A white-collar crime charge, like one pertaining to fraud or embezzlement, can crater life as you know it. There’s a good chance you’ll lose your job, suffer disgrace in your community and your profession, and face the real possibility of prison time. As scary as that can be, there is hope that you’ll beat the prosecution, clear your name, and successfully rebuild your life from the damage that’s been caused to it.
To successfully fight back against the prosecution, you’ll need evidence that contradicts the state’s story, but you’ll also want to avoid making mistakes that throw the door open for conviction. Let’s briefly look at some of those mistakes so that you know what you need to be aware of as you build your criminal defense.
A lot of people who have been charged with a white-collar crime make the mistake of only focusing on pushing back against the prosecution’s evidence. By neglecting their own behavior while under investigation or when building their criminal defense, they hand incriminating evidence over to the state. So, as you proceed with your case, be sure to avoid doing the following:
- Talking about your case with anyone other than your attorney: Sure, discussing your case with a close family member or friend can give you emotional release, but it puts you at great legal risk. This is because the prosecutor in your case can subpoena these individuals and force them to testify about what you’ve told them. As a result, incriminating statements can come out in court, and they could significantly increase your chances of being convicted. If you need to talk to someone, talk to your attorney since these communications are protected by attorney-client privilege.
- Destroying or hiding evidence: You might think that you can avoid or dampen suspicions by getting rid of incriminating evidence, but doing so is a crime, and it’ll just make you look even more guilty of the underlying offense. And don’t think that the prosecution and the court won’t find out. They’ll know if you’ve tried to obstruct an investigation.
- Talking to the police: Some people who have been accused of a white-collar offense think they can talk their way out of suspicion by sitting down with investigators to discuss the case. This is a huge mistake. The police have a plethora of tactics they use to get people like you to talk, which could result in you unintentionally making incriminating statements. Remember that the police aren’t there to help you. They’re there to gather evidence to support a conviction.
- Keeping information from your criminal defense attorney: If you’re going to have an advocate in your corner as you fight your white-collar crime charges, then that attorney needs to know every detail of your case. If you keep information from them, then you’ll increase the chances that they’ll be taken by surprise in court, which won’t be good for you. It could even increase the chances that you’re convicted, or it could cause you to lose out on an otherwise favorable plea deal.
You need an assertive criminal defense if you want to protect yourself in your white-collar crime case. Building one of these defenses will require a command of the facts and knowledge of the law. You’ll also need to know how to act so that you don’t inadvertently put yourself behind the eight-ball.
With so much to think about, now is the time to start developing your white-collar crime criminal defense strategy with an eye on beating the prosecution, protecting your interests, and salvaging your freedom and your future.