Washington, D.C. White Collar Crime Attorneys
Aggressive Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers Representing Clients Charged with a Wide Range of Financial Crimes
White Collar Criminal Defense
Team Lead
A federal investigation into white collar crimes can bring your business to a screeching halt. Suddenly, your focus shifts from the day-to-day operations of your business to defending against serious criminal charges. This can have a disastrous impact—not only on your businesses’ bottom line—but also on your own personal life. However, a damaged professional reputation may be the least of your worries. Lengthy prison sentences, astronomical fines, and other life-changing sanctions often accompany a conviction for a white collar crime, and everything must be done to avoid a conviction.
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At Oberheiden, P.C., our team of Washington, D.C. white collar criminal defense lawyers provides clients with an unrivaled level of experience and dedication. With notable experience handling complex financial crimes, we know exactly what to expect in these cases, and create compelling defense strategies custom-tailored to each of our clients’ unique situations. Several of our senior Washington, D.C. federal criminal defense attorneys previously worked in high-ranking positions with the federal government, prosecuting the very crimes you now face. This provides us with unique insight that can make the difference in your case.
What Is White Collar Crime?
White collar crime is a term used to describe a broad range of financial crimes. In most cases, white collar crimes involve intentionally false or misleading statements intended to advance the financial interests of the person making the statement. Federal prosecutors bring white collar cases against organizations as well as against individuals.
Common Types of White Collar Crimes
At Oberheiden, P.C., our Washington, D.C. white collar crime attorneys represent individuals and organizations in all types of federal white collar investigations and prosecutions. Our white collar crime attorneys have specific experience representing business owners, physicians, professionals, executives, board members, and businesses in a wide range of cases, including the following:
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is defined as the act of fraudulently appropriating property that was entrusted to a person or who otherwise came into possession of the property through legal means. Unlike traditional cases of theft, where someone gains possession of property through illegal means, embezzlement involves the misappropriation (or theft) of property that you were given access to. For example, if a cashier accepts a customer’s money for an item but fails to ring up the item, and instead, keeps the customer’s payment, they may have embezzled those funds from their employer.
Forgery
Forgery involves falsifying a document with the intent to defraud another. You can be charged with forgery regardless of whether the alleged victim was an individual, government entity, financial institution, or business. While one of the most common examples of forgery involves forged checks, any falsified statement on a legal document can give rise to forgery charges.
Healthcare Fraud
Healthcare fraud refers to any action intended to improperly obtain funds from a private insurance company or federal healthcare benefit program, such as Medicare or Medicaid. There are many healthcare fraud statutes, such as the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark Law, and the False Claims Act. Some healthcare fraud violations only bring civil liability; however, in most cases, federal prosecutors are looking to also bring criminal charges. At Oberheiden, P.C., our Washington, D.C. healthcare fraud lawyers have extensive experience representing practitioners, hospitals, practice groups, nursing homes, and hospice care centers in all types of healthcare fraud cases.
Bank Fraud
Simply put, bank fraud involves making a false statement with the intention of defrauding a financial institution. For example, providing a false or misleading statement on an application for a loan, check kiting, and forging a signature on a financial instrument are all forms of bank fraud. Under 18 U.S.C. Section 1344, a conviction for bank fraud carries potential penalties of up to 30 years of federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million for each offense.
Wire and Mail Fraud
Mail fraud and wire fraud often accompany other white collar crimes that were carried out, at least in some part, through the mail, over the internet, or over the phone. Given that the majority of white collar crimes use one of these means to carry out the offense, these charges are extremely common. Prosecutors may tack on mail or wire fraud charges to other white collar offenses in an attempt to increase your overall exposure in hopes of getting you to consider pleading guilty. However, by successfully defending against the government’s other charges, mail and wire fraud charges cannot stand.
Securities Fraud
Securities fraud is another broad term used to describe any fraudulent actions taken by brokers, advisors, and financial firms, usually at the expense of investors. In most of these cases, aggrieved investors contact the Security and Exchange Commission, complaining of a financial professional’s conduct. This triggers a comprehensive and invasive investigation into the business practices giving rise to the allegations. Examples of securities fraud include pump-and-dump schemes, pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes, inadequate disclosure of risk, offshore investing, and offering inappropriate investments.
Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage fraud occurs when someone makes a false or misleading statement on an application to secure a mortgage for real property. The most common examples of mortgage fraud involve inflating income, misstating debt, and appraisal fraud.
Regardless of the nature of the white collar offenses you face, the Washington, D.C. federal white collar defense lawyers at Oberheiden, P.C. can help.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
Founder
Attorney-at-Law
Lynette S. Byrd
Former Department of Justice
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney & Former District Attorney
Local Trial & Defense Counsel
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Michael Koslow
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Why Choose Oberheiden, P.C., to Represent You in a Washington, D.C., White Collar Crime investigation?
While many people are familiar with how criminal cases proceed in the state criminal justice system, federal criminal prosecutions are very different. By the time you learn that you are under investigation for a crime, prosecutors have often already gathered all the evidence they need and presented it to a grand jury. Not only that, but the prosecutor has convinced the grand jury that there was probable cause to believe you committed the offenses. This puts you well behind the prosecution in terms of case preparation. That being the case, the moment you learn of a white collar crime investigation, time is of the essence. You need a lawyer who is ready to immediately get involved in your case.
At Oberheiden, P.C., one of the things that sets us apart from the other Washington, D.C., white collar defense law firms is that we strongly believe taking immediate action is the best approach. We do not wait to see how the federal prosecutor’s case shapes up before creating a defense strategy. Instead, we take a proactive approach, reaching out to federal investigators on your behalf to gain a better understanding of the allegations—and the evidence they have to support them.
The result is that, in cases where our clients bring us onto their case before charges have been filed, we have a 92% success rate in avoiding charges altogether. This not only takes the possibility of a conviction off the table but also wraps up the investigation before it does irreparable damage to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do White Collar Crimes Carry the Possibility of Jail Time?
Absolutely. In fact, almost all white collar crimes call for a presumptive sentence of incarceration. However, the reality is that the news media tends to focus on those high-profile white collar cases in which the defendant “got off easy.” These cases are not representative of the average case. Often, these high-profile cases involve facts that may not be present in other cases, for example, if the defendant cooperated with the government or had a long history of public service (both of which can call for a reduced sentence). The bottom line is that white collar crimes are taken incredibly seriously, and anyone facing a white collar crime in Washington, D.C. should reach out to a dedicated federal white collar criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Should I Work Out a Deal with Prosecutors to Avoid a Harsher Sentence?
Most Washington, D.C. white collar criminal prosecutions end in a plea agreement where the defendant acknowledges responsibility—often for a lesser offense—in exchange for an agreed-upon sentence. However, this does not necessarily mean that all of these defendants are guilty. Frequently, those facing white collar crimes are left feeling as though they have no other feasible option but to take a guaranteed sentence to avoid what could be a much harsher sentence. However, taking a plea agreement is a personal decision that should only be made after consulting with an experienced Washington, D.C. white collar criminal defense attorney. The last thing you want is to feel compelled to take a deal because your lawyer isn’t confident or prepared. At Oberheiden, P.C., we believe that running to the prosecutors asking for a deal only gives them all the bargaining power. The better approach is to allow your attorney to take an in-depth look at your case. Often, there are holes in the government’s case that were not apparent at first glance.
Should I Talk to Federal Agents if They Contact Me?
No. Talking to federal agents about a possible white collar criminal investigation only risks providing them with the information they need to complete their investigation. As a general rule, federal agents will not approach the subject of their investigation because it provides them an opportunity to talk to potential witnesses or destroy evidence. Thus, if federal agents come knocking at your door, it likely means they need additional information before bringing charges. Instead of talking with them, politely decline and pick up the phone to schedule a free consultation with the Washington, D.C. white collar defense attorneys at Oberheiden, P.C.
Contact Oberheiden. P.C. to Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Washington, D.C. White Collar Defense Attorney
If you face a federal white collar crime in Washington, D.C, contact Oberheiden, P.C. Our attorneys are standing by to discuss your case, answer your questions, and offer whatever assistance we can. You can reach our Washington, D.C. white collar criminal defense lawyers at 202-933-9438 or reach us online through our contact form.