What Not to Do When Facing White Collar Crime Charges

If you are facing charges of fraud, embezzlement or some other white collar crime, you should consult with an experienced criminal law attorney as soon as possible. Just as important: Avoid these common mistakes that can make your attorney’s job much more difficult than it needs to be.

Talking to law enforcement investigators

You have powerful constitutional protections against self-incrimination. Do not cast them aside lightly. It may be tempting to answer every question investigators ask you, but this can be a grave mistake. You have the right to have an attorney by your side during questioning. Your lawyer can help you avoid the traps and pitfalls investigators are skilled at luring defendants into.

Keeping information to yourself

While keeping quiet is your best tack with investigators, the opposite is true of the interactions you have with your own defense counsel. Your attorney needs to know everything about the alleged criminal incident and the circumstances surrounding it. Surprises in a white collar crime investigation can turn the entire case on its end. The last person you want surprised is your own lawyer.

Attorneys are trusted advisors and confidants, and the conversations you have with them are privileged. To ease your concerns, find an attorney with a stellar reputation for trust and integrity and a proven record of standing by the accused.

Getting rid of evidence

It’s too easy to inadvertently destroy evidence. A single deleted email or shredded document could cast unwelcome suspicion upon you, even if you are perfectly innocent.

If the criminal charge involves your business, certain documents may be subject to routine destruction by departments you have no involvement with. Do everything in your power to protect relevant documents, and always consult with your defense attorney before making any decisions that cannot be reversed.