Corrupt charges can carry severe penalties, including imprisonment, hefty fines, loss of professional licenses and certifications, restitution payments, damage to personal reputation, and difficulty finding future employment opportunities. Government officials, public employees, and private citizens can face a multitude of charges for alleged involvement in corrupt schemes. Considering the seriousness of these allegations, individuals facing them should seek experienced criminal defense representation as soon as possible.
While corruption has ebbed and flowed throughout American history, recent times have seen unprecedented levels of norm-busting behavior. The current administration’s openly transactional approach to power has warped perceptions of what counts as corrupt, and encouraged brazen behavior that undermines societal values.
As a result, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are ramping up corruption investigations to investigate and prosecute corrupt actions. This article provides an overview of the types of acts that can be charged as corruption offenses, explains how federal corruption laws differ from state laws, and offers insight into how to defend against corruption allegations.
Corruption charges may involve bribery, embezzlement, kickbacks, and other violations of criminal laws that prohibit the misuse of public resources for private gain. An analysis of 57,000 corruption convictions from the past 30 years found that fraud and bribery were the leading charge in most cases that resulted in conviction.
Individuals accused of corruption should be aware of their rights, including the right to remain silent during questioning by authorities. However, this right is not a guarantee and may be lost if the accused individual does not retain experienced legal counsel to navigate through the questioning process.
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