Criminal Defense Attorney in Homewood
By the time you get arrested for a crime, it’s likely that the investigation against you has been ongoing for some time. This is why it’s important to be prepared for anything. A criminal conviction will touch every part of your life, cutting short your dreams and curtailing your freedoms. If you’re facing criminal charges in Homewood, AL, you need to consult an attorney with extensive experience in your type of criminal charges. They can get a jump start on the investigation and start exploring different defense options for you.
Don’t wait until the last possible moment to hire a criminal defense attorney. Take control of your situation and contact Kirk Drennan Law now. Call us at 205-803-3500 to schedule a consultation now.
A Criminal Conviction Will Change Your Life
Whether you’re facing state-level criminal charges or federal-level charges for white collar crime, you cannot ignore the multitude of ways a criminal conviction can impact your life. There is no room to take your charges lightly and hope for the best—this is the time to take control of your future and face your charges head on.
You can expect criminal charges to affect your employment in Homewood, AL. Many employers still do not hire employees with a criminal record, and if you typically work in leadership or executive roles, you’ll face an even steeper uphill battle. Your organization may let you go to preserve their own reputation, and when you begin your job search, many employers will be unwilling to take a chance on you.
Your family life could also suffer once you have a criminal conviction on your record. If you are divorced or have a shared custody arrangement, don’t be surprised if your criminal conviction is used against you. While this may seem inherently unfair, nothing is off limits in a messy custody battle. Your coparent could fight for full custody or even argue for supervised visitation.
Immigration, career licensure, and firearms ownership are just a few other areas of your life that could be affected by your criminal conviction.
White Collar Crime and What You’re Up Against
If you’ve been accused of white-collar crime, you’re in an entirely different realm than those being accused of drunk driving, burglary, or other petty crimes. White collar crime costs the United States close to $300 billion annually, and it’s a top priority for federal prosecutors.
In many cases, white collar crime starts off minor—a perpetrator may not even realize that they are committing a high-level crime and just feel like they are skimming tiny amounts from a successful business or skirting irrelevant federal regulations. However, white collar crime tends to grow, putting perpetrators in greater and greater danger of being caught and prosecuted.
Some crimes that fall under the umbrella of white-collar crime include:
- Forgery
- Falsification of business records
- Insider trading
- Embezzlement
- Money laundering
- Identity theft
- Copyright infringement
- Deceptive business practices
- Bank and check fraud
- Tax evasion
- Healthcare fraud
- Securities fraud
If you’ve just found out you’re the target of a white-collar crime investigation, you are in a very serious situation. They are miles ahead of you, and you need to do some serious catching up to protect your future and your rights.
Be Ready for Aggressive Prosecution
White collar crime is a top priority for federal prosecutors, due to the vast amount of money lost and the far-reaching implications of these crimes. This type of criminal activity often implicates entire organizations, taking down one perpetrator after another. You may start out a minor target of an investigation, but because you share openly and do not speak to an attorney, quickly become the main target of an investigation.
Despite what you may think, hiring an attorney from the very beginning is not a sign of guilt. It is a sign that you understand what you’re up against and what’s at stake. Prosecutors will not go easy on you because you’re helpful or compliant, so do not give them any extra leeway.
Defense Options
When you hire a criminal defense attorney in Homewood, AL, they get the chance to begin building a defense for you. There are lots of defense options for white collar crimes, but it all depends on the specifics of your case and how much evidence the prosecution has against you. Some of the defense options we may explore at Kirk Drennan Law include:
- If you were tricked into committing a crime by a government agent, you could use entrapment as a defense. However, for this defense to work, you must show that you would not have committed the crime without the encouragement of the government agent.
- Duress and/or coercion. If you are coerced into committing a crime by someone else, you may be able to escape conviction. The masterminds of white-collar criminal activity have no problem using others to get what they want and protect themselves from conviction, and if this happens to you, you may be a victim.
- Lack of intent. Before you are convicted of a white-collar crime, the prosecution has to prove that you engaged in criminal activity willingly and that you planned on following it through until the end. Consider this example: doing your taxes is complicated and challenging for many people, particularly business owners. You may do something on your taxes incorrectly due to ignorance, not because you are intending to commit a crime. This is not a white-collar crime, it is a mistake.
- White collar crime isn’t generally something you stumble into. It’s often orchestrated at a very high level by very intelligent people who may use others to accomplish their goals. If someone is not capable of executing a white-collar crime because of their mental capacity, they may not be convicted.
Whether you’re facing state-level or federal-level charges, it’s time to talk to an attorney. Let us help you through this challenging time.
Contact Kirk Drennan Law Today
At Kirk Drennan Law, we understand how criminal charges can change your life and leave you overwhelmed. We take every single criminal charge very seriously and do everything we can to get your charges dropped or lowered. Protect your rights and your future now by scheduling a consultation with our team. Call us at 205-803-3500 or contact us online to take the first step.