Federal lawmakers signed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) into law here in the United States in 1977. This legislation made it illegal for individuals to bribe foreign officials to obtain or retain their business, licenses, loans and other necessary...
Criminal Law Excellence In Minnesota & Nationwide
Month: February 2021
Falsifying documents can lead to serious criminal accusations
Wherever money is concerned, it is very important to be accurate and honest when filling out paperwork, especially for the government. Falsifying the information on financial documents can lead to serious criminal charges. Keep in mind that there is an element of...
Why you could face charges for the same crime in state and federal court
Most everyone has some idea of what “double jeopardy” is. Protection against double jeopardy is found in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The specific clause states that “No person shall [...] be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of...
What goes into a white collar criminal defense?
Money laundering, corporate fraud, embezzlement, insider trading and Ponzi schemes (among other things) all fall under the umbrella of “white collar” offenses. While every case is different, there are some specific avenues that tend to go into the defense when someone...
Judge throws out fraud case over filing issues, lack of merit
Being accused of fraudulent acts can be frustrating and threatening. If you’re found guilty, you could face harsh fines and penalties including imprisonment. This year, election fraud has been a major issue in the news and continues to be a headliner. Recently, a...
Taking orders when your company will close could lead to charges
When a business starts struggling, both executives and employees might take extreme measures to keep it afloat. People don't want to lose their job or the business they've spent years running. If your company is going through a hard time, you may feel desperate to...
Collateral consequences come with a felony conviction
Any serious conviction, even those involving white-collar offenses, have some collateral consequences. These can sometimes have a bigger impact on the person than the court-imposed sentence. What are the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction? A collateral...
Does your friendly business agreement constitute a kickback?
Perhaps you work as a real estate agent, and one of your oldest business contacts is a surveyor. They always give you an extra fifty bucks when you send the client their way. Maybe you work in the purchasing department of a company, and your contact at another...
What is obstruction of justice?
Imagine this: Federal investigators sweep into the medical office where you work and begin collecting documents, copying hard drives and asking questions. When an agent peppers you with questions about what you may have seen or what knowledge you may have of certain...
Can criminal charges end an athlete’s career?
Generally, an athlete’s career ends when they choose to retire or when they can no longer make a roster due to an influx of young talent. That said, professionals sports teams have an image to uphold. If an athlete gets arrested and faces serious criminal charges,...