Akron White Collar Crime Lawyer
Strategic Defense Representation in Akron & Cleveland, OH
White-collar crimes and other types of theft are associated with dishonesty and deceit. Whether you have been charged with a minor shoplifting offense or a more serious fraud crime, a conviction can significantly impact your future. Such a conviction gives the perception that you are not to be trusted, which can derail your future regarding employment, housing, educational prospects, and more.
You will need a proven attorney's knowledge, skills, and resources to help you fight theft and white-collar crime charges. At VanHo Law, you can work with a former prosecutor with inside knowledge of how the state pursues and prosecutes individuals in these cases. Legal industry organizations have recognized Attorney VanHo for his trial skills and advocacy. You can put his insight and legal proficiency to work for you in fighting criminal charges in Akron, Cleveland, and across the state.
Request a consultation with our Akron white-collar crime and theft attorney at VanHo Law by phone at (330) 681-1120 or by completing our online contact form.
What Are White Collar Crimes in Akron?
White-collar crimes refer to non-violent, financially motivated offenses committed by individuals, businesses, or government officials in positions of authority. Typically carried out in corporate or professional environments, these crimes often involve deceit and can result in significant financial loss to victims.
They are often committed by employees, such as accountants, or other professionals, such as investment or financial advisors, corporate executives and managers, government officials, and politicians. However, private individuals can also be charged with white-collar crimes, such as identity theft.
Common White Collar Crimes
Many activities fall into the category of white-collar crimes, such as:
- Fraud: This includes deceptive practices aimed at securing unlawful or unfair gain, such as credit card fraud, insurance fraud, and investment fraud.
- Embezzlement: Involves the misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer. It often occurs in settings where individuals have access to financial accounts.
- Money laundering: Concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, typically passing it through a complex sequence of banking transfers or commercial transactions.
- Insider trading: This occurs when individuals buy or sell stocks based on confidential, non-public information about a company, violating the trust of shareholders.
- Bribery and corruption: Involves offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value to influence the actions of an official or another person in a position of authority.
- Identity theft: The unlawful acquisition and use of someone else's personal information, often to commit fraud or other criminal activities.
- Tax evasion: The illegal act of not paying taxes owed to the government, often achieved through misrepresentation, concealment of income, or other deceptive means.
- Counterfeiting: Creating imitation products or currency intending to deceive or defraud individuals or entities into believing they are receiving something genuine.
- Financial statement fraud: The deliberate misrepresentation or omission of financial information to mislead investors or stakeholders, often to inflate a company's financial standing.
Penalties for Akron White Collar Crimes
Akron Theft Crimes
Under Section 2913.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, theft occurs without the owner’s consent or by deception, threat, or intimidation. Unlike white-collar crimes, which are generally nonviolent, theft can be committed through the use of force.
When theft is committed against a person of a protected class, it is charged as a fifth-degree felony. This includes offenses against senior citizens, people with disabilities, or active duty service members.
Theft of firearms is charged as grand theft and is a third-degree felony. Grand theft auto and theft of dangerous drugs are charged as fourth-degree felonies.
Ohio theft crimes include:
- Petty theft: Petty theft involves the unlawful taking of property valued at less than $1,000. This crime is typically classified as a misdemeanor, resulting in penalties that may include fines, probation, or up to 180 days in jail.
- Grand theft: This crime involves unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more. Penalties can include felony charges resulting in imprisonment and substantial fines. The severity of the felony charge can increase with the value of the stolen items, with higher thresholds leading to more severe charges, such as aggravated theft.
- Burglary: Burglary is defined as unlawfully entering a building or structure intending to commit a crime, usually theft. Depending on the circumstances, burglary can be classified as a felony, potentially resulting in prison sentences ranging from one to ten years.
- Robbery: Robbery involves taking property from another person by force, threat of force, or intimidation. This serious offense is classified as a felony; depending on aggravating factors, the penalties may range from two to eight years of imprisonment.
- Aggravated theft: This crime involves theft with additional elements such as using force or stealing a significant amount of property. It may lead to more severe penalties, including longer prison sentences.
- Receiving stolen property: This offense involves knowingly receiving, retaining, or disposing of property obtained through theft. Penalties can range from misdemeanors to felonies, with potential prison sentences and fines reflective of the value of the property received.
