In North Carolina, white-collar crimes are often thought of as simply theft or larceny. While these crimes are similar to one another, they each have distinctly different components that set them apart from one another. Unlike theft and larceny, white-collar crimes involve the “misappropriation”, or theft, of property or funds through nonviolent means.

The most common white-collar crimes include:

Embezzlement - Embezzlement is the theft of funds or property by someone who has been entrusted with access to funds or property. Employee theft is the most common form of embezzlement.

Money Laundering - Money Laundering is the transfer of funds to conceal the illegal source they were derived from with the intention of committing a crime. This generally involves structured transactions that break up large sums of illegally gained money into smaller amounts to avoid governmental oversight. These are often crimes that involve drug transactions, organized crime, and terrorism.

Fraud - Fraud charges can be complex. Fraud offenses include numerous types of offenses that are based on intentionally obtaining funds or property through the use of lies, deception, false pretenses, and other misrepresentations. The most familiar fraud crimes are known as scams, credit card fraud, insurance fraud, and wire/mail fraud.

Forgery - Forgery occurs when someone falsely creates a signature, document, or other objects of value with the sole intention of committing a crime. An offense of uttering often goes along with forgery as this occurs when an attempt is made to use a forgery. Forgery crimes include counterfeiting of securities, making fake ids, replicating famous art, and signing someone else's name on a check for financial gain.

Unlike other theft or larceny crimes, white-collar crimes generally require very little physical evidence. The investigation of these crimes will largely involve a long and tedious process of analyzing financial records. A person of interest will often know they are being investigated long before any charges are actually brought. If you suspect that you are the subject of a criminal, corporate, or governmental investigation, seek the assistance of an experienced criminal lawyer to help you. The sooner you have representation the quicker a defense can be mounted.

In North Carolina White Collar Crimes are almost always a felony and punishments can involve jail time and restitution payments. Depending on the factors alleged white-collar criminal charges can be state or federal level charges, and in some instances, both. Even an accusation of criminal activity in the white-collar arena can have very serious, long-term consequences that tarnish your reputation and place your financial future in jeopardy.

Thomas Amburgey is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Law. He has extensive trial experience and understands the serious nature of allegations associated with white-collar crimes. At Amburgey Law, we can be trusted to protect you, your rights, and your freedoms. We take the time to get to know you, the intricacies of your case and will work together to define a unique defense strategy to ensure the best result possible in your situation. If you are facing charges involving a white-collar crime, we have the experience and skills you need. Call us for a consultation today to discuss your legal options.