When people think of white collar crime, they tend to think of blockbuster scandals like those involving Enron, Bernie Madoff, and Volkswagen. Their crimes were egregious, but there is often a much thinner line between bad business practices and white collar criminal activity. As regulations at the local, state, and federal levels increase, business owners in places like Berks County are subject to a complicated set of risks and penalties from all sides.
Common types of white collar crime include:
- Wage Theft
- Fraud (Securities, Mortgage, Insurance)
- Bribery
- Ponzi Schemes
- Insider Trading
- Embezzlement
- Cybercrime
- Money Laundering
- Copyright Infringement
White Collar Criminal Defense in Berks County
If you are contacted by state or local law enforcement about your business practices, it’s important to enlist strong legal representation as soon as possible. Even though white collar crimes are typically nonviolent, they can still result in harsh punishments, including massive fines and even imprisonment. Aside from legal consequences, convictions can severely damage your professional reputation and the public’s trust in your business. The very viability of your company could be at stake.
If you’re facing an investigation or have been charged, call the white collar crime lawyers at M&R. We are experienced former prosecutors who oversaw fraud investigations at the state and local levels in Pennsylvania. We will mount an aggressive defense on your behalf and can help guide you through the criminal system from the investigatory stages forward.
Our attorneys have deep experience evaluating the evidence and the strength of financial fraud cases. If there are weaknesses the charges against you, rest assured we will find and exploit them.
Often the Government’s first priority is restoring money to people affected by crimes and bad business practices. If you act quickly, you may be able to reach an acceptable settlement that eliminates the need for a lengthy and embarrassing legal process. We can also counsel you on business practices that you can change in order to prevent these types of issues down the road.