term “white collar crime” can cover many different types of alleged criminal activity. Tax evasion, embezzlement, fraud and even extortion could all be considered different types of white-collar crimes. The complexity level of these different types of crimes can vary, but there is perhaps no more complex white-collar crime than money laundering. So, what is “money laundering”? This term is itself a type of umbrella term, which generally refers to taking money that has been obtained through illicit means and putting it through financial systems in such a way that the funds can be returned ..read more

White collar crime allegations such as those pertaining to fraud can threaten your future and your freedom. If you’re convicted of one of these offenses, then you could end up facing significant prison time as well as financial restitution that can devastate your financial standing for years, perhaps even decades, to come. With so much on the line, it’s imperative that you know how to appropriately defend yourself. If you’re not active and thorough in developing your criminal defense, then you could miss out on opportunities, thereby leaving you susceptible to the harsh penalties sought by pro ..read more

If you are in a business in which people trust you with their money, you need to understand that you could be charged with financial fraud. This is not to say that you actually did anything wrong, just that you could face financial fraud charges. As such, it is important to know what qualifies as fraud. Financial fraud generally Financial fraud occurs anytime someone deprives another of money or property through fraudulent, misleading, deceptive or some other illegal practice. This can be done by someone in a trusted position, but it could also be done through identity theft. Identity theft Of ..read more

Financial crimes are not just plots in movies or television series. When residents in New York City and elsewhere are accused of financial crimes, they should take it seriously. Much like Hollywood depicts them, these crimes can have significant criminal consequences. Only a strong defense strategy can help reduce the penalties or dismiss them altogether. Understanding wire fraud In today’s society, electronic communication is part of daily life. Just as we use the Internet and other electronic systems to share messages for work and leisure, some people use these systems in attempts to defraud ..read more