Kansas City White Collar Criminal Charges
No matter what your profession, being convicted of a white-collar crime can derail your entire career. Beyond fines and potential jail time, a white-collar crime conviction leaves you with a permanent criminal record, making it difficult to secure future employment.
For anyone charged with a white a collar crime, it is imperative to secure competent representation without delay. The Kansas City, Kansas criminal defense lawyers at SRC Law Group, LLC have more than 25 years of combined experience.
Punishment for White Collar Crimes can be Severe! Because the nature, scope, and execution of white-collar crime have evolved so dramatically in recent years, state and federal courtrooms have struggled to keep up. In fact, sentencing guidelines are often thrown out altogether by judges who believe them to be too archaic or too severe.
We can help you fight charges related to:
- Computer crimes
- Embezzlement
- Forgery
- Fraud
- Identity theft
- Money laundering
- Mortgage Fraud
- Tax evasion
Nevertheless, even the lighter sentences being handed down often exceed the average federal penalties for violent crimes. Sentencing for white-collar crimes is more varied than in any other area of criminal law.
Since white-collar crimes are predicated upon secrecy and deceit, their prosecution often involves complex data trails and the testimony of expert witnesses. When you add these complexities to the sentencing challenges noted above, it's no wonder that both the defense and prosecution of white-collar crimes are so technically demanding.
At SRC Law Group, LLC, our experience extends to both sides of the courtroom. Attorney Phil Stein is a former prosecutor who is now recognized as one of the top criminal defense attorneys in Kansas. We never encourage our clients to accept a plea deal unless we see no opportunity for dismissal or acquittal.
Embezzlement
The most common type of embezzlement is billing fraud, followed by theft of cash.
Embezzlement occurs when an individual who is entrusted to manage someone else’s money or property mismanages it for his or her own personal gain. Facing charges for a federal offense as serious as embezzlement can result in penalties that can derail your life, which is why it has never been more important to secure aggressive legal representation from a trusted criminal defense attorney.
At SRC Law Group, LLC, our Kansas City criminal defense team has 25 years of combined experience and can provide you with the legal representation you need to secure a favorable outcome. Regardless of how complex your case is, our firm can be trusted to defend your rights.
What Penalties Could You be Facing?
Embezzlement can be charged as a state or federal offense, depending on the circumstances of the crime. Under Missouri law, the severity of penalties depend on the value of the money or property stolen. Both federal and state penalties will include a fine and jail or prison time.
If charged as a Kansas state offense, embezzlement penalties can include:
- If the money/property is valued at less than $500: Up to one year in jail and $1,000 in fines
- If the money/property is valued at more than $500, but less than $25,000: Up to 7 years in prison and a fine of $5,000, or up to double the value of the money or property embezzled
- If the money/property is valued at $25,000 or more: Up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $5,000 or double the value of what was embezzled
If charged as a federal offense, embezzlement penalties can include:
- Felony embezzlement: Up to $250,000 in fines and/or up to 10 years of imprisonment
- Felony embezzlement: Up to $250,000 in fines and/or up to 10 years of imprisonment
- Misdemeanor embezzlement: Up to $100,000 in fines and/or up to one year of imprisonment
When your rights and liberties are at stake, your choice in representation matters. Should you hire the services of our embezzlement attorneys, you can trust that we will work towards nothing less than optimal results with your case. We understand there are two sides to every story and we are prepared to fight for yours.
Who Commits Embezzlement Crimes?
Personality Traits of an Embezzler
Many people who commit embezzlement exhibit the characteristics of an ideal employee.
Traits that embezzlers may exhibit include:
- Intelligence: intelligent people know what will need to be done in order to ‘successfully’ commit the crime.
- Curiosity: curious employees ask questions about company practices, giving them extra knowledge about how the company operates and what they will need to consider before committing embezzlement.
- Risk-takers: an individual who exhibits a lot of risk-taking in their personal life may also be inclined to take risks when it comes to stealing from their company.
- Ambition: an ambitious employee is never a bad thing. Embezzlers know this and may put extra effort into their work in order to not appear suspicious.
Some embezzlers report that stealing from the company was motivated by revenge, not personal gain. In these instances, they wanted to hurt the company more than they wanted to profit themselves
Other Interesting Statistics
Hiscox compiled interesting research about embezzlement offenses.
- 79% of cases involve more than one perpetrator.
- The average company loss from embezzlement is over $350,000.
- 31% of embezzlement crimes continued for over 3 years.
- One-third of embezzlers work in the finance or accounting department.
- 85% of embezzlement is committed by individuals in manager positions.
Embezzlement Defense Lawyers
Contact Our Firm Today for a Free Consultation
Whatever scenario has resulted in you being investigated, SRC Law Group, LLC can thoroughly evaluate the evidence and build a strong defense on your behalf. Our attorneys are devoted to protecting your rights, freedom, and future.
Do not hesitate to call us to arrange your free initial consultation. We can be reached online with the email form below.
Fraud
If you’ve been arrested or accused of criminal fraud, you may be facing serious fines and jail time. Regardless of your profession, being charged with a white collar crime can threaten your career and any future professional endeavors – when your rights and liberties are hanging in the balance, you should not hesitate to secure the defense you need.
At SRC Law Group, LLC, our Kansas City, Kansas criminal defense lawyers have more than 25 years of combined legal experience in defending clients in a wide range of criminal cases. Our firm maintains a Superb AVVO Rating of 10.0 and we’ve been honored to receive recognition from the National Trial Lawyers . Our achievements and accolades are a testament to the unwavering dedication we have for our clients and the service they receive.
What is Fraud?
Criminal fraud is a crime that involves deception and intentional misrepresentation for your own personal benefit and gain. There are different types of fraud crimes – both federal and state – that can vary in punishment, depending on the nature of the crime, how much financial damage was done, and the role you played in the offense.
Criminal fraud can include:
- Credit card fraud
- Bank fraud
- Tax fraud
- Mail and wire fraud
During a time of crisis, we understand that you may feel as though you’ve lost control of your life – and in a system that can feel overwhelming, you may be feeling hopeless. At SRC Law Group, LLC, hope is anything but lost and our Kansas City criminal defense attorney can work tirelessly to fight any evidence presented against you. Every client deserves an aggressive defense strategy, and you are no exception.
Credit Card Fraud
Insurance Fraud
When individuals lie to insurance agencies and make false claims to gain profit, this is insurance fraud. Similarly to tax fraud, you will not be charged just for making a mistake on your reports. You must have the intent to defraud a company or individual.
Insurance fraud is common involving:
- Automobiles
- Healthcare
- Workers’ Compensation
- Property
You May Be Accidentally Committing Fraud.
When tax season comes around, many people joke that they may be accidentally committing fraud simply because they aren’t sure what they are doing to file their taxes is correct. Online tax assistance programs seek to make it easier for taxpayers, but mistakes still happen relatively frequently. You may be wondering, if you make a mistake on your official tax return or other forms, could you potentially be charged with fraud?
Ways of Committing Fraud:
Underreporting Income
This is one of the most common tax violations. When people intentionally commit fraud by underreporting income, it is so that they will have to pay less back in taxes. However, some people may also do this accidentally. For example, forgetting to report earnings from any side gigs like driving Uber after work.
Some people may also deliberately choose to underreport income but are unaware that what they did is substantial enough to warrant a federal tax fraud charge.
Inaccurately Claiming Dependents
A dependent is a child or relative of the taxpayer. When the taxpayer claims one or multiple dependents, they receive financial benefits.
Valid dependents are:
- Children under 19 years old or younger
- Children 24 years or younger if they are a full-time student, have been a full-time student for five months of the tax year, or are permanently disabled.
If an individual believes that their children of any age can be claimed as dependents, they could be found guilty of inaccurately claiming dependents. Make sure you know who qualifies as a dependent before filling out your forms.
Missing Information
Inaccurately Representing Donations
Making charitable donations can help lower your taxable income. However, some people are so eager to get this benefit that they report donations that do not apply. For example, if you received anything in exchange for your donation, you cannot report that contribution in your taxes.
Additionally, always be cautious about which organizations you donate to. If you donate to an illegitimate charity and report it on your taxes, this could also lead to unexpected trouble.
Deduction Errors
A tax deduction is a deduction that limits an individual’s taxable income.
Some common deductions include:
- Property taxes
- Medical expenses
- Education credits
- Student loan interest
- IRA contributions
- 401k contributions
However, overstating or exaggerating your deductions is considered fraud. If you thought it was okay to bend the truth a little to save some extra money, or if you believe you’ve accidentally included expenses that do not qualify as deductions, you’re not alone. It is estimated that nearly 75% of Americans make deduction errors.
Non-Filing
Filing taxes can take a lot of time and energy, which are things that some people lack. Some may choose to put off their taxes and miss the filing deadline. However, Americans have the duty to file taxes. If you do not, you can be charged with fraud for withholding your information.
Whether you intentionally or accidentally failed to file your taxes is a critical factor for what your potential penalty could be.
Penalties for Accidental Tax Fraud
If you made negligent mistakes on your taxes, you could face financial penalties.
The most common penalty payment for accidental tax errors are “substantial underpayment penalty” and “negligence or disregard of rules and regulations.” If you are found guilty of one of these errors, you could be required to pay an additional 20% of what you underpaid.
If the IRS finds that you intentionally made errors or lied on your tax documents, you can face criminal fraud charges.
If convicted, penalties include:
- Up to five years of prison time
- Hefty fines of up to $100,000
The good news is that simple oversights will not result in criminal fraud charges. If you made an innocent mistake on your taxes, you cannot be convicted of fraud, because you had no intent to commit a crime.
Fraud Charges Defense Attorneys
Mortgage Fraud
Vigorously Protecting Your Rights
As with other types of white collar crimes, mortgage fraud can result in jail time and a criminal record. Additionally, your career may suffer along with your personal relationships. I take these potential penalties very seriously and devote my time and resources to building a strong defense on your behalf.
If you believe you are under investigation or are about to be investigated, do not hesitate to turn to SRC Law Group, LLC for assistance. If you have already been contacted by investigators, remember that it is important not to try to talk your way out of charges. The less you talk, the better.
As a skilled criminal defense attorney, we represent:
- Business professionals
- Appraisers
- Realtors
- Mortgage brokers
- Others who are facing potential mortgage fraud charges
Our criminal defense lawyers understand the ways these charges can arise, such as banks encouraging people to take out more of a loan than they qualify for, sloppy lending, house flipping, banks not monitoring lines of credit, and other scenarios. We know that oftentimes good people can just get tied up with an unethical mortgage company.
Whatever scenario has resulted in you being investigated for mortgage fraud, SRC Law Group, LLC can thoroughly evaluate the evidence and build a strong defense on your behalf. Our attorneys are devoted to protecting your rights, freedom, and future.
Identity Theft
If you’ve been arrested or are being investigated for identity theft near Kansas City, KS, securing the representation you need should be your first plan of action. At SRC Law Group, LLC, our criminal defense lawyers will work tirelessly to secure a favorable outcome in your case.
Although identity theft is primarily enforced at the state level, it is a white collar crime that can also be charged as a federal offense. In those severe cases, you can expect that a heavy hand in justice will be served – which is why you should not hesitate to begin building the defense you need today.
What is Identity Theft?
Standard identity theft occurs when an individual steals another person’s identity. This may be done by:
- Stealing identification cards
- Stealing credit card or bank information
- Stealing mail
- Phishing schemes
Once this is done, the offender may use the stolen identity to open credit cards or take out loans.
Identity theft is a serious offense, which is punishable by jail or prison time, fines, and additional consequences.
Under the state's identity theft laws, the offense occurs when an individual uses the means of identification of another person in an attempt to deceive or defraud. The scope most identity theft laws are extremely broad and covers a wide range of criminal activity – from credit card fraud to false identification for minors.
Examples of “means of identification” can include:
- Social security numbers
- Passports
- Credit card numbers
- Fingerprints
- Checking/saving account numbers
When facing a potential jail sentence, it can feel as though you’ve lost control of your life. At SRC Law Group, LLC, we strive to ease your worries by getting to know your story and your goals. When you hire our services, you can trust that you’ll be seen as more than just a case number on the docket.
Aggravated Identity Theft
When people think of aggravated offenses, they often think of crimes that cause serious physical harm to someone or involve a weapon. Identity theft, however, is not a violent crime. Let’s discuss what exactly aggravated identity theft is and the potential penalties.
Aggravated identity theft occurs when an individual steals someone’s identity, then uses that identity to commit another crime. For example, using someone else’s identity to commit healthcare fraud. Aggravated identity theft is typically a federal offense.
Aggravated identity theft comes with a mandatory two-year jail sentence, or five years if the subsequent crime was terrorism-related. The individual will also face penalties for the subsequent crime.