Being accused of a crime is not something reserved for violent offenders or masked villains in the night. People charged with so-called “white collar crimes” are something our firm encounters regularly, and these individuals are, more often than not, just average people who found themselves in an unfortunate situation. White collar crimes are glamorized by the movies and the media, but the truth is that virtually anyone could be charged with a white collar crime. We urge you to speak to a white collar crime attorney at Okabe and Haushalter to find out more about your rights as someone accused of a crime.
White collar crimes are as varied as the people who are charged with them, and we are confident that we can handle any white collar crime case. Here are some examples of white collar crimes that our lawyers are capable of helping defend in court:
In the state of California, most white collar crimes are prosecuted according to the amount of money that was involved in the alleged crime. This means that the cases are treated as a type of theft, so prosecution and penalties are in accordance with the type of theft allegedly involved. If the case is treated as a petit theft case (involving funds totaling less than 950 dollars), it will likely be charged as a misdemeanor for a first-time offense. However, repeat offenders or people whose alleged offense involved funds totaling more than 950 dollars will likely be charged with grand theft, which can be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances of the crime itself. Some white collar crimes that break federal laws (such as wire fraud) could also be prosecuted as federal offenses, which often involve stiffer penalties than crimes that only break state laws. Our attorneys can help you fight any of these types of charges in court.
If someone is charged with defrauding an insurance company out of 50,000 dollars, their case will be treated as a grand theft case and will be considered a felony under California Penal Code Section 548. The penalty for people convicted of this crime is up to five years in a state penal institution and a fine of up to 50,000 dollars.
If someone is charged with embezzlement because they are alleged to have slipped money from the cash register they were entrusted with and the amount of cash funneled for personal gain was 200 dollars, this person will likely be charged with a misdemeanor and their cases treated as a petit theft case. Potential penalties under California Penal Code Section 484 include up to a half-year in jail and a fine of up to 1,000 dollars.
Anyone who has been charged with committing one of these offenses could benefit from speaking to a white collar crime attorney in El Segundo. At Okabe and Haushalter, we promise our clients nothing less than courtroom excellence when we take on their case, and we will fight for you in court. We can handle misdemeanors, felonies, and federal offenses, and will negotiate plea agreements if appropriate, possibly leading to reduced charges and reduced penalties if convicted. We offer cost-free assessments, so call or click today to find out how Okabe and Haushalter can help you.
