White Collar Crime
Common examples of healthcare fraud
Last December, four New York City doctors were included in a group of individual and corporate defendants charged with defrauding publicly funded insurance providers like Medicare and Medicaid of millions of dollars. Their arrest drew a lot of press coverage and public ire. In recent years, federal, state, and even local authorities have directed their…
Read MoreTax crimes in New York
Last April, a British lawyer was found guilty of a massive tax fraud scheme. Michael Little, who was licensed to practice law in New York, was accused of helping the family of a U.S. investor conceal millions of dollars from the IRS by depositing it in Swiss bank accounts. He now faces up to five…
Read MoreFederal criminal forfeiture: What you need to know
Did you know that if you are convicted of a federal offense that you stand to lose more than your freedom? Using a process known as criminal forfeiture, the government can seize certain assets and property after and, in some instances, before your conviction. Criminal vs. civil forfeiture Criminal forfeiture is part of an overall…
Read MoreUnreasonable search and seizure: Specificity is key
While the U.S. Constitution guarantees your right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, there continue to be instances where law enforcement officers violate that right, either through negligence or simple and willful disregard. The result is a huge—and growing—body of law that focuses on interpreting when and under what conditions a search and seizure…
Read MoreForeign Corrupt Practices Act
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is an anti-corruption law aimed at American companies that operate in international markets. When it was passed in 1977, the FCPA was the first law to make both individuals and corporations civilly and criminally liable for corruption crimes committed outside of the country. The FCPA prohibits U.S. companies and/or…
Read MoreWhat can we learn from California’s proposed ransomware law?
In some instances, laws can be very specific, leaving a judge with little room for interpretation. In other instances, a law can be surprisingly vague. Sometimes, over time, and as societies and their technologies evolve, laws may end up being interpreted differently. This is often the case with the penal law. One notable area is…
Read MoreWhat to do if you are facing criminal scam charges
Scams are relatively common across the country these days, especially as the reliance on technology and the Internet has increased. In fact, the capture of personal data using electronic methods has impacted dozens of people over the course of the past year alone. Scams can range from minor to serious, with criminal charges a strong…
Read MoreFalse Claims Act
Also known as the “Lincoln Law,” the False Claims Act is a federal law that penalizes those who defraud government programs. In addition to providing up to treble damages in a pro-plaintiff verdict, the Act delivers upwards of up to 30% of recoveries. It has been described as the single most important resource American taxpayers…
Read MoreCriminal Tax Fraud
Last July, John Cisneros, who prepares taxes, was indicted for preparing fraudulent returns and defrauding the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Cisneros, who was charged in New York State Supreme Court, faced several counts, including Criminal Tax Fraud in the First, Second, and Third Degrees. He is said to have prepared more…
Read MoreAccess device fraud
Access device fraud, otherwise known as Criminal Use of an Access Device, is the fraudulent use of a card, account number or any other means of illegally accessing an account in order to transfer funds or obtain money, goods, or services. Examples include using someone’s debit card without their permission or using a counterfeit credit…
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