The experienced attorneys at Griffin Durham Tanner & Clarkson have successfully defended many high-powered company executives, professionals, and elected officials nationwide.
We have the well-honed skills needed to protect you through government investigations, subpoenas, and litigation.
Whether you have been arrested, received a target letter from the Department of Justice, or served with a summons notifying you of an indictment or criminal complaint, contact us immediately. We can begin taking the necessary steps to protect your rights.
One of our Georgia white collar crimes defense attorneys is standing by to consult on your case, call us now at (404) 891-9150 for the Atlanta area, or (912) 867-9140 for Savannah.
What is white collar crime?
The term “white collar crime” is used to describe alleged criminal conduct occurring in business, professional, or government. Most often, these allegations involve fraud, theft, or some violation of trust.
White collar criminal investigations are different from other types of criminal investigations. Prosecutors are generally specialists who can draw on nearly limitless pools of investigators, auditors, and examiners.
Below are some of the types of white collar crime we deal with regularly:
Antitrust Crimes (e.g. fixing prices, rigging bids)
Antitrust crimes are concerned with the activities of companies and how they interact with one another in the open market.
Companies that engage in antitrust activities take away from other businesses to compete in the open market by fixing prices, rigging bids, accepting back-end deals, and other activities that reward specific people at the expense of the free market.
Bank Fraud
Bank fraud can involve a variety of activities from forging checks to using false identification to access accounts one is not entitled to access.
Bank fraud can also include the theft of your funds in excess of an amount that you might have agreed upon through unauthorized drafts or withdrawals on your account.
Bankruptcy Fraud
Bankruptcy is a legal process through which a company claims that they are unable to cover the cost of their debts, and in exchange are given forgiveness on some debts, and the ability to create payments plans and arrangements with others.
When a company lies about bankruptcy for leniency with their debtors so they can continue operations, they can be liable for damages to their debtors, shareholders, and others.
Cyber Crime (phishing scams, cyberstalking, computer trespass)
You or someone you know might have already experienced cybercrime in the form of identity theft from a computer virus or phishing email.
Defense Procurement Fraud
This is when the procurement process is manipulated by a party involved to acquire contracts, goods or services, or to obtain an advantage during the procurement process. This can include misrepresentation of the quality of products, or fraud concerning the ability of the company.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the theft of funds from an organization. This can happen when someone takes too liberally from the “petty cash” of a company, or can be the manipulation of sales amounts to allow for the taking of a portion of the amount.
Embezzlement can be detrimental to your business. If you discover an employee stealing, you could be entitled to compensation.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is the improper use of a person’s identity to gain some benefits, financial or otherwise. Identify theft can occur when your social security number is taken to create a fake ID or if your bank account information is stolen and your accounts are emptied.
Insider Trading
Insider trading is when someone in a public company uses their knowledge to generate a profit before that knowledge is available to the public. Generally, insider trading suits are brought by shareholders who have lost value in their stocks as a result of insider trading in the company.
Misbranding
Misbranding is the act of claiming that a particular product or service originates from a brand that it in fact does not.
You might have seen misbranded items on the streets, also known as counterfeit items. Misbranding is done to make a greater profit off of a cheaper product, leaving the consumer with less quality for their money.
Money Laundering
Money laundering is when funds that were made by engaging in criminal activity are processed through legal businesses to hide the initial source of the money.
You might have seen Walter White on the television show “Breaking Bad” using a car wash to launder money. By claiming that his illegal drug money was earned by washing cars for the business, its illegal origins are hidden.
Public Corruption
Public corruption is perpetrated by local, state, or federal officials, as well as abetting private citizens. Politicians are not always as honest as they claim during their campaigns, and corruption can and does happen more often than you might think.
When political corruption leads to injury or losses to individuals, they may be entitled to bring suit to collect compensation for their damages.
RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act) Violations
RICO allows the government to use some very intrusive, and highly technological, surveillance techniques. They listen in on your phone calls and communications to determine if you are involved in criminal activity or the organizing of criminal activity.
It has since been extended to terrorist activities and has been abused by the government many times.
Securities Fraud
Securities are investment instruments like stocks or bonds. When securities fraud happens, investors may lose value by purchasing falsely valued stocks.
The “pump and dump” strategy of penny stocks is an example of this, which is when the value of a stock is artificially inflated so a select few shareholders profit while the rest lose everything.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Fraud
There are some special loans and opportunities available to businesses through the SBA, and when businesses make false claims or assertions to gain access to these benefits, they have engaged in SBA fraud.
Tax Fraud
Tax fraud is when a person or entity manipulates their earnings to avoid paying taxes or to gain benefits through filing taxes. This can include failing to claim income or claiming dependents on a tax return that do not exist.
Mail Fraud/Wire Fraud
Mail fraud or wire fraud is concerned with the requesting and sending of fraudulent transactions.
This can include scams where someone pretending to be a relative contacts someone asking for money for an emergency and has it wired to them. Later, the sender learns that it was not their family member who had initially called them.
It’s important to note that some investigations may involve multiple crimes.
White Collar Investigations
Attorneys with Griffin Durham have a long history of persuading prosecutors and agencies to quietly end government crime investigations without filing charges against their clients.
Often, an individual will not know they are under investigation until it has progressed to an advanced stage. When the government shifts from a “covert” investigation to an “overt” investigation, they can use several tools, including:
- Search warrants
- Target letters
- Grand jury subpoenas
- Administrative subpoenas
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) Subpoenas
- Requests for interview
If you receive this or any other form of notice from the Department of Justice or other state or federal law enforcement agencies, you need immediate and experienced representation. We will immediately come up with a strategy to protect you or your business.
Early intervention allows us to persuade the government to cease its investigation or, if necessary, negotiate favorable resolutions and settlements before the government brings formal charges.
White Collar Convictions Have Serious Consequences
If you are convicted of a white collar crime, your life will be seriously impacted. You need a Georgia white collar crimes defense attorney as soon as possible.
The lawyers of Griffin Durham Tanner & Clarkson know all too well the harsh penalties you face. Financial crimes are investigated by agencies like the FBI, the IRS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Secret Service — agencies that don’t fool around.
Convictions for white collar crime can result in:
- Imprisonment for up to 30 years
- Heavy fines
- Court costs and legal fees
- Restitution and/or forfeiture
Beyond these legal consequences, white collar crime convictions frequently affect:
- Present and future employment
- Professional licensing
- Immigration status
- Child custody and visitation
- Reputation
The consequences of a conviction for a white collar crime can damage nearly every aspect of your life. This is why you need aggressive advocacy by white collar defense attorneys with outstanding litigation skills.
Steps Griffin Durham Tanner & Clarkson Will Take to Defend You
Depending on the complexities of your case and the weight of evidence against you, a positive outcome may consist of:
Preventing charges from being filed.
By negotiating with the prosecutor to discuss the evidence, we may be able to get your case cleared before it is ever filed.
Having all charges dismissed.
By challenging the evidence, we have effectively had all charges dismissed against our clients.
Negotiating a plea agreement.
If the evidence could go against you in court, we can negotiate a plea agreement to minimize the impact on your life and your record.
Going to trial.
If the state will not be reasonable, we will go to trial and advocate for your rights and best interests in court.
Representing Clients Across Georgia and Beyond
With offices in Atlanta and Savannah, our Georgia white collar crimes lawyers include an extended network of legal professionals that can represent you in Georgia and beyond.
Contact An Experienced Georgia White Collar Crime Defense Attorney Today
The attorneys at Griffin Durham Tanner & Clarkson have tried major white collar criminal cases – we will never shy away from a fight to protect your interests. Whatever the circumstances, we are dedicated to taking your side and fighting with all our strength to bring your case to a favorable conclusion.
Contact us online to schedule your case consultation. You may also call (404) 891-9150 for our Atlanta office and (912) 867-9140 for Savannah.