The term White Collar Crime contemplates a variety of criminal conduct. It pertains generally to banking crimes, bribery, extortion gambling, securities fraud, mail, internet and wire fraud, criminal tax prosecution, government contract procurement fraud, civil rights violations and select environmental crimes. Unlike non-white collar offenses such as violent crimes and drug crimes, the decision to prosecute white collar offenses is left up to the broad discretion of prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement officials. This is because what constitutes or what does not constitute a white collar criminal offense is many times not well defined matter and therefore, prosecutors are afforded a relatively broad range of discretion in making a determination when to prosecute.
As a result, it is extremely important that individuals and businesses, who are or who may become targets of federal, state or regulatory investigations, engage counsel at the earliest stages of the investigation so their rights are safe-guarded. Counsel should be well versed in all facets of criminal investigations and counsel must be adept at interfacing with law enforcement and regulatory officials and prosecuting attorneys at the earliest stages of criminal investigations. Counsel should be experienced in grand jury proceedings. As important, counsel should be able to handle the civil and administrative litigation that regularly proceeds during civil investigations.
The attorneys at Maguire & Schneider, L.L.P routinely represent businessmen and women in a wide variety of criminal and civil matters all over the country, including investigations by the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission and Inspector General. On balance, the attorneys at Maguire & Schneider, L.L.P. have well over fifty years of experience in criminal proceedings.
Maguire & Schneider, L.L.P. understands the risks associated with being a target or even a potential target of a federal or state criminal investigation and our attorneys understand that these matters are sensitive and must be handled, while vigorously, nevertheless as discreetly as possible since negative publicity can have significant negative effects on one's business and reputation, regardless of the ultimate success of the defense. Through the firm's experience and staffing abilities, Maguire & Schneider is able to prepare and defend all criminal and civil aspects of white collar investigations.