White-collar or business crimes can lead to a lot more than an employee or executive losing their position for a breach of company policy. Some criminal acts committed in a workplace are prosecuted on the state level, whereas others are prosecuted in U.S. District Court. If you have been accused of committing a federal offense, this can result in imprisonment for at least one year, significant fines, and other serious penalties. Do not settle for an appointed public defender. When accused of a federal crime, you require a federal criminal defense attorney in Tampa to aggressively defend your rights.
In this two-part article, an attorney with The Rickman Law Firm will discuss some of the most common reasons why a person can be accused of a serious crime in the workplace. A white-collar crime is typically financially motivated and nonviolent in nature. Depending on the severity of the crime, a white-collar crime can be prosecuted in federal court. Here are a few examples of these types of crimes.
Although many white-collar crimes are prosecuted on the state level, any crime that involves the United States postal service is a federal crime. This includes both mail and wire communication with intent to defraud another party. Mail and wire fraud are among the most common federal charges a business can experience. Many of these crimes involve employment fraud, financial fraud, or telemarketing fraud.
Antitrust laws are in place to protect trade and commerce from unlawful practices. Some common violations of these laws include: price-fixing, price discrimination, and monopolization. Mergers and acquisitions by large corporations must be reviewed by either the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Department of Justice (DOJ). Another example of an agency committed to protecting antitrust laws is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which monitors crimes like insider trading.
Executives can be held liable for any misleading or misbranded content related to the Food and Drug Act. For example, if a company promotes that their product can cure an ailment, but this claim was never approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the executive can be charged with a violation of the Food and Drug Act.
Corporations are responsible for ensuring that their surrounding environment remains protected. Laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act can charge companies that wrongly discharge pollutants or harmful chemicals with an environmental crime. Environmental law is governed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
For more information on ways you can be accused of a business-related crime, please read part two of this article.
For a free consultation with a federal criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, please contact The Rickman Law Firm today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.