White Collar Crimes in Redmond

What do you think of when you hear the term white-collar crime? These crimes might feel lightyears away from other offenses, but their impact can be just as severe in many cases.

White-collar crimes are considered non-violent and are instead financially motivated offenses typically committed by people who hold a position of trust or authority—think corporate executives, government officials, and other professionals. Usually, the perpetrator has some kind of power or access to sensitive information, and they use their knowledge and resources to exploit the system for their personal gain.

A few examples of white-collar crimes include fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, money laundering, and bribery. Again, there’s no physical violence involved in these crimes, but they cause significant financial harm to businesses, individuals, and even entire economies. These crimes are very sophisticated, making them even more of a challenge to detect and prosecute. Each case requires a complex and in-depth investigation and expert knowledge.

If you are being accused of white-collar crimes in Redmond, you must understand the severity of the charges before you dive head into your defense. Convictions for these crimes can range from heavy fines and restitution to long-term prison sentences. Remember when Martha Stewart was plastered on every television screen and newspaper?

She was convicted of white-collar crimes that included obstruction of justice, conspiracy, lying to investigators, and insider trading, was found guilty of her crimes, and was sentenced to five months in prison, five months of house arrest, and two years of probation.

White-collar crime charges can result in long-term damage to your reputation, which can make it harder to rebuild trust with your past clients, employers, or the community. While being accused of these crimes doesn’t automatically mean you are guilty from the get-go, it is still important to respond with legal guidance.

Here’s a closer look at Washington state white-collar crimes:

• Fraud, which involves deceptive practices to secure unfair or unlawful financial gain
• Embezzlement, which is the misappropriation of funds that were entrusted to your care
• Tax evasion, the illegal act of intentionally avoiding paying your taxes

RCW 19.86.020 and the Washington Consumer Protection Act can be used in cases where deceptive business practices are involved in white-collar crimes. The state can take action against a business or individual who engages in unfair or deceptive trade practices like false advertising, misrepresentation of products or services, or other fraudulent financial schemes. The penalties can include fines and restitution to the victims.

In addition to these, we should also touch on federal white-collar crimes:

• Mail fraud is a scheme used to defraud people or organizations using the mail system.
• Similar to mail fraud, wire fraud targets wire communications like the phone and internet to commit fraud.
• Insider trading is the illegal trading of securities based on confidential, non-public information.
• Money laundering is the process of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, usually through transfers that involve foreign banks or legitimate businesses.
• Identity theft and fraud is when someone else’s identity is used for fraudulent purposes, including credit card fraud.
• Securities fraud is any activity related to securities trading, including insider trading or manipulating stock prices for financial gain.

White-collar crimes are taken seriously in Redmond, and the penalties depend on the severity of each offense. Here is a breakdown of those penalties:

• Misdemeanors: Up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000
• Gross Misdemeanors: Up to 364 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000
• Class C Felonies: Up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000
• Class B Felonies: Up to ten years in prison and/or a fine of up to $20,000

All of these penalties are clearly outlined in RCW 9A.20.021. In addition to these criminal penalties, you may be ordered to pay restitution, meaning you must pay back the financial losses incurred due to your crimes. Washington allows judges to order restitution in cases that involve fraud, embezzlement, and similar financial crimes.

Redmond can thank its dynamic economy in part to its growing and thriving tech industry. Did you know it is home to major tech companies like Microsoft and Nintendo of America? The city currently has a population of over 80,000 and has become a hub for professionals in high-paying positions.

In Redmond, those accused of white-collar crimes often face scrutiny from local and federal authorities. These crimes can cross state lines and typically involve large sums of money. The prosperity in Redmond has led to an increase in white-collar crimes, with even more incidents of fraud, embezzlement, and insider trading than ever before.

When you are facing white-collar charges in Redmond, you need a good defense attorney who can protect your rights and ensure that you receive a fair trial. Our attorneys are skilled when it comes to the ins and outs of white-collar crimes in Washington and can provide you with advice on how to proceed. We can also negotiate plea deals and mount a strong defense in court.

An experienced attorney also provides you with invaluable support in the investigative phase, guides you through the questioning, and ensures that the prosecution doesn’t misconstrue any of the statements you make. We understand the importance of gathering evidence, consulting financial experts, and looking closely at any digital or paper trails.

Our team believes every white-collar crime charge can be defended with the right strategies. If you are facing these charges, you don’t have to do it alone. We can explore all the legal avenues available to you while negotiating for a reduction in the charges and doing everything in our power to achieve a more favorable outcome.

Business people and professionals can be charged with white collar crimes, even though they didn't know they were breaking the law. A white collar crime conviction could land you in jail and cause serious damage to your personal reputation, so it makes sense to have a qualified lawyer defending your legal interests.

Crimes that qualify as "white collar" include such offenses as mail fraud, tax fraud, internet fraud, insurance fraud, and wire fraud, among others. The Redmond white collar criminal lawyers at the Law Office of Jason S. Newcombe have seen firsthand how a conviction can derail a professional's life. Earning the trust and respect of your peers takes hard work and dedication, so protect your reputation with help from our team of experienced Washington lawyers.

Some of the other more common white collar crimes committed in Redmond include extortion, forgery, bribery, racketeering, regulatory violations, and securities fraud. If someone purchases a home from another party who is losing it to foreclosure, and then rents it back to them, they can be charged with a serious crime. While they may think that they're conducting a legal business transaction, the government calls this practice equity-skimming, and it's against the law. Even if they are unaware that they were breaking the law, a conviction will incur punishments that could be life-altering.

If you are facing formal grand jury charges, your attorney will pursue any legal means to resolve your case favorably and discreetly. We may want to ask you some questions as we build your defense:

• Did you commit the crime or was it somebody else?
• Are you innocent of the charges?
• Were your actions legal?
• Did you commit the offense to the level at which you're accused?

With more than 30 years of combined legal experience handling complicated white collar criminal cases, we understand the value of experience when it comes to the law. If you are without a criminal record, we may be able to pursue a diversion program. If the program is successful you won't incur a criminal record, which is obviously a favorable outcome.

Our Redmond white collar criminal attorneys understand that your reputation is important. You also want to stay out of jail, and minimize the punishments associated with your charges in whatever way is possible. Preparing any white collar case takes time and effort, because an independent investigation is usually necessary.

Our white collar crime lawyers offer a free consultation to corporate executives, companies, private businesses, managers, and business owners. We treat all of these cases with the confidentiality and discretion they command, so contact our law office today and take steps to protect your freedom and professional reputation.