White Collar Criminal Defense Attorneys Serving Wyoming
White collar crimes are serious offenses that are frequently pursued at the federal level in Wyoming. Regardless of whether they are prosecuted by local district attorneys, the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, or a federal law enforcement agency like the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), there exists the very real potential for some steep consequences if you get convicted.
The Criminal Defense Firm has extensively experienced white collar crime defense lawyers who can help you invoke your rights and protect your future. Defending against allegations of a white collar crime is unlike other type of case. White collar allegations make for document-heavy cases that are very different to defend against than other criminal allegations. Getting the right kind of lawyer on your side is essential if you want to take your defense seriously.
Hiring The Criminal Defense Firm can be the best decision that you make.
The Many Types of White Collar Offenses in Wyoming
White collar crime is a very broad realm of financial offenses. While many are based on fraudulent activity, not all are. However, because fraud is a fundamental element to so many white collar and financial crimes, it is important to understand that the legal definition of fraud is kept purposefully vague. If it was a concrete definition, bad actors would just toe around the lines while avoiding stepping over them and into the realm of criminal misconduct.
Unfortunately, that vagueness creates difficulties for other white collar professionals. It means there is often a lot of uncertainty over whether a novel business practice is one that is inherently deceptive, deceitful, or dishonest.
This means that a lot of businesspeople find themselves accused of criminal activity for doing something that they were under the impression was completely legal.
The Criminal Defense Firm is here to help in Wyoming. What follows are just a few of the most common white collar allegations that we have fought against.
Securities Fraud
State and federal securities law forbid deceptive practices when it comes to buying, selling, or transacting in securities. Securities fraud can take numerous different forms, including:
- Selling unregistered securities without a valid exemption
- Insider trading
- Pump-and-dump schemes
- Churning customer accounts to create extra commissions without adding value
Healthcare Fraud
There are numerous ways to commit healthcare fraud. If fraudulent acts obtain money from a federal healthcare program like Medicare or Medicaid, it will likely be investigated by federal law enforcement agents. If a private insurer was defrauded, the insurance company will likely take action against you. In either case, private parties can file lawsuits that imperil you and your healthcare company.
Mail and Wire Fraud
Mail and wire fraud are additional charges that many white collar defendants face for using the mail or telecommunications devices – including a phone or the internet – to commit allegedly fraudulent conduct. Many, if not most, fraud and white collar cases include a charge for mail or wire fraud or both.
Computer Fraud
Using a computer to obtain sensitive data or gain unlawful access to another computer can amount to computer fraud. This makes computer fraud similar to mail or wire fraud: You can face charges for computer fraud because of how you allegedly went about committing another type of fraudulent activity.
Mortgage Fraud
There are several parties and a lot of funds involved in a real estate property transaction with a mortgage interest. Each of those parties has the opportunity to use deception for their own gain. If they make use of that opportunity, it can amount to mortgage fraud. If the mortgage was backed by the federal government, it can trigger a federal investigation.
PPP Loan Fraud
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created a huge source of funding for businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021. To apply for and receive PPP funds, businesses had to provide very little information about their company. The federal government, including federal offices in Wyoming, are now scrambling to keep up with PPP fraud cases where business owners or individuals lied on their application forms.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is a way of committing a theft offense. You embezzle money from someone if that person gives it to you for your safekeeping or for you to use on their behalf, but then you pocket it and use it for yourself. This makes embezzlement a common charge for people in the following occupations to face:
- Securities brokers
- Financial planners
- Bankers
- Hedge fund managers
- Lawyers
The penalties for embezzlement are extreme. Depending on the circumstances, you can face up to $1 million in fines and 30 years in prison for embezzling anything over $1,000.
Bank Fraud
It is illegal to use a financial scheme to defraud a financial institution and obtain its funds. At the federal level, bank fraud is punishable with up to 30 years in prison and a million dollars in fines. Some examples of bank fraud include:
- Lying in order to secure a line of credit, loan, or a bank account
- Check fraud
- Identity theft
Wyoming law enforcement officers also take bank fraud cases very seriously.
Bribery
Compensating a public official in order to receive a benefit is a serious criminal offense. At the federal level, convictions for bribery carry up to 15 years in federal prison. State and federal law enforcement agencies are especially likely to take strong action if taxpayer money was funneled away in the bribe and the kickback that it produced. Those benefits often take the form of:
- Favorable votes
- Non-action regarding a political issue
- Awarding a government contract
- Killing an investigation
Importantly, you do not need to be the one actually benefitting from the bribe to be convicted for it.
Money Laundering
Money laundering is the crime of taking illegally-obtained funds and passing them through a legitimate business in order to remove the taint.
Conspiracy
You do not even need to complete a white collar offense to be convicted of a crime. Conspiracy to commit a financial crime is enough. All that you have to do to commit conspiracy is agree with someone else to commit the offense and then take a step towards its completion.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney
& Former District Attorney
Local Counsel
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Linda Julin McNamara
Former Chief, DOJ Appeals
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Kevin M. Sheridan
Former Special Agent (FBI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Dennis A. Wichern
Former Special Agent-in-Charge (DEA)
FAQs About The Criminal Defense Firm and White Collar Crime in Wyoming
Who Has Jurisdiction Over White Collar Crimes in Wyoming?
It depends on the conduct at issue and how widespread it was. If fraudulent activity reached over Wyoming’s state lines then the federal government can have jurisdiction over it. Additionally, if the allegedly fraudulent activity impacted federal sources of funding, like Medicare or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly called Food Stamps), it can also trigger federal jurisdiction. Even when there is federal jurisdiction, though, the federal government may still let the state of Wyoming handle it, instead. This is especially common when the amount at issue was relatively small.
What are Some Common Legal Defenses?
White collar crime allegations can be difficult to defend against. However, there are several common legal defenses that experienced white collar defense attorneys can raise, like:
- Entrapment – Law enforcement agents coerced you into committing a crime that you would not have committed otherwise
- Illegal search – Law enforcement agents violated your Fourth Amendment rights during the investigation, so the fruits of that search should be excluded from trial
- Lack of intent – You did not have the specific intent to defraud that is necessary for most white collar crimes
In many cases, though, the best defense is to raise reasonable doubts about the prosecutor’s case against you. Law enforcement has to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. If you can provide innocent explanations for their apparently incriminating evidence, it can drastically undermine their case against you.
Why Can't I Just Say I Did Not Intend to Commit the Crime?
A lack of intent is a good defense to criminal liability for a white collar offense in Wyoming. This makes it a top choice for inexperienced white collar defense lawyers or other attorneys who are not familiar with the nuances and hidden risks of financial offenses.
It is important to remember that white collar crimes can also spawn civil cases alongside them. Civil liability does not require a showing of an intent to defraud. Going straight for a lack of intent defense in the criminal case can end up tacitly admitting to the underlying factual allegations, which can then be used to support a civil case against you. While civil wrongdoing does not carry jail time, the fines that can be imposed are frequently very high.
Why Doesn't The Criminal Defense Firm Call Itself the Best White Collar Defense Firm in Wyoming?
While our team of attorneys and investigators all have decades of experience defending people who have been accused of white collar crimes and have amassed a long record of successful defense stories, this is something that we would rather let our prior clients say about our firm. Many of them have left testimonials about how The Criminal Defense Firm was able to protect their rights and their future when their case had seemed very bleak.
The Criminal Defense Firm: White Collar Defense in Wyoming
If have been accused of committing one of these crimes or another white collar offense in Wyoming, you need legal representation.
Call The Criminal Defense Firm at (866) 603-4540 or contact us online to get started on your case right away.