White collar crime allegations such as those pertaining to fraud and embezzlement can threaten to devastate your future. If you’re convicted of the white collar crime or crimes as charged, then you could be facing the very real possibility of prison time, fines, and other penalties that can touch nearly every aspect of your life. If the evidence seems stacked against you, then you might be wondering if it’s in your best interests to cooperate with prosecutors and law enforcement in hopes of obtaining a plea deal.
Is a plea deal right for you?
This is a question that a lot of accused individuals end up asking themselves. To answer it, you’ll need to consider a number of factors.
- Your available defenses: If you’re able to suppress the prosecution’s most damaging evidence or derail the credibility of the prosecution’s main witness, then your chances of obtaining an acquittal are higher, so a plea deal might not look as enticing. But if the evidence is truly insurmountable, then you’ll want to take a close look at the plea deal in question.
- What’s being offered: Some plea deals offer very little, while other drastically reduce the penalties with which you’ll be hit. You’ll certainly want to take that into consideration, keeping in mind that you have the power to negotiate, but also think about what the prosecution is asking of you. They may want you to testify against others who were involved in the alleged crime or help them gather evidence against other individuals. How far are you willing to go?
- What you want moving forward: A criminal prosecution can span an enormous length of time. During that time, you may find yourself riddled with stress and uncertainty. You can quickly put all of that to an end by agreeing to a plea deal, but if you’re willing to fight, then, depending on the evidence at hand, moving forward with trial might be right for you.
Do you need an analysis of your case?
There are many other factors to take into consideration when determining whether a plea deal is right for you. Case law, for example, can help you gauge your likelihood of success, even if it comes to appealing a conviction. But to best understand how your case is situated, it’s imperative to analyze it closely. An experienced criminal defense team can help you do that and develop the legal strategy that you need to best position yourself to avoid the harshest penalties being threatened against you.