When most people think of corruption charges they envision political scandals involving elected officials. However, corruption and bribery crimes are far more common than many realize and they can affect everyone from business owners to government employees. If you are facing bribery or corruption charges, it is important to understand the laws that apply and your options for defense.
Bribery is the offer, giving, or solicitation of something of value in exchange for a legal advantage. This can include money, goods, services, and other benefits that are intended to influence a person or company in their official capacity. If you are accused of bribery, it is crucial to have a Boston corruption attorney that can help you build your case.
Fraud involves misrepresentation of facts in order to gain an unfair or illegal advantage. In corruption cases, fraud may involve making false statements in an attempt to obtain a bribe or sway a decision in one’s favor.
The Panama Papers case showed that corruption and bribery are global issues and not just local problems. In fact, prosecutors are increasingly going after people who 10 years ago would not have been prosecuted because they were considered public officials and too low-level to be targeted for corruption. Additionally, prosecutors are increasingly using investigative techniques that were developed for street crime, such as informants and recorded conversations. This can make it more difficult to defend against bribery and corruption charges. An experienced Boston bribery and corruption lawyer can review your case, explain your options, and work to challenge any evidence the prosecution presents that is unlawfully obtained.