White-collar criminal offenses often result in economic implications for businesses or individuals. Fraud, embezzlement and other financial crimes can lead to investors and businesses experiencing significant financial setbacks.
Those accused of white-collar criminal offenses sometimes choose to plead guilty rather than to take their cases to trial. People often hope that cooperating with the state may lead to a lenient sentence. However, a guilty plea leaves the defendant at the mercy of the courts for sentencing in many cases.
In addition to criminal consequences, they may also face an order of restitution. The courts could require that they provide financial compensation to anyone affected by the incident that led to their prosecution.
Restitution orders can cause lasting hardship
People with recent white-collar criminal convictions on their records may struggle to secure gainful employment. Even if they find new positions, their income may be substantially lower than it was prior to their conviction.
What they do earn may be subject to recovery efforts because of an order of restitution. The government often assists those affected by white-collar criminal activity by helping enforce orders of restitution.
A significant portion of a defendant’s post-conviction income may need to go toward repaying the people affected by the white-collar criminal activity. Defendants could face up to 20 years of aggressive enforcement efforts that impact their standard of living and economic recovery after a conviction.
Fighting back against white-collar criminal charges is one of the only ways to avoid a costly order of restitution. People aware of the potential penalties may recognize that fighting their charges is likely a better option than pleading guilty and facing long-term economic consequences.