Greenville White Collar Crimes Lawyer
Under investigation for fraud or embezzlement in Greenville? What you do first matters, and most of it happens long before anyone is charged.
- Former state and federal prosecutorsSloan Ellis and Brandi Hinton
- U.S. Attorney's Award for Excellence in Prosecution2020 and 2021
- Free consultation, with an attorneyNot an intake screener
A white collar crime isn’t a single charge. It’s an umbrella term for accusations that someone used deception or a position of trust to get money or property. This includes fraud, identity theft, and breach of trust. Many of these cases begin as an investigation. Being investigated or charged doesn’t mean you will be convicted.
Ironside Criminal Defense is led by managing attorneys Sloan Ellis and Brandi Hinton, former state and federal prosecutors who supervise every case. Our Greenville white collar crimes attorneys can explain what you’re facing in state or federal court and work to get you the best outcome possible. Call 864-568-4750 to speak with our team today.
White Collar Crimes We Handle in South Carolina
Although South Carolina has no single offense called “white collar crime,” the charges below are found in Title 16, Chapter 13 of the South Carolina Code. These are among the criminal charges we handle in Greenville:
- Fraud: A fraud charge can allege obtaining money, property, or someone’s signature through false pretenses, meaning false statements or representations, with intent to cheat and defraud. Forgery, check, and credit card cases fall under separate laws.
- Identity Theft: Financial identity fraud is obtaining, recording, or using someone’s identifying information without permission, with intent to defraud or reach their money or credit. It also covers using someone’s identity to get a job or avoid identification by police.
- Breach of Trust: Breach of trust with fraudulent intent, often called embezzlement, is taking or misusing money or property entrusted to you, with a fraudulent intention. It also covers hiring or counseling someone to do it.
If you don’t see your charge on this list, you can still reach out to us. We’ll tell you if we’re able to help or refer you to someone who can.
What If You’re Under Investigation but Haven’t Been Charged?
Before any charge, your first contact with law enforcement might be an agent’s call or visit, or a search warrant. It might also be a subpoena, which is a legal demand to testify or turn over documents. In a federal case, it can be a target letter, a written notice that a federal prosecutor considers you a likely defendant. A subpoena can also come from South Carolina’s state grand jury, which is convened through the Attorney General and investigates matters such as securities fraud and public corruption.
You have a constitutional right to not answer questions from law enforcement. You should talk with a defense attorney before you answer their questions or hand over documents. A subpoena carries its own response date, so it’s important to get advice soon after you receive one.
Will Your Case Be Heard in State or Federal Court?
The lowest-value state charges are heard in magistrate or municipal court, the summary courts that hear certain misdemeanors. These include breach of trust or false pretenses of $2,000 or less, forgery with no dollar amount, and fraudulent checks of $1,000 or less.
Felony-level charges are heard in General Sessions, the state court that handles felonies and serious misdemeanors. State charges are brought by the solicitor or by the state Attorney General. In Greenville and Pickens Counties, the solicitor’s office is the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Federal charges are brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, which sits in Greenville at the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. U.S. Courthouse. A federal charge is generally more serious than a state charge and moves on faster timelines. Our Greenville white collar crimes attorneys can explain where your charge falls.
What Penalties Do White Collar Charges Carry in South Carolina?
For the South Carolina charges, the penalty tier depends on the dollar amount alleged. The federal maximum depends on what the scheme involved. A fine is possible at every level:
| Charge | Penalty range | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Breach of trust with fraudulent intent | $2,000 or less: misdemeanor, up to 30 days. Over $2,000 and under $10,000: felony, up to five years. $10,000 or more: felony, up to 10 years. | S.C. Code § 16-13-230 |
| Obtaining property by false pretenses | $2,000 or less: misdemeanor, up to 30 days. Over $2,000 and under $10,000: felony, up to five years. $10,000 or more: felony, up to 10 years, with the fine capped at $500. | S.C. Code § 16-13-240 |
| Financial identity fraud | Felony: a fine set by the court, up to 10 years in prison, or both. | S.C. Code § 16-13-510 |
| Mail or wire fraud (federal) | Up to 20 years. Up to 30 years if it affects a financial institution or involves benefits tied to a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency. | 18 U.S.C. 1341; 18 U.S.C. 1343 |
In South Carolina, a conviction that caused a victim financial loss also brings a restitution order, meaning repayment to the victim, on top of any other sentence. Federal law has its own restitution rules for fraud. The range the law sets isn’t a prediction of your outcome.
What a White Collar Conviction Means for Your License and Livelihood
Beyond the sentence, a conviction can also affect:
- Your professional license: South Carolina licensing boards can suspend or revoke a license after a conviction for a felony or a crime of moral turpitude. Other regulators have their own rules.
- Your job and background checks: A conviction for a fraud-related offense appears on the background checks employers run. It can affect the job you have now and the ones you apply for.
- Your immigration status: A conviction involving fraud or dishonesty can affect immigration status. If that applies to you, our attorneys look at it before advising you on any plea.
How Our White Collar Crime Attorneys Prepare for Your Case
Our attorneys look first at what defenses you may have, starting with intent: whether the evidence shows the intent the charge requires, or a business dispute, an accounting error, or authorized use. We also look at how the amount alleged was calculated, since that sets the penalty tier and the court, and whether subpoenas and search warrants stayed within their limits.
If your case is handled in state court, we look at whether you may be eligible for pretrial intervention (PTI), which may allow your charge to be resolved without a conviction if you complete its requirements. The solicitor recommends who is admitted for PTI, and a person who has previously completed an intervention program can’t be considered.
What to Expect When Ironside Criminal Defense Takes Your Case
Ironside Criminal Defense is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, and handles cases throughout the entire state. When you work with our team, you can expect:
- Proactive from day one: Our attorneys engage with investigators and the prosecutor early, so your story can reach them before charging decisions are made.
- Discretion over attention: We don’t take cases for publicity. Our attorneys represented a former employee of a large local company accused of taking money over several years and negotiated a settlement. The matter was never reported to law enforcement.
- Two former prosecutors on every case: Sloan Ellis and Brandi Hinton prosecuted white collar matters at the state and federal level, including the fiftieth person in the United States charged with fraud tied to the Paycheck Protection Program.
- Honest about what’s likely: You’ll know what’s likely before it happens, including what you don’t want to hear. If we aren’t the right fit, we’ll tell you that too.
Talk With a Greenville White Collar Crimes Lawyer About Your Next Step
If you’re facing a white collar charge or investigation, your first step should be an honest conversation with an experienced attorney. Our attorneys have handled these cases from both sides of the courtroom. Tell us where things stand, and we’ll tell you what you’re facing. Our initial consultations are free. If you’re reaching out for a family member, the consultation can happen with you. Call 864-568-4750 or contact us through our online form today.
A charge doesn't have to define your future
What comes next depends on how you move forward from it. Tell us what happened, and we will tell you what you are facing. Our consultations are free, and with an attorney.
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- Office
- 21 Augusta Street, Suite C
Greenville, SC 29601 - Consultations
- Free, and with an attorney. Sloan or Brandi reads every inquiry.