Bribery
Giving a Bribe Defense Lawyer in Houston: Brazoria, Ft. Bend, Galveston, Harris & Montgomery Counties
Illegal influence is the act of giving some form of compensation in order to receive favorable treatment. Usually, this involves giving money, gifts or services to an elected official in return for their cooperation with a vote or verdict.
Giving gifts or money in return for political favors is illegal and punishable by law. This kind of behavior subverts the normal operation of judicial and political systems and is often criticized by the public, the media and the press. Legal punishments can vary based on the extent of the alleged corruption.
Penalties for Bribery
Corruption crimes are often referred to as white collar crimes because they usually involve non-violent theft of large sums of money. Many white collar crimes are prosecuted as felonies and can carry steep sentences. According to the Texas Penal Code, crimes like bribing an official or illegal gifting can be punished with:
- A conviction on a second-degree felony charge
- A term of confinement in a federal or state prison for no less than two years and no more than 20 years
- A fine of up to $10,000
In addition to these penalties, a conviction for receiving illegal political contributions or accepting money for favors can permanently damage an elected official’s career in Houston, Texas.
In recent years, some high-profile elected officials have seen their careers and credibility vanish with allegations of giving money for favors. In some cases, officials have had to repay any illegal gifts they received in addition to serving a sentence for their conviction.
Defenses for Giving Money
As stated above, even an allegation of misconduct can derail a politician’s career and public image. This creates the potential for unscrupulous tactics between political rivals.
A defense attorney for an official accused of corruption crimes can demand that the prosecution provide solid evidence to back up the charges. The burden of proof lies with the prosecution in these cases and their allegations must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in order to secure a conviction.
A defense attorney could use this knowledge to look for holes in the prosecution’s case and argue that the motivations behind the charges are personal and political rather than judicial.
Get Professional Legal Help for Giving Bribes
If you are being accused of soliciting bribes, then the best thing you can do is hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. Reach out to Greg Tsioros today by calling (832) 752-5972.