San Antonio White Collar Crime Lawyers
White Collar Crime
The proliferation of white collar crime investigations and prosecutions continues
on both the federal and state sides of the criminal law. These cases vary from complex
international transactions to simple local allegations of theft.
When a white collar client seeks legal representation, the Government has
probably been investigating for months, if not years. It is critical that defense counsel
catch up as quickly as possible by using all available means to investigate the allegations
of wrongdoing. This type of investigation will entail obtaining the names of other “white
collar” participants, following the money trail, and hiring forensic experts, such as
accountants and appraisers.
The Government’s evidence in almost every white collar
case will be document intensive. Defense counsel must obtain all documents
pertinent to the transactions at issue. Pre-indictment is more challenging,
but every effort should be made to obtain them at this stage. Once
the documents are secured they must be carefully studied for inconsistencies
and exculpatory materials. The documents should be reviewed multiple
times during the investigative phase, and again at the trial phase.
The document process should enable a white collar crime lawyer
and his client to identify all witnesses and participants that are
involved in the criminal investigation. Defense counsel cannot compel
these interviews (unlike the Government which possesses the grand
jury subpoena power in criminal investigations), so there are obvious
challenges with this process, but vigorous representation will often
yield results in this area.
The white collar investigation initiated by the Government almost always follows
the money- where did it go, who did it go to, and how much was it. It is very important
to understand the flow of the proceeds to evaluate potential culpability and the types of
potential white collar charges such as bribery, false statements, money laundering,
mortgage fraud and bank fraud.
Each case in the white collar area is unique; some involve possible
political motivation and concern high-profile individuals. Others
are less publicly charged, but are complex nonetheless done to the
type of allegations and the amounts of money that may be involved.
The key to exoneration in all of theses cases is through investigation
and preparation, through the gathering of documents, statements,
and appropriate experts.
Contact Kevin Collins
when you need a white collar crime lawyer in the San Antonio area.
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