Articles Posted in White Collar Crimes

Being accused of a crime in Georgia (or anywhere, for that matter) may have immediate and long-lasting negative effects, even before a case is tried in court. Society can be harsh toward those who find themselves in trouble with the law. Often, people form opinions without knowing all the facts. If a person is charged with criminal offenses such as white collar crimes or other criminal acts, it is typically best to seek immediate defense assistance to obtain help in preserving his or her reputation and freedom.

The term, “white collar crime” refers to any number of non-violent criminal offenses perpetrated in order to obtain financial gain. Identity theft, tax evasion and illegal use of a credit card all come under this category. Many times, large amounts of money are involved, and penalties if convicted may include extended time in prison and/or substantial fines.

With regard to tax fraud or bank-related offenses, it may be that a documentation error led to the appearance of fraud. If this is the case, a criminal defense attorney can advise a defendant how best to proceed to rectify the situation. If authorities conduct a formal investigation, a lawyer can launch a counter-investigation to scrutinize the process by which any search or seizure occurred and to protect the personal rights of the accused.

The penalties if convicted of mail or wire fraud in Georgia are often severe and may include an extended amount of time in prison. However, facing federal charges for alleged white collar crimes does not constitute guilt. A person’s chances to obtain a positive outcome typically increase when experienced legal representation is secured before standing before the court.

In many situations, after seeking guidance from a criminal lawyer, a defendant may enter a guilty plea in light of impending charges. It appears that four people have recently done so in a U.S. District Court. The defendants have each admitted taking part in an identity theft scheme that involved birth certificates and Social Security numbers.

White Collar Crimes: The alleged fraud plan reportedly was carried out beginning in April 2014. The persons involved were said to be conducting a trafficking operation of Puerto Rican birth certificates and Social Security cards. They apparently used Priority and Express mail services to transport the documents and disguised the activity by using false names on the packages.

White Collar Crimes: Sometimes, a person who has been arrested in Georgia questions whether law enforcement agents have acted in adherence to the strict regulations and protocol that govern the process. Especially in situations involving suspected fraud crimes where a search and seizure has taken place, or when a defendant believes that a mishandling of evidence or inappropriate processing of an arrest has occurred, a person accused may want to retain the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney to review the situation. There have been incidents where the court has dismissed a case or ruled certain proposed evidence inadmissible when it has been determined that a defendant’s rights were violated in some way.

At Conaway & Strickler, P.C., our successful record speaks for itself concerning our commitment to helping you protect and exercise your rights. Our experienced attorneys are prepared to present an aggressive defense in light of any fraud charges you may face. Knowing that your personal and professional reputation may be in jeopardy, we are dedicated to conducting a thorough investigation into the details of your arrest in order to craft a strong defense strategy on your behalf.

We have more than 20 years of experience defending clients in both state and federal courts especially clients charged with white collar crimes. Being accused of intentionally deceiving another person for personal financial gain is a serious matter that could result in severe penalties if a conviction is handed down. Having a seasoned criminal defense attorney on your side as you face charges may be crucial toward obtaining a favorable outcome in court.

White Collar Crimes: Regardless of the circumstances, being involved in a car accident is never an enjoyable experience. Even if the accident is relatively minor, there will likely be police reports and insurance companies to deal with. Two men in Georgia face additional obstacles after they were involved in a recent accident — they now faces accusations of committing fraud crimes.

The men — a 23-year-old and a 21-year-old —  were involved in what appears to be a relatively minor accident on a Georgia interstate. No one was injured in the accident. However, detectives soon realized that one of the men, a 23-year-old, was allegedly wanted in a different county. The details of the warrant in the nearby county are unclear. As a result, a search of the vehicle ensued.

Police claim that they found personal information for people not present in the car. They also claim to have discovered credit cards issued in other people’s names. As a result, both men face multiple counts of identity fraud and other white collar crimes. The older man faces additional charges, including a child restraint violation and a charge of failing to maintain his lane.

An incident that began six years ago took a new turn in recent days. A man accused of white collar crimes was apprehended on the Appalachian Trail, which begins in Georgia and stretches toward the Northeast for more than 2,000 miles. The man involved is age 53, and authorities claim that he had embezzled more than $8 million from his former employer.

Representatives from the FBI explained that the when the man in question was accused of stealing from his employer in 2009, he became a suspected fugitive from justice. Agents placed the man under arrest in May 2015, while he was at a festival celebrating the trail he had frequented for the past six years. Many people have said that he had become very well known along the famous hiking trail. 

An author of a trail guidebook stated that the man’s image was published in several hikers’ journals and that he regularly corresponded, sending information from his travels that he thought pertinent for the guidebook writer. Before he is said to have fled from authorities, he had worked at a Pepsi-Cola bottling company. It was during that time that his employer accused him of embezzling millions of dollars in funds.

Medical insurance can be complicated for both the patient and the medical provider. This can cause inconsistencies in the reporting of medical services performed by healthcare professionals. However, these inconsistencies can result in serious legal problems, including charges for white collar crimes, for medical providers. One psychologist is learning this the hard way and is now facing Medicaid insurance fraud charges in Georgia.

Prosecutors are accusing the psychologist of fraudulently billing Medicaid for services that were never performed. The Georgia Attorney General’s Office claims that the psychologist billed more than $250,000 worth of fraudulent claims. The psychologist allegedly received payments for the reported services in question between late February 2011 and mid-November 2013.

The authorities have prosecuted the psychologist for white collar crimes based upon the fact that she could not provide proper documentation for the reported services provided to patients during this time period. Medicaid requires medical professionals to maintain documentation for services billed to the program for reimbursement. The defendant was enrolled in a program known as Georgia Medicaid’s Psychological Services Program, which provides counseling for patients younger than 21 years of age that are eligible for Medicaid benefits.

Nobody is perfect and everybody makes some mistakes in life. However, some mistakes come with more serious consequences. In some instances, this can result in white collar crimes charges. This seems to be what has happened with one woman in Georgia who is now facing charges of fraud crimes.

The woman was a city employee when she was arrested on five charges of financial identity fraud. She was also charged with one count of theft by taking, according to a report released to the public by authorities. Apparently the woman had been purchasing personal items for herself with city credit cards. The woman reportedly admitted to spending a minimum of $6,000 during 2014.

The city government had also started their own investigation into the incident, which led the city officials to terminate the woman’s employment. It has also led the city to review internal policies and procedures in order to prevent similar incidences from occurring again. The suspect turned herself into law enforcement, according to authorities. The woman has since paid the required bail to be released from jail.

Medicaid fraud, one of many white collar crimes, is a serious issue, and prosecutors will typically waste no time in seeking convictions. A Georgia woman, who is the owner of the Brighter Futures Learning Center, has been arrested for insurance fraud. Authorities believe that she illegally billed over $300,000 in services that were never rendered.

Brighter Futures Learning Center provides mental health services for children and is registered with the state Medicaid program. According to reports, the owner submitted fraudulent Medicaid claims between Oct. 2010 and March 2014 resulting in white collar crimes charges. Reports suggest that she forged signatures of two contractors on falsified documents in an effort to hide her illegal activity. In addition, she reportedly obtained and used four Medicaid numbers of several contractors to send in false claims without their knowledge or consent.

The purported amount the owner claimed for and received was $355,232 for services that were never performed. The owner was charged with Medicaid fraud and forgery, as well as identity theft. She was also charged with false writings and violating the state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

White Collar Crimes: In some cases, bank employees can make mistakes on a customer’s account. Some of these mistakes are minor and easily corrected while others can prove costly. A bank employee reportedly made an error by depositing $31,000 into a customer’s account. Now, a Georgia man has been arrested for bank fraud.

According to reports, a bank teller accidentally deposited $31,000 into a man’s account. This may have been a case of mistaken identity since the funds that were deposited were for another bank customer with the same name. However, the man did not make the bank aware of this and allegedly withdrew almost $25,000 in multiple ATM withdrawals. He made a series of purchases, including fast food restaurant and grocery charges thus escalating the case and being charged with a number of white collar crimes. For more discussion on this, see this entry.

He also reportedly made a purchase at a car dealership. The bank eventually discovered the mistake and made contact with the man for payment arrangements. However, when he was unable to repay the bank, he was arrested. His bond amount, if any, is dependent upon his upcoming bond hearing.

When a person is accused of white collar crimes, the burden of proof is placed on law enforcement and the prosecution. This means that the accused individual is considered innocent of criminal wrongdoing unless prosecutors can provide enough evidence to demonstrate a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Part of the prosecution’s burden is to demonstrate criminal intent. In the case of fraud charges, for example, it would be necessary to show that the defendant was knowingly and willfully dishonest with his or her conduct for a conviction to occur.

Not long ago, a Georgia state senator, Don Balfour, was acquitted of 18 felony counts based on allegations of fraud. Law enforcement said that Balfour knowingly took money from the state by falsifying expense reports related to his work as senator. Additionally, he was accused of billing both the state and another employer for the same expenses.