White Collar Crimes: Bribery

Miami Federal Criminal Lawyers The offense of bribery is the act of offering, giving, receiving or using of money or other items of value with the intent to influence the behavior of an official or other individual. In other words, bribery occurs when an individual offers or gives something of value to another in an attempt to ensure a specific outcome. Both individuals involved in the bribe a criminally culpable and are subject to being charged with the white collar crime of bribery.

The federal laws refer to two types of bribery offenses: bribery and graft. The General Federal Bribery Statute ("GFBS") is defines bribery as anyone whoever directly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises to give anything of value to a public official with the intent to influence the public official's actions. If convicted in federal court of a bribery charge, an individual is facing up to fifteen years in prison and a fine three times that of the value of the amount given or offered during the commission of the offense. The federal criminal lawyers at DMT are intimately familiar with the federal laws governing the criminal offense of bribery. Anyone charged with or being investigated for bribery should contact a criminal lawyer that has experience in federal court.

The GFBS outlaws the following conduct: public officials influencing the performance of any official act in violation of his or her official duty, anyone that bribes a public official with the criminal intent to influence the official's testimony under oath, anyone receiving a bribe in exchange for giving influenced testimony under oath, anyone that offers a bribe for the performance of some public duty, or anyone offering or demanding a bribe in order to discharge a public duty. There are other special bribery statutes that exist in addition to the GFBS. Some of the special bribery statutes include bribery involving the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages, bribery involving bank examiners, bribery involving loan or other bank transaction, and bribery involving individuals appointed to public office.

Bribery is also a crime under Florida law. The state statute defines bribery as corruptly giving, offering, or promising a public servant; or corruptly requesting, soliciting, accepting any benefit from a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant to perform some act or omitting to perform an act. A prosecution under the bribery law will not be precluded even if the public servant was not qualified to perform or omit to perform a certain act. Bribery is a second degree felony punishable up to fifteen years in prison. Bribery is a serious charge that can easily impact a person's reputation and professional standing with the community.

To speak with and experienced Miami federal criminal lawyer at DMT about your white collar crime case, or if you have questions regarding a matter involving a bribery charge, please contact DMT to schedule a free consultation. You can call our office at (305) 444-0030 or reach us by completing the form on our contact page or by sending an e-mail. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to assist you with your problem.