Baton Rouge White Collar Crime Lawyer

Embezzlement is one of many types of financial fraud in which someone steals money or assets from their boss or company. In Louisiana, embezzlement is penalized the same way as other general theft crimes. Theft offenders are charged and penalized based on how much money they stole or the value of the asset they stole.

So if a Louisianan embezzled less than $1,000, they would likely receive a misdemeanor charge which results in 6 months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. Meanwhile, if a Louisianan embezzled more than $1,000, they would likely receive a felony. Felony theft convictions can result in a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and a maximum fine of $50,000, depending on the amount of money that was embezzled.

Louisiana law describes commercial bribery as giving or offering to give an employee, agent, or fiduciary something of value in order to influence the actions of a person in power, such as an employer. If you offer, give, or even accept a bribe in Louisiana, you can face 6 months in prison and a $500 fine.

Bribery crimes can go hand-in-hand with violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. This federal law, created in 1977, prohibits Americans and American businesses from bribing government officials from other countries in order to enhance their business. This law has been controversial over the years because many Americans believe that it could prevent American companies from obtaining foreign investments.

Money laundering occurs when someone hides the source of money they obtained illegally. Most commonly, offenders will illegally obtain money through international banks or other businesses. Similarly to other theft crimes in Louisiana, the penalties for money laundering heavily depend on the amount of money illegally obtained.

• People who illegally obtain $3,000 to $19,999 will go to jail for at least 2 years, with or without hard labor, and will pay a maximum fine of $10,000.
• Those who illegally obtain $20,000 to $99,999 will go to jail for 2 to 20 years, at hard labor, and will pay a fine of at least $20,000.
• People who illegally obtain more than $100,000 will go to jail for 2 to 50 years, at hard labor, and will pay a maximum fine of $50,000.

Tax evasion occurs when someone doesn’t pay their taxes or they pay too little on their taxes. People in white collar jobs may avoid paying taxes through illegal means, such as inaccurately reporting their income to the IRS, inflating deductions, or hiding a specific amount of money in a foreign bank account. Tax evasion is incredibly common. In fact, the IRS estimates that the U.S. government loses nearly $1 trillion on an annual basis due to this type of financial crime.

If you commit tax evasion in Louisiana, you could face a 2 year jail sentence and a maximum fine of $2,000.

Extortion occurs when someone obtains money or assets through the use of force or threats. Specific types of threats listed in Louisiana law include:

• Causing someone (or their family) physical harm
• Damaging property owned by the victim or their family
• Accusing the victim or their family of committing a crime
• Uncovering any dark secret about the victim or their family
• Causing any kind of harm in general

Extortion offenders in Louisiana can face a maximum jail sentence of 15 years at hard labor.

Forgery occurs when someone creates a fake signature or a copy of an important document with the intent of committing some kind of fraud. You can be convicted of this type of federal white collar crime if you create, transfer, or possess a forged document. In Louisiana, forgery offenders can face a maximum jail sentence of 10 years, with or without hard labor, and a maximum fine of $5,000.

Bank fraud occurs when someone uses illegal methods to possess money, assets, or property that’s owned by a financial institution. Bank fraud offenders in Louisiana can face a 10 year jail sentence, with or without hard labor, and a $100,000 fine.

Mortgage fraud occurs when people lie about themselves or their money in order to buy a home or obtain a mortgage loan. Mortgage fraud also occurs when lenders purposely try to defraud their employer or company or receive any money from closing a mortgage loan.

Louisianans who commit mortgage fraud can face a 10 year prison sentence, with or without hard labor, and a $100,000 fine.

Medicaid fraud falls under the umbrella of general health care fraud. This type of federal white collar crime occurs when someone attempts to receive greater Medicaid benefits or obtain authorization for Medicaid benefits by submitting false information. Medicaid fraud offenders in Louisiana can face a 5 year prison sentence, with or without hard labor, and a $20,000 fine.

In many cases, committing Medicaid fraud also means that you’re violating the U.S. False Claims Act, which prohibits Americans from submitting incorrect information in order to defraud government benefit programs.