Honolulu White-Collar Crimes Attorney

We Are Experienced in Both State & Federal Court

Certain non-violent criminal offenses related to financial issues are termed "white-collar crimes", because they have historically been most committed by persons wearing suits. These crimes range from embezzlement through credit card fraud and insurance fraud as well as accounting and tax fraud, among others.

If you have been indicted for a financial crime of any type, the most critical issue to resolve is who to choose for your defense counsel. This is the time to ensure that you have a highly qualified and experienced attorney representing you.

At the Law Office of Steve Cedillos, I take on the defense of white-collar crimes with a high level of commitment, professionalism, and knowledge. Whatever type of white collar charges you are facing, I can help.

Contact my firm today to retain my services as a Honolulu white collar criminal defense lawyer. Call us at (808) 201-0496.

What Types Of Offenses Are Considered "White-Collar" Crime?

There are many different types of violations that fall under white-collar crime. These include any of the following:

• Bribery: giving money, gifts, or services to a public official in order to alter that official's behavior may be considered bribery. Both the person who gives the money and the recipient can be charged with bribery.
• Embezzlement: a person that misappropriates or takes money that was entrusted to them may be charged with embezzlement. To convict a person of this crime, the prosecutor must show that the money was legally owned by another person and that the transfer was fraudulent.
• Fraud: may involve a number of different areas including securities fraud, healthcare fraud, credit card fraud, and insurance fraud. Fraud is defined as knowingly using deception for personal gain or to damage another.
• Insider Trading: if a company is on the public market, then anybody who trades its stock or securities with non-public information may be accused of insider trading. Because the information that they used was secret, then the government considers it to be a violation of public trust.
• Money Laundering: persons that are engaging in illegal activity may try to cover their tracks by trying to show that the money that they received came from a legitimate source. The act of trying to conceal "dirty" money is called money laundering.

The issues related to white collar crimes are generally far more complex than other types of criminal offenses. Charges are filed based upon financial information, forms, computer-based data, and other similar data. There is a great number of ways that this information can be altered, either by an outside source or through gaining access to a computer terminal, passwords or falsifying signatures. The first issue at hand is to address is a detailed review of the evidence and a discussion with you about what occurred.

Learn about Money Laundering

A prosecutor may charge an individual with money laundering if he or she has tried to conceal the source of money because it was profit from criminal activity. Money that has come from an unlawful activity is commonly known as "dirty money". A person will then launder the dirty money to make it appear "clean" or as if it came from a legitimate source. If you've been charged with this offense, then be sure to contact my firm. As a Hawaii lawyer, I can make sure that you are properly defended against accusations for white-collar crime.

Under Investigation? Obtain Counsel from a Honolulu Lawyer

If you are the target of a state or federal investigation in a white-collar offense but have not yet been charged, you can assume that you soon will be. Federal investigations can take many months, or even years before charges are filed. If any law enforcement body or investigative authority has asked you to provide information, never do so without having your white collar crime attorney present. Countless individuals have damaged their own defense case simply because their rights were not protected during the questioning process. You may not be obligated to answer questions at all.

Contact my firm if any law enforcement agency, whether federal or state, has contacted you - before you agree to answer questions. Call (808) 201-0496 to enlist my services as a white-collar criminal defense lawyer in Honolulu.