The term “white-collar crime” pertains to a variety of different violations. Some of the most common are:
Extortion: California Penal Code Section 518 covers the crime of extortion, often referred to as blackmail. To convict you of extortion, a prosecutor must prove that you:
- obtained property or an official act from another person
- the property or official act was obtained with the consent of that person
- the consent was induced through the wrongful use of force of fear
- you wrongfully used force or fear intending to induce that person to consensually give you property or perform an official act
Extortion is typically charged as a felony and if convicted you face up to 4 years in California state prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Extortion law is strict, even if you merely attempt extortion and do not complete the act; you still face almost the same penalties as if you had committed the crime.
Forgery: California Penal Code Section 470 makes forgery illegal. In order to convict you of forgery, a prosecutor must prove that you:
- altered, created, or used a written document
- with the specific intent to defraud
Forgery can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances. If you are convicted of misdemeanor forgery, you face up to 1 year in county jail and a fine of $1,000. If you are convicted of felony forgery, you face up to 3 years in California state prison and a fine of $10,000.
Embezzlement: California Penal Code Section 503 prohibits embezzlement. In order for a prosecutor to convict you of embezzlement, they must prove:
- you had a trusting relationship with the alleged victim
- you were entrusted with certain property as a result of that trusting relationship
- you had the specific intent to deprive the alleged victim of that property by fraudulently taking it as your own
Embezzlement can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. This depends on the circumstances of your case as well as your prior criminal history. Embezzlement can be charged under California Penal Code Section 487 as grand theft if the value of the embezzled property is above $950, or it can be charged under California Penal Code Section 488 if the value is less than $950.
If you are convicted of misdemeanor grand theft embezzlement, you face up to 1 year in county jail and a $1,000 fine. If you are convicted of felony embezzlement, you face 3 years in California state prison and $10,000 fine. For petty theft embezzlement, you face 6 months in county jail and a $1,000 fine; but if the value of the embezzled property was $50 or less you may just be subject to only a $250 fine.
Let Us Help You
If you are facing white-collar crime charges it is essential that you have adequate representation. An experienced, diligent, and aggressive criminal law attorney can help you achieve a favorable result in your case.
Out of the tens of thousands of criminal attorneys in California, Senior Partner, Vu Trinh, is among a very small and elite group of attorneys who are designated by the State Bar as Certified Criminal Law Specialists. Our clients benefit from the legal excellence and experience of Mr. Trinh and all of the attorneys in our office. When it comes to facing white-collar crime charges you need an attorney that will vigorously fight to achieve justice on your behalf. At The Law Offices of Trinh & Bettencourt, we will exhaust every possible defense in our effort to obtain a favorable result in your case.
Enlist the help of a criminal trial attorney that will be with you every step of the way. Call The Law Offices of Trinh & Bettencourt for a consultation today.
