Baltimore Bribery Lawyer

Bribery is not the most common crime in Baltimore, but it is one for which law enforcement officials and the public have very little tolerance. However, bribery can be a crime that involves misinterpretation, and someone may be wrongfully accused either because they lacked the required intent or because they are blamed for the actions taken by others.

So, if you are facing any charges in connection with bribery, it is wise to start working with a knowledgeable Baltimore bribery lawyer as soon as possible so that you can collect and preserve the best evidence to create the most comprehensive defensive strategy. Call today and set up a consultation with a seasoned attorney.

When Conduct is Considered Bribery

Overall, bribery is considered to occur when one person offers money or something else of value to another person in a position of power or authority to gain an illegal benefit. Both the person offering a bribe and a person accepting a bribe would be guilty of wrongdoing. The laws are usually written to prohibit both the offering of a bribe or asking for or accepting a bribe.

For instance, a developer offering money to a member of the city council in exchange for a favorable ruling in a zoning hearing would be considered an illegal bribery situation. Or if a mayor asked for contributions to a re-election campaign in exchange for appointing family members to government positions, that would also be considered bribery. The penalties for bribery are severe, therefore, someone facing charges should reach out to a skilled criminal defense lawyer.

State Laws That Apply in Bribery Cases

Bribery cases may involve violations of state or federal law. The Maryland criminal code prohibits:

  • Offering a bribe to public employees to influence the performance of an official duty
  • A public employee asking for or accepting a bribe to influence performance or neglect of an official duty
  • Offering a bribe to a juror or acceptance of a bribe by a juror
  • Promising a gift or reward to a voter in exchange for a vote
  • Providing free alcoholic drinks to voters on election day
  • Offering a bribe to an athlete or an athlete accepting a bribe to alter the outcome of an athletic competition

These offenses are all technically referred to as misdemeanors, but the penalties for some violations can be as high as those involving felonies. For instance, someone convicted of offering a bribe to an athlete may be sentenced to up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. (Md. Crim. Law §9-204.)

Bribing a public employee is an offense that carries a minimum two-year term of imprisonment that can be extended up to 12 years with a fine of up to $10,000. (Md. Crim. Law §9-201.)

In addition to violations of bribery statutes, a bribery case may involve other types of laws. For instance, an attorney who offers money to a witness in exchange for favorable testimony in a criminal case may be thought of as attempting to bribe that witness, but because the individual offered the bribe was a witness rather than a juror, the attorney would be charged with a crime such as obstruction of justice.

Federal Bribery Laws

The primary federal bribery laws are found in section 201 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. These sections prohibit bribery of federal public officials and witnesses in federal court or other federal proceedings. In addition, there are federal statutes prohibiting graft and bribes in specialized situations such as bribing a bank examiner. An accomplished Baltimore bribery lawyer will be well-versed in these laws and how to build a strong defense.

Contact a Baltimore Bribery Attorney

Because bribery is not as common as other defenses, in order to certain to explore every available avenue of defense in your case, it is wise to work with an attorney who understands how bribery offenses are prosecuted in Baltimore.

When you work with an experienced Baltimore bribery lawyer, your attorney could begin to advocate on your behalf immediately and provide advice on how to protect your fights and avoid taking actions that could jeopardize your case. For a free consultation to learn all the advantages an experienced legal professional could provide in your situation, call today.