White Collar Crimes

When people think of white collar crime, they tend to think of a high-level executives embezzling money or “cooking the books.” While those offenses would be considered white collar crimes, you certainly don’t have to have a corner office to be charged with a white collar offense. If you have been charged with a white collar crime, then the Commonwealth or the federal government is essentially saying that you have engaged in deceit for some, usually financial, benefit. White collar charges can be incredibly complex, and the prosecution often employs the services of experts in their attempt to prove your guilt. Employing a seasoned attorney who has experience defending white collar crimes is vital to mitigate the potential penalties of your alleged offense.

White Collar Crimes in Virginia

• Embezzlement
  Embezzlement is the use, disposal or concealment of any personal property that is legally the property of another individual or entity. This offense is similar to larceny by false pretenses, and embezzlement is considered a form of larceny conviction.

• Fraud
  There are many fraud related offenses under Virginia law. Offenses containing elements of fraud are complex and wide-ranging, but the common thread in a fraud offense is the misrepresentation of fact in order to obtain some personal benefit from the entity being defrauded. Some fraud offenses are minor misdemeanors, and other could potentially carry long prison sentences. Fraud is also considered a form of larceny.

• Forgery and Uttering
  If you have been charged with forgery in Virginia, then the Commonwealth is contending that you have intended to deceive by creating, altering, or imitating a document or object. Common forgery charges include forging of public records, forging of currency, and possessing an instrument for the purpose of forgery. Uttering is a separate crime which occurs when someone passes a document they know to be forged.

• Identity Theft
  It is against Virginia law to use the identifying information of an individual without authorization from that individual. If the Commonwealth believes that you used another individual’s information with the intent to defraud, then you will be charged with identity theft. Identifying information includes, but is not limited to, an individual’s name, address, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, Social Security number, bank account, credit card and other account numbers.