San Jose White Collar Crime Lawyer

Were you recently charged with a white-collar crime in San Jose, California? You could be facing significant consequences, including jail time and substantial fines. The experienced San Jose white collar crime attorneys with Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law can help you present your best possible defense, call us at (408) 217-8818.

Our lawyers have 30 years of combined experience providing criminal defense, and in that time have won more than 3,000 cases and successfully defended 50 cases at trial. We’re ready to put that experience to work for you today. Our law firm handles cases such as sex crimes in San Jose, theft crimes, weapons charges in San Jose, domestic violence, assault defense, and more.

We offer a free consultation to review the facts of your case. Call us today at (408) 882-1701, or click here to contact us online to get started.

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How Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law Can Help If You Are Facing White Collar Crime Charges

It’s not a good idea to face white collar crime charges alone in San Jose, CA. The damage to your reputation could be permanent, not to mention the concrete penalties the criminal justice system could levy upon you. Your financial security could also be in jeopardy.

Put your best foot forward and hire a San Jose criminal defense attorney with Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law. Our lawyers include a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Criminal Law, as well as a spot in the Top 100 Trial Attorneys list by National Trial Lawyers.

When you hire us to represent you, we will:

Conduct an internal investigation into your charges
Collect evidence to help improve your defense
Keep you apprised of your legal options
Negotiate with the prosecution to have your charges reduced or dropped if possible
Bring your case to trial if the situation demands

Those are just a few of the ways we can help you when you’re facing white collar crime charges in San Jose. Contact a San Jose white collar crime lawyer today for assistance. Your initial consultation is free, and there’s no obligation.

White Collar Crime Overview in California

The term white collar crime is a catch-all that refers to a wide range of nonviolent, usually financially-related charges. Though these crime are nonviolent, they are still punished harshly because of the financial impact they can have.

Our San Jose white collar crime lawyers have experience assisting clients facing all types of white collar crime charges, including:

Identity theft
Ponzi schemes
Tax fraud or tax evasion
Fraud or forgery
Extortion
Counterfeiting
Bank fraud
Embezzlement
Insider trading
Health care fraud
Bribery
Insurance fraud
Computer and internet crimes
Racketeering
Money laundering

Below are further descriptions of a few more common white collar crimes.

Identity Theft

Identify theft is represented by California Penal Code 530.5 PC. This statute makes it illegal when someone “willfully obtains personal identifying information…of another person…and uses that information for an unlawful purpose.”

From there, the law describes circumstances that constitute an unlawful purpose. These include:

Goods
Services
Credit
Medical Information
Real property

You can be convicted of identity theft for merely attempting to obtain one of the above categories using someone else’s information.

Some common examples of identity theft include making purchases online using someone else’s credit card, forging a check, or opening a bank account under someone else’s name.

Identify theft is an example of a “wobbler” offense, meaning it can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the facts. If you’ve been charged with identity theft, reach out to a San Jose white collar crimes lawyer as soon as you can to help protect your rights.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement is a unique type of white collar crime because although it is financially related, the defendant in embezzlement cases has lawful access to what they’ve stolen. California defines embezzlement under California Penal Code Section 503 PC as the “fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been intrusted.”

The prosecution must prove these legal elements beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict:

You were entrusted with someone else’s property
That person trusted you in some sort of way, for example, as a banker or family member
You took that property fraudulently and for your personal gain
You intended to deprive the property owner of the benefit of that property

Embezzlement is also a “wobbler” offense and can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. However, if the case involves a firearm, it will be charged as a felony by default.

Securities Fraud

Securities fraud is covered by California Corporations Code 25540(a) and 25540(b). These sections make it illegal to violate the California Securities Law. A security is a business transaction where, for example, someone obtains a stake in a company, such as through the purchase of stock.

Examples of securities fraud include insider trading, making false statements about the sale of a security, or selling a security that does not comply with the necessary qualifications.

As with the other examples of white collar crimes covered thus far, securities fraud can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor. Securities fraud cases can be especially complex, and it is in your best interest to reach out to a San Jose white collar crimes lawyer when facing these charges.

Penalties for White Collar Crimes in San Jose, California

The penalties for a white collar crime conviction in San Jose can last a lifetime. Generally speaking, the more valuable the property involved in the case is, the more severe the penalties will be. However, the overall circumstances of the alleged offense will also likely play a role. In California, many crimes have aggravating or mitigating circumstances that can enhance or lower the severity of the corresponding penalties.

On the lower end of the penalty spectrum for white collar offenses, you could face six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Petty theft is an example; in the white collar crime context, this could be charged as petty embezzlement.

If you’re convicted of misdemeanor identity theft, you can face up to a year in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. And for felony charges, you can face multiple years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.

Bear in mind that these are rough guidelines. Since every white collar crime case will carry a different set of facts and likely a different dollar value, the exact penalty you might face is difficult to pinpoint in advance.

Collateral Consequences of a White Collar Crime Conviction

In addition to the penalties described above, you could face additional consequences. Some examples of these collateral consequences include:

Forfeiture of assets
Probation or parole
A lasting criminal record, which can make it difficult to obtain housing or employment
Harm to your reputation, both personally and professionally

It is also important to note that many white collar crimes are illegal at the federal and state levels. This means you can face additional proceedings and consequences in a federal court.

These consequences can be wide-reaching and can last the rest of your life. That’s why it’s critical you do everything in your power to ensure your best defense is brought forward. The San Jose white collar crimes lawyers with Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law can help. Call today for a free consultation.

Available Defenses for White Collar Crimes in San Jose

There are a variety of defenses available for white collar crimes in San Jose, California. When you hire Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law to represent you, you can rest assured that we’ll delve into all of the facts involved in your case to arrive at your best possible defense.

The prosecution must prove every legal element of your white collar crime charge beyond a reasonable doubt. We might attempt to present evidence that pokes holes in one or more of these elements. We might also hire expert witnesses to discredit the validity of the prosecution’s arguments.

You also have constitutional rights, and these rights are often violated in the process of white collar crime allegations. For instance, the evidence against you might have been seized in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights.

These are just a few examples of defenses we’ve successfully asserted in court. Call a San Jose white collar crimes attorney today to get started with a free consultation.

Call Today for a Free Consultation With a San Jose White Collar Crimes Lawyer

White collar crime cases are rarely simple, and the consequences and penalties are usually severe. Because many of these charges are “wobbler” offenses and can involve federal as well as state laws, these cases require the expertise of a seasoned criminal defense attorney.

Look no further than Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law to represent you in your case. We’re confident in our ability to successfully defend someone charged with a criminal offense; we’ve done it thousands of times before.

Call us today for a free, no-hassle consultation to go over your options. Our San Jose white collar crimes lawyers are available at any time to field your communication.

You can also contact a white-collar crime lawyer in Redwood City.

Our criminal defense law firm in San Jose, CA, also provides: