At RP Defense Law APC, criminal defense is more than just a practice area; it is our focus. Ruzanna Poghosyan, attorney at law, and her Beverly Hills, CA-based firm RP Defense Law APC handles only the most serious cases throughout California and across the country.
We are dedicated to federal criminal defense, California white collar crimes, and restraining order litigation. These are legal matters with a significant capacity to impact a person’s life; there is no margin for mistakes.
Anyone charged or currently being investigated requires a lawyer who is fearless and skilled at securing victories. At RP Defense Law APC, results matter. We only select cases for which we will fully commit ourselves. If you’re seeking aggressive representation and your freedom is on the line, call RP Defense Law APC at (818) 646-3443 for a free discovery call.
White collar crime is the generic term for non-violent crimes that generally take place in business, corporate, or financial settings. White collar cases generally involve extensive investigations, mountains of documents, and agencies such as the FBI, IRS, or California Attorney General’s Office. What distinguishes white collar cases is not that they are less serious, but that they are prosecuted with a fine-toothed comb of paper trails, financial records, and motive.
Being accused of a white-collar crime threatens more than just your freedom. Your career, reputation, finances, and future are all on the line. These cases are rarely black and white. In many cases, prosecutors will spend months, if not years, building a case before making an arrest. In other words, by the time they charge you, they’re already several steps ahead.
White collar crimes lack violent elements yet remain a high priority for prosecutors across California and federal jurisdictions. These crimes can take many forms, but usually stem from financial transactions, business dealings, or abuse of a position of trust.
Regardless of the circumstances, the results can be the same: years in prison, six-figure fines, irreparable harm to your career and reputation, and sometimes federal charges with mandatory sentencing.
Fraud is one of the most expansive areas of white-collar crime, and also one of the most vigorously prosecuted. Simply put, fraud is when a person intentionally lies to another person, company, or government agency in order to gain something of value, usually money.
Fraud is committed in numerous ways in California. Typical examples include:
These cases usually include many documents such as bank statements, emails, contracts, and transaction records.
One of the things that makes fraud cases so tricky is that prosecutors have to prove that you intended to defraud. In other words, they have to prove that you knowingly and willfully did something to deceive someone, as opposed to simply making an error or being confused by a process. That’s why having an experienced defense lawyer can help.
Our lawyers at RP Defense Law APC have special skills to counteract the government’s case. We investigate the matter ourselves, find flaws in their evidence, and develop a game plan designed to protect your rights. Take immediate action if you find yourself under investigation for fraud. Prompt legal assistance can significantly improve your situation.
Embezzlement is a form of theft, but it’s not the same as burglary or robbery. With embezzlement, you have legal possession of the money or property you take, usually because you’re an employee or in some type of fiduciary relationship. For instance, a bookkeeper who writes company checks to his personal account, or a director of a nonprofit organization who uses donations for other purposes, could be embezzling.
In California, embezzlement is prosecuted under Penal Code §503 and can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances and the value of the property or money involved. Large embezzlement cases may attract the attention of federal authorities, especially if they involve wire transfers, government contracts, or financial institutions.
The essence of embezzlement lies in the fact that the defendant initially has legal ownership of the assets before they illegally take them. Building a timeline through financial audits and digital forensics allows law enforcement to investigate for months or years before developing a prosecutable case.
Money laundering is the process of making money that was acquired through illegal means appear to have been obtained legally. Criminal funds are typically obscured through shell companies, layered transactions, offshore banking facilities, or intricate commercial structures.
Money laundering is almost always charged as a felony. And these cases can be prosecuted at both the state and federal levels under state and federal statutes. The stakes are high because money laundering charges typically have accompanying charges for drug trafficking, fraud, or other organized crime activities.
The government may assert that you knew or should have known that you were processing criminal proceeds. Your involvement in the operation might have been minimal, or you might have been an unwitting participant. The complex nature of financial transactions means that innocent individuals, including accountants and business owners, often find themselves accused without understanding their involvement.
Forgery is the act of falsely making a document, signature, or official record with the intent to defraud someone. Forgery involves actions like signing for another person as well as changing legal documents or creating counterfeit checks, contracts, prescriptions, or IDs. In California, it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the situation. Prosecutors have to prove not only that you altered or fabricated a document, but that you did so with the intent to deceive and benefit from the deception.
Instances of forgery frequently appear in business disagreements, real estate transactions, and financial environments. They can also be associated with other crimes like identity theft or fraud. A person may not even be aware that they sent in an altered document or may have been framed by someone else in a work setting.
Identity theft involves illegally using someone’s personal data, including their name or financial information, to commit crimes. Some common examples include opening credit cards or other lines of credit in someone else’s name, logging into someone else’s online bank accounts, or using another person’s ID to get a job.
Possession of another person’s identifying information that has been stolen or lost is itself a crime in many cases. In many cases of identity theft, the culprit is engaged in other types of fraud schemes or hacking operations.
The way these crimes get prosecuted often leads to people becoming involved in extensive investigations through evidence that links them to other people’s mail or hacked devices.
Bribery crimes include offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value in exchange for influence over the actions of a public official or authority figure. Crimes of this nature attack the foundation of public trust, so prosecutors (state and federal) take them very seriously.
In California, it is a crime to bribe a public official, juror, witness, or employee. These cases typically result from a business contract or arrangement, a government job, or a political situation. Bribery does not always include money changing hands, however. “Something of value” can refer to a gift, service, favor, or promise. This is why the difference between influence and illegality can be hard to discern. For this reason, these cases require a sophisticated, highly experienced defense.
In addition to the aforementioned popular white-collar crimes, other crimes fall under the white-collar umbrella. Some of these include:
Prosecution of white-collar crimes can occur at the state or federal levels, with the distinction influencing how cases proceed. State charges in California are typically filed by local district attorneys and may involve smaller-scale fraud, embezzlement, or identity theft cases. These cases are serious but tend to involve fewer resources, shorter investigations, and more room to negotiate.
Federal charges, by contrast, are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and investigated by the FBI, IRS, DEA, or SEC. Cases are often based on interstate activity, financial institutions, government programs, or large-scale schemes. Penalties are greater, investigations are more extensive, and the federal system is faster and more aggressive.
Although white collar charges are non-violent, they can result in significant criminal penalties. Charges involving large amounts of money, multiple alleged victims, or federal agencies and prosecutors are generally treated more severely.
In California, most white-collar offenses are “wobblers,” meaning they can be charged either as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the facts of the case. However, once the alleged loss amount exceeds a certain financial threshold, or if the offense involves a public official, vulnerable victims, or fraud against the government, prosecutors will usually seek the most serious charges available. Some of these criminal penalties include:
If it’s a federal case, mandatory sentencing and enhancements can lead to even higher prison terms, particularly when it comes to white collar offenses like wire fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering.
One of the most disheartening parts of a white-collar charge is the long-lasting personal and professional consequences, whether you’re convicted or not. Our clients often arrive overwhelmed by fear of prison and the very real possibility that their reputation and career will suffer along with their freedom. A workplace accusation alone has the potential to destroy an individual’s future through the following:
For high-level professionals, executives, and public employees, even a mere accusation can, unfortunately, derail their entire careers regardless of the outcome.
White collar cases are rarely cut and dry. In fact, one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding them is that if you’re charged, you’re guilty. At RP Defense Law APC, we understand the reality that white collar cases are complex, paper-intensive, and often based on assumptions rather than facts. The effectiveness of your defense relies on a precise, aggressive approach supported by extensive experience. Some of the most effective defenses include:
White collar criminal charges aren’t just legal issues. They’re high-stakes threats to your freedom, your career, and your future. These cases are often built over months or years, backed by government agencies with unlimited resources and by aggressive prosecutors who are determined to get a conviction. Attempting to navigate this system without the guidance of an experienced white collar defense lawyer is an expensive mistake you should not make.
RP Defense Law APC understands the negative consequences that result from delaying the hiring of aggressive legal representatives. Once you understand the severity of the matter at hand, it may be too late as the bank accounts have already been frozen, your professional license suspended, and your reputation tarnished.
White collar crimes can be highly complex. These cases can involve:
You need a criminal defense lawyer with the skill and experience to dissect complex charges, identify holes in the government’s case, and stand up to prosecutors in and out of the courtroom.
At RP Defense Law APC, we prioritize results. We take immediate action and remain proactive throughout your case. From day one, we develop a legal strategy tailored to your case, protect your rights at every stage of the process, and fight aggressively to keep your record clean, your freedom intact, and your life on track.
If you or someone you know is facing white collar criminal charges or you believe you are under investigation, contact an attorney immediately. These matters often progress quickly, and many law enforcement agencies take months to gather evidence before making an arrest. The earlier you retain a skilled criminal defense lawyer, the better your chances of protecting your rights and limiting the damage.
At RP Defense Law APC, we bring 18 years of focused experience in criminal defense, handling thousands of complex cases throughout California and across the United States. Our team approaches every case with compassion, often caring more about protecting our clients’ future than they do themselves.
We have earned a 99% success rate in preventing clients from receiving the maximum penalty, and we know how to develop powerful, results-driven strategies in both state and federal court.
To schedule your consultation, contact RP Defense Law APC today by calling (818) 646-3443.
Bank of America Building
9440 Santa Monica Blvd. #301
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
© Copyright 2025 RP Criminal Defense. All Rights Reserved.
