Recently, Charlie Javice, founder of college aid startup Frank, was convicted of defrauding JPMorgan Chase in a high-profile federal trial. Prosecutors accused her of inflating the number of users on her platform to secure a $175 million acquisition. She was found guilty on multiple counts: securities fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy.

If you're a business owner, executive, or entrepreneur in New Jersey, this story should catch your attention. You don't need to run a billion-dollar startup to face white-collar criminal charges. In fact, these are the very charges many professionals face when they get swept up in financial audits, internal investigations, or federal inquiries.

White-collar charges don't just hit Wall Street—they hit professionals right here in New Jersey. They affect consultants, small business owners, tech founders, and anyone managing money, clients, or contracts.

Call the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online if you're facing white-collar allegations in New Jersey. Your reputation and freedom are too important to risk.

What These Charges Mean for NJ Professionals

Javice's case wasn't about violent crime. It was about misstatements, misrepresentations, and what prosecutors called an intent to deceive. Many white-collar charges come from documents, communications, or audits that don't match up.

Here's a breakdown of the charges she was convicted of:

• Securities fraud: Making false statements that mislead investors or affect a company's value.
• Wire fraud: Using electronic communications (emails, wires, messages) to defraud another party.
• Bank fraud: Intentionally misleading a financial institution to obtain money or favorable treatment.
• Conspiracy: Working with others to plan or carry out fraudulent acts—even if you didn't execute them yourself.

Any of these can apply to everyday professionals. Misreporting a client list, inflating valuations, cutting corners on documentation—any of these can trigger federal charges if prosecutors believe intent was involved.

White-collar cases don't happen overnight. They start with questions. Emails. Subpoenas. Grand jury notices. The earlier you respond strategically, the more options you have.

How the Lento Law Firm Defends White-Collar Allegations in NJ

The Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team in New Jersey represents professionals who find themselves caught in complex, high-stakes, white-collar investigations. We understand how these cases are built—and how to dismantle them.

Here's how our New Jersey defense team helps:

• Intervening early: We get involved before charges are filed, helping you avoid missteps that could damage your case.
• Controlling the narrative: Prosecutors build stories. We counter with documentation, context, and truth.
• Dissecting the government's evidence: From email threads to financial reports, we dissect the government's claims line by line.
• Protecting your reputation: We advise on how to manage the media, HR, and client-facing consequences.
• Being charged doesn't mean being guilty. And it doesn't mean going to prison. But what you do next matters more than anything else.

Call 888-535-3686 or reach out online. The Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team is ready to protect your future—before it's too late.