The phrase “white collar crime” conjures up images of Bernie Madoff, Elizabeth Holmes, and Jordan Belfort. But the truth is that ordinary people who make bad decisions — or are even falsely accused — can wind up facing these types of charges, and that’s when a Fort Worth white collar crime lawyer becomes necessary.
You might be an employee who took an unauthorized “loan” from the company, planning to pay it back before anyone noticed. Or maybe you’re a professional facing accusations of billing fraud over what you believe were honest mistakes in paperwork.
These situations can be terrifying. Your career, reputation, and freedom may be at stake. Even being under investigation can feel like your whole world is crumbling around you.
This guide will help you understand:
- What exactly constitutes white collar crime in Texas
- How these cases are typically investigated
- Common mistakes that lead to charges
- What to do if you’re under investigation
- How an experienced defense attorney can help protect your rights
- Real examples of how these cases can be resolved
Most importantly, you’ll learn that there’s hope. Many white collar crime cases stem from misunderstandings, mistakes, or desperate circumstances rather than malicious intent. With proper legal representation and the right approach, there are often multiple paths to resolving these situations while protecting your future.
Let’s start by understanding exactly what you might be facing.
Table of Contents:
- What Are White Collar Crimes?
- Common Types of White Collar Crimes in Texas
- How These Crimes Are Investigated
- Common Mistakes That Lead to Fort Worth White Collar Crime Charges
- Fort Worth White Collar Crime Lawyer Defense Strategies That Work
- Real Results: Case Studies
- Why Choose Our Fort Worth White Collar Crime Attorney Team
What Are White Collar Crimes?
White collar crimes typically involve financial deception or fraud in a business or professional setting. Unlike street crimes, these cases often arise from complex business situations or financial transactions that may have started with good intentions but went wrong.
These cases can be prosecuted at either the state level (by a local District Attorney’s office) or federal level (by the United States Justice Department), depending on the circumstances. The good news is that with proper legal representation, there are often multiple defense options available.
Common Types of White Collar Crimes in Texas
There are many different types of white collar crimes, but they generally fall into a few categories.
Fraud
Under Texas law, as described in Title 7, Chapter 32 of the Texas Penal Code, fraud involves deliberately deceiving someone for financial gain. While the term might make you think of elaborate schemes, fraud charges can result from much simpler situations — and sometimes even honest mistakes can look like fraud to investigators.
Common types of fraud we defend against include:
- Business and Financial Fraud
- Making false statements to obtain loans or credit
- Submitting misleading financial documents
- Misrepresenting business information
- Deceptive business practices like false advertising or price manipulation
- Each of these can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the amount involved
- Healthcare Fraud
- Billing for services not provided
- Double-billing insurance companies
- Medicaid/Medicare fraud
- These cases often involve both state and federal authorities
- Credit Card and Debit Card Fraud
- Using someone else’s card without permission
- Making purchases with expired or revoked cards
- Creating counterfeit cards
- Possessing card information without authorization
- The severity of charges increases with the number of cards or accounts involved
- Document and Check Fraud
- Forging signatures
- Altering checks or financial documents
- Creating fake documents
- Writing checks knowing there aren’t sufficient funds
- These charges can range from Class C misdemeanors to first-degree felonies, depending on the amount involved
Important to understand: In Texas, the severity of fraud charges typically depends on the dollar amount involved:
- Less than $100: Class C misdemeanor
- $100 to $750: Class B misdemeanor
- $750 to $2,500: Class A misdemeanor
- $2,500 to $30,000: State jail felony
- $30,000 to $150,000: Third-degree felony
- $150,000 to $300,000: Second-degree felony
- $300,000 or more: First-degree felony
Additionally, penalties increase if the alleged fraud was committed against an elderly person (65 or older).
The key thing to remember is that prosecutors must prove you intended to deceive — honest mistakes or misunderstandings, even if they resulted in financial loss to someone else, aren’t fraud under Texas law.
This is why having experienced legal representation is crucial. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help demonstrate lack of fraudulent intent and protect your rights throughout the process.
Embezzlement
In Texas, embezzlement is prosecuted as a type of theft. What makes it different from ordinary theft is that it involves someone misusing money or property they were legally trusted to manage. The law doesn’t treat it as a separate crime from theft, but these cases require special defense strategies because they involve breach of trust.
For example, we represented a law enforcement officer who served as treasurer for a non-profit organization. He had access to the organization’s checking account and began using the money for personal expenses, intending to pay it back. Even though he eventually replaced all the funds, the unauthorized use still led to criminal charges — because under Texas law, even temporary “borrowing” without permission is considered theft.
Common embezzlement situations we defend include:
- Using company funds for personal expenses
- “Borrowing” from employer accounts
- Mismanaging client trust accounts
- Diverting business funds to personal accounts
The penalties for embezzlement in Texas depend on the value of the property taken:
- Less than $100: Class C misdemeanor
- $100 to $750: Class B misdemeanor
- $750 to $2,500: Class A misdemeanor
- $2,500 to $30,000: State jail felony
- $30,000 to $150,000: Third-degree felony
- $150,000 to $300,000: Second-degree felony
- $300,000 or more: First-degree felony
Importantly, the law treats embezzlement more severely in certain situations:
- If you’re a public servant and the property came into your possession because of your position
- If you have a government contract and the property was under your control because of that contract
- If the victim was an elderly person or a nonprofit organization
- If you were a Medicare provider and the funds came from that program
Even if you planned to return the money — or did return it — you can still face charges. The key issue isn’t whether the money was eventually returned but whether you had permission to use it in the first place. This is why it’s crucial to contact an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible if you’re facing embezzlement allegations.
Graham Norris, founder of Norris Legal Group, says he’s encountered several cases where people didn’t intend to steal, but made some poor choices.
“That money can be a safety valve for somebody – maybe it’s unexpected medical expenses or a family situation that’s difficult,” he says. “Sometimes the reason is good, but they dip into funds they shouldn’t. It looks as if they’re stealing even though they intend to pay money back and make that right.”
There’s the example of the law enforcement officer who used the money he wasn’t supposed to as treasurer. “Even though he replaced all the money that had been taken, the unauthorized use of the money as a loan or for personal use was an offense,” Graham explains.
Money Laundering
Under Texas law, as described in Title 7 Chapter 34 of the Texas Penal Code, money laundering involves knowingly handling proceeds from criminal activity. You can be charged if you:
- Acquire or maintain an interest in criminal proceeds
- Conceal or possess proceeds from criminal activity
- Transfer or transport illegal funds
- Conduct or facilitate transactions involving criminal proceeds
- Invest or receive funds from criminal activity
- Finance operations you believe are connected to criminal activity
Important: You can be charged with money laundering even if you don’t know the specific crime that generated the money. The penalties depend on the amount involved:
- $2,500 to $30,000: State jail felony
- $30,000 to $150,000: Third-degree felony
- $150,000 to $300,000: Second-degree felony
- $300,000 or more: First-degree felony
The law considers all related transactions as one offense, so authorities can add up multiple smaller transactions to reach higher penalty thresholds.
Tax Evasion
While legal tax planning is perfectly acceptable, certain actions cross into criminal territory:
- Deliberately failing to report income
- Creating false deductions
- Hiding assets or income sources
- Filing false documents with tax authorities
- Using fake Social Security numbers or tax IDs
Identity Theft and Forgery
Texas treats these as separate serious crimes. Identity theft occurs when someone:
- Uses another person’s identifying information without consent
- Obtains or possesses someone else’s records fraudulently
- Creates or alters documents to misrepresent identity
The severity of identity theft charges increases with the number of items of identifying information involved, such as:
- Name and date of birth
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license number
- Financial account numbers
- Biometric data (fingerprints, retinal scans)
- Electronic identifiers
For any financial crime, prosecutors must prove you acted knowingly or intentionally. However, they can use circumstantial evidence to show you knew or should have known the funds or information were obtained illegally. This makes having experienced legal representation crucial — there are often legitimate explanations for complex financial transactions that may initially appear suspicious.
If you’re under investigation for any financial crime, it’s vital to:
- Not discuss the matter with investigators before consulting an attorney
- Preserve all relevant financial records
- Don’t try to “fix” the situation by making additional transactions
- Contact an experienced defense attorney immediately
How These Crimes Are Investigated
Depending on the circumstances, these crimes may be prosecuted at the state or federal level.
State-Level Investigations
Most white collar cases in Fort Worth start with:
- Internal company audits
- Employee reports
- Banking irregularities
- Regular compliance checks
Local law enforcement and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office handle these cases when they’re confined to Texas and involve smaller amounts of money.
Federal Investigations
Federal agencies like the FBI, the IRS, and the Secret Service get involved when:
- The activity crosses state lines
- Large sums of money (typically over $500,000) are involved
- Federal programs like Medicare are affected
- Multiple jurisdictions are involved
Federal cases often involve longer investigations and more serious penalties, making early legal representation crucial.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Fort Worth White Collar Crime Charges
Many white collar crime charges start with simple mistakes that spiral out of control. Here are the most common issues we see:
Financial Management Problems
- Mixing Personal and Business Money
- Using company accounts for personal expenses
- “Borrowing” from business accounts with intentions to repay
- Poor record-keeping that makes transactions look suspicious
- Emergency Financial Decisions
- Using business funds to cover unexpected medical bills
- Taking unauthorized “loans” during personal crises
- Using client or company funds as a temporary “safety valve”
Response Mistakes
The biggest mistakes often happen after someone realizes they’re under investigation:
- Talking Without a Lawyer
- Trying to explain yourself to investigators
- Making statements to your employer without legal counsel
- Attempting to justify questionable transactions
- Poor Documentation
- Failing to gather relevant records
- Not maintaining a clear timeline of events
- Destroying or altering documents (which can lead to additional charges)
Remember: If you suspect you’re under investigation, your first call should be to an experienced white collar crime defense attorney. Many people harm their cases by trying to handle the situation alone.
Fort Worth White Collar Crime Lawyer Defense Strategies That Work
When you’re facing white collar crime charges, having the right defense strategy can make all the difference. Here’s what an experienced defense attorney can do to protect your rights and work toward the best possible outcome.
Immediate Steps After Investigation Begins
The first few days and weeks are crucial. A strong defense starts with:
- Preserving Evidence
- Gathering all relevant financial records
- Collecting emails and other communications
- Creating a detailed timeline of events
- Securing witness statements when appropriate
- Protecting Your Rights
- Managing communication with investigators
- Ensuring proper procedures are followed
- Preventing self-incrimination
- Maintaining confidentiality
- Understanding Your Situation
- Reviewing the specific allegations
- Identifying potential defense strategies
- Determining whether state or federal laws apply
- Assessing potential consequences
Building Your Defense
Every case is unique, but successful defenses often include:
- Document Analysis
- Reviewing financial records in detail
- Identifying errors in the prosecution’s case
- Finding evidence that supports your side
- Uncovering mitigating circumstances
- Intent Examination
- Showing lack of criminal intent
- Demonstrating good faith efforts
- Explaining business practices
- Highlighting attempts to correct problems
- Negotiation Strategies
- Working with prosecutors for reduced charges
- Exploring alternative resolutions
- Seeking pre-trial diversion when possible
- Protecting your professional licenses
Real Results: Case Studies
Understanding how cases can be resolved helps show what’s possible. Here are some examples from our firm’s experience (with details changed to protect confidentiality):
The Non-Profit Treasurer Case
Situation: A law enforcement officer serving as treasurer for a non-profit used organization funds for personal expenses, intending to repay them.
Charges Faced:
- Embezzlement
- Up to 10 years in prison
- $10,000 fine
Our Approach:
- Demonstrated full repayment of funds
- Showed lack of permanent intent to steal
- Negotiated with prosecutors
- Presented mitigating circumstances
Outcome:
- No jail time
- Short deferred probation
- Voluntary surrender of peace officer license
- Organization made financially whole
Healthcare Billing Case
Situation: A healthcare provider faced federal charges related to Medicaid billing practices.
Our Approach:
- Detailed audit of billing procedures
- Cooperation with investigators
- Implementation of new compliance procedures
Outcome: Favorable resolution with minimal impact on business operations.
Why Choose Our Fort Worth White Collar Crime Attorney Team
When you’re facing white collar crime allegations, every hour counts. As Graham emphasizes: “It’s important at that initial conversation to get to the bottom of what really happened. If you can bring any kind of financial records, or communications, those documents are vital.”
Immediate Action Plan
When you retain our firm, we immediately:
- Conduct a thorough review of all financial records and communications
- Create a detailed timeline of events
- Preserve essential evidence and documentation
- Begin building your defense strategy
- Interface with investigators on your behalf to protect your rights
Our Approach to Your Defense
We understand that many white collar crime charges stem from:
- Business practices that appeared legitimate at the time
- Attempts to solve temporary financial problems
- Misunderstandings about what was authorized
- Complex situations that investigators may misinterpret
Why Clients Trust Us
- Deep understanding of both state and federal white collar crime laws
- Experience with Texas courts and prosecutors
- Track record of achieving favorable outcomes
- Focus on protecting your professional licenses and reputation
- Strategic approach to both legal defense and damage control
Free Consultation
If you suspect you’re under investigation or have been charged with a white collar crime, time is critical. Contact us immediately for a free, confidential consultation. During this meeting, we will:
- Review the specifics of your situation
- Explain your legal options
- Outline potential defense strategies
- Answer all your questions
- Help you make informed decisions about next steps
Remember: Early intervention often leads to better outcomes. The sooner you have experienced legal representation, the better positioned you’ll be to protect your rights, your reputation, and your future.
Contact our Fort Worth office today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help.
