Were You Accused of a White Collar Crime in Texas?

Although white collar crimes are not often associated with violence, dangerous substances, or other serious criminal activities, white collar crime charges can still completely disrupt your life and take away your freedom if you don’t fight them.

When your future is jeopardized by a pending white collar crime charge, trust Cofer & Connelly, PLLC in Austin, Texas, to defend you. We know the severity of the consequences if you are convicted, so we are ready to do all we can to fight the charges on your behalf.

People choose our firm for defense against serious charges because:

• We have more than 100 years of combined legal experience.
• We have handled more than 25,000 criminal and family law cases.
• We have taken more than 300 cases total to jury trials.
• We are proud of our Texas roots and know local courthouses, judges, laws, etc.

Our mission is to secure victory in your white collar crimes case. See what we can do for you by calling our Austin white collar crimes lawyer at (512) 991-0576 and arranging an initial consultation.

What Are White Collar Crimes?

In the law, “white collar crimes” usually refer to non-violent criminal offenses that are typically committed in business or professional settings and involve deceit, breach of trust, or concealment rather than force or violence. Financial gain is considered the primary motivation of white collar crime offenders.

Common types of white collar crimes:

• Bribery
• Embezzlement
• Extortion
• Forgery
• Identify Theft
• Insider Trading
• Insurance Fraud
• Larceny

Why You Need Serious Defense for White Collar Offenses

Despite their non-violent nature, white collar crimes are taken just as seriously as other crime categories by prosecutors due to their potential to cause significant financial harm to individuals, corporations, and the economy at large. If you have been accused of a white collar crime, you should act immediately to start defending yourself because the prosecution is likely already building a case against you.

Powerful organizations that might work together to investigate, charge, and prosecute you for a white collar crime include:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• U.S. Treasury Department Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
• Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division
• And others

With such powerful opponents looking to put you behind bars and possibly take your company or corporation down, too, you should act right now in your defense. Get the Austin white collar crime lawyers of Cofer & Connelly, PLLC in your corner and stand up for your rights.

Our Strategy for Defending White Collar Crimes in Austin

Our white collar crime defense attorneys in Austin have an intricate understanding of the challenges often involved in these types of cases. Let us use our resources, knowledge, and experience to unravel the charges brought against you and look for the right defense strategy to counter them. From the start, our goal will be to secure a not-guilty verdict or case dismissal, or otherwise maintain your innocence despite the efforts of the prosecution and government.

Three types of white collar crime cases we handle the most often are:

• Tax fraud: Tax fraud involves intentional wrongdoing to evade tax laws or defraud tax authorities. It can take many forms, such as underreporting income, inflating deductions, or hiding money and assets. We have a wealth of experience in defending clients accused of tax fraud, leveraging our extensive knowledge of tax laws and regulations to build strong defense strategies.
• Tax evasion: Tax evasion is a specific type of tax fraud that involves willfully avoiding paying taxes owed to the government, such as not declaring all income, claiming expenses not incurred, or not filing tax returns at all.
• Embezzlement: Embezzlement is a type of financial fraud that occurs when someone who was entrusted with managing someone else’s money or property steals it for personal gain. This white collar crime requires a fiduciary relationship between the two parties, meaning that the defendant had been entrusted with the assets they are accused of taking. By finding discrepancies or weaknesses in arguments, we might be able to scrutinize the evidence presented in your embezzlement cases.

What Are the Penalties for a White Collar Crime?

White collar crimes, despite their non-violent nature, are taken very seriously in Texas and can lead to severe penalties upon conviction. The potential penalties can be life-altering, making it crucial to fight white collar crime charges vigorously with the help of experienced legal counsel from our law firm. Penalties can be imposed at both the state and federal level, depending on the nature of the crime, too, but we know how to challenge charges and accusations from all agencies.

If you are convicted of a white collar crime, you could be penalized with:

• Imprisonment: One of the most severe penalties for white collar crimes is imprisonment. Depending on the severity of the crime, sentences could range from a few months to several years in jail. In some cases, especially for federal crimes, convicted individuals may face decades of imprisonment.
• Fines: Both state and federal courts can impose hefty fines for white collar crimes. The amount of the fine usually corresponds to the magnitude of financial loss resulting from the crime. In some cases, fines can reach millions of dollars.
• Business losses: A conviction can result in significant business losses if the crime was related to your company or corporation and implications that go beyond your personal actions. Such losses might include lost contracts, revoked licenses, or the inability to participate in certain industries. In addition, businesses may be required to pay restitution to victims in some cases, further exacerbating financial losses.
• Destroyed professional reputation: A white collar crime conviction can significantly tarnish your professional reputation. For professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants, a conviction could lead to disbarment or loss of professional licensure. If your career depends on your reputation, even just partially, you should make every effort to fight a white collar crime charge.

Prepare Your Defense with Our Help – Call Now

At Cofer & Connelly, PLLC, we are dedicated to providing our clients from all professional industries and corporations with the high-quality representation they require when accused of a white collar crime. Our firm places utmost importance on maintaining attorney-client confidentiality, ensuring that your case is handled with the discretion it deserves. With us by your side, you can confidently face your charges, knowing that your rights and interests are being fiercely protected by our Austin white collar crime attorneys. 

Stand up against serious criminal charges. Call (512) 991-0576 or contact us online now.