Sacramento White-Collar Crime Lawyer Under investigation for fraud? Call me before you talk.

Accused of fraud or embezzlement?

White-collar cases are about money and paperwork, not violence. They can still mean jail, a felony record, and paying back large amounts. They can also cost you a job or a professional license.

These cases usually start quietly. An employer finds a gap in the books. A bank or insurance company flags a claim. A state agency sends a letter about benefits you received. By the time you hear about it, an investigator may have been gathering records for a while.

Charges I handle

• Fraud: lying or tricking someone to get money or property.
• Embezzlement: taking money or property you were trusted with, like an employer’s funds.
• Identity theft: using someone else’s personal information to get money, credit, or something else unlawfully.
• Forgery and check fraud: signing someone else’s name, changing a document, or writing checks you knew wouldn’t clear.
• Insurance fraud: false or padded insurance claims.
• EDD and benefits fraud: unemployment, disability, or other public benefits the state says you shouldn’t have received.

Some of these charges can be filed as a misdemeanor or a felony, and the dollar amount often matters. For example, forging a check or money order, or writing bad checks, is usually a misdemeanor when the total is $950 or less. Very large losses can add extra time to a sentence.

Before charges are filed

If an investigator, detective, or agency wants to talk to you, call me before you say anything. People in these cases often think they can explain the numbers and make it go away. Police often aren’t trying to clear up a misunderstanding; they’re gathering ammunition. Your explanation can become their evidence.

If your employer asks you to sign a statement, or a promise to pay money back, talk to me first.

Before charges, I can:

• Tell the investigator I represent you and that you won’t be interviewed.
• Be the point of contact, so calls and letters come to me.
• Learn what I can about the investigation.
• Arrange a voluntary surrender if a warrant issues, so you can turn yourself in on a plan instead of being arrested at home or work.

The goal is for charges never to be filed. For most investigations, you pay half the fee now, and the rest only if charges are filed. What to do before charges are filed

Cases built on documents

White-collar cases are built on records: bank statements, emails, spreadsheets, payroll, and claim forms. I go through them myself. I look at what the records actually show, what they don’t, and whether the numbers add up the way the prosecutor says.

The big question in many of these cases is intent. A mistake, sloppy bookkeeping, or a business deal that went bad isn’t the same as fraud. The prosecutor has to prove you meant to cheat someone, and sometimes the documents show something else.

Some cases need a forensic accountant or an investigator. That costs extra, and you decide whether to hire one.

When you hire me, you get me. I don’t have associates or staff.

Paying it back, and how a case can end

Money is at the center of these cases. If you’re convicted, the judge will order restitution: paying back the actual loss. How much is owed is often disputed, and I check the math.

Paying money back early can also matter. It can show the prosecutor and judge who you are, not just what the records say. I’ll talk with you about whether and when to do it.

Every case is different, and I can’t promise a result. These are the outcomes I work toward:

• Charges never filed.
• Charges dropped or dismissed.
• A program that ends in a dismissal, such as diversion.
• A lower charge, such as a felony reduced to a misdemeanor.
• No jail time.
• A record you can clear later.

When you become eligible, I typically clear your record for you at no additional charge. I don’t just wait for “automatic” relief, which often doesn’t happen. A fraud conviction can affect jobs, professional licenses, and immigration. Why a clean record matters.

I charge flat fees, so you know the cost before you hire me. See my fees.

Not a U.S. citizen? Tell me at the start. Some results that look good on paper can still cause immigration problems, and I plan around that.

Questions