White-Collar Crime
When a crime is centered on finance or deception for a personal benefit it’s referred to as an economic or white-collar crime. In Colorado, white-collar crime is an umbrella term for a multitude of offenses of all types. These financial crimes can range from a minor bad check to a complicated multifaceted embezzling scheme involving multiple corporations.
Depending on the facts of the case, a white-collar crime could significantly impact your life and future. A conviction could mean a lengthy prison sentence, thousands of court fines, and even possible restitution from the victim. The penalties don’t stop there. After you’ve completed sentencing you may face collateral consequences from your conviction which could include losing your professional license or your good standing in the community.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a white-collar crime, it’s within your best interest to gain legal representation as soon as possible.
White Collar Denver Defense Attorney | Colorado Financial Crimes
Charges of white-collar crimes can come at either the state or federal level, and they generally are the result of a lengthy investigation by the authorities. For this reason, it is important to get legal representation as quickly as possible. If you’ve been accused of a white-collar offense, then we urge you to contact Denvers Defense Attorney. With over 22 years of trial experience under his belt, defense attorney Matthew Martin has what it takes to fight your charges.
Many white-collar crimes fall under the general heading of fraud, and there are too many specific offenses to present a complete list, so call for a free consultation about your exact circumstances. Set up your first consultation free by calling our office at 303.725.0017. Denvers Defense Attorney accepts clients throughout the greater Denver metropolitan area including Jefferson County, Douglas County, Adams County, Arapahoe County, Boulder County, and Broomfield County.
Overview of White Collar Crimes in Denver, Colorado
- What Does White Collar Crime Mean?
- Types of White Collar Crimes in Colorado
- Aggravating Factors for White Collar Crimes in Colorado
- White Collar Crime Defense Strategies
- When Can a White Collar Crime be Sealed in Colorado
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Resources
What Does White-Collar Crime Mean?
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), white-collar crimes are characterized by “deceit, concealment, or violation of trust.” Usually, white-collar crimes are nonviolent and committed for a financial gain of sorts. Offenders are motivated by possibly obtaining or avoiding losing money, property, services or to secure a personal or business advantage.
The key agency to investigating white-collar crimes is the FBI, but other entities are sometimes involved including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Association of Securities Dealers (NAS), as well as Colorado’s state authorities. Due to new technology and financial products entering the market, these crimes are as complex as ever. Agencies must adopt the most advanced equipment and techniques to track down offenders who are often high-profile individuals or have an outstanding reputation in their community.
Types of White Collar Crimes in Colorado
The most common types of white-collar crime prosecuted in Colorado include:
Embezzlement — Colorado generally prosecutes embezzlement as theft. It occurs when someone entrusted with another person’s money or property knowingly converts, keeps, or uses it without authorization and intends to deprive the owner of it.
Check Fraud — Known under Colorado law as fraud by check, this offense generally involves issuing or passing a check while intending to defraud and knowing that the account contains insufficient funds, is closed, or does not exist. The offense level generally depends on the check’s value and may be increased when multiple checks are issued within 60 days.
Possession of a Forged Instrument — A person commits this offense by knowingly possessing a forged document or instrument with the intent to use it to defraud another person. Possession of certain forged instruments is a class 6 felony under Colorado law.
Extortion — Criminal extortion occurs when someone makes a substantial threat to harm, confine, restrain, disgrace, or damage another person or their property in order to force that person to provide money, surrender something of value, take an action, or refrain from a lawful action. Threatening to report someone’s immigration status for these purposes may also constitute extortion.
Tax Fraud — Tax fraud generally involves intentionally providing false information, concealing income, claiming fraudulent deductions or credits, failing to remit collected taxes, or using another deceptive practice to avoid Colorado or federal tax obligations.
Forgery — Forgery occurs when someone, with intent to defraud, falsely creates, completes, alters, or presents a written instrument as genuine. The precise charge can depend on the type of document involved, such as a deed, will, government record, financial document, or other written instrument.
Identity Theft — Identity theft occurs when someone knowingly uses another person’s identifying information, financial information, or financial device without permission to obtain money, credit, property, services, or another thing of value, make a payment, or apply for government-issued documents.
Money Laundering — Money laundering generally involves conducting transactions with money or property derived from criminal activity in order to conceal its source, ownership, location, or control, or to use criminal proceeds to support further illegal activity. Colorado may prosecute this conduct through its racketeering and related criminal statutes, while federal money-laundering charges may also apply.
Fraud — Fraud is a broad term describing intentional deception used to obtain money, property, services, benefits, or another advantage. Colorado does not treat every fraudulent act as one single offense; charges may instead include theft, forgery, identity theft, computer crime, insurance fraud, securities fraud, or another more specific offense.
Credit Card Abuse — Colorado generally addresses credit-card abuse through its financial-transaction-device laws. Illegal conduct may include using, possessing, selling, manufacturing, or altering a credit card or similar payment device without authorization and with the intent to defraud.
Criminal Impersonation — Criminal impersonation occurs when a person knowingly assumes a false identity or legal capacity and uses it to obtain a benefit, injure or defraud another person, unlawfully sign or issue a document, or subject another person to legal, financial, or civil consequences.
Healthcare Fraud — Healthcare fraud generally involves knowingly using false statements, fabricated records, medically unnecessary services, improper billing codes, phantom billing, kickbacks, or other deception to obtain payment from a health insurer or healthcare program. Colorado also prohibits certain forms of health-insurance abuse, including improper routine waivers of required copayments and deductibles.
Credit Card Fraud — Credit card fraud generally occurs when someone uses a stolen, forged, expired, revoked, canceled, or otherwise unauthorized credit card or payment device with intent to obtain cash, credit, goods, services, or make a payment through deception.
Bankruptcy Fraud — Bankruptcy fraud is primarily a federal offense. It may include concealing assets, filing false bankruptcy documents, making false statements under oath, destroying financial records, submitting fraudulent claims, or using a bankruptcy case to carry out or conceal a scheme to defraud.
Insurance Fraud — Colorado insurance fraud includes knowingly submitting materially false or misleading information in support of an insurance application or claim, staging or causing an event to support a false claim, misappropriating insurance premiums, or creating false proof of insurance with intent to defraud.
Financial Fraud — Financial fraud is an umbrella term for schemes that use deception to obtain or misuse money, investments, credit, accounts, financial information, or other assets. Depending on the conduct, Colorado charges may include theft, forgery, identity theft, securities fraud, computer crime, credit-card fraud, or criminal exploitation.
Mortgage Fraud — Mortgage fraud involves intentionally making or using material false statements, inflated appraisals, fabricated income or employment records, undisclosed financial arrangements, straw buyers, or other deceptive information to obtain a mortgage loan or profit from a real-estate transaction.
Medicare Fraud — Medicare fraud is primarily prosecuted under federal law. It may involve knowingly billing Medicare for services that were not provided, misrepresenting diagnoses or procedures, paying or accepting unlawful referral payments, using another person’s Medicare information, or falsely certifying that services were medically necessary.
Defrauding the Government — Defrauding the government generally involves intentionally using false statements, fabricated records, concealed information, fraudulent invoices, or deceptive claims to obtain public money, contracts, grants, benefits, tax advantages, or other government property. The applicable charge depends on the particular government program and whether state or federal funds were involved.
Disaster Relief Fraud — Disaster relief fraud generally involves knowingly providing false information or concealing material facts to obtain emergency loans, grants, unemployment payments, housing assistance, business assistance, or other disaster benefits for which the applicant is not eligible. Federal charges commonly apply when the money comes from a federal relief program.
Fraud Against Senior Citizens — Colorado may prosecute financial schemes against older adults as theft, identity theft, forgery, criminal impersonation, or criminal exploitation of an at-risk person. Criminal exploitation occurs when someone knowingly uses deception, harassment, intimidation, or undue influence to deprive an at-risk person of money, property, or another thing of value.
Tax Evasion — Tax evasion is the intentional attempt to avoid assessing or paying taxes that are legally owed. Examples include concealing income, maintaining false records, hiding assets, using sham entities, claiming knowingly false deductions, or deliberately failing to report taxable transactions. Tax evasion may violate Colorado law, federal law, or both.
Bribery — Under Colorado law, bribery generally involves offering, giving, soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept a benefit under an understanding that the benefit will improperly influence a public servant’s vote, decision, judgment, recommendation, or other official action.
Accepting Kickbacks — Accepting a kickback involves receiving money, gifts, fees, discounts, or another benefit in exchange for improperly directing business, approving a transaction, awarding a contract, making a referral, or influencing an official or professional decision. Depending on the circumstances, the conduct may constitute bribery, healthcare fraud, commercial bribery, theft, or a federal anti-kickback violation.
Counterfeiting — Counterfeiting generally involves manufacturing, altering, possessing, or passing fake currency, government securities, stamps, identification documents, or other protected instruments while representing them as genuine. Counterfeiting United States currency and federal securities is ordinarily prosecuted under federal law, although related conduct may also support Colorado forgery or fraud charges.
Insider Trading — Insider trading generally occurs when someone buys or sells securities while possessing material, nonpublic information in violation of a duty of trust or confidentiality, or provides that information to another person for trading. These cases are usually prosecuted or enforced under federal securities law, although Colorado securities laws may also apply.
Denvers Defense Attorney represents clients facing a variety of crimes, even scams related to:
- The Internet
- The stock market
- Staged auto accidents
- “Work at home” opportunities
Do not take your freedom or your future for granted. Get the legal defense that you are entitled to, and that you deserve.
Aggravating Factors for White-Collar Crimes in Colorado
Certain circumstances can make a white-collar crime more serious, support a higher-level charge, or persuade a court to impose a harsher sentence. Important aggravating factors may include the following:
High Financial Loss — The amount of money or property involved is often one of the most important factors in a white-collar prosecution. Colorado grades many theft-related offenses according to the total value taken. A greater financial loss can therefore turn conduct that would otherwise be a misdemeanor into a felony or increase the felony classification.
Multiple Transactions or an Ongoing Scheme — Repeated fraudulent transactions may be treated more seriously than a single isolated act. When multiple acts are committed as part of one continuing plan or course of conduct, their values may sometimes be combined when determining the severity of the charge. A lengthy scheme may also demonstrate greater planning and intent.
Large Number of Victims — Fraud affecting numerous individuals, businesses, investors, customers, or government agencies may lead prosecutors to pursue additional charges and may weigh against leniency at sentencing. Each victim or transaction may potentially support a separate criminal count, depending on how the scheme was carried out.
Targeting Older or At-Risk Victims — Financial exploitation is treated especially seriously when the victim is an at-risk person, such as an older adult or a person with a qualifying disability. Using deception, intimidation, harassment, or undue influence to obtain an at-risk person’s property may support criminal-exploitation charges in addition to theft, forgery, identity theft, or other offenses.
Abusing a Position of Trust — A court may view the offense more seriously when the accused used a trusted position to gain access to money, accounts, records, or confidential information. This may involve an employee, accountant, financial adviser, healthcare provider, fiduciary, public official, caregiver, attorney, officer, director, or another person entrusted with financial responsibilities.
Exploiting a Professional or Fiduciary Relationship — White-collar crimes may be aggravated when the accused owed the victim a professional, contractual, or fiduciary duty. Misusing client funds, trust accounts, company assets, insurance premiums, investment money, or money belonging to a dependent person may demonstrate a particularly serious breach of responsibility.
Sophisticated Planning or Concealment — Creating shell companies, false identities, fabricated invoices, altered records, sham transactions, encrypted communications, offshore accounts, or layered financial transfers may show that the offense involved significant preparation. Attempts to disguise the source, ownership, movement, or destination of criminal proceeds can also lead to money-laundering or racketeering allegations.
Use of Forged or Fraudulent Documents — Producing or using false checks, contracts, deeds, tax documents, insurance records, medical bills, loan applications, identification documents, or government forms can result in forgery or possession-of-a-forged-instrument charges in addition to the underlying fraud offense.
Use of Another Person’s Identity — Obtaining or using another person’s identifying or financial information can lead to identity-theft charges alongside theft, credit-card fraud, criminal impersonation, or computer-crime charges. The seriousness of the case may increase when multiple identities are used or the victims experience substantial financial and credit-related harm.
Use of Computers or Electronic Networks — Using computers, databases, payment systems, email accounts, electronic records, or online platforms to carry out a scheme can expose the accused to computer-crime charges. Electronic activity may also create extensive records that prosecutors can use to establish planning, repetition, and concealment.
Obstruction or Destruction of Evidence — Deleting electronic files, altering accounting records, destroying documents, instructing witnesses to lie, hiding assets, or interfering with an investigation can create additional criminal exposure. Conduct occurring after the original offense may also convince a court that the accused has not accepted responsibility.
False Statements During an Investigation — Knowingly providing materially false information to investigators, regulators, auditors, courts, or government agencies can result in separate charges. False testimony under oath may also support perjury allegations.
Government or Public Funds Were Involved — Fraud involving public benefits, taxes, government contracts, grants, disaster assistance, healthcare programs, or other taxpayer-funded resources may be treated especially seriously. These cases can involve Colorado charges, federal charges, administrative penalties, or a combination of consequences.
The Offense Involved a Public Official — Bribery, kickbacks, bid manipulation, or fraud involving a public servant can carry heightened consequences because the conduct undermines government decision-making and public trust. The accused may also face removal from office, disqualification from public employment, or restrictions on obtaining future government contracts.
The Scheme Crossed State or National Borders — Conduct involving victims, banks, electronic communications, transfers, or businesses in multiple states may trigger federal jurisdiction. International transfers, foreign accounts, or offshore entities can make the investigation more extensive and may support allegations that the accused attempted to conceal criminal proceeds.
The Accused Was an Organizer or Leader — A person who planned the operation, recruited participants, controlled funds, directed others, or received a substantial share of the proceeds may be treated more severely than a person who played a limited role. Leadership can be particularly important in conspiracy, racketeering, and federal fraud cases.
Prior Criminal Convictions — A prior record, particularly involving theft, fraud, forgery, identity theft, financial crimes, or similar dishonest conduct, may reduce the likelihood of probation or another lenient resolution. Qualifying prior felony convictions may also expose a defendant to Colorado’s habitual-criminal sentencing laws.
The Accused Was on Probation, Parole, or Bond — Committing a financial crime while under court supervision or while released in another criminal case may lead to revocation proceedings, additional penalties, or consecutive sentencing consequences.
Failure to Return the Money or Compensate Victims — Courts may consider whether the accused made meaningful efforts to return property or compensate victims. Although repayment does not erase a completed crime, refusing to disclose assets or deliberately preventing victims from recovering their losses can weigh against the defendant.
Severe Harm Beyond the Immediate Financial Loss — Courts may consider consequences such as destroyed credit, loss of housing, business closure, inability to obtain medical care, loss of retirement savings, tax liability, or prolonged emotional distress. These forms of harm may influence restitution and the sentence imposed even when they are not reflected fully in the initial amount stolen.
White-Collar Crime Defense Strategies
How are white-collar cases defended? The truth is, many times the authorities will set you up or entrap you; in other words, they persuade you to commit a crime because they believe you have been doing it before. This can open the door to various legal defenses.
While we never promise in advance a strategy or an outcome, these kinds of charges can be successfully fought, reduced, and even dismissed. In some fraud cases, the government must prove “intent” – that you meant to commit the crime. Sometimes these offenses are the result of something occurring accidentally or as a result of naïve actions.
A skilled attorney can be especially vital in these kinds of cases because you may be under pressure to cooperate with authorities in order to catch others. You may be offered reduced penalties if you aid in the arrest of crime organizers or other offenders. The best person to advise you on these decisions is your attorney with extensive white-collar crime experience.
You may be seeking legal advice because you have already been questioned, which is how these criminal prosecutions often begin. You may have been served with a subpoena to allow law enforcement agents to search your property or your computer. You have rights in these situations, and an attorney can advise you of those rights when needed.
When Can White Collar Crimes Be Sealed in Colorado?
Many Colorado white-collar convictions can eventually be sealed, but eligibility depends on the exact offense, its classification, the outcome of the case, the completion of the sentence, and the person’s subsequent criminal history. Sealing does not destroy the record. Instead, it generally removes the case from public view while allowing courts, law-enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and certain authorized entities to continue accessing it.
White-Collar Charges That Did Not Result in a Conviction
A white-collar criminal record may generally be eligible for sealing when:
- The charges were dismissed;
- The defendant was acquitted at trial;
- The prosecutor decided not to file charges;
- The defendant completed an eligible diversion agreement; or
- The defendant completed a deferred judgment and the case was dismissed.
Non-conviction records are treated differently from conviction records and may qualify for sealing without the waiting periods that ordinarily apply after a conviction. Colorado provides a separate sealing procedure for cases that did not result in a conviction.
Waiting Periods After a White-Collar Conviction
For an eligible Colorado conviction, the waiting period generally begins after the later of:
- The final disposition of all criminal proceedings; or
- The defendant’s release from supervision, including probation or parole.
The applicable waiting periods generally include:
One Year — Civil infractions, petty offenses, and drug petty offenses may generally be sealed one year after final disposition or release from supervision, whichever occurs later.
Two Years — Class 2 misdemeanors, class 3 misdemeanors, drug misdemeanors, and certain qualifying level 4 drug felonies may generally be sealed after two years.
Three Years — Class 1 misdemeanors, class 4 felonies, class 5 felonies, class 6 felonies, and most level 3 or level 4 drug felonies may generally be sealed after three years.
Five Years — An otherwise eligible offense not included in one of the shorter categories may generally be considered for sealing after five years.
These periods can apply to white-collar offenses such as theft, lower-level embezzlement, check fraud, forgery, identity theft, criminal impersonation, insurance fraud, and unauthorized use of a financial transaction device. However, eligibility depends on the classification of the particular conviction rather than the general label attached to the conduct.
The Person Must Avoid Additional Criminal Convictions
To obtain sealing under the ordinary conviction-sealing process, the applicant generally must not have received another criminal conviction during the applicable waiting period. A pending criminal case or subsequent conviction can delay sealing, make a particular petition more complicated, or require the person to use Colorado’s process for sealing multiple conviction records.
Restitution Must Generally Be Paid
A white-collar conviction generally cannot be sealed while court-ordered restitution remains unpaid, unless the court that entered the restitution order has vacated it. This requirement is especially important in financial-crime cases because restitution can involve substantial losses and may remain enforceable long after probation or incarceration ends.
Are All White-Collar Felonies Eligible for Sealing?
No. Although many class 4, class 5, and class 6 felony convictions may be eligible, serious felony convictions can remain ineligible. A class 1, class 2, or class 3 felony generally cannot be sealed through Colorado’s ordinary conviction-sealing process unless a separate statutory exception applies.
The name of the offense alone does not determine eligibility. For example, a theft, fraud, or embezzlement conviction classified as a lower-level felony may eventually qualify, while a conviction arising from an extremely high financial loss or carrying a more serious felony classification may not. The statute under which the person was convicted and the final offense classification must be reviewed.
Otherwise Ineligible Misdemeanors and Petty Offenses
Since July 1, 2025, certain misdemeanor or petty-offense convictions that would otherwise be ineligible may still be sealed if:
- The district attorney agrees to the sealing; or
- The court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the applicant’s need for sealing is significant and substantial, the passage of time shows that the applicant is no longer a threat to public safety, and continued public access is no longer necessary to protect or inform the public.
This expanded exception applies to misdemeanors and petty offenses, not otherwise ineligible felony convictions.
What Does the Court Consider?
For many eligible misdemeanor and felony convictions, eligibility does not guarantee that the court will grant the request. The district attorney may object, a victim may be permitted to express an objection, and the court may hold a hearing.
The court may consider:
- The seriousness of the offense;
- The applicant’s criminal history;
- The time that has passed;
- Evidence of rehabilitation;
- The financial and personal harm caused to the victims;
- The applicant’s employment, housing, licensing, or educational needs;
- Whether restitution was paid;
- The district attorney’s position;
- Any victim objections; and
- The public interest in retaining access to the record.
The court generally weighs the harm to the applicant’s privacy and the risk of continuing adverse consequences against the public interest in maintaining access to the conviction record.
Can White-Collar Convictions Be Sealed Automatically?
Some eligible Colorado convictions are included in an automatic-sealing system. Colorado courts began automatically processing eligible petty offenses and misdemeanors after the required statutory periods, and eligible felony convictions were added to the automatic process beginning July 1, 2025.
For automatic sealing, the longer administrative waiting periods generally include:
- At least seven years for eligible petty offenses and misdemeanors; and
- At least ten years for eligible felony convictions.
A district attorney can object when a conviction is legally ineligible or when another statutory basis for objection applies. Because the automatic waiting periods are longer than the petition-based periods, a person may be able to request sealing through the court before the case would qualify for automatic sealing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered a white-collar crime in Colorado?
White-collar crime is a broad term for financially motivated offenses that typically involve deception, concealment, misuse of information, or abuse of trust rather than physical force. Examples include embezzlement, forgery, identity theft, check fraud, insurance fraud, tax fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, bribery, money laundering, and theft from an employer.
Are white-collar crimes felonies in Colorado?
Some white-collar offenses are felonies, while others may be charged as misdemeanors. The classification often depends on the specific statute, the amount of money or property involved, the number of victims, the type of document or account used, and whether the accused has prior convictions. A series of related transactions may sometimes be treated as one continuing course of conduct when determining the total value involved.
What penalties can result from a white-collar crime conviction?
A conviction may result in incarceration, probation, fines, restitution, community service, asset forfeiture, and restrictions on financial or business activities. The court may also impose conditions requiring financial disclosure, treatment, employment approval, or limitations on contact with victims. The exact sentence depends on the offense classification, aggravating circumstances, criminal history, and whether the case is prosecuted in state or federal court.
When does a Colorado white-collar case become a federal case?
Federal jurisdiction may apply when the allegations involve interstate communications, federally insured banks, federal tax returns, bankruptcy proceedings, federal healthcare programs, government benefits, securities markets, federal contracts, mail, wire transfers, or conduct crossing state or national borders. Federal agencies may investigate alongside Colorado law enforcement, and some conduct can potentially violate both state and federal law.
What agencies investigate white-collar crimes?
Depending on the allegations, an investigation may involve local police, a district attorney’s office, the Colorado Attorney General, the Colorado Department of Revenue, or a professional licensing agency. Federal cases may involve the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Secret Service, or another federal agency.
Can prosecutors use my emails and text messages for White Collar Crimes?
Potentially. Investigators may obtain emails, text messages, accounting records, banking information, cloud files, payment histories, internet activity, and other electronic evidence through warrants, subpoenas, cooperating witnesses, or records obtained from businesses. The legality of the search and the admissibility of the evidence may be challenged in some cases.
Does the prosecution have to prove that I intended to commit fraud?
Many white-collar offenses require proof that the accused acted knowingly, intentionally, or with an intent to defraud. A mistake, accounting error, misunderstanding, or negligent business decision is not automatically a crime. However, the required mental state differs among offenses, and prosecutors may attempt to infer intent from communications, altered records, concealment, repeated conduct, or personal financial benefit.
What defenses may apply to a white-collar crime charge?
Possible defenses may include lack of criminal intent, mistake of fact, authorization to use the money or property, reliance on professional advice, insufficient evidence, inaccurate loss calculations, mistaken identity, unlawful search or seizure, or failure to prove that the accused participated in the alleged scheme. The available defenses depend on the facts and the elements of the charged offense.
Can an employee be charged with stealing from an employer?
Yes. Colorado generally prosecutes employee embezzlement under its theft laws. An employee may face charges for allegedly diverting payments, falsifying reimbursements, using business accounts for personal expenses, manipulating payroll, keeping customer payments, or transferring company property without authorization.
What happens to assets connected to the alleged crime?
Law enforcement may attempt to seize or restrain property believed to represent criminal proceeds or property used to facilitate an offense. This can include money in bank accounts, vehicles, real estate, investments, electronics, or business assets. Asset-forfeiture proceedings may occur in addition to the criminal prosecution.
Can a professional license be affected?
Yes. A conviction—or sometimes the underlying accusation—may trigger an investigation by a licensing board. Accountants, attorneys, healthcare providers, financial professionals, insurance agents, real estate professionals, contractors, and other licensed workers may face suspension, revocation, disciplinary action, or reporting requirements.
Can a white-collar conviction affect employment?
Yes. A conviction involving fraud, theft, dishonesty, or misuse of confidential information can affect employment, professional advancement, security clearances, fiduciary positions, banking opportunities, government contracts, and business licensing. These consequences may continue after the court-imposed sentence has been completed.
Can a white-collar criminal record be sealed?
Eligibility depends on the offense, the outcome of the case, the amount of time that has passed, and whether the person has additional convictions or pending charges. Dismissed cases and acquittals are often treated differently from convictions. Certain records may be ineligible for sealing, and federal convictions generally are not governed by Colorado’s state-record-sealing process.
Is probation possible in a white-collar case?
It may be. Whether probation is available depends on the charge, criminal history, financial loss, victim impact, applicable sentencing rules, and negotiated resolution. Courts may be more willing to consider a community-based sentence when the accused has little or no criminal history, accepts responsibility, cooperates with court orders, and makes meaningful restitution efforts.
How long can a white-collar investigation take?
Complex financial investigations can continue for months or years. Investigators may need to examine substantial amounts of banking data, tax records, electronic communications, corporate documents, and expert analysis. The length of the investigation does not necessarily indicate whether charges will ultimately be filed.
Why is it important to speak with an attorney early?
Early legal representation can help protect the accused during interviews, subpoenas, searches, audits, and communications with investigators. An attorney may also preserve evidence, identify weaknesses in the government’s theory, address inaccurate loss calculations, negotiate before charges are filed, and advise the client against actions that could create additional exposure.
Additional Resources
Colorado Revised Statutes | Laws on Fraud – Visit the official website of the Colorado Revised Statutes to learn more about their laws regarding fraud and other white-collar crimes. Access the site to read up on the different legal definitions for fraud, the penalties for various types of fraud, admissible defenses, and other relevant information.
Minimize Your Risk of Fraud | Colorado Department of Labor & Employment – Visit the official website for the Department of Labor in Colorado to read up on their information and resources regarding white-collar crimes, specifically identity theft and fraud. Access the site to learn more about tax scams, how to file a report online, resources for victims of identity theft, and how to report your incident to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Denver Lawyer for Financial Crimes | Colorado Economic Offense Lawyer
As a white-collar lawyer in Denver, attorney Matthew Martin is dedicated to protecting your rights and to strategizing a defense regardless of the crimes for which you are being accused. He has 25 years of experience in the local criminal justice system as both a prosecutor and a district attorney. Now, as a defense lawyer, he can implement my knowledge of prosecutorial case strategies into my aggressive defenses.
Set up your first consultation now at 303.725.0017. Denvers Defense Attorney accepts clients throughout the greater Denver metropolitan area including nearby cities such as Broomfield, Centennial, Englewood, Deer Trial, Glendale, Thornton, Welby, Todd Creek, Lone Tree, Parker, Castle Rock, Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, and Nederland.