Federal Bribery Defense Lawyer in Florida
Both bribery and public corruption are “white collar” crimes that to be investigated and prosecuted aggressively by the federal government because they often involve threats to our system of democracy. As such, any indication that you are under investigation for bribery or public corruption should be taken seriously and vigorously defended against.
At the federal level, allegations of bribery are often part of a much larger and more complex investigation, typically one that spans multiple federal law enforcement agencies and that may result in indictments involving multiple defendants. The potential penalties if convicted of either of these “white collar” crimes include a lengthy term of imprisonment along with substantial monetary fines.
If you are the target of a federal bribery investigation, or you have been charged, it is critical that you have an experienced federal bribery defense attorney on your side as soon as possible. As a former state and federal prosecuting attorney himself, David Haas is uniquely qualified to protect and defend you in a federal bribery or public corruption case. He has the experience, knowledge and skill you need when facing federal charges of bribery or public corruption.
Contact the team at Haas Law at 407-392-9299 or submit the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website today so we can get started protecting you and your future.
What Is Bribery?
Like many criminal offenses, bribery can be prosecuted at the state and federal level. At the federal level, the crime of bribery is governed by 18 U.S.C. § 201, which prohibits giving or accepting anything of value to or by a public official, if the thing is given “with intent to influence” an official act, or if it is received by the official “in return for being influenced.” The same statute also makes it a crime for a person to give and a public official to accept “gratuities” if the gratuity is given or accepted “for or because of” any official act.
As you may well imagine, whether something is considered a bribe for purposes of proving that a crime was committed is heavily dependent on the specific facts and circumstances of the “gift” or “gratuity.” Although bribery is rarely blatantly obvious, a real-world example of bribery would be if the CEO of an oil company offered a congressman $1 million to vote yes on legislation that would be advantageous to the CEO’s company. Likewise, it might also qualify as bribery if the CEO gave the congressman a home worth $1 million after the congressman voted in favor of the legislation if it was implicitly clear that the “gift” was given because of the congressman’s vote.
What Is Public Corruption?
“Public corruption” is more of an umbrella term that may refer to a variety of criminal offenses that involve a government official asking, demanding, soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept money or something of value in return for being influenced in the performance of their official duties. Bribery, for example, is a form of public corruption as are extortion and fraud. Public corruption may, however, also occur in a more subtle form, such as through nepotism if that same congressman agrees to vote yes on the legislation if the CEO gives the congressman’s son a high-paying job with the oil company.
The “honest services” statute, found in 18 U.S.C. § 1346, can also be used to prosecute instances of alleged “public corruption.” Under that statute, it is a crime to engage in a scheme that deprives the public of their right to “honest services” from public officials. Put another way, a public official is guilty of public corruption when the official chooses personal gain over his or her obligation to the public. Constituents are deprived of the benefits to which they are entitled from the official while the official simultaneously gains something of value.
Bribery Investigations
Because of the threat that bribery and public corruption pose to our democratic form of government, federal authorities proactively investigate these crimes. In fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has a specialized “Public Corruption Unit” that focuses on four specific types of public corruption and bribery, including:
• Election Crimes: This includes campaign finance crimes, voter/ballot fraud, and civil rights violations.
• International Corruption: These cases include foreign corruption that targets federal elections and bribery involving U.S. agents and officials in violation the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
• Border Corruption: This focuses on government and law enforcement officials accepting bribes for drug trafficking, human smuggling, and sex trafficking.
• Prison Corruption: Large-scale schemes involving contraband smuggled by local, state, and federal prison officials in exchange for bribes are investigated by the F.B.I.
According to the FBI,
Public corruption tears at the fabric of our communities and our national security. Elected or appointed officials are entrusted and expected to protect the interests of the people with integrity. When that trust is betrayed, the security and stability of our government is put at risk. Since 9/11, combating public corruption has become the FBI’s top criminal priority. This includes addressing corruption at all levels of government and monitoring corrupt activities of U.S. officials within and outside the nation’s borders.
If you are being investigated for or have been charged with any type of public corruption or bribery, you cannot delay getting a qualified federal bribery defense attorney to protect your rights and aggressively fight the charges against you. There is too much at risk! Call Attorney David Haas today at 407-392-9299 or submit the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website to get the legal expertise, strong defense, and immediate help you need.
What Are Potential Punishments for Bribery and Public Corruption?
The potential penalties you face if convicted of bribery or public corruption will depend on the specific federal statute(s) involved. You could, however, face a prison term of 15 years or more if convicted of bribery or public corruption and be ordered to pay a fine of up to three times as much as the value of the bribe.
Understanding the serious nature of the allegations against you and working with an attorney who can build a strong defense is crucial when facing bribery or public corruption charges. David Haas’s background as a former federal prosecutor has given him the ability to clearly and succinctly analyze even the most complex federal bribery and public corruption cases. He understands how federal prosecutors work and can strategize a defense to give you the best possible outcome.
Contact Haas Law today at 407-392-9299 or submit the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website to discuss your case and get started on your defense strategy.
Are There Defenses to Allegations of Bribery and Public Corruption?
The intricate and multi-faceted nature of most federal bribery and public corruption schemes makes them difficult to understand; however, they also typically offer several potential defense opportunities, such as:
• No public official involved: Both bribery and public corruption must involve a “public official,” a term that is somewhat elusive. Some people are clearly “public officials,” such as a U.S. Senator; however, not everyone who works for the government is a “public official” for purposes of the relevant statutes. Consequently, arguing that the “target” was not a public official can be a winning defense.
• No “intent to influence:” It is not illegal to give a public official money or gifts. It only becomes illegal when the money or gift is given with the “intent to influence.” Therefore, your defense strategy may be to focus on a lack of evidence that there was an intent to influence.
• Illegal search and seizure: There is a good chance that evidence obtained in a bribery or public corruption case was obtained by conducting a search and seizure. If that search was illegal for any reason, your attorney may be able to get the evidence excluded from trial, meaning it cannot be used against you.
Attorney David Haas will review the facts and circumstances of your case and develop your defense strategy accordingly. Rest assured that he will put his extensive federal experience and steadfast commitment to protect your rights to work advocating on your behalf throughout the investigation and prosecution of your case.
Get Help from an Experienced Florida Bribery Defense Attorney
If you have reason to believe you are the target of a federal bribery or public corruption investigation, or you have already been charged with bribery or public corruption, do not let the power of the federal government intimidate and overwhelm you. You have rights, and you may have a winning defense. However, acting to protect yourself immediately is crucial to your defense.
Attorney David Haas uses the experience and resources he has gained as a former state and federal prosecutor to protect people just like you who have been accused of committing federal crimes. The legal team at Haas Law is dedicated to protecting you and exhausting every defense strategy available because we understand that your future and your freedom are at stake.
Call us at 407-392-9299 or fill in the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website. We know that time is of the essence when law enforcement authorities are investigating you or have charged you with a federal offense, so our calls are answered 24 hours a day. Let us help you. Don’t hesitate; call now.