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Peyrouton Law

New Jersey White-Collar Lawyers

Our Approach

Our New Jersey White-Collar lawyers are committed to fighting for you. You will benefit from our extensive trial experience.
Most importantly, we will be honest about your chances of winning your case. We never guarantee results. However, we absolutely guarantee that we will aggressively fight for you!

Your case is as important to us as it is to you. Your freedom is on the line. Each case is different and we welcome the opportunity to protect & defend you.

When you hire us, you will get complete access to us. We respond to all communications & really care about our clients. Our fees are reasonable and we offer payment plans. 

What are white-collar crimes examples?

As White-Collar lawyers, we represent people accused of the following crimes:

  1.  fraud;
  2. embezzlement;
  3. extortion;
  4. corruption;
  5. money-laundering;
  6. tax evasion

Most common white-collar crime

The most common white-collar crime involves embezzlement.
If you hold a management position, you probably exercise control over your employer’s funds.
If you are accused of converting or diverting your employer’s funds for personal gain, then you are facing embezzlement charges.

Your choice of white-collar lawyer is critical. It is very important to get your “legal defense” off to a good start. You need a skilled white-collar lawyer who has extensive experience representing people in these types of complex cases. 

At our firm, we take the time to patiently listen to your side of the story. Next, we explain your rights, the legal process, and the options you have available.

What is meant by white-collar crime?

White-collar crimes refer to “non-violent” crimes in the sense that alleged victims did not suffer “physical” injury. However, State Prosecutors have successfully argued before the courts that White-Collar crimes are more damaging than any other types of crimes because they destroy families and businesses.

Prosecutors will argue that these types of crimes are typically motivated by greed and ruthless criminals. Recently, white-collar convictions have resulted in harsh and severe prison sentences. If you’ve been accused of a financial crime, you may be in for the fight of your life. You need our top-rated white-collar lawyers to protect you.

Do not give law enforcement additional time to build a case against you.
Retain legal counsel immediately.

More examples

  • Bribery is when an unauthorized benefit is given or received in return for some action, such as a vote or official duties by a state official. If it involves a federal official or the use of the US Postal Service, or if it involves a project that uses federal funds, it becomes a federal crime.
  • Copyright infringement is per se a federal crime, unless it involves sound or video piracy, which is covered by New Jersey law. Cybercrime includes accessing, altering or destroying computer data or software without proper authorization, or disrupting access to the Internet. If it involves a protected computer, or those used in interstate commerce or by the federal government, it becomes a federal crime.
  • Embezzlement Related Offenses
    Embezzlement is included under the state crime of theft. Forgery is an unauthorized writing, made with the intent to defraud, that claims to be the writing of someone else.
  • Money Laundering includes any type of property obtained from criminal activity disguised in financial transactions for the purpose of avoiding reporting requirements.

There are various degrees and the fines can reach up to $500,000.

The federal crime of racketeering also has a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property, plus imprisonment up to 20 years.

white-collar Penalties

The penalties for white-collar crimes in New Jersey vary depending on the amount of money that is involved and depending on the “injuries” to victims.
If you are convicted of white-collar crime, you may be sentenced to prison.
Even though white-collar crimes are not violent and don’t necessarily cause the physical harm that gun- and drug-related crimes can cause, a conviction can still result in a sentence of incarceration.

  • House Arrest.
    A person may be sentenced to home confinement instead of jail or prison for a white-collar crime. Under house arrest, a person’s travel outside the home is limited, and he or she must wear an electronic monitor at all times.
  • Probation.
    A sentence of probation would come with certain conditions that a person has to meet. This could include reporting regularly to a probation officer, maintaining employment or attending school, or restricting access to the Internet.
  • Fines.
    A white-collar crime conviction can result in fines climbing into the thousands of dollars, on top of other punishments levied.
  • Restitution.
    A person can also be ordered to pay back victims who were financially harmed. This could be ordered in addition to the fines.

When you hire us, our New Jersey white-collar lawyers will fight with everything we have to defend & protect you.

Important:

White-collar convictions will haunt you. Even though you may have “paid your debt to society,” your conviction will greatly limit your employment and education options. Once a potential employer sees that you have a "white-collar" conviction, you will be considered a person that "cannot be trusted".

white-collar crime subpoenas

If you are being investigated for a white-collar offense, you may receive a subpoena. When you receive a subpoena, immediately consult with a New Jersey white-collar lawyer.

If you receive a subpoena do not panic. Call us immediately. Law enforcement need information and will ask you to either “cooperate” or give a “statement”.

If you appear voluntarily, then the police do not need to warn you of your right to an attorney. You may be the suspect and it is very dangerous to answer any questions or make any statements.
Never speak to law enforcement without first retaining legal counsel.

State versus Federal White-Collar Crimes

Some White-Collar crimes are found only under New Jersey Law and will not be found under Federal White-collar crimes.

White-Collar crimes listed solely under NJ law will be heard in State Superior Court. Alternatively, if Congress enacted a White-collar crime, even if you are arrested in New Jersey, Federal Courts retain jurisdiction

If you are accused of a both a State White-Collar crime and a Federal White-Collar crime, you better get ready…you’ll be defending against two separate crimes in two separate jurisdictions.

If this is you, give us a call and we’ll explain it.

  • White Collar Criminal Defense Lawyer Near Me

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A person extorts if he purposely threatens to:

a. Inflict bodily injury on or physically confine or restrain anyone or commit any other criminal offense;
b. Accuse anyone of an offense or cause charges of an offense to be instituted against any person;
c. Expose or publicize any secret or any asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to impair his credit or business repute;
d. Take or withhold action as an official, or cause an official to take or withhold action;
e. Bring about or continue a strike, boycott or other collective action, if the property is not demanded or received for the benefit of the group in whose interest the actor purports to act;
f. Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information with respect to another’s legal claim or defense; or
g. Inflict any other harm which would not substantially benefit the actor but which is calculated to materially harm another person.

***It is an affirmative defense to prosecution based on paragraphs b, c, d or f that the property obtained was honestly claimed as restitution or indemnification for harm done in the circumstances or as lawful compensation for property or services.

Reasonable Articulable Suspicion

Reasonable suspicion is a “search” standard that applies in criminal law.

When a police officer conducts a warrantless search, and does not have probable cause to justify the search, the courts look to see if the police had
a “reasonable & articulable suspicion” for the search.

A mere “hunch” is not enough.

In other words, a police officer has to provide an acceptable explanation for the search.

United States Constitution

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

NJSA - 2C:43-7.2.
Eligibility for parole;
persons convicted of certain violent crimes

a. A court imposing a sentence of incarceration for a crime of the first or second degree enumerated in subsection d. of this section shall fix a minimum term of 85% of the sentence imposed, during which the defendant shall not be eligible for parole.


b. The minimum term required by subsection a. of this section shall be fixed as a part of every sentence of incarceration imposed upon every conviction of a crime enumerated in subsection d. of this section, whether the sentence of incarceration is determined pursuant to N.J.S.2C:43-6, N.J.S.2C:43-7, N.J.S.2C:11-3 or any other provision of law, and shall be calculated based upon the sentence of incarceration actually imposed. The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall not be construed or applied to reduce the time that must be served before eligibility for parole by an inmate sentenced to a mandatory minimum period of incarceration. Solely for the purpose of calculating the minimum term of parole ineligibility pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a sentence of life imprisonment shall be deemed to be 75 years.


c. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and in addition to any other sentence imposed, a court imposing a minimum period of parole ineligibility of 85 percent of the sentence pursuant to this section shall also impose a five-year term of parole supervision if the defendant is being sentenced for a crime of the first degree, or a three-year term of parole supervision if the defendant is being sentenced for a crime of the second degree. The term of parole supervision shall commence upon the completion of the sentence of incarceration imposed by the court pursuant to subsection a. of this section unless the defendant is serving a sentence of incarceration for another crime at the time he completes the sentence of incarceration imposed pursuant to subsection a., in which case the term of parole supervision shall commence immediately upon the defendant’s release from incarceration. During the term of parole supervision the defendant shall remain in release status in the community in the legal custody of the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and shall be supervised by the State Parole Board as if on parole and shall be subject to the provisions and conditions

Felony Degree

Prison & Fines

Examples

First-Degree

1st-degree felony charges in NJ are reserved for the most serious criminal offenses. Prison terms start at a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Second-Degree

2nd-degree felony charges carry 5-10 yrs in prison.
These charges can often be “downgraded” to 3rd or 4th-degree crimes.

Third-Degree

3rd-degree felony charges carry 3-5 years.
You have a good shot at PTI if you are charged with a 3rd-degree.

Fourth-Degree

4th-degree felony charges carry up to 18 months in jail. These cases can get “remanded” to a lower court. In this way, you will be out of “felony” danger.