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White Collar Crime Defense Attorney Serving Bartow, Lakeland, and Central Florida
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Lakeland White Collar Crime Defense Lawyer - Criminal Law
Experienced White Collar Crime Defense attorney providing Criminal Law Legal Services in Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, Polk County, and the greater Central Florida area.
Call 863-354-0508 today to schedule a Free Consultation with white collar crime defense lawyer, Robert A. Norgard.
Defending You Against Serious White Collar Crimes
When people think of serious criminal charges, they often picture violent offenses or physical property crimes. However, white collar financial crimes make up a highly specialized and aggressively prosecuted area of criminal law in Florida. An allegation of embezzlement, corporate fraud, or identity theft can instantly destroy your personal reputation, strip you of professional licenses, and carry severe sentences in state or federal prison.
If you or your business is under investigation, you cannot afford to wait for formal charges to be filed. At the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard, we provide experienced white collar criminal defense representation in Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, and throughout Polk County and the greater Central Florida area. We understand what is at stake, and we take a meticulous, results-oriented approach to building a powerhouse defense on your behalf.
White collar criminal investigations are inherently unique. Instead of relying on physical evidence or eyewitness accounts, these cases are built on mountains of bank statements, tax documents, digital footprints, and complex corporate communications. Defending against them requires an elite level of trial experience and sophisticated legal knowledge.
The Vigorous Criminal Defense You Deserve
The Professional Advantage: Attorney Robert (Bob) Norgard has been Board-Certified in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar since 1995. He has defended clients in over 240 criminal jury trials.
Recognized as a specialized expert by The Florida Bar, Robert A. Norgard possesses the courtroom capability and analytical precision required to dismantle complex financial prosecutions. We step between you and state or federal investigators to safeguard your constitutional rights from day one.
White collar crimes generally refer to non-violent, sophisticated offenses committed for economic gain through deception, concealment, or breach of trust. In Florida, these offenses are rigorously prosecuted under several chapters of the Florida Statutes:
Organized Scheme to Defraud (F.S. § 817.034)
Under the Florida Communications Fraud Act, an organized scheme to defraud is defined as a systematic, ongoing course of conduct intended to defraud one or more persons of property using false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises. It is often charged when businesses or individuals face allegations of ongoing consumer scams, wire fraud, or internet-based operations.
Grand Theft and Embezzlement (F.S. § 812.014)
In Florida, embezzlement is prosecuted under the state’s grand theft statutes. It occurs when a person lawfully entrusted with someone else's money or property (such as an accountant, bookkeeper, employee, or corporate officer) unlawfully appropriates those funds or assets for personal use.
The White Collar Crime Victim Protection Act (F.S. § 775.0844)
This powerful statute targets ongoing, interconnected non-violent frauds. If a defendant is accused of committing at least two related white collar offenses that target 10 or more elderly individuals, 10 or more veterans, 20 or more total persons, or the State of Florida, the state can elevate the charge to an Aggravated White Collar Crime.
Additional Financial Crimes We Defend Against:
- Mortgage & Real Estate Fraud: Falsifying loan documents, inflating appraisals, or hidden equity transfers.
- Health Care & Insurance Fraud: Submitting fraudulent claims to private insurers, Medicare, or Medicaid.
- Credit Card & Identity Fraud: Unlawful possession or use of personal identification information or credit data.
- Money Laundering: Concealing the origins of illegally obtained money through legitimate financial channels.
- Bank, Tax, & Securities Fraud: Tax evasion, forging checks, or utilizing inside corporate information for trading advantages.
Potential White Collar Crime Conviction Penalties
The penalties for white collar offenses in Florida are determined primarily by the specific type of charge, your prior criminal history, and the total aggregate dollar amount of the financial loss involved:
- Third-Degree Felony: If the value of the property or fraud is less than $20,000. Penalties include up to 5 years in state prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
- Second-Degree Felony: If the value involved is $20,000 or more but less than $50,000. Penalties include up to 15 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- First-Degree Felony: If the value of the property or fraud totals $50,000 or more. Penalties include up to 30 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- Aggravated White Collar Crime (F.S. § 775.0844): Automatically classified as a first-degree felony ranked at an Offense Severity Level 9 under the Florida Punishment Code. In addition to a potential 30-year prison sentence, a conviction can trigger massive fines of up to $500,000 or double the value of the financial gain, whichever is greater.
Mandatory Criminal Restitution: Beyond prison sentences and fines, a white collar conviction requires the court to order full financial restitution to all affected victims, forcing you to pay back the full amount of the calculated loss.
Unlike street crimes, white collar offenses often feature an extended pre-arrest investigatory phase. State agencies, financial institutions, or federal task forces may spend months or even years quietly compiling evidence, issuing subpoenas, and reviewing electronic trails before making an arrest.
Don’t Let A Criminal Charge Ruin The Rest Of Your Life
Securing the representation of the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard during this critical investigative phase can completely change the trajectory of your case. We work aggressively to protect your interests by:
- Conducting Independent Financial Audits: We work alongside forensic accountants and tech experts to analyze financial records, trace funds, and expose errors, gaps, or misinterpretations in the state’s evidence.
- Challenging the Element of "Intent to Defraud": To secure a conviction, the state must prove you acted with a conscious, deliberate intent to deceive. Honest accounting mistakes, poor business management, or a lack of personal knowledge regarding a partner's actions do not constitute criminal fraud.
- Preventing Charges or Negotiating Reductions: By intervening early during the investigation, we can often present mitigating evidence to the state attorney to prevent formal criminal charges from ever being filed, or negotiate a resolution that keeps your professional record clean.
Do not let a corporate investigation or financial allegation ruin your career, your family, and your freedom. If you are facing white collar crime accusations in Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, or anywhere in Central Florida, put a proven Florida Bar Board-Certified Criminal Trial Law Specialist on your side.
Contact the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard today to schedule a confidential legal consultation. Let us build the strategic, sophisticated defense your future depends on.
Call 863-354-0508 today to schedule your Free Consultation with Lakeland white collar crime defense attorney, Robert A. Norgard.
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