The final arrests were made this week, bringing the total to 18, in a multi-state telemarketing ring. The majority of arrests were made in Florida, but also in Ohio, Indiana, New York and Missouri. The telemarketing scam allegedly involved targeting landowners nationwide and giving them over-assessed quotes for their vacant land, as well as charging them fees to guarantee the sale of the land.
The alleged ringleaders, if convicted, face charges with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum sentence of nearly 37 years. These are very serious sentences that for some of the accused may mean that they will die behind bars if convicted. The topic of ringleaders brings up that it is often by targeting low-level people involved in alleged scams, implications are garnered.
In cases of white collar crime, the prosecution is often very aggressive, both in investigation and in litigation. In addition, law enforcement agencies often see criminal intent where there is none, simply innocent behavior. A qualified criminal defense attorney in white collar crime can represent their clients appropriately. As with any criminal charge, it does not necessarily mean that those accused and charged are guilty. Rather, it is only a conviction that can show that. Exhausting every defense in litigation and prior to the courtroom can have very positive results for people accused of any crime.
Avoiding a high-profile arrest can be a major concern when accused of a white collar crime. An arrest can often be seen as automatically guilty by the general public, putting your business and career, as well as your reputation and overall future in jeopardy.
Source: NBC4 Columbus, “Ohio AG Announces Final Arrest in Telemarketing Land Scam Case,” Sep. 13, 2012