Once you believe that you are the target of an investigation of a white collar crime, it is important to act smart. Acting in a panic could complicate your situation.
Here are three things you need to avoid:
Destroying evidence
It might seem like a good idea to destroy any paperwork or delete the electronic files that you believe officers might be interested in seeing. The problem is twofold. Firstly, the police usually have ways of retrieving that evidence or accessing a copy of it by another means. Secondly, destroying or altering evidence could lead to additional charges.
Lying to the police
Once one lie is told, it can lead to a situation where you or others you are coordinating with end up lost in a web of lies to the point that you realize it would have been simpler to stick with the truth in the first place. Remember, you are not under any obligation to answer police questions. It is usually far easier to tell them you want to invoke your right to remain silent. That way, you can hold off on giving answers until you have exercised another right that of having an attorney’s legal assistance to guide you as to when it may be better to give a straight answer rather than staying quiet.
Pressuring others to stick by a certain story
You might think that if you all say the same thing, it will prevent the police from discovering the truth. However, if they believe that you have pushed others to lie to them or adjust their stories, further charges could result. Moreover, there is no guarantee that someone won’t fail to hold out from telling the officers what they want to know.
Facing white collar charges can put you in a difficult situation. You should not hesitate in seeking guidance from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
