White Collar Crimes include crimes such as:

• embezzlement
• fraud
• burglary
• forgery
• uttering a false or forged instrument
• securities fraud
• identity theft
• insurance fraud
• medi-cal fraud
• credit card fraud
• insider trading
• obstruction of justice
• conspiracy
• and many others

For many people, these crimes involve two separate problems: one, resolving your criminal case, and two, preserving your professional integrity.

Criminal charges for white collar crimes can range misdemeanors to felonies, while the penalties can include jail and/or prison time, large fines, and restitution. It is very important to begin working quickly on these cases in order to negotiate effectively with law enforcement. Many times, restitution to the alleged victims becomes an issue which can be utilized during negotiations. Additionally, there are often other ways to effectively negotiate these types of cases. We have settled many cases in which our clients, due to their swiftness and/or preparing and presenting our client's defense to law enforcement, did not have to serve any jail or custody time. A creative, swift, quiet settlement is often the goal. Which brings us to the next important point.

If you are a professional, such as a doctor, lawyer, stock broker, chiropractor, physical therapist, real estate agent, etc. (anyone carrying a professional license registered with the State or other government entity), these types of charges can bring your professional career to a screeching halt. Quite often, without proper representation, the Court might restrict or even suspend your ability to continue in your profession until the criminal case is resolved. Believe it or not, you could have your license restricted, suspended, or revoked just by the mere filing of charges. Consequently, you can lose not only your livelihood, but you'll lose the respectable, professional reputation you've worked so hard to maintain. Typically, you have a right to have a licensing hearing which is separate from the criminal court proceeding, but the courts often ignore this right and impose restrictions while the criminal case is still pending. This is why it is so important to have an experienced attorney who knows how to handle these cases with a keen awareness on the professional licensing issue.