Bribery is a white collar crime that can result in serious criminal penalties, as well as damage to one’s personal and professional reputation. If you have been accused of bribery, it’s important to recognize that you have legal rights, including the right to legal counsel. At The Law Office of Paul R. Moraski, our experienced Massachusetts criminal defense attorney will work for you. Call today to get the legal help you need when your job, reputation, and future are at stake. 

Elements of Bribery Crime in Massachusetts

The crime of bribery is found under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 268A, Section 2. In its more simplified definition, bribery occurs when an individual provides a public official with something of value in exchange for that public official making a certain decision or public act. For example, a public official may be bribed to give certain testimony under oath, allow fraud in a public process, or do something else unlawful in the course of their public duty.

If a defendant is charged with bribery, the burden is on the prosecution to prove that bribery occurred beyond a reasonable doubt. This requires the prosecution to establish the elements of the crime of bribery beyond a reasonable doubt, including:

• The recipient of the bribe was a public official
• The public official was offered something of value
• There was a quid-pro-quo exchange — the thing of value was offered in exchange for something else
• Both parties had intent to influence/be influenced

Defenses to Bribery

The defense that you employ in your bribery case must be specific and relevant to your situation, so it’s important that you speak to an attorney. With that in mind, some common defenses to bribery include:

• Arguing that the bribery simply did not take place
• Proving that there was a lack of intent
• Asserting that no law was broken
• Proving that there was no quid pro quo

Penalties if You’re Convicted

If a person is convicted of bribery, they could be penalized by a fine of up to $100,000, imprisonment in the state prison for up to 10 years, or imprisonment in the state house of correction for up to 2.5 years, or both fine and imprisonment. Additionally, if convicted, the person will be barred from holding public office in the future. 

What to Do if You’ve Been Charged with Bribery 

If you’ve been charged with bribery, you need an attorney. At The Law Office of Paul R. Moraski, our skilled criminal defense attorney has years of experience representing defendants facing white collar charges, including bribery. To start building your defense today, call (978) 397-0011 now or use the intake form on our website to get in touch.