Houston White Collar Crime Defense Attorney
White Collar Crime Defense in Texas
White collar crime charges in Texas carry felony penalties that escalate based on the dollar amount involved, and investigations typically run for months before a single charge is formally filed.
White collar offenses in Texas cover a wide range of financially motivated conduct including fraud, theft by deception, money laundering, embezzlement, and securing documents by deception. What these cases have in common is that they are built over time, often through months of financial record review, subpoenas, and investigative interviews before any arrest is made. By the time charges are filed, the state has typically assembled a detailed evidentiary record. The defense must begin well before that point.
David Smith is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a former Brazoria County prosecutor. Financial crime cases require a defense that can read and challenge complex documentary evidence, understand how the state assembles transaction records into a criminal narrative, and identify where the proof falls short of the legal standard. Intent is frequently the most contestable element in these cases, and he examines every piece of evidence the state relies on to establish it. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.
What Outcomes Are Possible in a Houston White Collar Crime Case?
White collar crime convictions carry consequences that follow you far beyond the prison sentence. A fraud or theft conviction affects professional licenses, financial industry employment, security clearances, and the ability to serve as a company officer or director. The reputational damage from a financial crime allegation can begin before charges are even formally filed, making early legal involvement critical to controlling the narrative and the evidence.
If you or your business is under investigation or facing white collar charges in Houston, Harris County, or surrounding counties, contact David Smith Law Firm immediately. The most effective defense in white collar cases begins during the investigation, before charges are filed. Early intervention shapes what evidence is gathered, what witnesses say, and what the prosecution ultimately decides to pursue.
- Charges declined after early defense involvement during the investigation stage
- Grand jury no-bills where prosecutors sought a felony indictment
- Not guilty verdicts where intent to defraud could not be established
- Charges reduced from felony to misdemeanor level based on evidentiary challenges
- Deferred adjudication secured in appropriate cases
- Favorable plea resolutions negotiated before trial with minimal record impact
Fraud
Fraud offenses in Texas include securing documents by deception under Texas Penal Code §32.46, healthcare fraud, insurance fraud, mortgage fraud, and securities fraud. The penalty range is determined by the value of the property or services obtained, rising from a Class C misdemeanor for amounts under $100 to a first-degree felony for amounts over $300,000. The state must prove both the misrepresentation and the intent to defraud. We examine the documentary evidence the state relies on, challenge the valuation of the alleged loss, and contest whether the representations made actually meet the legal standard for fraud.
Penalty: Ranges from Class C misdemeanor to first-degree felony depending on the value involved.
Money Laundering
Money laundering under Texas Penal Code §34.02 applies when a person knowingly acquires, transfers, transports, or maintains funds knowing they were derived from criminal activity, with intent to conceal their origin or promote criminal activity. The charge level ranges from a state jail felony for amounts under $30,000 to a first-degree felony for amounts over $300,000. These cases are built on detailed financial transaction records, banking records, and wire transfer documentation. We examine how those records were obtained, what they actually show, and where the state’s interpretation of the financial evidence overstates the proof.
Penalty: Ranges from state jail felony to first-degree felony depending on the amount involved.
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