Californians who find themselves handling money and financial transactions in their place of employment are held to an extremely high standard. For most, this does not become an issue, and they are able to carry out their job duties without any problems. For others, though, particularly those working with financially struggling institutions, their actions may be scrutinized more carefully. It is not uncommon in these instances for investigations to be launched and for individuals to be accused of committing financial crimes.
One recent arrest helps illustrate these circumstances. A California woman was recently taken into custody for allegedly paying bribes to a bank during the Great Recession. According to the allegations, the woman served as an unofficial broker for the now non-existent bank and paid kickbacks to the bank manager when she was granted fraudulent commissions. In addition to the alleged bribes, the woman is accused of lying to federal investigators. Authorities state that the woman said she had not spoken with the bank manager since the investigation began, but it is claimed that she had a sit down with the manager just a year ago.
This woman may have an uphill battle ahead of her. White collar crimes are treated very seriously in federal court, and prosecutors often look to impose the strictest penalties. Additionally, when an individual is accused of a financial crime, then it may seem as if there is a presumption of guilt against him or her. However, this should not be the case.
This is why those facing allegations for bribery and other white collar crimes should carefully assess their legal options. By discussing the matter with an experienced attorney, an accused individual may be able to craft a defense that works to avoid conviction and serious penalties.
Source: La Jolla Patch, “Former Banker Facing Federal Criminal Charges,” Mirna Alfonso, Aug. 7, 2015