A conviction for corruption can be a career-ending blemish. The penalties include prison time, hefty fines and long-term damage to one’s reputation. It’s not unusual for prosecutors to pursue charges against individuals who have abused their positions of power to secure monetary or other benefits for themselves. This can happen in many settings, including private businesses and public institutions. Despite governmental commitment to ethical reform and the accompanying proposals to reign in corruption, it’s still common for certain cultures and environments to normalize or overlook these violations of public trust.
Federal Corruption Charges
When federal government officials are charged with bribery and other corrupt practices, the case makes headlines nationwide. The federal government takes these cases seriously, imposing severe penalties on those found guilty.
Bribery is a crime that involves the offering of something of value to a federal official for an illegal purpose. Prosecutors may also bring conspiracy charges in bribery cases, since it often requires collusion between two people. Likewise, it’s not uncommon to bring federal corruption charges in connection with other federal crimes such as wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and program fraud.
Those accused of bribery and other corrupt practices are often subject to increased regulatory scrutiny, with the possibility of revocation or suspension of professional licenses and loss of employment opportunities, especially in government, finance and regulated industries. In addition, non-citizens face deportation or visa inadmissibility if convicted of a crime of moral turpitude like bribery or other forms of corruption.