White Collar Crime

Experienced White Collar Defense
Des Moines, Iowa

Recent incidents of corporate scandals combined with expanded roles for both state and federal prosecutors in enforcing a complex set of administrative and regulatory rules have made it critical that businesses know the legal restraints on conducting day-to-day operations and the proper responses to Governmental investigations.  In the face of a tough stance on corporate misconduct, it is more important than ever to have experienced representation if confronted with potential state or federal white collar crime allegations. 

At Smith, Schneider, Stiles & Serangeli, P.C., our Des Moines white collar defense attorneys have defended individuals, businesses, officers, managers, directors, and employees of businesses of all types and sizes in state and federal courts against allegations of white collar crimes. 

Our attorneys have defend clients against a wide range of white collar crime charges, including:

• Federal RICO Statute Violations: The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act makes it a crime not only to be involved in commonly understood criminal conduct (such as gambling, extortion, drug trafficking) but also things such as employing undocumented workers and fraudulent telemarketing conduct (and other activities enumerated in the statute) to establish, acquire, or operate a legitimate business involved in interstate or foreign commerce.
• Money Laundering:  Money laundering is commonly thought to relate to crimes, such as drug trafficking and embezzlement, but it certain circumstances it is available to prosecutors to add to the charges that can be brought for violations of immigration, environmental and Medicare charges.  It is the crime of converting money or property illegally earned into an otherwise legitimate business. 
• Fraud and Embezzlement: including theft of money or property in a business setting.
• Immigration Law Violations:  a charge that once was only brought against individuals that were undocumented has now become a very high stakes (often combined with RICO and forfeiture allegations) prosecution against (typically) employers involved in agricultural activities.
• Failure to File Income Tax Returns and Tax Fraud:  Following several years of minimal investigations into so called legitimate source false tax returns, a new and aggressive policy by both the Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department have greatly increased the number of cases being investigated and the current sentencing guidelines encourage lengthily prison sentences even for relatively modest under reported taxes. 
• Medicare / Medicaid Fraud:  These cases require sophisticated and active representation through the investigation and prosecution stage.  The defendants face not only the normal concerns in criminal prosecutions but the further dangers of debarment (disqualification to participate in Medicare programs for the employee and the employer), fines, treble damages and possible exposure to Qui Tam or derivative litigation.
• Whistle Blower / Retaliation:  Dealing with individuals within the company that may actively be involved in providing information detrimental to the company’s  situation with federal or state investigators during the investigation and following is one with a myriad of concerns that our attorneys have dealt numerous times over the years.  
• Qui Tam Actions: We also prosecute and defend qui tam lawsuits.  The qui tam or federal False Claim Act allows individuals or businesses with specific knowledge that a person or entity is committing fraud against the government to file a lawsuit on behalf of the government.  Where the Suit is successful, the individual bringing such suit is entitled to a portion of the damages (which are trebled) and fines collected against the defendant.   

If you are under investigation or have been charged with a white collar crime, we invite you to contact our office today to discuss your case with experienced Iowa white collar crime defense lawyers.

Our Des Moines federal and state white collar crime defense attorneys serve clients throughout Iowa, including the counties of Polk, Warren, Madison, Dallas, Boone, Story, Jasper, and Linn; and the cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, and Ames.  We have also represented clients in New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Connecticut, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, California and South Dakota.

Smith, Schneider, Stiles & Serangeli, P.C.
The Equitable Building
604 Locust Street
Suite 1000
Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 245-6789
Fax: (515) 244-1328