Morris Law is an Oakland criminal defense law firm. Call (510) 824-8831 for a free case review of your white collar crimes case. White Collar Crimes in California is governed by California Penal Code §§484–530 and Title 18 U.S.C. §§1341, 1343 (federal fraud). Our office at 2744 E 11th St, Oakland is in East Oakland, about 2 miles from the Alameda County courthouses in Downtown Oakland — where every Oakland case is heard. Seth Morris spent years in those courthouses as a Deputy Public Defender.

What is white collar crimes under California law?

Oakland White Collar Crime Lawyer — Morris Law

White-collar crimes are non-violent, financially-motivated offenses. In California they include embezzlement (PC §503), identity theft (PC §530.5), forgery (PC §470), insurance fraud (PC §550), and money laundering (PC §186.10). Federally, they include mail fraud (18 U.S.C. §1341), wire fraud (18 U.S.C. §1343), and money laundering (18 U.S.C. §1956). These cases involve long investigations by the FBI, IRS-CI, SEC, or California DOJ, voluminous discovery, and parallel civil or administrative proceedings.

Penalties for white collar crimes in California

Penalties vary sharply by specific statute, degree, and prior record. Here are the primary ranges we see in Oakland and Alameda County cases:

  • Embezzlement (PC §503): charged as petty or grand theft; up to 3 years state prison over $950
  • Identity theft (PC §530.5): wobbler up to 3 years state prison
  • Forgery (PC §470): wobbler up to 3 years state prison
  • Insurance fraud (PC §550): felony 2, 3, or 5 years state prison
  • Money laundering (PC §186.10): felony 16 months, 2, or 3 years
  • PC §186.11 white-collar enhancement: +1 to +5 years when felony involves $100,000+
  • Federal wire/mail fraud: up to 20 years per count; 30 years if financial institution
  • Federal tax evasion (26 U.S.C. §7201): up to 5 years per year of evasion

Collateral consequences — professional licensing, immigration status, firearm rights, and future employment — often exceed the direct sentence.

How Morris Law defends white collar crimes cases in Oakland

Every case is different, but the defense strategies below produce the most dismissals, reductions, and acquittals:

  • Lack of intent to defraud — every white-collar charge requires specific intent. Mistakes and good-faith errors are not crimes.
  • Reliance on professionals — good-faith reliance on accountants, attorneys, or compliance officers is a defense.
  • No materiality — fraud requires a material misrepresentation.
  • Statute of limitations — 3–4 years state (PC §801, §801.5); 5 years federal (10 years if financial institution).
  • Pre-indictment intervention — target letters, subpoenas, and SEC/FTC inquiries often precede charges. Early counsel can secure declinations.
  • Forensic accounting — loss calculations, attribution, and netting issues are all litigable.
  • Cooperation and reverse proffers — strategic disclosure can lead to dismissals or substantial-assistance motions.
  • Restitution and global resolution — voluntary restitution and global civil/criminal deals can reduce or eliminate prison exposure.

What to do if you are arrested for white collar crimes in Oakland

Most Oakland arrests are made by the Oakland Police Department (OPD). BART Police handle transit arrests. CHP handles freeway enforcement. Alameda County Sheriff handles unincorporated areas. Take these steps:

  1. Invoke your right to counsel. Under Miranda v. Arizona, you must clearly say you want a lawyer, then stop talking.
  2. Do not consent to a search. Officers need a warrant, probable cause, or your consent. Refuse politely.
  3. Call Morris Law at (510) 824-8831. We answer 24 hours a day.
  4. Preserve evidence. Photograph injuries or damage. Note officers’ names, badge numbers, and witnesses.
  5. Stay off social media and jail phones. Both are recorded and admissible.
  6. Write down your account for your attorney. Record events while fresh.

Why Oakland residents choose Morris Law for white collar crimes defense

Morris Law was founded by Seth Morris, a former Alameda County Deputy Public Defender. What we bring to every case:

  • Seth Morris was a Deputy Public Defender in Alameda County. He defended clients at the Wiley W. Manuel and René C. Davidson courthouses regularly.
  • More than 25 jury trials, including life-in-prison exposure cases.
  • Federal recognition on police body cameras and 4th Amendment. President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing contributor.
  • Published in the Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Salon. Interviewed on MSNBC, NBC Bay Area, KQED, KALW.
  • Oakland office at 2744 E 11th St — East Oakland, about 2 miles from the courthouses.
  • 24/7 phone access at (510) 824-8831.
  • Clear, plain-language updates.

Seth Morris is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and the Alameda County Bar Association.

How white collar crimes cases move through Alameda County

Stage Where Timing
Arrest Oakland — often by OPD Day 0
Booking Glenn E. Dyer or Santa Rita Jail Day 0–1
Arraignment Wiley W. Manuel or René C. Davidson Within 48 hours in custody
Preliminary hearing (felony) René C. Davidson Courthouse Within 10 court days in custody
Trial Wiley W. Manuel or René C. Davidson Within 60 days if not waived

White Collar Crimes defense in Oakland — Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as white-collar crime in Oakland?

There is no single statute. The term covers financially-motivated, non-violent offenses including embezzlement (PC §503), identity theft (PC §530.5), forgery (PC §470), insurance and workers’-comp fraud, mortgage fraud, securities fraud, money laundering (PC §186.10), tax evasion, and federal mail/wire fraud (18 U.S.C. §§1341, 1343).

What is California’s white-collar enhancement (PC §186.11)?

PC §186.11 adds 1 to 5 years onto any felony where the defendant takes more than $100,000 through a pattern of related fraudulent conduct. The enhancement scales by amount: $100K–$500K adds 1 year; $500K–$1M adds 2; $1M–$3M adds 3; $3M+ adds 4.

Should I respond to a federal grand-jury subpoena or target letter?

Never without counsel. A target letter means you are the focus of an investigation and may be indicted. Each response option — declining, proffering, or subject-level cooperation — has strategic implications. Call (510) 824-8831 before any response.

Where do Oakland criminal cases go to court?

Oakland cases go to Alameda County Superior Court. Misdemeanors and traffic go to the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse (661 Washington St). Felonies go to the René C. Davidson Courthouse (1225 Fallon St). Our attorneys appear at both regularly.

Who is Seth Morris?

Seth Morris founded Morris Law in 2021. He earned his JD at UC Berkeley School of Law in 2006, served as a Deputy Public Defender in Alameda County, and has tried more than 25 jury trials — including cases with life-in-prison exposure. He helped develop the national Body Camera Toolkit for President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

How quickly can I meet with an Oakland criminal defense lawyer?

Same day, in most cases. Attorneys are reachable 24 hours a day at (510) 824-8831. If a family member has been booked at Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility or Santa Rita Jail, we can arrange contact within hours.

Get a free white collar crimes case review

Talk to an Oakland criminal defense lawyer today. Call (510) 824-8831 or fill out our online form. Free case review. 24-hour phone. Oakland office at 2744 E 11th St.

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Specific white collar charges we defend in Oakland

Each link opens a page written for that specific charge — with the exact statute, penalties, defenses, and case examples.

Related pages

Official government resources