White Collar Crime Defense
The government has been building
its case against you. We build yours.
Federal white collar investigations are methodical, well-resourced, and often years in the making before you ever receive a target letter. Sam has successfully handled cases involving losses up to $75 million. When the stakes are your freedom, your career, and your reputation — experience on both sides of the courtroom is not optional.
Schedule a Confidential ConsultationThe Ahmadpour Advantage
Why your white collar attorney
must know both sides
Most defense attorneys have only ever seen a case from the defense table. Sam Ahmadpour has sat at both. That changes everything about how he defends you.
Former Prosecutor of the Year
Sam was named Prosecutor of the Year at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office — the largest prosecutorial office in the United States. He knows exactly how federal and state prosecutors build financial crime cases, what evidence they prioritize, and — critically — where those cases fall apart.
MBA from UCLA Anderson
White collar cases are not just legal battles — they are financial and business disputes prosecuted as crimes. Sam's MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management gives him fluency in the accounting, corporate governance, and financial instruments that prosecutors use to build their cases. He understands the business, not just the charges.
Early Intervention Saves Careers
The most important stage of a white collar case is often before charges are filed. If you have received a target letter, a grand jury subpoena, or believe you are under investigation — the time to act is now, not after an indictment. Early intervention can mean the difference between a dismissed investigation and federal prosecution.
Areas of Practice
White collar crimes we defend
From federal investigations to state charges — across every category of financial and business crime.
Federal Charges
Federal white collar prosecutions carry significantly harsher sentences than state charges, involve the full resources of the FBI and DOJ, and move through a fundamentally different court system. Sam's experience on both sides of federal cases gives clients a decisive advantage.
- FBI target letters & grand jury subpoenas
- Federal indictment defense
- Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)
- Mail fraud
- RICO charges
Securities Fraud & Insider Trading
SEC investigations and criminal securities fraud charges can end careers and result in decades of imprisonment. Sam defends executives, investors, and financial professionals facing these charges at both the civil enforcement and criminal prosecution level.
- SEC investigations & enforcement actions
- Insider trading charges
- Investment fraud
- Ponzi scheme defense
- Market manipulation
Mortgage & Real Estate Fraud
Mortgage fraud encompasses a wide range of conduct from loan application misrepresentations to complex multi-party schemes. Real estate fraud charges often sweep in professionals who had limited knowledge of a broader scheme.
- Loan application fraud
- Appraisal fraud
- Foreclosure rescue fraud
- Title & escrow fraud
- Real estate investment fraud
Healthcare & Medicare Fraud
Healthcare fraud prosecutions frequently target physicians, nurses, billing companies, and medical practices. A conviction does not just mean prison time — it means the permanent loss of a medical license and exclusion from federal healthcare programs.
- Medicare & Medi-Cal billing fraud
- Kickbacks & referral schemes
- Unnecessary procedure billing
- Pharmacy fraud
- DEA investigations
Money Laundering
Money laundering charges often accompany other financial crimes and carry severe penalties of their own. Whether the alleged scheme involves cash-intensive businesses, cryptocurrency, or international transfers, Sam has the financial literacy and legal experience to mount an effective defense.
- Bank Secrecy Act violations
- Structuring charges
- Cryptocurrency laundering
- International wire transfers
- Asset forfeiture defense
Tax Crimes
IRS criminal investigations are among the most thoroughly documented prosecutions in the federal system. Sam defends individuals and businesses facing criminal tax charges while coordinating with civil tax counsel to protect all interests simultaneously.
- Tax evasion (26 U.S.C. § 7201)
- Filing false returns
- Failure to file
- Offshore account violations
- Employment tax fraud
Embezzlement
Embezzlement charges arise in every industry — from corporate executives to employees, from nonprofits to government contractors. Sam defends clients at every level of alleged financial wrongdoing, examining the evidence, the accounting, and the intent behind every transaction.
- Corporate embezzlement
- Employee theft charges
- Fiduciary duty violations
- Public funds embezzlement
- Nonprofit financial crimes
Bribery & Corruption
Bribery charges — whether involving public officials, private parties, or foreign governments under the FCPA — carry severe federal penalties and the immediate destruction of professional reputation. Sam's prosecutorial background means he understands exactly how these cases are built.
- Public official bribery
- Commercial bribery
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
- Bid rigging & contract fraud
- Gratuities charges
Cybercrime & PPP Fraud
The federal government aggressively prosecuted COVID-era fraud and continues to bring new charges years after the fact. Cybercrime charges — including computer fraud and identity theft — are increasingly overlapping with traditional white collar prosecutions.
- PPP & EIDL loan fraud
- COVID relief fraud
- Computer fraud (CFAA)
- Identity theft & wire fraud
- Crypto fraud & NFT fraud
What to Expect
How a white collar case actually unfolds
White collar investigations differ fundamentally from other criminal cases. There is rarely a dramatic arrest or immediate charge. Instead, the government spends months — sometimes years — building a case in secret before you ever know you're a target.
By the time most people retain a defense attorney, the government already has subpoenaed financial records, interviewed colleagues and employees, and built a detailed factual picture. This is why early intervention is critical.
If you have received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney's office, a grand jury subpoena, a visit from federal agents, or simply suspect you may be under investigation — do not wait. Do not speak to investigators without counsel. The statements you make in the early stages of an investigation often become the most damaging evidence at trial.
Sam Ahmadpour has handled cases from the moment of investigation through jury verdict — and knows how to position a case from day one to achieve the best possible outcome, whether that means a negotiated resolution, a dismissed investigation, or an acquittal at trial.
Speak with Sam todaySubpoenas, search warrants, witness interviews — the government builds its case before you know you're a target. This can last months or years.
A target letter means the government believes you committed a crime. A grand jury subpoena means they want your testimony or records. Either requires immediate legal counsel.
Strong early defense can result in a declination — the government decides not to charge. Without it, an indictment initiates formal prosecution.
Most federal cases resolve through plea negotiation. When they don't, Sam's 60+ jury trial experience becomes your most important asset.
The MBA Difference
Most criminal defense attorneys approach white collar cases the same way they approach any other charge — they understand the law, but they don't understand the business context in which the alleged conduct occurred.
Sam's MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management changes that equation. He can read a balance sheet, understand a corporate structure, evaluate an accounting methodology, and speak the language of finance — which means he can spot the flaws in the government's financial narrative that other attorneys miss.
In white collar cases, the government's theory of the crime is almost always a financial story. Sam knows how to tell a better one.
LA County District Attorney's Office
Largest Prosecutorial Office in the U.S.
Financial & Business Litigation Expertise
Successfully Handled
Both Prosecution & Defense
Know Your Case
Federal prosecution vs. state charges
Understanding which system your case is in — and why it matters — is the first step in building your defense.
- Prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office or DOJ
- Investigated by the FBI, IRS-CI, SEC, or other federal agencies
- No possibility of parole — sentences are served at 85%
- Federal Sentencing Guidelines control most outcomes
- Conviction rate exceeds 90% — early defense is essential
- Asset forfeiture is routine and devastating
- Cases typically involve years of pre-indictment investigation
- Prosecuted by the District Attorney or City Attorney
- Investigated by local law enforcement or state agencies
- California PC 487 (grand theft) — $950+ threshold
- Sentences generally shorter than federal equivalents
- More flexibility in plea negotiations
- Probation and diversion programs sometimes available
- Professional license consequences are equally severe
Facing Federal or State Charges?
The time to act is now.
Not after indictment.
White collar investigations move faster than most people realize. The earlier you retain experienced counsel, the more options you have. Sam Ahmadpour is available for confidential consultations — today.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation Or call directly: 424-226-7810