Washington DC Bribery Lawyer
Bribery is the act of trying to gain an advantage that a person may not otherwise be entitled to legally through the use of money or some other gain to the person giving the benefit. Two types of bribery could include bribing a public official or a witness. Bribery is a serious offense and an act of bribery is rarely overlooked. The offense may include more than just handing a bag of money over to a judge for the purpose of obtaining a finding of innocence.
If the government has accused you or a loved one of committing bribery, it may be necessary to speak with a Washington DC bribery lawyer who understands the legal process in the District of Columbia and may advise you of how the law works.
A seasoned fraud attorney may be able to help you build a solid defense strategy or help you prepare for any future interactions with the police or prosecutor.
Bribery of a Public Official
If a person is charged with bribing a public official, it is also considered corruption influence of an official under the Code of the District of Columbia. Bribery may include:
- The giving of any money
- The promise or contract to give something of value
- To anyone with an official position for the District of Columbia, such as a judge, agent or employee
- With the intent to influence that government official in the performance of their official duties
- Or that the government official will receive a benefit if a contract is awarded to the person engaging in the bribery
- Or that the government official appoints the person engaging in the bribery to some governmental position
The government could punish both the public official who accepts the bribe and the person offering the bribe (Code of the District of Columba Section 22-704). A DC bribery attorney could help an accused person understand how they were accused of the offense and what legal options may be available to them.
Bribery of a Witness
It is a crime to offer or agree to give a witness anything of value in exchange for specific testimony given in an official legal proceeding or agreeing to be absent from a legal proceeding. It is also a crime for the witness to solicit something of value in exchange for giving specific testimony or agreeing to be through from a legal proceeding.
Witnesses are allowed to receive witness fees and travel costs as prescribed by law (CDC Section 22-713). An experienced attorney could explain which behavior towards a witness is considered bribery.
Penalty for Bribery in DC
If a court convicts a person of bribing a public official or accepting a bribe as a public official, they could be sentenced to a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 5 years in jail. The court may also order the person to pay a fine of up to $12,500 (CDC Section 22-704).
If the court convicts a person of bribing a witness, the court could prescribe the person for up to 5 years or a fine of no more than $12,500 (CDC Section 22-713). A bribery attorney in the area could help a person build a defense case to fight criminal charges.
Contact a Washington DC Bribery Attorney
If you are concerned about possible charges of bribery, it may be time to speak with an attorney who is familiar with the laws in the District of Columbia related to bribery.
A representative may be able to advise you as to which strategies may help you prepare to defend yourself against any accusations. In these types of situations, time may be a factor. Reach out to a Washington DC bribery lawyer today.