If you stand accused of a white-collar crime like money laundering or mortgage fraud, there is a good chance that you could have some codefendants also facing the same or similar charges.
That does not typically bode well, as frequently one lower-level codefendant in a white-collar crime will feel pressured by law enforcement into cooperating and becoming a prosecution witness for dismissed or lowered charges.
What that can mean for you
In some situations, you may be the target of the investigation, in which case the authorities will not have much interest in the evidence you may have on any codefendants. But if you are a bit player who was allegedly acting on the instructions of others to perpetuate a fraudulent scheme, you could have much more leeway.
In those cases, it is sometimes advantageous to be the first codefendant to make a deal for lesser consequences. You and your legal advocate can further investigate the possibilities your cooperation may bring.
When codefendants turn state’s witnesses
Your first and only priorities should be minimizing the fallout from your arrest and trying to get your charges dismissed. If you wind up in a criminal trial, you want to assemble a staunch defense to the charges, so you get acquitted rather than convicted.
Obviously, it’s never good news to learn someone is now a cooperating witness for the state (and against you). Skilled legal minds can sometimes get testimony tossed out or make the cooperating codefendant appear too unreliable to lend much weight to their words.
Knowledge is power
Learning more about the laws here in California can help you build a stalwart case against the evidence the state has assembled against you.