Maryland Criminal Defense · Baltimore City · Baltimore County · Statewide
Maryland Criminal Defense · Baltimore City · Baltimore County · Statewide
White collar crime charges — fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, bribery, RICO — carry prison sentences, crippling fines, and permanent damage to your reputation and career. They can happen to anyone. Allan Rombro has defended financial and white collar crimes in Maryland state and federal courts for over 35 years.
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White collar crime is an umbrella term for non-violent offenses committed through deception, concealment, or abuse of trust — typically for financial gain. The term covers an enormous range of conduct: from passing a bad check to a multi-million-dollar securities fraud scheme. What these cases share is that an accusation alone can be catastrophic — to your career, your reputation, your professional licenses, and your freedom.
Contrary to what many people believe, white collar crime cases are not limited to corporate executives or high-profile financial scandals. A federal indictment can happen to anyone — those who made one poor decision, those caught up in the conduct of others, those who had no criminal intent at all, and sometimes those who are entirely innocent but swept up in a complex investigation.
The Law Offices of Allan Rombro defends individuals and businesses against the full spectrum of white collar charges — in Maryland state courts and in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, where Allan Rombro has been admitted since 1989. His federal cases have included bank fraud, high-volume financial scheme defense, tax evasion, and identity theft — serious, document-heavy cases requiring genuine federal courtroom experience.
We will investigate every aspect of your case, challenge the government’s evidence, and fight for the best possible outcome — whether that is victory at trial, dismissal, or a negotiated resolution to reduced charges. Call immediately. The investigation stage is where white collar cases are won or lost — and that window closes fast.
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Wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, healthcare fraud, securities fraud, insurance fraud, and internet fraud. Federal fraud statutes apply whenever a scheme uses interstate communications or involves federal programs or institutions — which covers nearly all modern financial activity. Each communication in furtherance of the scheme is a separate count.
The fraudulent appropriation of funds or property by someone entrusted to manage them. Embezzlement covers a wide range — from an employee skimming from a cash register to an executive diverting millions from corporate accounts. The defining element is a position of lawful access combined with unauthorized taking for personal gain.
Using financial transactions to conceal the source or destination of illegally obtained funds. Federal prosecutors charge money laundering alongside the underlying offense in almost every significant white collar case — adding substantial prison exposure and triggering mandatory forfeiture of all funds and property involved in or derived from the scheme.
Offering, paying, or receiving something of value to influence a government official or business decision — or using threats or coercion to extract money or compliance. Bribery and extortion charges frequently arise alongside other fraud charges and are prosecuted aggressively when public officials, law enforcement, or government programs are involved.
Insider trading, Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump schemes, false statements to investors, and market manipulation. Investigated by the SEC and prosecuted by the DOJ. Securities fraud is a serious federal felony carrying up to 20 years per count — and civil SEC enforcement actions typically run alongside criminal prosecution.
Creating, altering, or using fraudulent documents, checks, or financial instruments. Forgery and check fraud cases range from state misdemeanor charges to serious federal felonies when banking institutions or interstate commerce are involved. These cases are often pursued alongside identity theft and bank fraud charges.
Bribery of public officials, kickbacks, misuse of government funds, abuse of public office, and misconduct in office. Public corruption cases attract significant prosecutorial attention and media coverage — the reputational consequences begin at investigation, long before any charge is filed. Discreet, immediate legal representation is critical.
Deliberately failing to pay taxes owed, underreporting income, filing false returns, hiding assets offshore, and employment tax fraud. Investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation — one of the most methodical federal agencies. Tax cases often run in parallel with fraud investigations and frequently become the hook for charges when other conduct proves harder to prove.
White collar charges can be brought in Maryland state court, federal court, or both simultaneously. Understanding which jurisdiction applies — and how they differ — is one of the first things your attorney needs to assess.
State white collar cases can still be serious and life-altering. A felony conviction in Maryland carries the same permanent record and collateral consequences as a federal conviction.
Allan Rombro has been admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland since 1989 — genuine federal courtroom experience, not just occasional appointments.
The most powerful moment in a white collar defense is before charges are filed. Allan Rombro engages with investigators and prosecutors during the investigation phase — presenting context, challenging evidence, correcting mischaracterizations, and arguing why charges are not warranted. Pre-indictment intervention can prevent prosecution entirely, or position the case for a far more favorable outcome from the outset.
By the time the government contacts a target, it has been building its case for months. Allan Rombro conducts his own parallel investigation — reviewing financial records, interviewing witnesses, retaining forensic accountants and expert consultants as needed, and identifying the weaknesses in the government's theory before the case is fully formed. Finding this evidence early is critical.
Every white collar charge requires proof that the defendant acted knowingly and intentionally — with specific intent to defraud, deceive, or steal. Honest mistakes, good-faith business decisions, reliance on professional advice, and genuine disputes over money or contracts do not constitute crimes even when financial loss results. This defense is available more often than clients initially believe.
White collar investigations generate vast quantities of evidence — emails, financial records, seized documents, wiretaps. If any of this evidence was obtained through an unlawful search, overbroad warrant, or constitutional violation, it can be suppressed before trial. Removing the foundation of the government's case — before trial — is among the most powerful tools in white collar defense.
In federal cases, the government's loss calculation drives the Sentencing Guidelines recommendation — often inflated to maximize exposure. Allan Rombro challenges the loss methodology, causation, the scope of relevant conduct attributed to the defendant, and every enhancement sought by the government. Reducing the loss figure by even one tier can mean years less in the recommended sentence range.
Because prosecutors know the Law Offices of Allan Rombro are prepared and willing to try cases, negotiations carry genuine weight. Plea agreements are pursued only when they truly serve the client's best interests — and only after all other options are exhausted. Allan Rombro will never rush toward a deal simply to resolve a case. The client's decision to plead or go to trial is always respected.
Each area of white collar defense has its own statutes, sentencing exposure, investigative agencies, and defense strategies. These pages go deep on the charges most commonly prosecuted in Maryland federal court.
Have a question not answered here? Email Allan Rombro for a free, confidential consultation — available 24/7.
White collar crime is a broad term for non-violent financial offenses committed through deceit, concealment, or abuse of trust. In Maryland, white collar crimes include fraud (wire, mail, bank, healthcare, securities), embezzlement, money laundering, identity theft, bribery, tax evasion, and RICO violations. These charges can be prosecuted at the state level in Maryland Circuit Court or at the federal level in U.S. District Court — and sometimes both simultaneously on overlapping charges.
Yes. Most white collar crimes involving financial gain of $1,500 or more are charged as felonies in Maryland state court, carrying significant prison time, fines, and a permanent criminal record. Federal white collar charges — which apply when the scheme involves interstate commerce, federal programs, or federally insured institutions — are almost always felonies and carry far more severe sentencing exposure, often measured in decades under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
State white collar cases are prosecuted by Maryland State’s Attorneys in Circuit Court with broader judicial sentencing discretion and a shorter path from investigation to charges. Federal cases are prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in U.S. District Court under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines — which calculate recommended sentences based on loss amount, victim count, and aggravating factors, with no parole available. Federal investigations are longer, more resource-intensive, and typically result in substantially harsher outcomes.
Contact a criminal defense attorney immediately — before speaking with investigators, before voluntarily providing any documents, and before taking any action that could later be characterized as obstruction. White collar investigations often run for months or years before charges are filed, and the earlier an attorney is involved, the more options exist. This includes the possibility of preventing an indictment entirely through pre-charge negotiation with prosecutors. Do not try to explain your way out of an investigation without counsel present.
Yes — and it happens frequently in white collar cases. Regulatory agencies like the SEC, IRS, or HHS-OIG often begin with civil investigations. Once they gather sufficient evidence suggesting intentional misconduct, they refer the matter to the DOJ or U.S. Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution. A civil investigation that turns criminal is one of the most dangerous transitions in white collar defense — and one of the most important reasons to have experienced counsel involved from the very beginning of any government inquiry, even one that appears entirely civil in nature
The sooner you act, the stronger your defense. Free consultation, available 24/7.
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