Corporate executives often mistakenly assume corporate counsel will represent their interests in the event of a federal investigation or lawsuit. However, the reality is that corporate counsel represents only the corporation and not the executives. Typically, corporations will try to blame individual executives to escape or mitigate corporate exposure when serious trouble with the federal government arises. This article isn’t…
“You lied, cheated and stole.” It is Apr. 7, 2014 and according to the New Haven Independent, an attorney is directing this statement at Joseph Levitin. The lawyer pointing out Levitin’s misdeeds was not a prosecutor, but his own defense attorney. “I got blinded by greed and went with it,” says Levitin. Some white collar criminal charges stem from an…
After the Wall Street debacle, the U.S. Sentencing Commission stipulated more stringent sentencing guidelines for white collar offenses. Sadly, the initiative may have gone a bit too far. During the heart of the Great Recession, fraudulent financial dealings on Wall Street inundated media outlets everywhere. Stories about the careless actions of the Lehman Brothers and other investment bankers like Bernie…
On behalf of Dan Guthrie Embezzlement is a common and serious crime. Since many people can find themselves in situations where they can be accused of the crime, it important for everyone to have a basic understanding of it. When the term “embezzlement” comes to mind, you may think of your favorite crime caper, but not a real life occurrence.…
Money laundering involves the process of sending money through various financial transactions, making it hard for people to distinguish its illegal origin. After obtaining a large sum of money in an illegal fashion, people cannot simply enjoy the funds by taking lavish vacations and purchasing elite property. They must first put the money through a process of transactions designed to…
A new Texas bill seeks to repeal state civil asset forfeiture laws, which let authorities seize a person’s property without proving the person’s guilt. Most people in Dallas understand that people accused of crimes in the U.S. are considered innocent until proven guilty. However, many people may not know that this standard does not guarantee absolute protection for people suspected…
The Department of Justice has indicated that it will be focusing more on prosecuting individuals for corporate crimes. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled that it will shift its approach in how it pursues and prosecutes companies and individuals who are accused of corporate wrongdoing, according to the Wall Street Journal. In a recently released memo, Deputy Attorney…