By Graham Norris

The phone call comes on a Tuesday morning. An investigator introduces himself politely and mentions they’d like to ask you a few questions about some financial irregularities at your company. Your heart starts racing, but you think cooperation will show you have nothing to hide. Twenty minutes later, you’ve just provided investigators with enough material to build a case against you—all because you tried to be helpful.

White collar investigations in Texas move with surprising speed, transforming routine business inquiries into serious felony cases faster than most people realize. Whether you’re facing questions about healthcare billing, embezzlement allegations, or financial reporting discrepancies, the actions you take in the first 48 to 72 hours often determine whether you walk away free or face criminal charges.

Critical First Steps: What You Must Do Immediately

The moment you suspect you’re under investigation for any financial crime, your response must be swift and strategic. These steps aren’t suggestions—they’re essential actions that must be taken before you fully grasp what you’re being investigated for or how serious the situation might become.

Essential immediate actions:

• Contact an experienced white collar defense attorney before speaking to anyone – This includes investigators, your employer, colleagues, or even family members about the investigation
• Preserve all financial records, emails, and communications – Don’t delete, alter, or organize anything; maintain everything exactly as it currently exists
• Create a detailed timeline of events while your memory is fresh – Write down dates, amounts, decisions, and circumstances surrounding any questionable transactions
• Secure witness contact information before people become unavailable – Colleagues may leave the company or become reluctant to cooperate as the investigation progresses
• Do not attempt to “fix” any financial discrepancies – Making corrective transactions or payments can be seen as evidence of guilt rather than good faith
• Avoid discussing the investigation with colleagues, family, or friends – Conversations you think are private can become evidence or create additional witnesses against you
• Document everything about the investigation itself – Record who contacted you, when they called, what they asked, and exactly what was said

Remember that financial records and communications are vital to building your defense. The more complete documentation you can provide to your attorney during that initial consultation, the better positioned you’ll be to protect your rights and develop an effective strategy.

Dangerous Mistakes That Will Destroy Your Case

Panic and good intentions create a perfect storm for self-destruction during white collar investigations. People facing financial crime allegations often make decisions that seem logical in the moment but provide prosecutors with exactly the evidence they need to secure a conviction.

Talking Without Legal Representation

The urge to “clear things up” by explaining your side of the story is one of the most dangerous impulses you can have during an investigation. Investigators approach these conversations with one goal: gathering evidence to support criminal charges. Even completely truthful statements can be taken out of context, misinterpreted, or used to contradict other evidence in ways that make you look guilty.

This extends beyond formal interviews with law enforcement—making statements to your employer, HR department, or colleagues without legal counsel can create additional witnesses against you and provide prosecutors with more ammunition.

Attempting to Fix Financial Problems

Once people realize they’re under investigation, their first instinct is often to correct any financial discrepancies they’ve discovered. However, making payments, transferring funds, or correcting financial records after an investigation begins can be interpreted as consciousness of guilt. Prosecutors argue that innocent people don’t rush to fix problems they didn’t know existed.

Even worse, these corrective actions can lead to additional charges like obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, or money laundering, turning a single potential charge into multiple felonies.

Poor Documentation and Evidence Handling

Destroying documents, deleting emails, or altering financial records—even if done to “clean up” files or correct honest mistakes—creates devastating evidence of criminal intent. Prosecutors love obstruction charges because they’re easier to prove than the underlying financial crimes and suggest consciousness of guilt.

Creating and maintaining a clear timeline of events is crucial because memory fades quickly, and inconsistent recollections can be used to attack your credibility.

How White Collar Investigations Work in Texas

White collar investigations in Texas operate on two distinct levels, and learning this difference is crucial to protecting yourself effectively.

Most cases begin at the state level through internal company audits, employee whistleblower reports, banking compliance alerts, or routine regulatory checks. Local law enforcement and District Attorney offices handle these investigations when they involve Texas-based activity and smaller financial amounts.

Federal agencies enter the picture when cases cross state lines, involve substantial sums of money typically exceeding $500,000, affect federal programs like Medicare or Medicaid, or span multiple jurisdictions. The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and Secret Service bring significantly more resources and expertise to complex financial investigations.

According to recent statistics, white collar crimes cost $500 billion annually in the United States, with the FBI reporting these losses are 10 times greater than personal property crimes. In 2024, 84% of occupational fraud perpetrators displayed behavioral red flags, and the median loss per case exceeds $145,000.

Federal investigations typically take much longer to develop—sometimes years—and carry substantially harsher penalties than state cases. The complexity of financial crime investigations puts ordinary individuals at a severe disadvantage against prosecutors who specialize in following money trails and interpreting banking records.

Most importantly, investigators know that early cooperation without legal representation usually provides them with the strongest evidence they’ll obtain. By the time most people realize they need an attorney, they’ve already given investigators everything needed to secure a conviction.

Professional legal representation levels this playing field by ensuring proper procedures are followed, evidence is preserved correctly, and your constitutional rights are protected throughout the investigation process.

Protect Your Future Before It’s Too Late

White collar investigations don’t pause while you figure out your next move—they accelerate. Every day you delay getting professional legal representation is another day prosecutors use to strengthen their case against you. The window to protect your rights, preserve crucial evidence, and potentially avoid charges entirely closes quickly.

Norris Legal Group has built their reputation on the foundation of “Dignity, Trust, and Fight”—core principles that drive their approach to defending clients facing the most serious financial crime allegations. With over 3,600 cases handled, more than 400 dismissals, and 60 client no-bills, their track record demonstrates proven effectiveness in even the most challenging circumstances. Contact Norris Legal Group immediately for a confidential consultation and discover how their experienced team can help you take control of your situation and protect everything you’ve worked to build.