A bribery charge is always a serious offense in New York State. Convictions can lead to lengthy prison terms, hefty fines, and other punishments that can upend your life. If you are charged with bribery, you should consult with an Orangetown, NY criminal defense attorney.
Bribery in the third degree is a class D felony. It does not matter how much your bribe was for, you can still face stiff penalties for even this lowest bribery charge in New York. You can be sentenced to a year of prison time, years of probation, or community service. You could also face a combination of the above and some additional fines.
Then there is bribery in the second degree, a class C felony. This is what you will be charged with if your bribe or perceived benefit is valued at more than $10,000. You can be put in prison for up to 15 years, even with no previous record.
The most serious charge is bribery in the first degree. It is a class B felony and some jail time is going to be a part of every sentence, even if the accused has a clean criminal record. If convicted, you could end up in prison for up to 25 years. This is a charge generally reserved for people who attempt to bribe a public official and influence their actions in some way.
You can also end up facing lesser bribery charges when you are charged with bribery in the first degree. That is because the value of the bribe or benefit conferred does not matter for bribery in the first degree, but it does matter for lesser charges. If the bribe or benefit exceeds a certain value, you could be hit with additional second degree and third degree charges and their associated punishments.
Unfortunately, the penalties for bribery are not just going to come from the legal system. Anyone with a professional license is likely being held to a high moral standard. A bribery conviction could jeopardize their standing and the license they worked so hard for.
There could be other personal and professional repercussions too. This is why it is so important to fight back against these charges with the help of a criminal defense attorney.
The penalties for bribery are harsh and a conviction can follow you forever. You need to form the best possible defense against these charges, and an attorney can help you with that. A criminal defense lawyer can:
A defense attorney will help you fight for the best possible outcome.
If you have been charged with bribery, you need to take your defense seriously. Contact the Law Office of Kevin T. Conway and learn more about what a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney can do to assist you.
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