White Collar Federal Criminal Law in New York, NY

Bribery Crimes

According to New York Penal Law § § 200.00-200.56, it is a crime to accept or offer a bribe as either a public servant or someone interacting with a public servant in order to gain a favor or service. Additionally, federal bribery law under 18 U.S.C. § 201 outlines bribery of public officials and witnesses.

Bribes can come in many forms, including the following:

• Cash and currency
• Services
• Favors
• Business advantages

In exchange for a bribe, someone might wish to gain the following:

• Votes
• Appraisal
• Judgements
• Beneficial actions

If you have been accused of the white collar crime of bribery, either as someone who offered a bribe or accepted one, you must start working on your defense right away. Bribery is a federal crime in nearly all circumstances due to its connection with public servants. Therefore, the strength of one or more federal agencies will be against you. Varghese & Associates, P.C. and our Manhattan federal criminal defense attorneys can provide unwavering defense that never backs down from a legal battle.

PENALTIES FOR BRIBERY CONVICTIONS

The sentences for federal bribery convictions can vary. As each case varies noticeably from the next, so will the penalties. Many judges will consider 15 years imprisonment to be the maximum penalty for bribery, as well as steep fines that may be a flat amount or three times the value of the accepted bribe, whichever is greater.

LEGAL HELP FOR WHITE COLLAR INVESTIGATIONS

Our Manhattan federal criminal defense attorneys can assist you if you are being targeted by a white collar investigation for potential bribery. With our legal support and experience, we may be able to shut down the investigation if it is unwarranted. If your investigation does not conclude and you are formally charged, you will already be one step ahead of the prosecution, as you will have already retained the services of a trusted legal representative.

Money Laundering

Money laundering derives its name from the concept of taking “dirty” money that has been gained through illegal processes and making it “clean” by hiding it within legal sources or accounts.

Federal money laundering law under 18 U.S.C. § 1956 carries a maximum sentence of twenty years and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds. Federal law defines money laundering into three types of conduct: 1) domestic money laundering transactions; 2) international money laundering transactions; and 3) “sting” money laundering transactions. If you are accused of money laundering, you will be up against a powerful state or federal government agency that is willing to put in hours and resources to see you convicted.

There is no room for error in a case as serious as money laundering. The defense counsel you retain needs to be experienced, knowledgeable, and highly respected throughout legal branches and communities. At Varghese & Associates, P.C., our New York federal criminal defense attorneys have the background and qualifications you need to protect your rights with confidence.

THREE STAGES OF MONEY LAUNDERING

The act of money laundering is generally broken down into three distinct stages. Within your defense strategy, if there is room for doubt in any of these three stages, there is the opportunity to expose weaknesses in the prosecution’s argument. To keep your freedom and uphold your reputation, the prosecution’s case needs to be thoroughly dismantled. Your ability to do so starts with your understanding of the charges against you, and having the right attorneys in your corner from the beginning.

Three typical steps of money laundering include the following:

• Placement: money that has been gathered through an illegal source – like prostitution or drug smuggling – is “placed” in a legal business or enterprises’ legitimate revenue stream. For example, a shop owner might start adding illegally-earned money into his or her record books and store the funds until the money is ready to be layered in step two;

• Layering: to rapidly bury the original source of the income, layers of transactions are created to move money from one source to another, then another, and so on. Layering is typically done through wire transfers, company funding, shell businesses, and other high-end means of financial transactions. Investigators will look for evidence of layering if they believe a suspect’s money laundering scheme is tied to a criminal syndicate;

• Integration: money laundering is not complete until the illegal finances are integrated back into the legal network of finances. Successful layering obscures the original source of the “dirty” money and makes the funds appear “clean.” A simple example of integration would be a shopkeeper giving “dirty” or even counterfeited currency back to customers through change made at the register.

New York Penal Law § § 470-470.25 defines money laundering and labels it as a felony, no matter the apparent severity of the crime.

For the government to convict an accused of money laundering, and not a lesser financial crime, they must explicitly demonstrate each element of the crime. The government’s weaknesses lie in this structured burden of proof. Our Manhattan criminal defense attorneys know how to exploit these weaknesses and will consider every angle when crafting your defense to clear your name.

Tax Crimes

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is notorious for seeking every last penny it is owed and is not afraid to create lawsuits or press charges when necessary. If you are being accused of tax crimes or tax fraud, you must be aware the strength of a federal agency is against you. Defend yourself with a force even greater by contacting Varghese & Associates, P.C. and our Manhattan federal criminal defense attorneys.

DO YOU NEED A VICTORY AGAINST THE IRS?

The IRS boasts an unrivaled 99.75% win rate when it comes to cases they bring against individuals and businesses alike. Do not be misled into thinking this high percentage is synonymous with being unbeatable. With the slimmest chance of victory, Vinoo Varghese and his team defended a client against the IRS – and won. With so much on the line when charged with tax crimes, you need to know you are working with a law firm that can claim success against all odds.

NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF TAX FRAUD

Any individual, business, or agency that intentionally tries to pay less taxes than they owe can be charged with tax fraud. There is often no room for vague interpretations or plea bargains. To defend yourself from tax crime charges or tax fraud, you may need to fight to prove your innocence.

Examples of illegal tax fraud or evasion include the following:

• Failure to pay: willfully attempting to avoid paying owed taxes, or successfully defeating taxes through illegitimate means, is a felony crime;

• Failing to collect: it is a criminal violation to intentionally fail to collect or forward owed taxes when it is one’s duty to do so;

• Failing to report: the intentional falsification or absence of a tax return or IRS inquiry, may be a misdemeanor crime; penalties may range well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars;

• Conspiracy to defraud the United States: plotting any action that could defraud the country or a government agency, or illegally remove tax resources from the United States, is a federal crime.

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