Washington State is unique in the United States for offering both visitors and residents a taste of unspoiled nature thanks to its expansive forests and Pacific Northwest shorelines. It also offers charming small-town or sophisticated urban lifestyles. The result of all this is that the state is a popular destination for many to travel to or even live in and work.
Unfortunately, it is human nature that when large groups of people come together to live in some kind of regulated structure, there will be those who seek to exploit or circumvent the laws put into place. Some may do this out of desperation, such as those who resort to theft or robbery for the sake of food. Others simply find the rules too restrictive and may feel that as long as they are not doing anything openly violent and criminal, ignoring some uptight regulations isn’t the same as committing a “real” crime. It is in this arena that so-called “white collar crimes” are committed, and it’s not uncommon for people in Washington State to face potential criminal charges relating to these activities.
For decades, our lawyers have handled such legal cases all over Washington State, from simple civil infractions to complex financial crime trials. We provide legal representation to cities like Tacoma and the surrounding area. Our team of attorneys has extensive legal experience, helping people resolve the crisis of being charged with a white-collar crime.
No Violence Doesn’t Mean No CrimeA common mistake that many make is the assumption that an act is only considered criminal if violence is involved. While many are aware that an act such as murder or rape should go through the criminal justice system, quite a few believe that a non-violent crime, such as embezzling from a company, is a civil infraction or financial penalty handled by the IRS. This is not the case, and people can get charged under the criminal code for acts even where no one is physically hurt, and no property has been damaged or destroyed. However, due to the special skill set and different types of technical knowledge required, these crimes are colloquially referred to as “white collar” crimes to denote that this is a more administrative or knowledge-based crime.
Because of this, it’s important to understand that legally, there is no formal charge actually written up as a “white-collar crime " in the Washington State legislature. This also doesn’t mean it’s not uncommon. In 2022, there were nearly 23,000 reported financial crimes in Washington State. One of the leading financial crimes in the USA and Washington State is identity theft, but each white-collar crime will be charged by its formal designation. Some of the more common charges are:
Tax FraudOne of the oldest and still most common white-collar crimes is tax fraud, which is an attempt to present falsified taxation information to the government. This also covers an array of different, more specific charges. Tax fraud crimes include tax evasion, the most common reason for tax fraud, where a person attempts to present false information in an attempt to pay less than they legitimately owe, overreporting expenses or reductions to reduce tax amounts, failing to file taxes at all, or not collecting and submitting employment taxes. There are varying degrees of severity for tax fraud, as it can be either a misdemeanor or a felony.
Identity TheftThis is one of the newer crimes, yet it has been growing the fastest due to the rapid pace of technical change. Identity theft is the act of stealing key pieces of credential data to impersonate someone and thus seize control of their financial accounts. Identity theft uses a broad array of different strategies, from sending fake emails that fool people into believing an official institution needs their login credentials or installing “skimmer” devices on gas station payment terminals to read PIN numbers from debit and credit cards used to purchase goods. Identity theft is categorized as a felony.
Money LaunderingThis is often one of the more complex white-collar crimes and involves numerous techniques and strategies. Money laundering is the act of taking illegally obtained funds, such as money stolen from a bank or profits made through drug trafficking and using a series of elaborate financial transactions to enter those funds back into the economy for use again. Common tactics include using such cash to make real estate transactions and then selling the properties or conducting financial transactions through “shell companies.” Money laundering is considered a felony, though civil lawsuits may also be involved depending on the nature of the transactions.
The Legal ConsequencesContrary to what some may have believed, white-collar crimes in Washington State are generally viewed as just that: crimes. They carry criminal penalties, with the lightest being a misdemeanor, while the more severe are various classes of felony. For people charged with some type of white-collar crime, this can mean imprisonment, fines, or both.
The maximum penalties for people convicted of a gross misdemeanor, the least severe charge, and prison sentences are a maximum of one year, with a top limit of $5000 in additional fines. Class C felony convictions carry up to a five-year jail sentence and a $10,000 fine. A Class B felony conviction has up to ten years in prison with a $20,000 fine. Finally, Class A felonies, such as those in severe cases of money laundering, carry a maximum of a life sentence, with a $50,000 fine. On top of this are potential civil lawsuits for certain crimes.
We’re Ready To HelpWe believe there’s no such thing as a white-collar criminal charge that can’t be challenged. Our lawyers have been fighting white-collar criminal charges in Western Washington and the rest of Washington State for over 20 years. If you or someone you know is facing white-collar crime charges, an experienced attorney may be able to turn the tide. Our Tacoma white-collar crime lawyers are experienced, diligent lawyers who may be able to mitigate the worst outcomes or even get cases dismissed.
Our Tacoma White Collar Criminal Attorneys Will Help You Protect Your ReputationBeing charged with a white collar crime in Tacoma can cause lasting damage to your reputation, and incur serious repercussions that dramatically affect your life. A conviction could make it hard for you to keep your job, which would place a significant financial burden on your family. There are occasions when a person commits a white collar crime unknowingly, but many different circumstances could incur charges for this offense.
At the Law Office of Jason S. Newcombe, our team of Tacoma white collar criminal lawyers knows how devastating a conviction can be. You worked hard to earn the trust and support of your peers, so it makes sense to defend your reputation with help from an attorney who can offer you professionalism, dedication, and discretion.
There are numerous Tacoma white collar crimes that include racketeering, regulatory violations, extortion, forgery, bribery, mortgage fraud, and securities fraud, just to name a handful. A conviction for any of these crimes will result in penalties that could lead to expensive fines, time in prison, and irreversible damage to your character.
White collar crime cases are never simple, and often require our attorneys to perform a thorough investigation of the details. If you're part of a grand jury investigation, our lawyers will first seek to avoid an indictment, but if formal charges are ultimately filed, we will aggressively pursue all legal avenues in an effort to resolve your case favorably.
These complicated cases require knowledge of the law, experience handling white collar crime cases, and commitment to the client's needs. Our law team is ready to help you build an aggressive defense, based upon our more than 30 years of collective Washington legal experience.
Get A Private Consultation With One Of Our Tacoma White Collar Criminal LawyersHandling white collar crime cases requires discretion on the part of your Washington lawyer. Our Tacoma white collar criminal attorneys understand how damaging these charges can be, so we strive to have the case dismissed. If this proves impossible, we will work diligently to keep you from serving prison time and seek to minimize any other possible punishments.
Preparing your case will take time, because Tacoma white collar crimes often require substantial legwork. Don't delay scheduling your consultation with one of our lawyer. Your attorney will help you put these unfortunate events in your past as quickly as possible, but they need time to thoroughly review all of the details.
Your private and confidential consultation will also start putting your mind at ease. Our white collar crime litigators represent business owners, managers, companies, private businesses, and corporate executives. No case is too small or big, so take steps today and prevent a white collar crime conviction from ruining your hard-earned reputation.