Forsyth County White Collar Crime Defense Attorney

What Are the Penalties for White Collar Crimes in Georgia?

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the offense, those found guilty of white collar crimes could face severe penalties. While white collar charges have a reputation for being treated "softly" by the justice system, the fact is that financial crimes incur prison sentences, steep fines, and court orders forbidding the perpetrator from continuing to work in their industry. Convictions change lives.

The longest white collar crime sentences in history include:

• 835 years for racketeering and wire fraud
• 740 years for financial fraud
• 150 years for a Ponzi scheme
• 110 years for investment fraud
• And many, many more.

Obviously, these are not normal sentences—but since the 2008 recession, courts have been more than willing to “throw the book” at financial frauds and corporate criminals. While a prison sentence of 1-2 years (or some type of house arrest) is far more normal for a conviction, that’s only true because of the work of tireless and strategic defense lawyers.

Our team works to secure an acquittal for you—or if that’s not the best option, we fight to lower the penalty of your sentence to help you move forward sooner.

What is a White Collar Crime in Georgia?

White collar crimes are typically non-violent offenses committed by a person of trust in a corporate setting. These crimes are generally theft in the form of financial schemes or in the context of business transactions. "White collar" is an image of the normal suspect in white collar crime cases: mid-level office workers (or high-level executives) with access to company funds. They are committed against clients and the corporation the employee works for, with the purpose of personal gain.

The most common white collar crimes include:

• Bribery
• Insider trading
• Financial fraud
• Embezzlement
• Computer crimes
• Identity theft
• Antitrust violations
• Credit card fraud

If you find yourself under investigation for a white collar crime either on a state or federal level, or have been charged, do not delay in consulting with a hard-hitting criminal defense lawyer from Zeliff | Watson. Although no violent crime has taken place, these types of offense are prosecuted with great determination on the part of the government.

Experienced Legal Counsel from Zeliff | Watson

Despite the seriousness of the offense, there are a number of successful criminal defense strategies for a white collar crime charge. With over 25 years of experience, we have a proven record of success in defending against such charges. Please understand that the matter of being investigated for this crime should not be taken lightly as your future could be at great risk if you fail to take immediate action or have an inexperienced lawyer representing you.

We offer a no-charge initial consultation with one of our highly knowledgeable attorneys to thoroughly review your case and discover the most effective method of assisting you. The first action that you should take after being contacted by a federal or state agency is to seek immediate legal assistance from our firm.

Contact a white collar crime attorney from our firm if you have been contacted by state or federal agencies concerning a white collar crime.  

• Fulton County Superior and State Courts
• Atlanta Municipal Court
• Alpharetta Municipal Court
• Milton Municipal Court
• Johns Creek Municipal Court
• Sandy Springs Municipal Court
• Doraville Municipal Court (Dekalb County)
• Suwanee Municipal Court (Gwinnett County)