Criminal Defense Attorney Columbia, South Carolina

White Collar State Charges Attorney in Columbia, South Carolina

Experienced Columbia, SC state criminal attorney focused on winning cases

White collar crimes in South Carolina often result in complicated criminal cases with serious legal consequences. These types of crimes typically involve allegations of fraud or embezzlement and are generally committed by business and government professionals. Simply understanding the complex charges leveled by law enforcement and their implications can be overwhelming. If you have been arrested or you are under investigation, contact us as soon as possible. Talk to us before you talk to a law enforcement official. The stakes are too high to wait to take legal action.

Depending on your charges, you could be fined thousands of dollars or spend several months or years in prison. There are the other consequences of a criminal conviction. You might be unable to continue working in your chosen profession. Obtaining a loan for your business or for personal financial reasons might also become very difficult. Your reputation and personal life may also suffer.

Attorney Bodman understands the seriousness of such charges and aggressively investigates every single case. As your lawyer, Matt Bodman will start preparing your case for trial if necessary the very first time he meets with you. He works this way because he realizes every second counts when it comes to dealing with professionals charged with serious crimes. That's why he wants to meet with you as soon as possible and develop a successful legal strategy for your state criminal defense case.

He has the skill and resources needed to protect the interests of individuals and businesses charged with white collar crimes.

What are common white collar crimes in South Carolina?

As a former Richland County, South Carolina, Assistant Solicitor, Matt Bodman has developed a keen insight into the tactics used to investigate and prosecute white collar crimes. As your criminal defense lawyer, he is committed to aggressively defending you if you have been charged with a white collar crime in state court, including the following charges:

Other forms of white collar crime involve allegations that are prosecuted in federal court. Visit our federal criminal defense page for more information.

Why should I hire attorney Bodman to handle my white collar charge?

A former state assistant prosecutor for Richland County, attorney Bodman has successfully handled white collar criminal defense cases in state and federal court. Due to the complexity of these cases, he often employs investigators to help with his client's cases.

Attorney Bodman recognizes that white collar investigations often focus on a business where criminal activity occurs and works with individual employees. He has the skill and experience to protect individuals when their company is under investigation. The right time to hire a skilled South Carolina fraud lawyer is when an investigation starts, not when you are charged.

Breach of Trust

What is breach of trust and what are the penalties?

Breach of trust is a legal term that often involves a person entrusted with financial duties that violates that trust. Other times, breach of trust can involve a disagreement over money owed by one party to another. Some of the scenarios that involve a breach of trust include:

  • Trustees spending money, often for personal reasons, without permission
  • Employees taking equipment, supplies or cash from work without permission

In order to be found guilty of breach of trust, the state must prove that someone entrusted with financial responsibilities intentionally violated that trust.

The penalties for breach of trust in South Carolina vary depending on the value of the items stolen or the amount of money involved. The penalties are:

  • Items worth less than $2,000 - Up to $1,000 fine, up to 30 days in jail
  • Items worth $2,000 to $10,000 - Fines vary, up to 5 years in jail
  • Items worth more than $10,000 - Fines vary, up to 10 years in jail

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Embezzlement

Embezzlement is a form of theft that often involves someone taking money without permission from his or her employer or a company that person has a professional business relationship with. An important factor with embezzlement is that the person charged with such a crime has legal access to such money but does not legally own it. One of the most common forms of embezzlement is embezzlement of public funds.

This charge is similar to a breach of trust violation. The penalties for an embezzlement conviction are generally the same as the ones listed for breach of trust.

A case involving embezzlement charges can be very complicated, which is why you need an attorney on your side familiar with South Carolina's specific rules and regulations. Attorney Bodman can review the details of your case and work with you to develop a strategy that addresses your specific legal needs.

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