Los Angeles Bribery Defense Attorney

Any effort to corruptly influence the decision, opinion, or judgment of somebody else is considered bribery. The conviction of bribery could result in significant penalties, including time in prison or jail, as well as significant fines. At Okabe & Haushalter, we are standing by to help if you need a Los Angeles bribery attorney. Our team has extensive history handling this type of white collar crime, and we can use our resources to fully investigate the charges and evidence against you. Our goal is to win your case by getting the charges against you reduced or dismissed altogether.

Bribery Criminal Charges And Penalties

Under the Penal Code § 641.3(a), any employee who solicits, accepts or agrees to accept money or anything of value from another individual other than his or her employer, other than in trust for the employer, corruptly and without the knowledge or consent of the employer in return for using or agreeing to use his or her position to benefit the other individual and any individual who offers or gives an employee anything of value, such as money, under those circumstances, is guilty of bribery.

(b) This section does not apply where the amount of the money or monetary worth of the thing of value is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.

Overview Of Bribery Laws In Los Angeles

Under the law in California, bribery occurs when an individual offers something of value to another person with the intention of influencing their decisions or actions. Both the person giving the bribe and receiving the bribe could be charged with a bribery offense in Los Angeles. In general, most bribes are related to changing or altering the decisions of a public official. Bribes do not have to be in the form of money. They can also be forms of promises or other types of gifts. Additionally, a written agreement is not required to prove that the crime of bribery has occurred in LA.

In order to prove bribery in Los Angeles, prosecutors need to prove the following elements:

Value. A prosecutor needs to show that you gave or received something of value, which can include money, gifts, or the promise of altering a decision.
Corrupt intent. It needs to be shown that a person giving or receiving a bribe had a wrongful intention in their actions. The prosecutor needs to show evidence or witnesses to prove that you had corrupt intent, or the charges of bribery will not apply.
An official matter. California bribery laws do not require a specific instance of a bribe in order for a conviction. So long as you gave or received a bribe intending to alter an official decision, you could be convicted of bribery.

Types Of Bribery Charges In Los Angeles

There are various types of bribery charges that can be applied in Los Angeles. At Okabe & Haushalter, we are prepared to defend you with any of the following:

California Penal Code Section 641.3 – Commercial Bribery
California Penal Code 137 and 138 – Bribery by or of Witnesses
California Penal Code 92 and 93 Pc – Bribery of Judicial Officers and Jurors
California Penal Code 86 –Bribery by Legislators
Penal Code 85 PC of California – Bribery of Legislators
Bribery of or by Executive Officer and Public Employees
Bribery of or by Supervisors and Public Corporations – Penal Code 165 pc

If you have any questions about the above charges, please contact our attorneys for assistance with your case immediately.

Penalties Of Bribery In Los Angeles

If you are caught guilty of bribery, you may be at risk to face maximum penalties such as:

Imprisonment in a county jail for up to a year if the bribe is $1,000 or less
Imprisonment in county jail or state prison for up to 3 years if the bribe exceeds $1,000

Being charged with any type of criminal offense can be devastating to an individual, a family and a community at large. Without the assistance of a seasoned and aggressive Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, you may find yourself facing the named penalties for committing bribery.

Possible Defenses For A Los Angeles Bribery Charge

There are various defenses that our Los Angeles bribery attorneys could use to help with your case. This could include, but is not limited to, showing that:

There was a lack of intent to commit a crime in the 1st place
That a mistake has been made
That you were intoxicated at the time of the alleged offense
That you were coerced into making or receiving a bribe
That you were entrapped by law enforcement
That you were wrongfully accused

Consult With A Criminal Defense Attorney In Los Angeles Today!

Even if you are innocent, the prosecutor will work tirelessly until he or she finds incriminating evidence against you and present it to a jury. Anything you may have said at the time of the arrest or any suspicious behavior observed while under investigation could act as ammunition against you in a court of law.

Don’t leave your future without a safeguard – call us today! The legal team at Okabe & Haushalter has been there for dozens of people undergoing bribery charges and even secured minimum sentencing in the largest public official bribery case in U.S. history. With the help of a creative criminal defense lawyer at your side, you may find yourself free of consequences.

Contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney from Okabe & Haushalter if you or someone you know has charges of bribery against them.

Los Angeles Bribery Defense Lawyer