Non-violent, financially motivated crimes and federal offenses investigated by the FBI with assistance from other federal and local agencies are called white-collar crimes. These involve business professionals, bankers, and politicians, who have engaged in bank and securities fraud, bribery, money laundering, and embezzlement. Since the advent of the internet, romance cons and get-rich-quick schemes targeting the elderly have proliferated.
If you are an FBI target and are under investigation—or have been arrested—you need the right defender on your side. By the time you learn you are under investigation, the government has already been collecting evidence for a while. As the government has unlimited resources, you will need the most aggressive and experienced attorney to fight the charges. That attorney is Bill Nettles, who has unique knowledge about the federal systems. He is the Columbia white-collar defense lawyer you need.
Fraud is the most prosecuted white-collar crime by federal agencies. It covers numerous industries, such as banking, mortgages, real estate, consumer goods, and fraud perpetrated by phone and the internet. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 61.8 million cases of fraud are committed annually, including fraudulent weight-loss products and billing consumers for products they did not agree to buy.
The FBI recently estimated that internet fraud loss accounts for $3.5 billion every year. This commonly takes the form of catfishing, which is when someone represents themselves as a bank or other organization seeking sensitive information such as credit card numbers and security codes.
Fraud charges can lead to federal prison sentences, restitution, and fines. Although the federal government is a formidable opponent, our team members, with almost 100 years combined experience, much of it as former federal prosecutors, are formidable allies as white-collar defense attorneys in Columbia.
The FBI—or any of the agencies it works with—may contact anyone suspected of fraud, or the U.S. Attorney’s Office may send a target letter to let them know they are under investigation. Along with the U.S. Attorney, the agencies that commonly work with the FBI include:
Corporate fraud investigations are high on the FBI’s list because if a case is broad enough, the U.S. economy and stock markets can falter. If anyone is contacted by the FBI or an affiliate, an agent will ask for their cooperation. In such cases, they should agree to help but exercise their constitutional right to remain silent until they can consult with an attorney.
We are the premier law firm with a track record of successfully defending clients against white-collar crime charges in Columbia. Our lawyers have no qualms about going up against federal prosecutors because they have often served in that capacity. Bill Nettles is an experienced U.S. attorney and public defender, and he has also worked as a sole practitioner, defending clients accused of white-collar crimes.
Do not panic if the FBI visits you and announces you are under investigation for a non-violent, financial crime. An accusation is not a conviction. The federal prosecutor must prove all the elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. For instance, if you are accused of insider trading, but you are subject to an agreement with your company to sell stock on a certain date each quarter, it would be difficult to prove you sold stock solely in reliance on information the public did not have.
By talking to the skilled attorneys at Bill Nettles, Attorney at Law, you will allow us to assess your case like the federal prosecutors who are investigating you, which is an invaluable tool in our defense arsenal. Call a Columbia white-collar defense lawyer today so we can begin strategizing on your behalf.
