White Collar Crime Defense in Louisiana

Written by Jarrett Ambeau, trial attorney, court-qualified forensic DNA expert, and lead counsel at The Ambeau Law Firm.

What are white collar crimes? They are non-violent, financially motivated offenses involving deceit or breach of trust, such as wire fraud, mail fraud, bank and securities fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering. Federally prosecuted under statutes like 18 U.S.C. sections 1341 and 1343, they are document-heavy and often investigated for years before any charge.

A white collar investigation can upend your life long before anyone is charged. These cases are built quietly, through subpoenas, financial records, and cooperating witnesses, and by the time you learn you are a target, the government has often been working for months. That is exactly why the response has to be strategic and early.

I am Jarrett Ambeau. I have tried more than sixty felony jury trials to verdict. White collar cases are won in the details of complex records and in the theory of intent, and that is where I concentrate the defense.

Quick answers

• What it is: non-violent financial offenses like fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering.
• The penalty: often severe, up to twenty years for wire or mail fraud, with restitution and forfeiture.
• The key issue: intent, the government’s loss theory, and the interpretation of complex records.
• What to do first: say nothing to agents, preserve records, and get a lawyer involved during the investigation.

What counts as a white collar crime?

The category is broad. It includes wire fraud and mail fraud, the government’s most flexible tools, along with bank fraud, securities fraud, health care fraud, embezzlement, bribery, identity theft, and money laundering. What ties them together is an allegation of deception or breach of trust for financial gain. Because intent is central to almost all of them, the difference between a bad business decision and a crime is frequently the heart of the case.

What the government must prove

In a typical fraud case, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt:

• A scheme to defraud. A plan to obtain money or property through false representations.
• Intent. That the defendant acted knowingly and with intent to defraud.
• A qualifying act. Use of the wires, mail, or another jurisdictional element.
• Materiality. That the misrepresentation was material to the scheme.

How a white collar case moves

These cases often start with an investigation rather than an arrest. A subpoena, a target letter, or a visit from agents may be the first sign. Charges, if they come, arrive by indictment, followed by arraignment, an extensive motions and discovery phase involving voluminous records, and either a plea or trial, with sentencing driven by the federal guidelines and the alleged loss amount. The investigation and discovery stages are where much of the real work happens.

What are the defenses to white collar charges?

The defenses that come up most often include:

• No intent to defraud. That the conduct was a legitimate business decision or an honest mistake.
• Good faith. That the defendant reasonably believed the representations were true.
• Challenging the loss theory. Disputing the government’s calculation of loss, which drives the sentence.
• Insufficient evidence of participation. That the defendant was not a knowing participant in the scheme.
• Constitutional and procedural challenges. Attacking overbroad subpoenas and unlawfully obtained evidence.

How we defend a white collar case

White collar defense is about mastering the records and the story they tell. We gather the evidence, work through the financial documents, talk to witnesses, and reconstruct what actually happened, and we build the timeline the government would rather ignore. Where it helps, we bring in forensic accounting and other experts to test the government’s numbers.

With more than sixty felony jury trials to verdict, we prepare every case for trial, and that preparation shapes negotiations too. Getting involved early, during the investigation, is often what makes the difference. It is what we do here at The Ambeau Law Firm.

Frequently asked questions

What are white collar crimes?

White collar crimes are non-violent, financially motivated offenses typically involving deceit or breach of trust. Federally, they include mail fraud and wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. sections 1341 and 1343, bank fraud, securities fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and tax offenses. They are usually document-heavy and investigated over long periods by agencies like the FBI, IRS, and SEC before any charge is filed.

How are white collar cases investigated?

They are often built quietly over months or years through subpoenas, financial records, cooperating witnesses, and sometimes grand jury proceedings, before the target even knows. Frequently the first sign is a subpoena, an agent’s visit, or a target letter. Because so much is decided before charges are filed, getting a lawyer involved during the investigation stage can be one of the most important steps you take.

What are the penalties for federal white collar crimes?

They vary widely by offense and by the amount of loss involved. Wire and mail fraud each carry up to twenty years, or up to thirty when a financial institution is affected. Sentences under the federal guidelines rise sharply with the dollar loss, the number of victims, and the defendant’s role. Restitution, forfeiture, and fines are also common and can be substantial.

Can a white collar case be resolved without trial?

Often it can, but that does not mean without a fight. Because these cases are decided in the details of complex records, a strong defense can challenge the government’s theory, narrow the alleged loss, and change the negotiating posture, sometimes before charges are even filed. Whether the resolution is a dismissal, a favorable plea, or a trial depends on the specific evidence.

Talk to a Louisiana white collar defense lawyer

A few quick questions help us understand your situation: Have you been contacted by federal agents or received a subpoena? Is the case in state or federal court? Is this still an investigation or have charges been filed? If you are facing a white collar matter, do not wait. Check Jarrett’s availability for your case or call 225-330-7009.

Statute reference

Federal fraud offenses are commonly charged under 18 U.S.C. sections 1341 (mail fraud) and 1343 (wire fraud), among many others. Statutes and guidelines change, so verify the current text through official government sources. Wire and mail fraud each require a scheme to defraud carried out through the wires or mail, and each carries substantial prison exposure, along with restitution and forfeiture, with sentences driven heavily by the amount of loss under the federal sentencing guidelines.

Source: 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343.