Federal & White Collar Defense Blog

White Collar Crime Defense

Tarras Defense represents individuals, executives, professionals, companies, and business owners in high-stakes white collar investigations and prosecutions. Based in South Florida, the firm handles matters involving financial crime allegations, fraud investigations, tax fraud, securities fraud, cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, embezzlement, and professional or business conduct under government scrutiny.

White collar cases often begin quietly, before charges are filed and before a client fully understands the government’s theory. Subpoenas, search warrants, requests for records, target letters, SEC inquiries, IRS-CI contact, grand jury activity, or interviews with employees and business partners may all signal a serious investigation. Early guidance from an experienced white collar crime attorney can help protect the client’s rights, reputation, and strategic options from the start.

White Collar Criminal Defense for Complex Financial Matters

White collar criminal defense requires more than a general defense strategy. These cases often depend on financial records, electronic communications, business practices, regulatory obligations, professional judgment, and whether the government can prove intent. A failed transaction, business dispute, accounting issue, compliance problem, or investment loss should not automatically become a criminal case.

Tarras Defense approaches white collar cases with discretion and precision, focusing on the facts, the client’s exposure, and the government’s burden of proof. The firm works to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s theory, manage contact with investigators, protect sensitive information, and prepare each matter for the strongest possible resolution.

White Collar Crime Practice Areas

Criminal Tax Fraud Lawyer

Tarras Defense represents clients facing criminal tax fraud, tax evasion, IRS criminal investigations, IRS subpoenas, offshore account allegations, cryptocurrency tax violations, and business tax fraud matters.

Money Laundering Lawyer

The firm defends clients in money laundering investigations involving financial transactions, AML issues, crypto money laundering, unlicensed money transmitting, international transfers, and alleged proceeds of unlawful activity.

Securities Fraud Lawyer

Tarras Defense handles securities fraud, crypto fraud, investment fraud, SEC enforcement, investor complaints, token offerings, digital asset transactions, and financial misrepresentation allegations.

Broader White Collar Crime Defense

The firm also handles white collar matters involving wire fraud, bank fraud, healthcare fraud, RICO, conspiracy allegations, and other complex financial crime investigations where professional reputation, business continuity, and personal liberty are at stake. Each matter is evaluated for early intervention opportunities, litigation risk, collateral consequences, and the best path toward resolution.

Strategic Defense Before Charges Are Filed

Many white collar investigations are shaped during the pre-charge stage. Tarras Defense helps clients respond to subpoenas, prepare for government contact, evaluate exposure, preserve records, and communicate strategically with federal agencies when appropriate. The goal is to protect the client while preventing unnecessary statements, incomplete responses, or rushed decisions from increasing risk.

Representative Matters

Representative matters David Tarras has handled include:

  • $10 Million Tax Fraud – No Charges, Civil Settlement Reduced – In a federal tax fraud investigation alleging over $10 million in losses to the IRS, convinced the DOJ to decline criminal prosecution entirely. Negotiated a favorable civil settlement of only $300,000 after a persuasive discovery presentation and extensive negotiations.
  • $57 Million FOREX Investigation – No Charges Filed
Convinced federal prosecutors and SEC criminal investigators in the Middle District of Florida (Orlando Division) to decline prosecution in a $57 million foreign-exchange investment fraud investigation.
  • $6 Million Medicare Kickback Allegation – CEO Cleared
Persuaded DOJ Trial Attorneys with the South Florida Medicare Strike Force to decline charges against the CEO of a genetic testing marketing company accused of causing $6 million in alleged losses to Medicare.
  • Multi-State PPP Loan Conspiracy – Case Dismissed
Secured the dismissal of all federal charges against a high-profile nightclub owner alleged to have participated in a multi-million dollar Paycheck Protection Program loan scheme spanning multiple states.
  • Wire Fraud – Prison Avoided, Probation Only
In a federal wire fraud case carrying significant prison exposure, the Court imposed probation only, avoiding prison despite guidelines recommending incarceration.
  • $8 Million Fraud / Ponzi Scheme – Guidelines Slashed
In a multimillion-dollar alleged Ponzi scheme, successful objections reduced the guideline range substantially. The Court ultimately imposed a sentence roughly seven years lower than the government’s original calculation and recommendation.
  • Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Downward Variance to Six Months
In a fraudulent car loan scheme, the Court varied downward to impose only six months in custody followed by supervised release, instead of years in prison.
  • Complex Tax Fraud – Years Shaved Off
By defeating inflated IRS loss extrapolations, the defense achieved a concurrent 30-month resolution, sparing the defendant years of additional prison time.
  • PPP Loan Fraud / Money Laundering – Major Count Dismissed
In a pandemic loan fraud case, the money laundering count was dismissed and the loss value reduced, resulting in a substantially lower sentence.
  • $100 Million Crypto Fraud – Secured Bond for Foreign National
In an alleged $100 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, bond was successfully obtained for a foreign national with no U.S. ties, an incredibly rare outcome in such cases.

White Collar Crime FAQs

When should I contact a white collar crime attorney?

You should contact a white collar crime attorney as soon as you receive a subpoena, target letter, search warrant, SEC inquiry, IRS-CI contact, or request for an interview. Early representation can help protect your rights before the investigation moves further.

What is considered a white collar crime?

White collar crime generally refers to nonviolent financial or professional offenses involving allegations such as fraud, money laundering, tax fraud, securities fraud, embezzlement, bank fraud, or cryptocurrency fraud.

What makes white collar criminal defense different?

White collar criminal defense often involves financial records, business communications, regulatory issues, professional relationships, and questions of intent. The defense may focus on whether the conduct was criminal, a mistake, a business dispute, or a good-faith decision.

Can a white collar investigation be resolved before charges?

In some cases, yes. A strong white collar defense strategy during the investigation stage may help narrow the government’s theory, present context, address misunderstandings, or reduce the chance of charges being filed.

What agencies investigate white collar crime?

White collar investigations may involve the DOJ, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, SEC, FinCEN, HHS-OIG, or other agencies depending on the allegations and industry involved.