Tarrant County White Collar Crime Defense Lawyer

Criminal Defense Attorney for Fraud and Financial Crimes in Fort Worth, TX

Criminal activity can come in a wide variety of forms, and not every type of crime is an immediately obvious violation of the law. "White collar crimes" usually involve some form of illegal financial activity rather than a face-to-face act of violence or theft. However, even though these offenses may seem less harmful to their alleged victims, they are still investigated and prosecuted strongly by law enforcement officials at the state and federal levels. The potential consequences for these types of crimes can be severe, and anyone who is under investigation for white collar crimes or who has been accused of an offense should obtain legal representation.

Because white collar crimes typically have a financial component, these charges could result from activities performed during a person's business activities. In many cases, a business owner, executive, or manager may be accused of violating the law without realizing that they had done anything wrong, or a person may face charges because they are involved in illegal actions committed by a business partner or employee. Because these types of accusations can affect a person's reputation and a business's standing in the community, it is important to understand the exact nature of the alleged violations and the options for defense against these charges.

In many cases, white collar criminal charges include allegations of fraud, in which a person will be accused of deceptive practices or other activities meant to provide them with an illegal financial gain. These allegations may also involve bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, or forgery, and since so many modern business transactions take place electronically, a person may also be charged with internet or computer crimes. Depending on the extent of the alleged criminal activity and whether it took place across state lines or international borders, investigations by the FBI or SEC may result in federal criminal charges.

A conviction for white collar crimes can result in hefty fines, years of imprisonment, and the loss of one's personal and professional reputation. In these cases, you need a skilled attorney on your side to help you understand your rights and the ideal defense strategy. At The Crowder Law Firm, P.C., we have been representing clients in criminal cases for over 20 years, and we have secured more than 300 acquittals and not guilty verdicts. We can put this experience to work for you to help you protect your rights and your freedom.

In today's society, nearly every business operates electronically in some way, and because of this, cases involving allegations of white collar crimes often include charges known as computer crimes. These may include:

• Hacking - Under the Texas Penal Code, a person may be charged with Breach of Computer Security if they knowingly access a computer system or network without the owner's authorization. Hackers may be charged with this offense if this type of activity is done with the intent of stealing data or proprietary information in order to defraud or harm someone. Unauthorized access of a system owned by the federal government or a financial institution could lead to federal criminal charges.
• Tampering with data - Intentionally altering data that is transmitted over a computer network is known as Electronic Data Tampering. This offense may involve introducing "ransomware" into a computer system in order to restrict access to a person's information until some form of payment is made.
• Restricting computer access - Intentionally interrupting or interfering with a person's access to a computer system or network is a criminal offense known as Electronic Access Interference. This may include using a "denial of service" attack to bring down a website or online service.
• Identity theft - Using someone else's name or personal information to create a website or social network profile in order to defraud or harm someone is a criminal offense known as Online Impersonation.