Los Angeles white collar crime attorneys will tell you, you do not have to use violent force to commit a crime. In fact, some of the most notorious criminals in history never physically hurt anyone--they got someone else to do it for them. There are a host of non-violent crimes that get people thrown in prison literally every day. These are called white collar crimes.
White collar crimes in California include (but are not limited to): bribery, embezzlement, racketeering, fraud, perjury, identity theft and computer crimes. All of which are possible without throwing punches, pulling out a knife or waving a gun around. They are all also felony criminal offenses that can land you in state prison for a long time. Supermarket mogul George Torres is finding this out the hard way. Torres is currently being tried for hiring illegal workers, bribing a public official, tax evasion and arranging to have several people killed.
After weeks of Torres's defense team painting a portrait of a hard-working business man who became the target of an overzealous Los Angeles Police Department investigator, the jury is currently trying to decide if Torres is, in fact, a criminal, or a legitimate businessman who somehow surrounded himself with criminals.
The prosecution's two key witnesses are long-time associates of Torres. Derrick Smith is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for distributing cocaine and testified to being present when Torres talked about having someone killed. Raul Del Real is a convicted drug trafficker who admitted to importing two tons of cocaine and marijuana into the United States and who testified that Torres twice asked him to murder someone. Defense attorneys for both witnesses have argued that each man was promised reduced prison sentences, cash payments and various favors in exchange for their testimony against Torres.
While George Torres may, himself, have never lifted a gun to anyone's head, he may have asked others to do it for him. Torres's racketeering offenses stretch all the way back to 1985. Whether you are being charged with a violent crime or a white collar crime, you need a strong criminal defense attorney at your side.
Call the attorneys at Rodriguez, Lewis & Kahn today to fight for you.
