Bribery and corruption charges can upend the lives of both public officials and private citizens. They can result in investigations by federal prosecutors, criminal trials, and severe consequences upon conviction. Therefore, it is vital that anyone facing these allegations understands the ramifications and how to defend them with help from a Boston corruption defense attorney.
Corruption charges typically allege that someone in a position of entrusted power, such as a government official, is misusing his or her authority for personal gain. The abuse of these positions can involve anything from money to influence to gifts and services. The most common form of corruption involves offering, giving, receiving or soliciting a bribe. The intent is usually to gain an unfair advantage or sway decisions in the favor of the briber.
In these cases, evidence is often compiled like a jigsaw in order to demonstrate grand corruption. For example, if an alleged bribe recipient displays sudden wealth with no legitimate source of funds it can be powerful circumstantial evidence that he or she was involved in a corrupt payment.
Another effective piece of evidence is the witness’s history with corruption. Corrupting a witness is a form of perjury and if the witness has already committed a previous unpunished lie under oath, it can be inferred that he or she may be more likely to commit a future lie.
A corroborating witness can also help. If a person has a track record of being untrustworthy or dishonest, it is important to share that information with the jury.