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White Collar Crime in Alabama

Defined as nonviolent crime committed by means of deception for financial gain, white collar crime is becoming more and more prevalent with each passing year. In many states, this type of nonviolent crime is reaching the same rates as violent crime and then surpassing it.

Despite white collar crime being nonviolent in nature, these offenses are still quite severe and usually have a big impact on their victims. Therefore, Alabama takes these offenses very seriously and punishes white collar crime harshly. If you have been charged with a white collar crime in Alabama, it is important to begin your defense strategy immediately by hiring a qualified Madison County criminal defense attorney to fight for your future as soon as possible.

White Collar Crime Attorney in Huntsville AL

The skilled defense lawyers at Law Offices Of Segal & Segal have nearly 40 years of combined experience in Alabama courtrooms, with several years of experience defending criminal cases like yours. Additionally, members of the Law Offices Of Segal & Segal team also have prosecution experience, which may prove invaluable. In a white collar crime case, this knowledge of both sides of the courtroom brings a strategic advantage to your case, allowing us at Law Offices Of Segal & Segal to weaken the prosecution's case against you while building a point-for-point comprehensive defense.

If you have been charged with a financial crime in Madison County or the surrounding counties of Limestone, Marshall, Jackson, or Morgan, contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Law Offices Of Segal & Segal. We will conduct a comprehensive case overview at your free initial consultation, so call (256) 533-4529 to schedule yours today.


Alabama White Collar Crime Information Center


Today's White Collar Crime Landscape

Media coverage of famous Ponzi scams or the 2002 Enron scandal can make white collar crime seem like a lofty offense for high-profile businesspersons only. However, this type of crime is more common and everyday than one may think, costing the United States an estimated $300 billion every year.

The defendant may even be unaware of the severity of his or her defense or surmise that his or her actions are not having that big of an impact as white collar crime includes things like:

  • Forgery
  • Obtaining signature by deception
  • Deceptive business practices
  • Falsifying business records
  • Illegal possession of food stamps
  • Any type of fraud
  • Insider trading
  • Embezzlement
  • Money laundering
  • Copyright infringement
  • Identity theft

Initially, it may not seem like these practice are just skimming the top and not affecting business, or the alleged offender may not even be aware that his or her actions are illegal. However, eventually the actions will affect the company by raising product cost, cutting pay, and downsizing employees. There are many gray areas when it comes to white collar crime.

If you have been charged with deceptive business practices, fraud, forgery, or another type of white collar crime – it is paramount that you hire an experienced Madison County white collar defense attorney as soon as possible to help protect your future.


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Common Types of Financial Crimes in Madison County, Alabama

White collar offenses are outlined in Title 13A, Chapter 9 of the Code of Alabama, which is comprehensive in covering forgery, business frauds, charitable fraud, food stamp fraud, and home repair fraud. Some of the more notable and common offenses are defined below.

Forgery

  • Third-degree forgery is any completion or alteration of a written instrument with the intent to defraud
  • Second-degree forgery is the false making, completion, or alteration of any deed, will, contract, check, draft, note, public record, or government-issued written instrument with the intent to defraud
  • First-degree forgery is the false making, completion, or alteration of any postal stamp or other valuable government instrument, or part of an issue or series of stocks and/or bonds with the intent to defraud

Credit and Debit Card Fraud

  • When a person uses, attempts to use, or allows use of a debit or credit card with the intent of obtaining property, services, or other things of value while knowledgeable that:
    • Card is stolen
    • Card has been revoked
    • Card has been canceled
    • Card is being used without authorization by the owner of the card
    • Card is being used without authorization of credit or debit card company

Deceptive Business Practices

  • Use of false weight or measure to falsely record quality or quantity
  • Sell, offer, deliver, or present for sale less than the represented quantity
  • An attempt to take more than the represented quantity in a buy through use of own weight or measure
  • Sell, offer, or present for sale faulty or adulterated products
  • Sell, offer, or present for sale mislabeled commodities or products

Falsifying Business Records

  • Make or cause a false entry in the business records of an enterprise with intent to defraud
  • Alter, erase, obliterate, delete, remove, or destroy a true entry in the business records of an enterprise with intent to defraud
  • Failure to make or prevent the making of a true entry in the business records of an enterprise with intent to defraud

Issuing a False Financial Statement

  • Knowingly make or utter a fully or partially inaccurate written instrument, the purpose of which is to describe the financial condition or ability of an individual, with the intent to defraud
  • Represent in writing that a written instrument with the purpose of describing a person's financial condition or ability to pay is accurate while knowing or having reason to believe the instrument is actually inaccurate in that respect.

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Consequences for White Collar Crime

The penalties for white collar crime in Alabama vary greatly by offense. Forgery, for instance, can be a felony while deceptive business practices are a misdemeanor. All of these charges will most likely have a  negative social impact on your future as well as affect your employability. Alabama white collar crime penalties are sorted by class, and include:

Class B Misdemeanor

  • Issuing a False Financial Statement
  • Falsifying Business Records
  • Deceptive Business Practices
  • Up to $3,000 fine
  • Up to 6 months of prison

Class A Misdemeanor

  • Third-Degree Forgery
  • Up to $6,000 fine
  • Up to 1 year of prison

Class C Felony

  • Credit and Debit Card Fraud
  • Second-Degree Forgery
  • Up to $15,000 fine
  • Up to 10 years of prison
  • 1 year, 1 day mandatory minimum sentence

Class B Felony

  • First-Degree Forgery
  • Up to $30,000 fine
  • Up to 20 years of prison
  • 2 year mandatory minimum sentence

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Finding the Best Economic Crime Defense Lawyer in Huntsville

If you have been charged with a while collar crime such as forgery or fraud in the Huntsville-Decatur area, including Madison, Albertville, Arab, Athens, Boaz, Gunterville, Hartselle, or Scottsboro contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Law Offices Of Segal & Segal today. Call (256) 533-4529 to set up your free initial consultation.

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