Houston White Collar Crime Attorney

white collar crime - Lawyer taking notes at legal meeting with client

Have you have been arrested for committing a white collar crime? If so, you are no doubt overwhelmed by fears of fines or imprisonment, loss of income and reputation. If you are going through the challenges of this situation, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you navigate the criminal justice system and bring your case to a successful conclusion. No attorney in the Houston area is better equipped to do this than Jose Ceja, lead attorney at Ceja Law Firm, PLLC. Well-known for his legal savvy and for treating each client with personalized care, he not only has a perfect rating from Avvo.com but is recognized by colleagues and clients alike as a fine criminal defense attorney.

Defining White Collar Crime

White collar criminals are motivated by a desire for financial gain and use deceit, not violence, to achieve their goal. They are called “white collar criminals” because they typically work in corporations, business, financial or educational institutions, or government agencies so it is assumed that they do not get their hands (or collars) dirty. While it is commonly thought that white collar crimes are committed by high-paid executives and professionals, lower-level employees, such as clerks, managers, and bookkeepers may also be charged with white collar crimes. To be charged with a white collar crime it is not necessary to be wealthy or of high status; it is only necessary that you have access to someone else’s financial accounts. White collar crimes can be prosecuted in Texas State court or Federal courts. But wherever the case is prosecuted, it is essential to have smart, aggressive representation and Ceja Law Firm is an excellent choice.

Types of White Collar Crime in Texas State or Federal Courts

There are a great many kinds of white collar crime, and several are divided into subcategories.

Fraud is deception for monetary gain. As such, the term is a broad umbrella, involving intentional misrepresentation designed to lure another person to act in a way that will result in harm to that person’s financial well-being while lining your own pockets. Types of fraud include:

  • Corporate fraud is the intentional misrepresentation of a company’s financial information. In general, corporate fraud involves falsifying corporate financial records to make a business appear more profitable than it actually is to potential investors.
  • Healthcare fraud may be committed by doctors or healthcare facilities that deliberately overcharge insurance companies for services provided, or bill them for tests and procedures that were unnecessary or never even performed. Healthcare fraud may also be perpetuated by patients who obtain healthcare under stolen identities.
  • Insurance fraud may be committed by either a claimant or a provider. Any claimant who knowingly lies on an application form or intentionally makes a false claim of illness or injury, damage, theft, or loss of property in order to receive undeserved funds is committing insurance fraud.
  • Mortgage fraud consists of purposely including or omitting incorrect information on a mortgage application as a means of obtaining a more sizable mortgage. On some occasions, realtors, appraisers, or even loan officers are participants in mortgage fraud.
  • Securities fraud is a criminal activity designed to lure potential investors by spreading false or misleading information about a company’s future prospects. One form of securities fraud is insider trading in which private information is disseminated to give individuals advance notice so they can buy or sell stock for illegal profit.

Tax Evasion

Tax evasion is the act of purposefully avoiding a tax obligation through trickery or deception. Both companies and individuals are capable of committing this white collar crime by falsifying financial data in any of the following ways: [1] failing to pay taxes that are due [2] taking in unreported income [3] transferring property illegally or [4] not paying the full amount of sales tax collected.

Money Laundering

Money laundering involves hiding money that has been illegally obtained. In many cases, money is “laundered” by being channeled through a number of businesses and banks (often both foreign and domestic) so that its origin is difficult to trace. The purpose of money laundering is both to evade taxes and to avoid prosecution.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement occurs when an individual who has a fiduciary duty to an individual or company siphons money out of accounts for personal gain. The person embezzling is someone who has been trusted with financial information and given access to funds. That person may be an employee stealing from his or her company, one partner stealing from another, or an accountant, lawyer, or financial advisor stealing from a client.

Other White Collar Crimes

There are more types of white collar crimes beyond those addressed here, including:

  • Forgery
  • Bribery
  • Counterfeiting
  • Internet fraud
  • Identity theft
  • Mail fraud
  • Wire fraud

Whichever one you stand accused of, Ceja Law can help to extricate you from your legal troubles.

Contact Our Houston White Collar Crime Attorney

Jose Ceja is a sharp and careful white collar crimes attorney with well-conceived strategies to protect your financial stability, your reputation, and your freedom.

When you contact Ceja Law Firm, you will connect with skilled professionals. Don’t spend valuable time worrying about your future. Be proactive in the present. Remember that the sooner you call us, the sooner we can intervene aggressively on your behalf and the greater your chances are of a successful outcome. Contact us by phone or through our website so we can begin strenuously defending your rights, your reputation, your finances, and your freedom.

Ceja Law Firm handles white collar crime cases throughout Texas including Houston, Brazoria County, Chambers County, Fort Bend County, Galveston County, Harris County, Liberty County, Montgomery County, Walker County, and Waller County.