New York City White Collar Crime Attorney

Helping You Defend Your Future and Reputation

The New York State Penal Code includes many white-collar crimes. From healthcare fraud to tax evasion, white-collar offenses are typically nonviolent but include dishonesty and theft. They may also involve more than one criminal offense.

The government vigorously pursues white collar crimes at the state and federal levels. The alleged white collar criminal stands to lose their good name, their business, and/or their freedom. A conviction for a white collar crime can have a devastating impact far beyond that on the particular individual. However, just because you’re being charged with a crime, it doesn’t mean you’re guilty, and it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost.

When you have white collar crime attorneys on your side like those from Cohen Forman Barone, PC, you can rest assured that your case is in excellent hands. We’ll explain what your charges mean and help you determine the best defense strategy. We also promise to listen carefully to your concerns and answer your questions clearly and honestly.

If you are facing a federal investigation or are dealing with law enforcement agencies related to a white collar crime, we can help. Reach out to our New York City white collar crime lawyers from Cohen Forman Barone, PC for an aggressive defense team that will fight for you.

What Are Some Examples of White Collar Crimes?

White collar crimes are usually defined as fraudulent actions that don’t involve violence. These crimes often involve using a position of power to steal money or property that isn’t yours. White collar crimes may seem minor, but they can lead to years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. Please take your white collar charges seriously by contacting a criminal defense attorney for answers about your unique case.

Some examples of white collar offenses our law firm handles are:

Blackmail – To threaten the exposure of a person’s private information for the purpose of gain
Bribery – To give or receive something of value in return for an action or influence
Embezzlement – The act of taking money or property that has been entrusted to you for a specific purpose and using it for your own benefit. This crime often involves trusted individuals such as employees or business partners who are in positions of authority and have access to funds and assets. Embezzlement can range from small amounts of money to large sums, based on the position held by the accused and their potential access to resources. Depending on the amount involved, this offense can be charged as a Class E, D, C, or B felony in New York.
Extortion – To obtain something by way of threat or force, usually money
Forgery – The act of producing a false copy of an important document, signature, work of art, etc.
Fraud – Illegal deception for the purpose of gain, usually financially. This may include wire fraud, tax fraud, healthcare fraud, mortgage fraud, corporate fraud, financial fraud, securities fraud, and other fraud crimes
Identity Theft – To knowingly use another person’s identity for the purpose of benefiting from that person, usually financially
Money laundering – To conceal the illegal obtaining of money, usually by way of passing through a large number of bank transactions or business transactions
Racketeering – A continuous criminal operation in which a person is illegally gaining funds as a way of “doing business”
Tax evasion – To choose not to pay or to underpay taxes
Insider trading – Buying or selling securities based on nonpublic, confidential information

Call our law firm today to speak with a compassionate, skilled white collar crime defense attorney who can help you with any of the above or related charges.

What Should I Do if I’ve Been Charged with a White-Collar Crime?

Many people panic when they learn that they’re being arrested or subpoenaed in connection with a white collar crime. You may feel shocked that such charges are brought against you because you haven’t done anything wrong. Even if you made a mistake and committed a crime, there are still certain steps you can take to protect your rights and ensure you get a fair outcome.

The following are critical steps to take when facing arrest for a white collar offense:

Stay calm and cooperate with the law enforcement officer, as fleeing or fighting can lead to more serious charges
Exercise your right to stay silent. Don’t answer law enforcement questions until you’ve consulted with your lawyer
Demand to speak with an attorney, such as those at Cohen Forman Barone, PC
Keep careful records of anything related to the alleged crime, including email communications, texts, bills, financial records, and so on
Do not destroy any evidence, as this can make your charges more severe
Do not discuss the case with anyone except your lawyer, taking special care not to discuss any aspects of your case on social media
Respond quickly and honestly to your attorney’s questions and requests for documents

For help knowing how to proceed with your unique case, please contact us immediately. We’ll schedule a free consultation where you can get answers to your questions and better understand what will happen during the legal process. We’ll also guide you on how to answer police officers’ questions so you don’t accidentally incriminate yourself.

What Defenses Are Typically Used Against White-Collar Criminal Charges?

Being investigated for white collar offenses can be scary, especially if you’re facing charges for federal crimes. You may wonder if there’s anything you can do during or after internal investigations to protect your good name and avoid maximum sentencing. The good news is that you can have criminal defense lawyers on your side to ensure your rights are protected. Your attorney can also help by collecting evidence in your favor and constructing a strong defense to protect you.

Some examples of defenses that might be effective in a white collar crime case include:

Mistaken identity – If law enforcement arrested the wrong person, this could mean you’ll walk away without a criminal conviction. This often occurs in white collar cases due to association or documentation errors
Lack of intent – If you didn’t intend to break the law, you may use this to get your charges reduced or dismissed. Proving lack of intent is tricky and should be handled with the help of talented lawyers
Entrapment – If police officers tricked you into taking part in fraudulent behavior, this is known as entrapment and could be a defense against your criminal charges
Violation of rights – If your rights were violated during the investigation or trial, this can lead to lowered or dismissed charges

What Other Criminal Defense Cases Do You Handle?

The legal team at Cohen Forman Barone, PC has decades of combined experience handling a wide range of criminal cases. We deeply understand New York law and apply our experience and talent in every case we take on.

We represent clients in such cases as:

Post-Conviction Relief
Violent Crimes
White Collar Crimes
Drug Crimes
DUI
Felonies
Federal Criminal Charges
Misdemeanors
Sex Crimes
Assault
Immigration Crimes

We are also very capable in the fields of family law and immigration law. If you or your family needs assistance with divorce, parental rights, green cards, or crimmigration, we can help. We’ll provide excellent legal counsel at every step of the process. Contact us now to schedule your complimentary initial consultation.

Should You Hire Our New York City White Collar Crime Attorney?

Cohen Forman Barone, PC has a proven track record of successfully representing individuals and corporations in all stages of white collar defense. Whether you received a letter, a knock at your door, served with a subpoena, or have been formally charged, our staff has protected people facing the same situation and concerns.

CEO’s, CFO’s, business owners, and non-business-related individuals dealing with allegations of white collar crime have all been protected by the firm Cohen Forman Barone, PC. Having a staff that worked for the government prosecuting just these types of crimes gives us a unique vantage point in protecting the individual or your business from investigation, allegations, or incarceration.

Let us apply our legal acumen in your favor. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with our caring, capable team of defense attorneys.