Is white-collar crime a misdemeanor or a felony offense in Florida?

Designating a crime as a white-collar violation doesn’t mean it isn’t serious. Depending on the specific allegations against you, you could be charged with a less serious misdemeanor or a more serious felony offense in state-level courts in Florida. Most white-collar violations filed in federal court are charged as felonies. Generally, the factors that most influence the grade of the charges against you include the amount of money or value of assets involved in the alleged violation, the extent or number of offenses, and the intent behind the crime, as argued by the prosecutor.

Can you go to jail for white-collar crimes?

Yes, you can absolutely face jail time if you are convicted of a white-collar crime in Florida or in federal court. Depending on the exact offense you’re accused of committing and the grade of the charge, you could be facing a short sentence of under a year or a much longer term that amounts to multiple years or even decades. You can also face other serious penalties, including fines amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, if convicted of a felony offense under Florida’s White Collar Crime Victim Protection Act (Section 775.0844 of Florida Statutes) or under federal law. Your best hope of avoiding or minimizing jail time is through an effective defense strategy. You need to involve an attorney as early as possible to help you manage the situation and begin developing a legal strategy tailored to your unique circumstances. You need to avoid making mistakes that could negatively impact your case, including speaking to law enforcement and investigators without an attorney present. I fight for the most favorable outcome possible for my clients who are charged with white-collar offenses, including avoiding or minimizing prison terms and other sentences.

Will my white-collar criminal defense case go to trial?

Every case proceeds differently. In some cases, the circumstances make it possible to get charges dismissed or reduced through effective use of pre-trial motions. Due to the non-violent nature of white-collar crimes, it may be possible to resolve the charges through a pre-trial diversion program, especially for first-time offenders. Pre-trial diversion allows the defendant to avoid a conviction in favor of meeting conditions such as serving probation, paying restitution, and performing community service work. Alternatively, a plea agreement may lead to a more favorable outcome than you are likely to receive if your case goes to trial. However, the reality is that going to trial may be in your best interests. A trial provides the opportunity to tell your side of the story, counter the prosecutor’s arguments, and challenge the evidence against you. The prosecutor must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction, and I’m committed to forcing them to meet this burden of proof by highlighting every weakness in their case. With extensive experience taking multiple cases to court every year and a commitment to building every case for the possibility of a trial from the start, I’m ready to fight for you in court if a trial offers you the most promising path forward.

Miami White‑Collar Crime Lawyer | White Collar Criminal Defense Attorney in Miami, FL

White Collar Criminal Defense Attorney in Miami, FL, Defending Fraud, Conspiracy, Money Laundering, and Tax Evasion Cases for Clients in South Florida and Nationwide

From fraud and embezzlement to conspiracy and money laundering, offenses classified as “white-collar” crimes can land you in serious legal trouble. You need to fight back against these allegations and formal criminal charges with every possible advantage. That means bringing on Forge Litigation Group as your Miami white‑collar crime lawyer as early as possible.

Investigations and the filing of criminal charges can progress quickly. While you’re still trying to wrap your head around what you’re accused of doing, the prosecutor is already building a case against you. Every interaction with law enforcement undermines your defense strategy, and every mistake you make attempting to navigate the legal process yourself only leaves you in a worse position.

Don’t wait to stand up for your legal rights. Take advantage of my law firm’s offer of a confidential consultation to help you understand what protections you have under the law and what to expect from the criminal justice process. Contact me today for an objective case evaluation and the tailored advice you need to make informed decisions about your defense strategy.

Help for Charges of White-Collar Crimes in Florida and Beyond

A white-collar crime is one of a variety of types of criminal violations that:

Is generally non-violent
Primarily pertains to economic or financial operations
Involves unlawful activities perpetrated for some form of individual or organizational gain

These characteristics set white-collar crimes apart from other criminal violations, even if they have certain elements in common. For example, both embezzlement and armed robbery are offenses that involve theft, but the non-violent nature of embezzlement makes it a white-collar crime. The same cannot be said for robbery due to its violent nature.

One reason white-collar crimes are referred to as such is that those accused of committing them are often professionals of some kind, including businesspeople and government officials. White-collar offenses, particularly those that involve large-scale fraud or financial loss, can also give rise to highly publicized media scandals and the collapse of companies and organizations involved in the scandal.

The Severity of White-Collar Offenses

Although white-collar offenses may not involve physical violence, the law doesn’t view these violations as victimless crimes. Instead, the law considers the ability of these offenses to lead to financial losses on a large scale while also eroding public trust in government agencies, banks, and other institutions.

As a result, prosecutors in Florida and at the federal level are often eager to go after those accused of white-collar offenses and prosecute them to the fullest extent possible. The charges against you may be “just” white-collar offenses, but you’re still at risk of penalties such as significant jail time if convicted.

If you’re hoping that the legal troubles you’re facing will just blow over, you need to recognize just how serious this matter is. During this turbulent time, you need the guidance of a Miami white‑collar crime lawyer to help you minimize the consequences of these charges.

Types of Charges a White Collar Criminal Defense Attorney in Miami, FL, Can Handle for You

There are numerous types of white-collar criminal offenses, and it’s critical to understand exactly what you’re accused of to facilitate the most effective defense strategy possible. At Carlos F. Gonzalez, P.A., I provide dedicated representation for defendants charged with many different types of white-collar violations, including:

Conspiracy: Charges of entering into an agreement with one or more other people to intentionally commit a crime, even if the planned crime was never actually put into action
Money laundering: Charges of intentionally and illegally obscuring the origin of money acquired through unlawful activities by making transfers involving organizations that make the source of the assets appear legitimate, such as foreign banks or businesses
Bank fraud: Charges of unlawful theft of money or assets from a financial institution or its customers through intentionally fraudulent conduct, such as securing a loan under false pretenses, committing theft of credit card information, or using phishing scams to gain unauthorized access to bank accounts
Tax fraud: Intentionally concealing or misrepresenting information in an effort to evade your tax obligations or illegally reduce your tax payment amount, including through underreporting income, hiding assets, or falsifying credits or deductions
Wire fraud: Intentionally using deceptive means or conduct for the purpose of some form of personal gain (monetary or otherwise) via a scheme that involves the transmission of communications by wire, phone, television, and other types of electronic communications
Healthcare fraud: Charges of defrauding government-run health programs like Medicare or Medicaid, as well as private health insurance companies, by intentionally seeking to gain unauthorized payments or benefits from health insurers as a patient or a provider

In addition to defending my clients against criminal charges pursued against them by the government at both the state and federal levels, I use my knowledge of white-collar crimes to conduct internal investigations on behalf of organizations.

Whether you’re charged with only one white-collar crime or multiple related offenses, such as embezzlement or racketeering, you’re facing harsh penalties. You need a Miami white‑collar crime lawyer who will stand up for you in criminal legal proceedings and fight for you in court.

How Forge Litigation Group Can Help

As an experienced Miami white‑collar crime lawyer, I provide the full support my clients need to manage all aspects of complex cases and present effective defense arguments.

Managing Complex Legal Matters That Involve Sophisticated Offenses

White-collar crimes are often sophisticated offenses. When you’re defending against these charges, there may be multiple aspects of the allegations that you can challenge with effective arguments and compelling evidence. For example, you can push back against the prosecutor’s assertions that the actions in question were intentional efforts to deceive or defraud rather than genuine mistakes made in good faith.

Other factors that can complicate white-collar crime defense include the potential for parallel proceedings in civil and criminal courts and in multiple jurisdictions, including state and federal courts.

With the skills and knowledge to manage the full complexities of the legal process, I’m prepared to guide you through every challenge that could arise in your case.

Crafting Effective Defenses Against White-Collar Charges

There are many potential defense strategies that could help you beat white-collar charges or at least minimize the impact of a conviction. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to present a defense that establishes that the allegations against you are false, that you lacked knowledge of illegal activities or an intent to defraud, or that you were forced to commit the acts under duress or threats from another party.

Picking apart the case against you to establish that the evidence is insufficient for a conviction can be an effective strategy. It’s also beneficial to identify any improperly obtained evidence and motion to get that evidence suppressed so that it can’t be used against you in court.

I base my legal strategy on the unique facts of your situation, developing arguments that are backed by evidence and legal knowledge.

Why Choose Forge Litigation Group as Your Miami White‑Collar Crime Lawyer?

At Forge Litigation Group, I provide the guidance and support of an experienced white collar criminal defense attorney in Miami, FL. My clients benefit from my approach of preparing every case for a potential trial and my direct involvement in gathering evidence.

25 Years of Legal Experience

I began my decades-long legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County. I’ve used the skills and knowledge I gained in this role ever since, with this experience informing my work defending clients against white-collar criminal charges in private practice. My firm has served clients in South Florida and beyond since 2015, and I bring 25 years of experience to every case I handle.

Trial-Ready Representation

Too many lawyers routinely pressure their clients into accepting a plea bargain even though that path may not be the best option for their individual circumstances. I’m always ready to take my clients’ cases to court if necessary, and I build every legal matter I take on to be ready for the possibility of a trial. This case preparation ensures that you’re ready for any path to resolving your legal issues. I’m prepared to force the government to do its job by making the prosecutor present arguments in court to prove all aspects of the case beyond a reasonable doubt, all while challenging the prosecution’s evidence and arguments.

Hands-on Investigations to Support Your Defense

Legal representation shouldn’t be impersonal and hands-off, especially when you’re facing serious white-collar charges that could lead to years in prison. I take a hands-on approach to practicing criminal defense law. Some evidence can only be acquired by walking neighborhoods, knocking on doors, and searching for witnesses. I don’t shy away from putting in the hard work required to secure all evidence that supports your defense.

Contact a Miami White‑Collar Crime Lawyer at Forge Litigation Group Today for a Case Review

You deserve every protection you’re entitled to under the law, as well as a defense strategy crafted specifically to fit the facts of your legal matter. That means putting your case in the capable hands of an attorney who listens to your unique situation, analyzes your options with a deep understanding of the law, and advocates tirelessly for you at every stage of the legal process.

For help from a white collar criminal defense attorney in Miami, FL, contact Forge Litigation Group online or call 786-933-8794 today.

Miami White‑Collar Crime Lawyer