White Collar Crime

White Collar Crime

Michigan Fraud Attorney, Securities Fraud, Bribery Lawyer, Embezzlement Defense

White collar crime includes the category of charges that, while non-violent, usually create an emotionally-charged response because they often involve the breach of public trust or allegations of theft of large sums of money. The types of charges that fall under the category of "ponzi-schemes" like the Bernie Madoff case are brought by the United States government. The reason is because securities fraud is often the primary theory of a criminal act. Securities fraud falls under the jurisdiction of the United States criminal code but states do not have the authority to prosecute this act.

Bribery charges are unique because there is always a public official who is either the accused citizen or the government's main witness. Bribery is the sort of charge that is politically volatile and usually generates intense media scrutiny. However, what is vital is to determine whether a crime actually occurred even if the prosecution can show the offer or exchange of money to a government official. Bribery cases are almost always pursued by either the Michigan Attorney General or the United States Attorney.

Embezzlement cases are often based on circumstantial evidence and they often focus on the person who was a day-to-day bookkeeper, treasurer, bank teller or clerk. The important aspect of this type of charge to understand is that usually the person accused of the crime feels the need to offer an explanation. The prosecution always carries the burden beyond a reasonable doubt to prove the special relationshp between the accused and another person/entity, and the conversion or in other words, the act by the accused to deprive the alleged victim of the money or property. The prosecution has to prove more than missing money or property but the theft or conversion by the accused.

Mike Nichols of Lansing is a Michigan fraud attorney has handled several white collar crime cases including large ponzi schemes and embezzlement-type cases. Mike Nichols knows the resources to marshall and successfully represented many people in federal court and state courts in Michigan.

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Peer Recognition

Mike Nichols is a national leader in drunk driving defense. He is a member of the Forensic Committee and Michigan delegate to the National College for DUI Defense. He is also a Sustaining Member of the College. Nichols is also a founding member of the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys; a member of the American Chemical Society; an associate member of he American Academy of Forensic Science, Adjunct Professor of Forensic Evidence in Criminal Law and OWI Law and Practice at Cooley Law School. He is also author of the West OWI Practice book and several chapters in other books on science and the law.

Mike Nichols is recognized by his peers in Michigan as a “SuperLawyer” in DUI/Criminal Defense. Nichols has also been asked to speak at conferences by groups such as the NCDD; Various Bar Associations in other states.