DuPage County
White Collar Crime
Defense Attorney

Do not speak to investigators, produce documents, or respond to a subpoena without retaining an attorney first. Anything you say to investigators can be used against you — and white collar defendants often make their situation significantly worse by trying to explain transactions before they understand what the government actually knows. Call us immediately. The pre-charge phase is when we have the most options. We can engage with prosecutors, manage document production, and in many cases prevent charges from being filed at all.

Criminal fraud requires proof of intentional deception — the state must show you knowingly made a false representation with the intent to obtain money or property. Accounting errors, business disputes, misunderstandings about contractual obligations, and reliance on bad professional advice are not fraud. This distinction is the centerpiece of most white collar defenses. We build the documentary and testimonial record that demonstrates the conduct at issue was a legitimate business decision, an honest error, or the result of advice you reasonably relied on — not the intentional deception the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

State charges under Illinois law are prosecuted by the DuPage County State's Attorney and handled in DuPage County circuit court. Federal charges — wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, RICO, and tax evasion — are prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys and handled in federal district court under the Northern District of Illinois. Federal cases carry mandatory minimum sentences, federal sentencing guidelines that dramatically increase exposure based on loss amounts, and no parole. The investigation agencies are different too — federal cases typically involve the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, or the Secret Service. We handle both state and federal white collar cases and understand how the two systems interact when parallel investigations occur.

In both Illinois and federal court, the alleged loss amount directly determines the severity of the charge and the length of the sentence. Under Illinois law, theft and fraud penalties escalate from misdemeanor to Class 1 felony based on whether the amount exceeds $500, $10,000, or $100,000. Under federal sentencing guidelines, loss amount drives the offense level upward, often adding years to the recommended sentencing range. Prosecutors frequently calculate loss in the most expansive way possible. We challenge those calculations with forensic accounting analysis, dispute the methodology used, and argue for the most favorable loss figure the facts support — because every dollar we remove from the loss calculation reduces your exposure.

Yes, almost certainly for a felony conviction. Illinois licensing boards for attorneys, physicians, nurses, accountants, financial advisors, real estate agents, and contractors are required to consider felony convictions — and dishonesty-related offenses in particular — in license renewal and revocation proceedings. Many professions mandate automatic revocation on conviction of a crime of moral turpitude, which includes fraud, embezzlement, and forgery. Protecting your professional license is one of the most consequential reasons to fight white collar charges aggressively, and we build every defense with those collateral consequences in mind from day one.

A cooperating witness is someone who agrees to testify against you in exchange for reduced charges or a lighter sentence. Federal white collar prosecutions frequently rely on cooperating witnesses — often co-defendants or business associates who have their own legal exposure and a strong incentive to exaggerate or shift blame. We attack cooperating witness testimony by exposing their plea agreements, the benefits they received for their cooperation, prior inconsistent statements, and the specific reasons they have to lie. Juries understand that a witness who is testifying to save themselves has a powerful motive to say whatever the government needs to hear.

Yes. In white collar cases, both Illinois and federal law allow the government to seize assets alleged to be proceeds of criminal activity or used to facilitate it. This can include bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and business assets — sometimes before conviction, through pre-indictment restraining orders. Asset forfeiture is a separate legal proceeding from the criminal case and requires its own defense strategy. We challenge forfeiture actions by contesting the connection between the assets and the alleged criminal conduct, protecting legitimate assets from seizure, and negotiating the return of seized property where possible.

State white collar cases in DuPage County typically take 12 to 24 months from charges to resolution, depending on the volume of financial records, the number of counts, and whether the case goes to trial. Federal white collar cases take significantly longer — 18 to 36 months is common, and complex multi-defendant cases can run three or more years. Investigations that begin before charges are filed can add another 6 to 18 months to the total timeline. We give you a realistic assessment at your free consultation based on the specific charges, the scope of the investigation, and the forum where the case is or will be filed.