A harsh reality of white-collar crime prosecutions is their potential to severely impact your career and reputation, regardless of whether a conviction occurs. The resulting personal, financial, and legal consequences can wreak havoc with your life. However, hiring a criminal attorney as soon as possible after finding out about an investigation can help mitigate some of the damage.
There is a good chance that your family members, friends, neighbors, employer, co-workers, and business relationships will discover you are being prosecuted.
The Department of Justice may publicize federal prosecutions. A press release may be issued, and the media may pick up the story. As a result, even if the charges against you are dismissed or you’re found not guilty, those stories are still on the internet for anyone to find.
Since federal records cannot be expunged, the damage to your reputation can linger long after the case is over, affecting your personal, work, and business life.
Convicted defendants can face severe financial penalties under federal law, including fines, restitution, and forfeiture. However, in some limited instances, the government can freeze your assets even before you’re tried and convicted.
You can also be fired from your job and/or face suspension or loss of your professional license while your case is pending. This means lost income.
Banks and investors may also refuse to lend you money when you are being prosecuted for a crime. That could affect your ability to pay personal and business-related bills or provide goods or services to customers.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you could be deported even if your prosecution is for a non-violent crime.
You may also face civil lawsuits by the government or alleged victims of the crime.
An experienced white-collar crime attorney can assist you at every stage of your case. During the investigation, your attorney can help ensure you don’t incriminate yourself and your rights are protected. You can get advice on responding to investigators, including the risks and benefits of cooperating with the investigation.
Your attorney will advocate for your position and try to get investigators not to charge you or get charges dismissed by the court if possible. If the case goes to trial, you will have someone fighting for you to get a not guilty verdict, minimize your sentence if convicted, or appeal your case.
Throughout this whole process, your attorney can also counsel you on how to address the personal, financial, and legal repercussions of a prosecution, including explaining your rights and obligations and how to handle public statements.
Having skilled counsel by your side can help mitigate the damage of a criminal prosecution. However, it’s important to hire an attorney as soon as possible after finding out about an investigation, and not attempt to handle matters on your own.
If you are being investigated or arrested, our firm has successfully handled a wide range of white-collar crime cases. Contact us for a consultation to learn how we can help you with your case.