Whether allegations of unethical conduct on the part of a government official, mismanagement of a company’s pension fund, or the misuse of public funds by an investment firm, corruption charges carry significant penalties. Convictions can result in prison sentences, fines, and the loss of business opportunities for companies. In addition, a conviction can damage an individual’s reputation and negatively impact their future career prospects.
Federal corruption charges can be filed against anyone who misuses their position as a public official for personal gain. Corruption is a broad term that encompasses bribery, embezzlement, fraud and more. When Federal corruption charges are filed, it is likely that a crime such as bribery or embezzlement is also involved.
Bribery involves offering or giving something of value to someone in charge of a legal duty with the intent that they will use their authority to wrongfully influence a decision. Embezzlement is similar to bribery except that the wrongful act takes place by commission rather than by intent. It includes siphoning money from a company’s bank accounts to pay for private expenses and concealing the theft with altered records. Other types of corruption include nepotism, which is favoring family members or friends in positions that they are not qualified to hold; and enterprise corruption, which involves skimming funds from a government project to benefit private interests.
The corruption scandals of recent years have prompted the Department of Justice to be aggressive in prosecuting those who misuse their positions as public officials or otherwise violate laws designed to protect the public interest. For this reason, it is important to have an experienced federal defense attorney on your side who can help you fight corruption charges.