Orange County White Collar Crimes Lawyer
Aggressive Representation in Southern California & Nationwide for Federal Charges
White collar crimes are violations of laws involving theft in some form. The penalties for a white collar crime conviction are serious, so it is advisable to enlist an experienced attorney on your side.
White collar crimes are offenses at the state and federal levels. At Law Office of Diane C. Bass, Attorney Diane C. Bass has decades of professional experience and has handled some of the most significant cases in the history of the Central District of California. She can fight aggressively for your side in court while seeking to protect you against harsh and unfair accusations. Putting her in your corner as soon as you are under investigation by law enforcement is vital; this gives our firm the time to thoroughly investigate the situation and begin building a defense strategy.
Learn how the law impacts your situation and your options in a consultation with our Orange County white collar crimes attorney. Get started by calling (949) 990-4195 or contact us online.
What Is Securities & Investment Fraud?
Securities fraud crimes involve deceptive or fraudulent activities in the stock or commodities markets. The term “securities” broadly encompasses all types of investments, such as municipal bonds, corporate stocks, banknotes, and investment contracts.
Securities fraud usually occurs when someone involved with one of these investments (e.g., professional financial analyst, securities broker, corporation) lies, cheats, or steals to gain an economic advantage. Securities fraud is typically perpetrated through schemes inducing others to willingly invest money or something else of value. A person can commit securities fraud even if they never actually profit from the activity; if they engage in fraud with the intent to profit, that is enough to be accused of the crime.
A conviction for securities fraud can lead to significant civil or criminal penalties. A convicted individual could face fines as high as $5,000,000, while other circumstances could warrant $10,000 or more. A conviction can also result in a five-year federal sentence for every offense. Probation may also be an option, depending on the severity of the offense.
What Are Wire Fraud Crimes?
Wire fraud is a federal crime when someone voluntarily and intentionally uses an interstate communications device (e.g., a telephone, fax machine, or e-mail) to send, receive, or otherwise transmit messages across state lines to defraud another of value.
These crimes are becoming increasingly prevalent as more business transactions use the Internet. An individual cannot accidentally commit wire fraud; federal prosecutors must show that a defendant acted with the intent to fraudulently deprive someone of money, property, or something of value.
A wire fraud conviction does not require the alleged victim to lose money. If you attempted to obtain money, that is enough to be convicted. Additionally, every act of wire fraud constitutes a separate offense. If 10 phone calls were made as part of the scheme, you can be charged with 10 separate acts of wire fraud.
Wire Fraud Penalties
The penalties for wire fraud could be fines of up to 20 years in prison. If the scheme affects a financial institution or is connected to a presidentially declared disaster or emergency, the potential penalties could reach up to $1,000,000 in fines and up to 30 years in prison. An individual accused of wire fraud could pursue a few defense arguments, such as claiming good faith or “puffery.”
In legal contexts, puffery refers to exaggerated or boastful statements about a product or service that are so vague or subjective that they cannot be objectively measured or proven true or false. These statements are often seen as mere sales talk or marketing hype and are not intended to be taken literally by consumers.
Puffery used in defense against wire fraud could be invoked to argue that any misleading statements made were not fraudulent but were instead non-specific, opinion-based promotions that did not intend to deceive.
What Are Tax Fraud Laws?
Tax fraud offenses can be civil or criminal. Civil cases may involve an allegation that the taxpayer made a mistake or calculation error or acted negligently in preparing and filing their taxes. In contrast, criminal cases could accuse the taxpayer of taking intentional actions to avoid paying the taxes owed.
Some common forms of tax fraud are:
- Filing a false return;
- Evading taxes;
- Filing false documents;
- Not collecting employment taxes;
- Failing to pay taxes;
- Failing to file tax returns.
Tax fraud involves intentional wrongdoing: an accident while filing does not constitute tax fraud.
Tax Fraud Penalties
Individuals committing criminal tax fraud could face severe fines determined by the state. Generally, a conviction for a single count of tax evasion can result in a prison term of up to five years, and fines upon conviction could go up to $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations.
Other tax fraud crimes have maximum penalties of $100,000 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations. In many cases, tax fraud cases can also order restitution to repay the amount of taxes to the state or federal government.
Other Types of White Collar Criminal Offenses
Under the law, white collar offenses can be either state or federal crimes. Criminal defense lawyers will attempt to build winning defenses while maintaining a confidential attorney-client relationship that seeks to pursue the client’s best interests.
Other types of white collar crime include but are not limited to:
- Antitrust violations
- Bank fraud
- Corporate fraud
- Identity theft
- Insider trading
- Insurance fraud
- Intellectual property theft
- Conspiracy
- Counterfeiting/Forgery
- Embezzlement
- Money laundering
- Ponzi schemes
- Credit card fraud
- Healthcare fraud
- Mail fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Real estate fraud
- Medicare & Medicaid fraud
- Pyramid schemes
How White Collar Crimes Are Typically Prosecuted
White collar crimes are typically prosecuted through detailed investigations that often involve the cooperation of multiple agencies. These crimes, characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust, are not generally based on physical force.
Trusted By Clients
Reviews & Testimonials
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Diane is the perfect mix of gentle understanding and fierce action you’ll need if you find yourself dealing with the OC court system.- Angie T.
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My first impression was that she’s very experienced, no-nonsense, knows the law, how the system works, and was very busy as a result. I quickly realized that she exceeded even those first impressions but also cared very much about my story, needs, an- Daniel B.
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First of all, I would like to thank Diane for everything she has done for me. From the start of my case, she has been there for me. Only very few people were granted bond and she pulled it off in my case. I know for a fact not too many lawyers could have done that. I am on probation for three years.. while “the others” will not have the chance to raise their children and live their lives. I was headed to prison….I am free.. and for that, I am forever grateful.- John H.
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After meeting with Diane I felt immediate comfort, and I was sold on the fact that I could trust this amazing person with my life. Diane Bass was there for me every step of the way like no other attorney had ever been.- Ryan O.
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Diane is a brilliant attorney. She listens carefully to your problems and clearly advises you with honesty. She was with me from the first day of my case and I have never been disappointed in any way.- Maria K.
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Since this being my first Federal offense, I had no idea what to expect. I was extremely anxious. After talking to Diane, I felt like she was the attorney I needed to help me get through these challenging times. Her professionalism and knowledge of the law- Adam P.
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Diane’s work is second to none. I was charged with felony DV, and after working with one firm in Irvine that did absolutely nothing, I did some hard research and found Diane. She worked quickly and diligently and got the case dismissed. I absolutely don’t foresee me needing a criminal lawyer down the road, but if I do, it’ll be Diane hands down!
- Shadic A. -
Her expertise, connections, analysis, and comprehensive review of my situation were more than I could ever ask. I am extremely grateful and couldn't be happier with my choice!- Jeff R.
Why Choose Law Office of Diane C. Bass?
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We consistently deliver results that exceed expectations, earning the trust of clients and accolades from the legal community.
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With over 25 years of criminal defense legal experience, we bring a wealth of seasoned insight and a proven track record of success to every case we handle.
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With extensive knowledge and experience in federal cases, we offer comprehensive legal strategies tailored to the complexities of each situation.
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Our reputation among clients and peers alike reflects our unwavering dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes for those we represent.
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Attorney Bass is frequently featured in media outlets such as The Washington Post, LA Times, ESPN, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and more.
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With a track record of handling some of the most significant cases in the Central District of California, our firm brings unmatched experience to every client's defense.