

Huntington Station White Collar Crimes Lawyer
White Collar Crimes
We Defend All Types of White Collar Criminal Charges in Suffolk County
Fifty years ago, prosecutors had a reputation for going easy on white collar defendants. Those days are long gone. Today, many prosecutors build their reputations exposing corruption and having business executives paraded in front of cameras in handcuffs. White collar crimes are some of the most common, and many unsuspecting individuals can find themselves facing charges.
Contact Karpf Criminal Law for help building a defense. We have defended countless people against all sorts of New York crimes, and our Huntington Station white collar crimes attorney is prepared to protect your freedom. If you or your loved one was charged with any type of white collar criminal offense, we can help. Initial consultations are fully confidential and carry no obligations.
What Are White Collar Crimes?
Broadly defined, white collar crimes are a category of offense that are (usually) non-violent crimes committed for financial gain. These crimes come in a wide range of different forms—and their severity can vary dramatically depending on the specific nature of the allegations. New York has dozens of white-collar crimes. A small sampling of white collar investigations and white collar offenses include:
- Bribery: Bribery is a white collar criminal offense that involves a defendant offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value to influence the actions of a public official or another person in a position of trust. Under New York Penal Law, bribery is taken seriously. If you are facing a bribery charge in Suffolk County, our criminal defense team can help.
- Credit Card Fraud: We defend people against credit card fraud allegations in New York State. It is a white collar crime that happens when someone uses a stolen, forged, or fraudulent credit card to obtain goods, services, or funds. Notably, the offense often happens in conjunction with some form of identity theft. It may be a misdemeanor or a felony.
- Criminal Tax Fraud: We defend both federal and state tax fraud charges. These are very serious cases and are generally brought as felony offenses. When allegations of tax fraud arise, a defendant may face both criminal and civil liability from the federal government. Our Huntington Station white collar criminal defense lawyer has the skills and experience to help you against the Securities and Exchange Commission in state and federal courts.
- Embezzlement: Embezzlement is another serious white collar criminal offense. It occurs when someone who was entrusted with property or funds misappropriated it for personal use. In New York, crime often arises in professional or corporate settings. Charged with embezzlement or wire fraud? Contact our Huntington Station white collar defense lawyer today.
- Enterprise Corruption: Enterprise corruption is a white collar crime that is similar to racketeering. Broadly defined, it involves participating in an organized crime group engaged in illegal activities. Under New York’s Organized Crime Control Act, a person involved in enterprise corruption can face severe felony criminal charges.
- Falsifying Business Records: Falsifying business records involves altering, creating, or destroying documents to deceive or defraud others. In New York, this crime is often tied to attempts to hide financial misconduct or tax evasion. This securities fraud may be a felony in some cases.
- Forgery: Forgery is a white collar crime that happens when a person creates, alters, or uses false documents with the intent to defraud and goes against the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Some examples include forging signatures, creating counterfeit documents, or altering checks.
- Giving or Receiving Unlawful Gratuities: Giving/receiving unlawful gratuities is a white collar criminal offense that involves offering or accepting gifts or favors as a reward for official action—but without the explicit agreement required for bribery. It is typically charged as a misdemeanor offense. If the elements of bribery are met, that is more serious.
- Insurance Fraud: Insurance fraud is a very serious white collar criminal offense. It can come in a wide array of different forms in New York State. Most often, when someone intentionally provides false information to an insurance company to receive improper benefits or payouts. We defend the full range of insurance fraud charges, such as healthcare fraud.
- Money laundering: Money laundering involves concealing the origins of illegally obtained funds through complex financial transactions resulting in bank fraud from financial institutions. There are both state and federal white collar criminal charges. Notably, New York aggressively prosecutes money laundering—especially so when it (allegedly) involves large sums or organized crime that could lead to a federal investigation or internal investigations.
- Perjury: Perjury is another type of criminal offense that is classified broadly as a white collar crime in New York? When is a person guilty of committed perjury? Prosecutors must prove that they knowingly made a false statement under oath in a judicial or official proceeding. It could be a felony criminal offense in New York State.
- Petit Larceny: We defend all types of larceny charges in Huntington Station, Suffolk County, and throughout the region in Long Island. Petit larceny is the theft of property valued at $1,000 or less. In New York, it is classified as a misdemeanor. If larceny exceeds $1,000, then the offense could rise to the level of felony grand larceny.
- Schemes to Defraud: Under New York law, schemes to defraud is a white collar criminal offense that involves a plan or effort to obtain property or services through fraudulent means. The schemes may target individuals, businesses, or government entities. Depending on the specific allegations, it may be either a misdemeanor or a felony.
- Theft of Services: Theft of services occurs when someone intentionally uses or obtains services without proper payment or authorization. Some of the most common examples in New York include fare evasion, illegal utility hookups, or skipping out on hotel bills. Facing any type of theft of service charge? Our New York criminal defense lawyer is here to help.
Each law has its own requirements, but most of them will require you to take some action with a criminal mental state. For example, it’s not a crime to submit a forged instrument to a bank. However, under New York Penal Law § 170.30 it is a crime if you use the instrument “knowing” it is forged and “with intent to deceive or defraud”.
STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU ARE SUSPECTED OF A WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL OFFENSE
If you catch wind of someone starting to conduct internal investigations, then you absolutely must call an experienced attorney. We recommend that you do the following:
- Refuse to answer police questions. You have no obligation to talk to them, and the police are allowed to lie to you.
- Don’t turn over devices! Police need a search warrant to go through your computer or cell phone unless you consent. Why make it easy on them? Make federal prosecutors get a warrant.
- Avoid shredding documents. This act could also qualify as a crime. You don’t need to hand the keys to your filing cabinets to the police, but you also can’t impair or destroy possible evidence.
- Don’t delete emails. Deleted emails never really go away. The police can recover them, and then they’ll hit you with a tampering with evidence charge.
- Reach out to an experienced white collar crime attorney. Our criminal defense attorney will immediately review what you know and advise you of additional steps to take next. You have a right to a lawyer present for any police questioning.
WHY TRUST OUR HUNTINGTON STATION WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER
Facing a white collar criminal charge is complicated. It is normal to have a ton of questions about your rights, your options, and what exactly you need to do to protect your future. Do not take on police, federal agents, or prosecutors all alone in front of a federal court or a federal grand jury without proper legal counsel. Attorney Andrew Karpf has the criminal defense expertise that you can rely on when it matters the most with federal criminal charges. We are proactive and we have the specialized experience to handle the nuances and complexities of white collar criminal allegations. Among other things, our Huntington Station white collar criminal defense lawyer is prepared to:
- Listen to what you have to say and answer questions about your case;
- Investigate the white collar criminal charges—gathering evidence;
- Advocate for you in any plea negotiations with the prosecution; and
- Develop a personalized white collar defense strategy to help you get the best outcome.
WHITE COLLAR CRIMES IN NEW YORK: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
IF I’M CONVICTED OF A WHITE COLLAR CRIME, WILL I GO TO PRISON?
Prison is a real possibility if convicted. Many white-collar crimes are felonies, which are the most serious crimes in New York. The District Attorney can request a stiff sentence to make an example of you.
New York divides felonies and misdemeanors into classes. Your sentence will also depend on your criminal history and other factors. You might receive probation instead of prison, depending on the crime. As your attorney, we do everything possible to keep you out of prison so you can be with your family and friends.
What are the Other Potential Penalties & Consequences?
A prison sentence isn’t the only penalty. You can also face stiff fines and required restitution.
Any criminal conviction might jeopardize a professional license. You typically need to report even misdemeanor offenses to a licensing board, which could investigate and choose to suspend your license.
There is also a loss of reputation. If you are a business executive, even a minor white-collar crime could make it impossible to land your next position. This is one more reason to fight the charges and prove your innocence. Contact us so we can dig in and look at the facts of your case. You should know what penalties you are facing before we begin designing a defense.
Can We Beat White Collar Criminal Charges?
Yes. A criminal charge is fundamentally an allegation. It does not mean that you are automatically guilty of the offense. The burden of proof rests on the shoulders of the prosecution. Our job as your attorney is to get the most favorable result possible based on the facts. We might seek:
- Dismissal of charges
- Acquittal at trial
- Plea bargain for a reduced charge
- Probation
Often, proof of a financial crime isn’t as “open and shut” as the District Attorney claims. As mentioned, these crimes have a mental element—did you intend to defraud someone? Did you know a document was fraudulent? You might have accidentally put money in the wrong account. That’s not embezzlement—it’s a mistake.
When the police seize evidence without a search warrant or consent, we can ask a judge to throw it out. Many cases will collapse at that point.
The DA must prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s a high bar to clear, and we can often tell a story which sows doubt in the minds of any listener.
Speak with an Experienced White Collar Crime Lawyer
Karpf Criminal Law is proud to defend anyone in Huntington Station accused of a white-collar crime. Pick up the phone and call Karpf Law for the best defense in Huntington Station, (631)424-6444. We can fight to get drug charges dropped or negotiate for a plea which can minimize the penalties you face for federal crimes. We are available to meet to discuss your case in a confidential setting. Our attorney’s office defends white collar criminal charges throughout Suffolk County.
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" When I was arrested, I thought my life was over. Karpf Criminal Law turned everything around. They fought for me like I was family, and thanks to them, I'm back home with my kids. I can't thank them enough. "