At Legal Sandbox Georgia, we specialize in the defense of complex economic crimes, a field where legal statutes intersect with intricate financial forensics. We understand that charges of Illegal Business Activity (Article 192) often stem from administrative oversights rather than criminal intent. The prosecution must prove that the activity was conducted without a mandatory permit or license and resulted in "significant damage" or involved "large income." Our defense strategy dissects these financial thresholds. We frequently argue that the activity in question did not require a specific license under new regulatory frameworks or that the income generated does not meet the statutory threshold for criminal liability, thereby relegating the matter to a civil or administrative dispute.
Money Laundering (Article 194) is perhaps the most severe charge in this category, with sentences ranging from 6 to 12 years (or more for groups). A conviction requires the state to prove the "illicit origin" of the funds. Our defense cuts the link between the funds and the alleged predicate offense. We utilize forensic accounting to trace the legitimate source of every cent, arguing that "placement," "layering," and "integration" never occurred. We challenge the prosecution's attempt to infer guilt solely from complex transaction structures, demonstrating that such complexity was for legitimate tax optimization or privacy, not concealment of crime.
In cases of Commercial Bribery (Article 221), the line between aggressive networking and criminal conduct is often blurred. Unlike public corruption, commercial bribery requires proof that the advantage was given to influence a person in their commercial capacity to act against their employer’s interests. We rigorously defend against these charges by distinguishing between standard industry "kickbacks" or gifts and criminal bribes, often proving that the transaction was transparent or authorized by company policy. Finally, for Tax Evasion (Article 218), we defend against the state's most aggressive revenue collection tactics. We challenge the tax audit findings that form the basis of the criminal charge. By proving that the discrepancies were due to accounting errors or valid interpretations of ambiguous tax laws—rather than "willful evasion"—we aim to dismantle the criminal intent (mens rea) required for a conviction, protecting your assets and your freedom.
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