Orange County White-Collar Crime Attorneys
Orange County, California White Collar Defense Team Lead
Orange County, California White Collar Defense Team Lead
Former Prosecutor
Orange County, California White Collar Defense Team Lead
If federal authorities are contacting you or your business as part of a financial investigation, you need legal representation before the matter escalates. Our experienced Orange County criminal defense attorneys aim to protect individuals and companies like you in a range of white-collar crimes across the country, including in Orange County. Our team will work diligently on your case because we understand the high stakes involved. White-collar cases can be a serious matter and stand to impact your professional reputation and your livelihood.
White-Collar Cases Our Orange County Attorneys Handle
White-collar crimes encompass a wide range of fraudulent business acts and apply to many different industries, from financial services to healthcare. The following is just a small sample of the types of crimes we handle in Orange County:
Healthcare Fraud
Orange County healthcare providers can face accusations of healthcare fraud as a byproduct of billing insurance plans or healthcare programs. There are many different healthcare fraud laws and regulations that impose different requirements for medical billing. Beyond billing, there are also specific laws regulating patient referrals and business affiliations.
- Medical Billing Fraud. There are many types of fraudulent billing practices. “Double billing” is when a medical provider submits multiple claims to an insurance plans or healthcare program for the same service or items. “Phantom billing” is when a provider submits a bill for a service or item that the patient never received. One of the other common types of billing fraud is “upcoding,” where a medical provider bills for a more costly service than the one the patient actually received. By retaining counsel, you have a greater chance of reducing potential exposure to any civil penalties or criminal liability for billing fraud.
- Anti-Kickback Statute. 42 U.S.C. § 1320a–7b(b) prohibits payments or other forms of consideration to induce patient referrals. Consideration can be cash payments, free or lower-cost office spaces, or gifting meals, trips, and tickets to entertainment events. For example, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California has an active case against a San Bernardino County physician for referring his patients to a specific substance abuse facility in exchange for bribes.
- Stark Law. Like the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark law (or 42 U.S.C. 1395nn) prohibits physicians from referring patients to another provider they have a financial interest in. Violations of this law can result in substantial civil penalties.
Securities Fraud
Securities brokers can also face several kinds of securities fraud allegations. Generally, Rule 10b-5 is enforced by the DOJ or SEC, and the rule prohibits defrauding anyone concerning a security (stocks, bonds, etc.). This rule covers a variety of fraudulent acts related to securities.
- Pump-and-Dump Schemes. A pump-and-dump scheme involves someone buying a lower-priced stock, generating demand for it through promotion, and selling the stock when that demand raises the price of the stock.
- Insider Trading. Insider trading is when someone buys or sells stocks using non-public information. The SEC and FINRA use sophisticated algorithms to monitor stock trading for insider trading.
- Churning. Churning, or excessive trading, is a fraudulent strategy where a broker makes a large number of trades with the goal of generating more commission. Churning is less common as more brokers shift away from commissions and more towards asset under management (AUM) fees. For AUM fee arrangements, a modern concern is “reverse churning,” where a broker avoids expending the effort to make trades for their client because they are paid regardless of the quantity of trades they make.
Other White-Collar Crimes
Some other white-collar crimes our firm regularly handles include, but are not limited to
- Antitrust – 15 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq.
- Bank fraud – 18 U.S.C. § 1344
- Credit card fraud – 15 U.S.C. § 1644
- Embezzlement or theft – 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 et seq.
- Computer fraud (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act) – 18 U.S.C. § 1030
- Forgery – 18 U.S.C. §§ 470 et seq.
- Perjury – 18 U.S.C. § 1001
- Tax fraud – 26 U.S.C. § 7206
- Wire fraud – 18 U.S.C. § 1343
Hire Experienced Orange County White-Collar Crime Attorneys
Oberheiden P.C. understands the high stakes involved in white-collar crime cases, and there are several reasons clients choose our team.
We only employ senior-level attorneys with a high level of legal expertise—no paralegals, junior attorneys, or secretaries. During your representation, you can be confident that you will receive direct access to experienced Orange County defense attorneys.
White-collar investigations and prosecutions can involve the SEC, FBI, and/or DOJ. Several of our team members worked for these agencies before and have firsthand knowledge of government case-building. They have also defended individuals and companies investigated by these agencies. The ability to think from the opposing side’s position gives us a tactical advantage in representing our clients.
If a government investigation escalates to trial, clients can also be confident that they have seasoned trial attorneys on their side. Our team includes Orange County white-collar crime attorneys who have conducted a substantial number of federal trials, including in California and across the country.
Contact Oberheiden P.C. for a Free Consultation
At Oberheiden P.C., our Orange County criminal attorneys focus on defending white collar crimes and non-violent crime cases involving tax evasion, money laundering, and other financial offenses. We represent defendants who have been accused or convicted of white collar criminal charges in connection with federal or state investigations. A prosecutor must prove that a crime was committed, but often the facts of what really happened are unclear. Our lawyers know how to challenge complex financial evidence and protect your rights in serious felony cases.
Our Orange County criminal attorneys understand the stakes for professionals facing white collar criminal charges and the lasting impact of a conviction. We defend defendants accused of tax evasion, money laundering, or other white collar offenses, working to reduce penalties or seek dismissal where appropriate. With extensive trial and negotiation experience, our Orange County white-collar crime lawyers advocate for fair resolutions and protect clients’ reputations. If you are being investigated or accused of a white collar crime, contact Oberheiden P.C. today for a free, confidential consultation.
You should consider legal representation if you have been charged with a financial crime or suspect an investigation into one. For more information about our firm and to set up a free consultation with our Orange County white-collar crime attorneys, send our team a message or call 888-680-1745.
