White Collar Crime Defense in Lake Charles: Early Intervention Is Critical
Fontenot Law is a Lake Charles criminal defense firm defending white collar and internet crime charges in the Fourteenth Judicial District Court and throughout Calcasieu Parish. White collar cases are distinctive in one critical way: there is often a long investigation period before any charges are filed. During that period — which can last months or years — law enforcement is building its case, executing search warrants on business records, issuing subpoenas, and interviewing witnesses. The moment you know you are under investigation is the moment to engage defense counsel.
Louisiana white collar offenses include fraud, theft by fraud, embezzlement, forgery, counterfeiting, identity theft, and computer crimes. The Louisiana Computer Fraud and Abuse law governs a range of internet and computer offenses. Many white collar cases also carry parallel federal exposure — when the conduct crosses state lines, involves financial institutions, or implicates federal programs, federal prosecutors may pursue charges with their own mandatory guidelines sentencing structure. Our firm advises clients on both state and federal exposure from the earliest stages of an investigation.
Types of White Collar Cases We Defend
Fraud
Fraud involves obtaining money, property, or services through intentional misrepresentation. Louisiana fraud charges include insurance fraud, contractor fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, and general theft by fraud. Penalties depend on the amount taken — with larger fraud schemes carrying felony exposure and multi-year sentences. Defense focuses on intent: fraud requires the prosecution to prove the defendant knowingly made false statements with the intent to deceive.
Embezzlement and Theft of Funds
Embezzlement involves misappropriation of property or funds entrusted to a defendant's care — most commonly by employees handling employer funds or fiduciaries managing client assets. Louisiana does not have a specific embezzlement statute — these cases are charged as theft under La. R.S. 14:67. Defense examines whether the defendant actually had authority over the funds in question, whether any authorization existed for the transfers at issue, and whether the accounting is as clear as the prosecution claims.
Identity Theft and Computer Crimes
Louisiana identity theft under La. R.S. 14:67.16 prohibits intentionally using another person's identifying information without authorization. Computer crime charges under La. R.S. 14:73.1 et seq. cover unauthorized access to computer systems, data theft, and similar conduct. These cases involve complex digital forensic evidence — IP addresses, device logs, account access records — that must be independently evaluated to assess the strength of the state's proof.
Defending White Collar Cases: What Our Firm Does
White collar defense requires an attorney who can analyze complex financial and electronic evidence, understand what the documents actually show versus what the prosecution claims they show, and identify the legal and factual weaknesses in a case that may have been investigated for months before our client knew charges were coming. Our approach includes early engagement with prosecutors before formal charges where possible, independent review of financial records and digital evidence, and where necessary retention of forensic accountants and digital forensics experts to challenge the state's evidence.
Fontenot Law defends white collar and internet crime charges throughout Lake Charles and all of Calcasieu Parish. If you have received a grand jury subpoena, been told you are a target or subject of an investigation, or had your business records searched, contact our office immediately.
What Clients Say
Professional, courteous, and works hard for clients. All matters were handled respectfully and we could not have had better outcomes.
The absolute best choice. Down to earth and all business in court — did everything possible to ensure the best outcome. Nails it every single time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact a defense attorney immediately — before responding to the subpoena or speaking to investigators. A grand jury subpoena is a signal that you are at minimum a witness and possibly a target of a criminal investigation. The way you respond to the subpoena and what you say (or don't say) in front of the grand jury can significantly affect what happens next. Our firm advises clients on how to respond to grand jury proceedings from the first contact.
In federal investigations, a 'target' is a person against whom the government has substantial evidence linking them to a crime and who is a putative defendant. A 'subject' is a person whose conduct is within the scope of the investigation but who has not yet been identified as a likely defendant. Both designations warrant immediate legal counsel. The distinction can shift as investigations evolve, and knowing your status helps shape the appropriate response strategy.
Yes. Fraud in Louisiana requires proof that the defendant intentionally made false representations with the intent to deceive. If the defendant genuinely believed the information they communicated was true, or if they lacked the intent to defraud, the prosecution cannot meet its burden of proof. Good faith belief and lack of criminal intent are central defenses in fraud cases, and our firm develops these defenses through a thorough review of the communications, transactions, and circumstances involved.
Identity theft penalties in Louisiana depend on the value of the benefit obtained using the stolen identity. For benefits under $1,000, the offense is a misdemeanor. For benefits of $1,000 or more, it is a felony with sentences ranging from one to ten years depending on the amount. Using another person's identity to commit financial fraud or obtain access to financial accounts triggers additional charges that can stack with the identity theft charge. Federal identity theft charges carry their own mandatory minimum sentences.
Yes — frequently. Many white collar criminal cases are accompanied by civil lawsuits from the victims seeking restitution of the funds taken. Criminal courts also have authority to order restitution as part of a sentence. Additionally, regulatory agencies — the SEC, FINRA, state banking regulators — may pursue their own parallel administrative proceedings separate from both the criminal and civil cases. Our firm advises clients on all three tracks simultaneously to avoid decisions in one proceeding that damage another.