When the government starts asking questions about your finances, business activity, or electronic communications, you should take it seriously. Federal investigators may spend months building a case before anyone learns they’re a target or suspected of committing a crime.
White-collar cases often involve complex digital and financial evidence, along with strict, detailed federal procedures. Many suspects have to deal with multiple agencies at once. This can be stressful and overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure why you’re being charged.
The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall represents clients across New Jersey in these high-stakes cases. Our team is focused entirely on criminal defense, with over 20 lawyers, including former prosecutors, and more than 250 years of combined experience. We also have a statewide presence with 18 office locations, making it easier to serve clients closer to home.
If you have been contacted by law enforcement or have been charged in federal court, the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to contact a qualified federal white-collar crime lawyer right away. Call the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall today for your free consultation.
Why You Should Contact Our Defense Lawyers If You’ve Been Accused of a White-Collar Crime
Federal white-collar crime investigations tend to begin long before an arrest. People often hear they’re under investigation via a:
- Phone call
- Subpoena
- Search warrant
- Grand jury request
- Notice from a regulatory agency
Our attorneys help clients protect their rights as soon as possible. We can communicate with investigators for you, review the information that has been requested, and help you avoid saying or doing anything that could be used against you later. Innocent people often get caught up in fraud cases, and many think they can explain a misunderstanding on their own. Unfortunately, that can create serious problems.
Federal prosecutors have access to overwhelming resources, from records and banking data to witness statements, communications, and expert analysis. A strong response requires a clear plan for aggressive advocacy. Our team includes former county prosecutors in New Jersey who served in leadership roles involving major crimes and economic crimes. That background gives us valuable insight into how we can challenge the prosecution’s narrative and build a strong defense grounded in the law.
Clients choose the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall because we offer:
- Free consultations
- Over 250 years of combined experience
- A team of 20 lawyers dedicated entirely to criminal defense
- 18 offices across New Jersey
- Certified Criminal Trial Attorneys
- Former county prosecutors who served as directors of major crimes and economic crimes
- Former municipal prosecutors from more than 25 New Jersey towns
- Familiarity with local courts and prosecutors throughout the state
Whether you’re under investigation or have already been charged, now is the time to get informed legal help.
White-Collar Criminal Cases We Handle
Federal investigations can cover a wide range of offenses committed for financial benefit. Our team handles many types of federal white-collar crimes in New Jersey, including:
Bank and Check Fraud
Bank fraud cases can involve false loan applications, counterfeit checks, forged endorsements, unauthorized withdrawals, or other schemes involving financial institutions. Altered checks and stolen account information can lead to check fraud charges. These cases frequently depend on surveillance and your transaction history.
Computer Crimes
Federal computer crime charges range from unauthorized access to data theft, phishing, and ransomware accusations. Investigators may seize devices and review cloud accounts and browsing data. However, they may not be able to credibly link the evidence to you and your activity.
Intellectual Property Theft
Intellectual property cases include trade secret theft and copyright infringement, along with trafficking in counterfeit goods or unlawful use of proprietary business information. Businesses and employees can become targets in cases involving confidential data, customer lists, and other key types of intellectual property.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement happens when someone with lawful access to money or property takes it for personal use. However, the government must prove intent and unlawful conversion, not just poor bookkeeping or internal disagreements. These matters can involve everyone from employers and nonprofits to estates or public entities.
Mail and Wire Fraud
Mail fraud and wire fraud are among the most common federal white-collar charges. Prosecutors often use these statutes in business and financial cases involving emails, phone calls, text messages, mailed documents, or electronic transfers. Because these laws are broad, they come up in many cases.
Forgery
Forgery accusations may involve fake signatures or IDs and altered records, including financial instruments. However, the crime rests on the context of those falsified items. Some cases stem from misunderstanding or delegated authority, which can help prove a lack of intent to defraud.
Healthcare Fraud
Healthcare fraud investigations target doctors and clinics, as well as billing companies, pharmacies, and even patients. Common types of healthcare fraud include false billing, kickbacks, or unnecessary treatment claims involving Medicare or Medicaid. These cases can involve audits and large volumes of records, making it especially important to work with an experienced legal team.
Money Laundering
Money laundering is a financial transaction meant to conceal the source, ownership, or control of funds tied to unlawful activity. Prosecutors often file these charges alongside fraud or drug-related crimes.
Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage fraud cases can involve shady loan applications, appraisals, occupancy claims, straw buyers, title issues, or income misrepresentations. Evidence like market conditions and lender practices may be a key part of the defense strategy.
Tax Evasion
Tax evasion charges may bring claims that someone intentionally avoided paying taxes through concealment or improper deductions. Federal tax cases can lead to both criminal and civil exposure, so you need an aggressive defense.
Corporate Fraud
Corporate fraud can include misleading others through false financial statements, books-and-records violations, and deceptive business practices. These cases often involve multiple employees and years of records as evidence.
Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud covers everything from staged losses and inflated claims to false applications or misrepresentations during the claims process. Federal jurisdiction tends to apply when mail, wire communications, or interstate conduct is involved.
Tax Fraud
Tax fraud is broader than tax evasion. This crime may include false returns, payroll tax issues, identity theft refund schemes, or aiding false filings. Business owners, preparers, and employees could all be charged under federal law.
Defenses for White-Collar Crimes
The right defense against federal white-collar crimes depends on the evidence and specific charges. Many cases involve complex evidentiary records that require close review by both experienced criminal defense lawyers and expert witnesses. However, some of the potential defenses may include:
- Lack of intent to defraud
- Good-faith belief that your conduct was above board
- Mistaken identity or an inability to link digital activity to you
- Inaccurate accounting or bookkeeping errors
- Legitimate business dispute presented as criminal conduct
- Unreliable witness testimony
- Incomplete or misleading government analysis
- Unlawful search or seizure
- Improper statements taken in violation of your Constitutional rights
- Insufficient proof of loss amount or victim impact
- Statute of limitations issues
Federal white-collar crime sentencing can be severe. Judges often consider how much financial loss was involved, the number of alleged victims, and other factors under the federal sentencing guidelines for white-collar crime.
However, prosecutors sometimes overstate loss calculations or ask for enhancements that don’t fit the facts. This can work in your favor. In many fraud cases, the guideline range turns heavily on financial figures and role adjustments. Those issues can significantly change the potential punishment under the federal sentencing guidelines for white-collar crime.
Our attorneys carefully analyze records, consult with forensic accountants and other professionals when needed, and identify weaknesses in the government’s theory. Some cases may call for negotiation. Others require aggressive motion practice or trial preparation. We tailor your defense to the facts rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Contact Our Federal White-Collar Crime Lawyers
If you suspect or know you’re under investigation, now is the time to talk to an experienced federal white-collar crimes defense attorney. Your career, your finances, and even your freedom may be at stake – and you need an aggressive defense strategy from the beginning.
The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall offers free consultations and represents clients throughout New Jersey from 18 offices across the state. With an extensive track record of defending against serious federal crimes, we’re ready to put our experience and resources to work for you.
One satisfied former client wrote,
“Jonathan…communicated with us in an understanding manner, put the time into the case and was also definitely skilled in his profession. Everyone seemed to know that he wasn’t the run of the mill guy when we walked into court, even the judge. The entire process was handled in a top shelf manner. Jonathan provided everything we needed in a rough time. I recommend him.” – Steve
Call the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall today to discuss your case with a federal white-collar crime lawyer and learn how we can help.
