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Last Modified on Sep 29, 2026
You have spent years building your career, your practice, and your reputation, and you should not have to watch it all disappear because of a single accusation. Between concerns for your professional license and your obligations to your partners, you are likely also weighing the personal toll on your family and social relationships. You need Federal & White Collar Criminal Defense for Executives Near You in California that addresses those concerns. Our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys with years of experience can help you understand where you stand.
Those are exactly the fears that bring executives, doctors, and professionals across Los Angeles and Ventura County to James E. Silverstein first, not as a last resort.
Before he built his defense practice, James trained as a certified law clerk inside the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Bureau of Fraud and Corruption. That experience shapes how James E. Silverstein examines the evidence in a fraud case and identifies where the government’s allegations need to be challenged.
Contact our office and tell us what you are facing. Our federal and white collar criminal defense attorney can tell you, plainly, where you stand.
Complex Federal and White Collar Charges We Defend
Federal and white collar allegations rarely arrive as a single charge. They tend to build off the same financial records, transactions, or business relationships, and often grow into several counts at once. The broad category of white-collar crime includes different financial and business-related offenses, so the details of the allegation matter.
Our white collar crime lawyer handles:
- Securities fraud and investment fraud, including allegations tied to private funds or client accounts
- Embezzlement and employee theft from a business, trust, or estate
- Insurance fraud and healthcare billing fraud
- Bribery and public corruption
- Money laundering connected to a business or personal account
- Wire fraud and mail fraud, charges that may be filed in federal court when the elements of a federal offense are met
Whether a charge can be filed in state court, federal court, or both depends on the alleged conduct and the law involved. A case that starts as a state inquiry can draw federal attention, but bank records or wire transfers alone do not make a case federal. The defense strategy has to account for both possibilities from the first phone call.
James E. Silverstein builds defenses with that possibility in mind from the start, reviewing the records a prosecutor would examine before assessing where a case is realistically headed. That early review can help identify weaknesses in the allegations and the evidence still needed to evaluate them.
What a Federal or White Collar Conviction Can Cost You
A federal or white collar conviction rarely ends with a fine. Here is what may be at stake:
| What’s at Risk |
What It Means |
| Professional License |
A charge or conviction may lead to reporting obligations or a separate licensing-board review. The rules and potential consequences depend on the profession and the facts. |
| Federal Prison Exposure |
Federal fraud charges can carry the possibility of years in federal prison, depending on the offense and the circumstances. |
| Assets and Restitution |
Prosecutors may seek restitution or forfeiture of assets connected to an alleged offense. Whether particular property can be restrained or forfeited depends on the applicable law and evidence. |
| California Criminal Penalties |
Penal Code Section 503 defines embezzlement, but punishment depends on the property involved and its value under California’s theft laws. A qualifying pattern of two or more related fraud or embezzlement felonies involving a loss of more than $100,000 may also carry an additional prison term under Penal Code Section 186.11. |
| Reputational Fallout |
A fraud allegation moves through an industry fast, reaching partners, clients, and licensing boards long before a case is resolved. |
The first few weeks can matter because they affect what evidence is preserved, how requests are answered, and whether professional reporting duties need attention. The consequences above are not automatic; they depend on the allegations and the outcome.
A Defense Built on Insight Into California Fraud Prosecutions
James E. Silverstein did not learn how fraud and white collar cases work only by reading about them. Early in his career, he trained as a certified law clerk inside the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Bureau of Fraud and Corruption, working on forgery, embezzlement, and insurance fraud matters from the prosecution’s side before he represented defendants. That experience shapes how he reads a case today.
As a California white collar defense lawyer for executives, he examines what evidence a prosecutor may need before filing, where an investigation may have gaps, and which financial records matter most. For an executive or professional facing a fraud allegation, that means a defense built around the facts of the case, not a generic response assembled after the fact. The same close review matters in Calabasas fraud cases and embezzlement allegations in Calabasas.
It also means fewer surprises along the way. A defense informed by how fraud allegations are investigated can give you a realistic picture of what is coming rather than reassurance without substance. You can read more about financial fraud and embezzlement in California while considering the questions to bring to your consultation.
FAQs About Federal and White Collar Criminal Defense for Executives in California
How much does it cost to hire a federal or white collar defense attorney?
Every fraud or federal case is different, and cost depends on the charges, the number of counts, and how far the investigation has already progressed. We discuss fees openly during your first confidential consultation, before you commit to anything.
Do I need a lawyer if I have only been contacted by an investigator, not charged yet?
Speaking with an attorney before responding is wise. What you say to an investigator, a bank, or an employer during that period can affect the case, and an attorney can help you understand the request and your options before you answer.
What happens to my professional license if I am charged with fraud or embezzlement?
A charge or conviction may trigger a separate reporting obligation or licensing-board review, depending on your profession and its rules. That process can move on a different timeline from the criminal case. Handling the criminal defense and any licensing obligations together helps you address both risks.
What happens after I contact your office?
You speak with James about what you are facing and what the investigation or charges may mean for you. From there, he can assess the available information and explain a plan specific to your case, your industry, and what you have the most to lose.
How long does a federal fraud investigation usually take before charges are filed?
Federal investigations can run for months, sometimes longer, before an indictment is filed. Early involvement provides time to evaluate requests and preserve relevant evidence, but it cannot guarantee that charges will be avoided.
Talk to a Federal and White Collar Defense Attorney Today
You do not have to manage a federal investigation, a fraud allegation, or a licensing-board inquiry by guessing at what comes next.
Contact The Law Offices of James E. Silverstein for a confidential consultation about your case, your career, and what protecting both may require. The earlier you call, the more time there is to evaluate your options.
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