St. Petersburg White Collar Crimes Attorney
What are White Collar Crimes?
The term "white-collar crime" refers to serious but non-violent offenses involving ill-gotten financial gains. White-collar crime defendants are often executives, business owners, professionals or employees who are facing the criminal justice system for the first time in their lives. Usually, they are in the position to access company funds and the allegations involve thousands of dollars, sometimes hundreds of thousands.
Since the Enron scandal and other high-profile cases, lawmakers in Florida and nationwide have enacted new laws and dedicated more resources to prosecuting white-collar crimes. The days of "Club Fed" or slap-on-the-wrist sentences are gone. Now, there are long terms in state prison with mandatory minimums.
Types of White Collar Crimes
The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger emphasizes pre-filing interaction with prosecutors to get charges dismissed in unfounded cases, or to impact charging decisions so that our clients face less severe felonies or even misdemeanors.
Our St. Petersburg criminal defense trial lawyer handles the full range of white collar offenses, including:
- Embezzlement
- Misappropriation of client funds
- Corporate malfeasance
- Grand theft
- Investment scams
- Consumer fraud
- Insurance fraud
- Mortgage fraud and bank fraud
- Identity theft and computer crimes
What are the Penalties for White Collar Crimes?
In the state of Florida, the penalties for white collar crimes can be severe. If convicted, you could be facing the following penalties:
- Lengthy jail or prison sentences
- Large fines
- Restitution
- Probation
- Community Service
This is why you should contact an experienced white collar crime attorney from The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger right away if you are being suspected of a white collar crime.
Former Prosecutor Who Knows How to Confront White-Collar Charges
Florida white-collar crime defense attorney Tim Hessinger prosecuted financial crimes during his 15 years in the State Attorney's Office. Our firm understand the government's resources, timelines and tactics for building a case. We also know the weak links in these prosecutions — dependence on ambiguous financial documents, intercepted communications or the testimony of others who were implicated. We have the ability to sort through the massive paper trail and find the elements of a viable defense.
Damage Control
We understand that even the allegations of a white collar crime can be career-ending. We also understand that the client's reputation in his or her business community may be just as important as the outcome of the criminal case. Tim Hessinger has had many cases that attracted significant media attention. His ability to work with the media to minimize the negative attention on his clients is yet another cog in our multi-faceted representation.
If you have been charged with a white-collar crime or think that indictment is imminent, it is important to obtain competent counsel with the skills and professional experience to guide you through the rigors of the investigation. If you have been arrested, indicted by a grand jury, or suspect you are under investigation, contact us immediately.
You can reach us by e-mail or by calling our St. Petersburg office at (888) 863-7415.