What Are White Collar Crimes in Oklahoma

White collar crimes in Oklahoma refer to non-violent crimes committed by individuals or corporations, typically for financial gain. The people who usually commit these crimes are often professionals or individuals in positions of trust and authority. Some common examples include fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, bribery, money laundering, and cybercrime.

In Oklahoma, as in many other jurisdictions, the court prosecutes white-collar crimes differently than other common crimes, particularly those involving violence or physical harm. Here are some key differences:

Criminal Investigation

White-collar crimes in Oklahoma often require extensive investigation due to their complexity. Law enforcement agencies may collaborate with regulatory bodies and financial institutions to gather evidence. Just like other crime units at State and local levels that do deep dives into investigating crimes this is even more intense when the investigation involves white collar crimes. Law enforcement will use every possible method they can to search you and your property for evidence of a crime. The major difference is that the resources and energy expended investigating white color crime is far greater.

Prosecution

Prosecuting white-collar crimes may involve specialized units within law enforcement agencies or prosecutors’ offices, such as economic crimes units. Prosecutors may have to navigate intricate financial transactions and complex legal statutes. In this kind of investigation Police and law enforcement work closely with forensic accountants and other specialized criminologists to prosecute this kind of crime.

Enhanced Criminal Penalties

While penalties for white-collar crimes can vary depending on the severity of the offense, they typically involve fines, restitution, probation, or imprisonment. In some cases, individuals convicted of white-collar crimes may face significant fines or lengthy prison sentences.

Criminal Restitution

Courts may order individuals convicted of white-collar crimes to pay restitution to victims, which can involve returning embezzled funds, compensating for financial losses, or paying fines. This is also a part of other type crimes but a white collar crimes prosecutor drills down on restitution. Its not uncommon to see amounts of restitution that are in the tens of millions. The reason for this involves the number of people that the crime harms, including tax payers and investors.

Regulatory Action

In addition to criminal prosecution, white-collar crimes also lead to civil actions by State prosecutors and regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These agencies may impose fines, sanctions, or other penalties on individuals or corporations found guilty of violating regulations.

Altered Public Perception

White-collar crimes often garner significant media attention due to their impact on financial markets, businesses, and individuals. The public perception of white-collar criminals can differ from that of individuals involved in other types of crimes. We see countless cases in the media of criminals that were once celebrated in our community that are now guilty of heinous crimes that might have flown out of their celebrity. A common public perception is that they are not treated like the rest of us. The perception includes a belief that as a celebrity or white collar criminal the court treats them better if they are guilty. This is one reason a person accused of a white collar crime must understand that this perception might influence the potential punishment sought by the government. Sometimes to avoid scrutiny the prosecutor will over punish the crime to cover themselves.

Tulsa, Oklahoma White Collar Defense Attorneys

Overall, while white-collar crimes may be prosecuted differently from other common crimes, the goal remains the same: to hold individuals or corporations accountable for their actions and to deter similar behavior in the future. The problem is that sometimes this crime is treated much more harshly than other crimes. Its not uncommon for prosecutors to feel that this prosecution earns them more than just a guilty verdict from other crimes they prosecute. When this happens to you its important you understand the stakes and put a legal team in your corner that’s ready to fight for you. Call the Oklahoma white collar criminal defense attorneys at Kania Law Office at 918.743.2233