Federal law provides for the criminal prosecution of corporations. While a corporation cannot be incarcerated, a conviction can destroy the business. Not only could the corporation be ordered dissolved, but its assets could be subject to fines or forfeitures. Investigations into suspected wrongdoing in corporate activities can frequently be traced to the actions of employees, who, if they can be shown to be actively participating in the wrongdoing, may find themselves indicted as well.

A fertile area of criminal investigation can occur with companies who have substantial contracts providing goods or services to the United States Government. Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, prohibits conspiring to defraud the United States. Corporations whose activities are regulated by the Federal Government, such as banks, medical clinics, and securities trading firms, may find themselves under investigation for failing to follow regulations. Frequently, these regulations can carry criminal penalties against the corporation, as well as employees engaged in wrongdoing.

In many of these instances, an internal investigation supervised by a criminal defense lawyer can be an effective response to the threat of a criminal investigation. Cooperating with the Government to uncover any wrongdoing or, in some cases, develop evidence exonerating the corporation and its principals, can be a cost-effective way to avoid the disruptions caused by compliance with Grand Jury subpoenas or the business being threatened with a criminal indictment. In order to be credible, an internal investigation must be conducted by outside counsel, and it should be an attorney well-versed in criminal law. The goal is usually to separate compliance with regulations from criminal liability.

Charles G. White takes a team approach to internal investigations. Using private investigators, forensic accountants and industry experts, an effective and credible internal investigation can be the difference between business survival or destruction.

Obtain Legal Assistance

If you or someone you know is accused of a Federal crime, it is imperative that you work with an attorney who has experience in these cases. Charles G. White has represented hundreds of clients in Federal Courts throughout the United States. He has the experience and knowledge essential to obtain the best possible result. Charles G. White. He has over 34 years of experience with these types of cases and will defend you and your rights.