White Collar Crime

Kevin Sutherland, a sociologist, is credited with first coining the term “white-collar crime” in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation”. The modern FBI refers to white-collar crimes simply as nonviolent crimes involving “lying, cheating and stealing”.

The federal government has a comprehensive set of statutes covering a wide range of financial crimes. Alabama has its own set of statutes regarding financial crimes. Certain offenses overlap resulting in the possibility that a person could be charged in state and federal court for the same conduct. Criminal charges in Alabama typically begin with an arrest warrant. Federal criminal charges must be initiated by an Indictment issued by a grand jury unless the defendant is cooperating with the Government and waives the grand jury process.

At the Riley Law Firm, I have represented people from all walks of life charged with white collar crimes that include:

• Bank fraud
• Bankruptcy fraud
• Bribery
• Computer Internet fraud
• Conspiracy
• Credit card fraud
• Money laundering
• Insurance fraud
• Securities fraud

Grand Jury Investigations

Most people discover that they are under federal investigation either through a knock on the door from the FBI or other federal investigator, the receipt of a grand jury subpoena or a whisper from a business associate or friend that has been contacted by the FBI or received a subpoena.

What do you do if the FBI comes calling? Say nothing. Immediately hire a lawyer.

Persons subpoenaed to a federal grand jury fall into three categories: targets, persons of interest and pure witnesses. A target is “a person to whom the prosecutor or grand jury has substantial interest linking him or her to the commission of a crime” and is a likely defendant. A subject is “a person whose conduct is within the scope of the grand jury’s investigation”. A witness is a person that has knowledge regarding the facts related to the investigation, but for whom the prosecutor does not believe participated in the criminal conduct being investigated.

What do you do if you receive a federal grand jury subpoena? Immediately hire a lawyer.

Any person subpoenaed to a federal grand jury needs qualified presentation to act as their intermediary with the prosecutor. I can help you whether you are a target, a subject or merely a witness. Call the Birmingham-based Riley Law Firm at 205-212-5577. You can also contact me online.

Take Action By Calling The Riley Law Firm

If you are being investigated for a white-collar crime, not only your freedom is at stake, but also your reputation. Time is of the essence in contacting me, white collar criminal defense attorney Clyde Riley. The sooner I become involved, the better chance I have to secure the best outcome on your behalf. I will provide diligent and aggressive legal advocacy. Please contact Clyde Riley at the Riley Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama, online or by calling 205-212-5577.