White collar crimes may be nonviolent, but they carry hefty punishments. Such crimes include embezzlement, fraud and money laundering, among others. Given that most of these white collar crimes are considered felonies, facing charges means that you may be facing some of the best prosecutors. Therefore, you should be well-prepared to mount a serious defense to increase the chances of a positive outcome for your case.
Below are some potential defense strategies that may apply to your situation:
Lack of intent
To prove your guilt, the prosecution must show that you had the intent to commit the criminal act with which you are charged. This is one of the key elements of a white collar criminal case. In some instances, it may have been an unintentional mistake. If there is no proof that you had intent to commit the crime, your case may be thrown out.
Entrapment
Entrapment arises when law enforcement induces you to commit a crime that you would have otherwise not committed. For example, the police may use overbearing tactics to get you into committing a crime, only to arrest you and press charges. Such conduct is usually frowned upon in judicial circles, and it may be a viable defense for your case.
Coercion
If you were forced to commit a crime, you might use that to defend yourself. For example, if someone held your family hostage or threatened you in other ways that made you break the law, you may cite that in your defense.
The list above is not exhaustive, and there are other ways to go about your defense strategy. For example, poking holes in the prosecution’s evidence is another viable way of putting up a defense, but you may be limited by your knowledge of what the law says. Since every case is unique, it is in your best interests to become well versed with the law when fighting your charges.