Raleigh Financial Crime Lawyers

Manning Law Firm, PLLC is here to protect you when you’re facing a state or federal financial crime investigation or charge. We have helped countless individuals in the Raleigh area navigate the ins and outs of their federal financial crime charges. If you have been charged with a financial crime in North Carolina, you should contact an attorney immediately.

Types of Federal and State Financial Crimes

In North Carolina, financial crimes involve money or property that is taken for one’s own use. We have represented countless individuals accused of federal and state financial crimes in NC, including:

Obtaining property by false pretenses
Obtaining property by false pretenses is when an individual deceitfully takes anything of value from someone.
Mortgage fraud and other property crimes
Mortgage fraud in NC is when an individual misrepresents or omits important information on a mortgage loan application.
Mail fraud and wire fraud
Mail fraud and wire fraud involve electronically mailing or physically mailing anything that is fraudulent.
Money laundering and structured transactions
Money laundering in North Carolina is the concealment of illegally obtained money. Structured transactions charges is when individuals break up a large sum of money into smaller portions to avoid regulatory oversight.
Cigarette excise tax evasion and price-fixing conspiracies
Excise tax is based on the quantity of cigarettes, and an evasion charge is when an individual does not pay or underpays the tax owed. Price fixing conspiracies are when an agreement is made between competitors to change the prices to help the sales of both parties.
Identity theft (credit card and gift card use)
Identity theft with credit cards or gift cards is the fraudulent use of someone else’s personally identifiable information for financial gain.
Forgery and uttering of stolen checks
Under NC law, forgery is when a person creates or possesses counterfeit money or bank notes, wills, corporate stock or any educational certificate.
Sales and use tax evasion
Sales and use tax evasion is when merchants fail to charge sales tax to customers, usually with the purpose of making their products cheaper.
Income tax evasion and failure to file returns
The purposeful attempt to avoid paying taxes is income tax evasion, and failure to file is when tax returns are filed after the due date without reason.

3 Common Defenses for Financial Crimes

When fighting a financial crime case, there are 3 common defenses:

  • Insufficient Evidence: Proving that there is a lack of evidence around financial crime cases is one of the strongest defenses. For this defense to work, the defense attorney must find gaps in the evidence, and prove that the case is not strong enough for a conviction.
  • Entrapment: When the government compels an innocent person to commit a crime they would not otherwise commit, this is called entrapment. The key to this defense is proving that the government official did not just provide an opportunity for the crime, but persuaded the individual with serious action.
  • No Intent to Commit Crime: In order for an individual to be indicted with a financial crime, they must have had intent to deceive. Proving that the person charged did not have intent can be difficult, but is always beneficial in financial crime cases.

What should you look for in a financial crime lawyer?

State and federal financial charges are serious matters which require the immediate attention of an experienced attorney.  Here’s what to look for when selecting an attorney:

  • Prior prosecution experience: a unique understanding of various cases will help your specific situation
  • Respect from peers, judges and prosecutors: the attorney you select should be known for their tenacity, expertise and deliberation skills.
  • Willing to offer resources: your lawyer should be ready to sacrifice their time and expertise to fight for you.

Contact Manning Law Firm

Our team has earned Tier 1 Ranking as one of the top firms in the U.S. in White Collar Crime defense, and have been members of The Best Lawyers in America© for over 20 years. We are ready to devote our time, resources and experience to you. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.

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Thomas C. Manning
The content on this page was reviewed by Manning Law Firm, PLLC partner Thomas C. Manning. You can learn more about Thomas's experience and expertise on his bio page.