Common White Collar Crimes and Defenses
March 31, 2025
There are all kinds of theft crimes. Shoplifting. Package theft. Identity theft. Stealing motor vehicles.
Some kinds of theft many people don’t really even think of as a crime – like using your friend’s Netflix account. What may surprise you more, though, is that the more common theft crimes don’t involve people walking into stores to take items they didn’t pay for. Instead, it’s employees who steal from their employers.
It can be tempting to take something from the workplace [...]
In the United States, control of the property you own is seen as a fundamental right. Colorado adheres to that principle, which is why the state takes theft very seriously.
It’s been reported recently that, in the first quarter of 2021, vehicle theft in Denver increased by 114 percent compared to the same time period in the previous year. This has resulted in police keeping a sharper eye out for auto theft than ever before – since the economic impact [...]
When your friend shares their Netflix account with you, your first thought probably isn’t that what you’re doing is illegal. After all, it’s just the sharing of a password on a streaming service, how bad could it be?
It turns out that sharing streaming service account information with friends and family isn’t unusual, but it is technically legal.
According to internal streaming service polls, 12 percent of people who use the streaming service aren’t paying for it and it’s costing [...]
Taking a couple of towels or a pillow from a hotel room may not seem to be a big deal. While it’s true that hotels build losses due to theft into their annual budgets, it’s still a crime to take something from one that doesn’t belong to you.
In Colorado, the penalties you may face from theft are based on the value of the property taken. Here’s what you need to know about theft in Colorado that may give you [...]
Around the country, there have been many unintended side effects as a result of the COVID-19 virus. Law enforcement has been reporting everything from increased domestic violence to rising suicide numbers.
One other effect the virus seems to be having is that some people have become emboldened in carrying out criminal activities. One example was a case in Connecticut that involved a couple using masks and gloves to carry out criminal acts, including retail theft.
The numbers of these crimes [...]
White-collar crimes happen behind computer screens, in boardrooms, or through a simple email. For the accused, the situation can be overwhelming. One wrong move, one misunderstood email, or even an honest mistake can lead to criminal charges. And the consequences aren’t just financial—they can destroy careers, reputations, and personal lives.
If you’re facing accusations of white-collar crime, you need to act fast. Speak to our Denver, CO criminal defense attorneys from the Law Office of Jacob Martinez to discuss your [...]
The prosecution won’t tell you this, but not all evidence holds up in court. An illegal search, a flawed drug test, or even a simple paperwork mistake can make their case fall apart. And when key evidence gets thrown out, so do a lot of drug charges. The legal system isn’t perfect, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept bad evidence being used against you. A good defense starts with challenging everything—how the drugs were found, who handled them, [...]
A traffic stop should never feel like an ambush, but for many, it does. Sometimes, what starts as a routine stop escalates into a search or detention that feels invasive—or worse, illegal. The Fourth Amendment exists to prevent this kind of overreach, but not all officers play by the rules. When law enforcement crosses the line, it’s not just wrong—it’s a violation of your constitutional rights.
At the Law Office of Jacob E. Martinez, we’re committed to protecting your rights [...]