A Minnesota White Collar Crimes Lawyer Ready to Fight for You

If you or someone you love has been charged with a white collar crime or put under investigation, it is incredibly important that you take action to protect yourself and your business – and that you do it as soon as possible.

Because white collar crimes do not involve any physical violence, most people in Minnesota tend to view them as less serious offenses. After all, holding someone up at gunpoint is a far more disturbing image than clicking a few computer keys to access someone else’s money or credit information. But white collar crimes can be just as devastating to victims, and in many cases they affect a far larger group of people.

Our country learned this in a big way when the last financial crisis hit, and over the last decade or so, law enforcement officials have been working hard to crack down on white collar crimes. Many state and federal prosecution offices now employ lawyers who specialize in this area of law and work with people who are considered experts in taxes, computers, accounting, and other disciplines commonly associated with white collar crimes.

These types of offenses can be charged at the state or federal level, and include huge fines, lengthy prison sentences, and other associated penalties. But even beyond the punitive measures, those accused of white collar crimes have to deal with the damage such a charge can do to their good name and that of their business.

That is why acting fast to hire a white collar crimes lawyer is so important. It prevents prosecutors from getting more of a head start. It keeps you from saying or doing anything that could harm your case. In general, the sooner you get a skilled criminal attorney on your team, the better your chances at achieving a positive outcome.

Minnesota white collar crimes lawyer Christopher Keyser has helped countless people just like you over the course of his career, and he knows exactly how to handle these types of cases. If charges have already been filed, Mr. Keyser will focus on getting them reduced, dropped, or dismissed so that you can concentrate on rebuilding and moving forward with your life. If you have learned that you are under investigation but charges have yet to be filed, he will pursue every possible option to put a stop to the investigation and keep anything from going public so that your reputation will not be harmed.

Understand Your Charges with a Knowledgeable Minnesota White Collar Crimes Lawyer

White collar crimes charges tend to be complicated and confusing, and one of the biggest reasons for this is because the term is really an “umbrella” that covers many different types of illegal actions.

Some of the most common white collar crimes that are charged in Minnesota include:

• Antitrust Violations
• Bank Fraud
• Blackmail
• Bribery
• Copyright Infringement
• Corporate Espionage
• Counterfeiting
• Embezzlement
• Environmental Violations
• Extortion
• Forgery
• Identity Theft
• Insider Trading
• Insurance Fraud
• Money Laundering
• Mortgage Fraud
• Ponzi Schemes
• Public Corruption
• Racketeering
• Securities Fraud
• Tax Evasion
• Wire Fraud

Because there are so many different kinds of crimes that are considered “white collar,” you need someone with an in-depth understanding of your particular charge.

Associated penalties can vary widely depending on the nature of the alleged crime, but it is not uncommon to face tens of thousands in fines and decades in jail or prison. State racketeering charges, for example, can earn you a fine of up to one million dollars and 20 years in prison. And if you are charged with a federal white collar crime, sentencing can be mind-bogglingly ridiculous. Many people are now fighting back to make penalties more fair, but that will not matter if you are in the middle of a case.

Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney Christopher Keyser Explains Common White Collar Crime Defenses

In order to investigate you and build a strong case for conviction, prosecutors will try to gain access to business records, bank information, credit card receipts, and more. Tracking down the evidence they need to strengthen their case can take months – or even years – and sometimes the best defense is to work with a Minnesota defense lawyer who knows how to block their attempts to ferret out information.

There are other defenses that have been known to work, though, depending on the nature of the alleged act:

Lack of intent. Perhaps you were simply following your boss’s orders and did not understand the ramifications of your actions. In order to convict, prosecutors have to show that you knew what you were doing, so possibly the most common defense for white collar crimes is that you did not intend to commit a crime.

Duress. Did someone force you to act in the way that you did? Maybe you were threatened with bodily harm? Or losing your job? If your criminal attorney can show duress, it can act as a strong defense.

Entrapment. Government officials are so keen to discover and punish people for committing white collar crimes that sometimes they will employ undercover agents who may encourage you to act in an illegal manner. If this happens to you, do not simply take it lying down – it is called entrapment, and your defense attorney can use it to help your case.

Incapacity, intoxication, and insanity. These defenses can be helpful in certain situations, but all have potential drawbacks. A judge or jury may be persuaded to go easier on you if you can show that you were in an altered mental state when the alleged crime was committed or that you lacked the capacity to commit the crime in the first place, but it does not mean that you will be completely exonerated. Moreover, using such a defense can negatively impact your life and business prospects going forward.

Contact Respected Minnesota White Collar Crimes Charges Attorney Chris Keyser Right Now

With the stakes in white collar crimes cases so high, you want to make sure that you are getting the strongest possible advocate in your corner.

Since opening Keyser Law, P.A., Christopher Keyser has been recognized by both peers and clients for his excellent work. The National Trial Lawyers has named him to both their Top 100 Trial Lawyer list and as a Top 40 Under 40 attorney in the state. According to SuperLawyers, he is a Minnesota Rising Star. His Avvo rating is a perfect 10/10, and since 2010 he has won Clients’ Choice Awards every year. Mr. Keyser has even been sought out by the media due to his superior knowledge of criminal law.

The only recognition he really cares about, though, comes when clients tell him how glad they are that they hired him and how happy they are that he was able to secure them such a positive outcome.

See what Christopher Keyser can do for you by setting up a free initial consultation right now. Simply email Mr. Keyser at chris@keyserdefense.com, call him on his cell phone at 612-281-8325, or contact one of our two convenient local offices:

612-338-5007 (Minneapolis)

651-689-4788 (Stillwater)