Jacksonville White Collar Crimes
Public corruption
When public officials are claimed to have violated their duty of faith toward their community, they are frequently publicly humiliated and charged with public corruption. Laws governing public corruption prohibit the receipt of money or other items of value in exchange for a favor or services by public officials. This form of crime can be committed within many areas of government, including legislative, judicial, regulatory, contractual, and law enforcement. Jacksonville white collar crime prosecutions are more and more frequent in these troubled times.
Common types of public corruption
Typical examples of public corruption include the following:
- Bribery: This is the act of offering items of value in exchange for a favor. Both the person offering the bribe and the recipient would be guilty of this type of crime. Two common examples include offering cash to a police officer to avoid a traffic ticket, and offering money to a judge in exchange for a non-guilty verdict.
- Extortion: In this case, someone uses threats to obtain money, goods, or services from another individual. One example would be the use of blackmail to obtain cash, special considerations, or services from an individual.
- Illegal kickbacks: Similar to a bribe, a kickback is an illegal, secret payment made in return for a favor. A common example would be when a public official responsible for determining the company that wins a contract bid receives cash from a company that then wins the bid.
The news is filled with stories of public officials accused of corruption. Unfortunately, even when the accusations are shown to be without merit, many officials experience career-affecting damages. This is why even if you just have an idea that you might be under suspicion, it is important to seek support from a white collar criminal attorney in Jacksonville who has extensive experience defending public corruption charges. In many cases, your attorney can mitigate the suspicions before or after they become public knowledge.
Contact us
If you are being investigated or have been charged with allegedly committing public corruption, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer to represent you and protect your rights—immediately. Fallgatter Farmand & Catlin has extensive experience in federal as well as state criminal cases, along with years of federal prosecutor experience. We understand the intricate investigation strategies used by federal agencies to indict and attempt to see convicted those accused of white-collar crime.
Contact us online, or call our office today at (904) 353-5800, and we will arrange a consultation at no cost or obligation to discuss your concerns.
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