Professionals in a variety of different fields could be at risk of white-collar criminal charges. Prosecution could follow accusations of embezzlement, money laundering or fraud. Professionals such as salespeople, executives and accounting professionals are among those at risk of serious white-collar charges.
Frequently, a professional’s arrest may come as a shock to them. They must then scramble to understand the situation and to avoid mistakes that could limit their legal options and rights. There are usually clear warning signs of imminent prosecution on the horizon that serve to alert employees about their need for legal guidance and support.
What are some of the possible warning signs that professionals might soon face white-collar criminal charges?
1. The arrival of a forensic accountant
When employers suspect money laundering or embezzlement, they usually take steps to validate those suspicions. A forensic accountant can review a company’s financial records to determine if there are problematic transactions or missing resources. Whether an employer hired a full-time forensic accountant or one has arrived to conduct an audit, the result of that investigation could well be prosecution.
2. Termination or suspension
Employers who have begun building a case against a worker for white-collar criminal offenses may summarily terminate that worker to prevent additional misconduct. The termination does not eliminate the possibility of the company prosecuting the professional.
In some cases, workers do not get fired during the investigation. Instead, the employer simply changes their job responsibilities, limits access to financial resources or sends the worker home for a temporary suspension. Any disciplinary actions on the part of an employer could be warning signs of more aggressive actions to come.
3. Regulatory review
Employers frequently involve state authorities in scenarios where professionals have embezzled or committed fraud. However, sometimes financial misconduct comes to light due to government investigations, possibly due to reports from whistleblowers or consumers alleging fraud.
If regulatory authorities have begun requesting financial records from a company or have started questioning employees, that could ultimately culminate in state or federal agencies pursuing criminal charges against an individual. Even those trying to cooperate in such investigations can end up putting themselves at risk of prosecution.
Having support from the earliest stages of a white-collar criminal investigation can help professionals avoid mistakes that could increase their risk of a career-ending conviction. Professionals facing scrutiny may want to review the situation with an attorney before prosecutors bring formal charges against them, if at all possible.
