According to Nevada state law, bribery constitutes the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting valuable items to influence someone's official or professional decisions. The consequences of bribery span every professional space, from courtrooms through boardrooms to athletic fields, where they cause life-altering repercussions.
If you face an arrest, know you have a legal right to defend yourself. You can mount a strong defense strategy if you learn the elements of bribery and possible punishment. Working with a reputable defense lawyer helps you argue these defenses in court.
At The Law Offices of Martin Hart, we dedicate ourselves to defending people who face bribery charges and related criminal accusations. We provide personalized defense for every case across Las Vegas.
Types of Nevada Bribery Offenses
Bribery takes multiple forms because each incident depends on its particular setting. Nevada law entails specific legal statutes that specifically target misconduct in different environments. These include:
Commercial and Business Bribery, Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 207.295
You violate Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 207.295 when you give valuable items to workers, representatives, or fiduciaries to influence their official decisions or activities. Bribery through commercial transactions is especially harmful because it undermines professional trust and damages business reputation and financial stability.
Before the court can convict you of an NRS 207.295 violation, the prosecution must demonstrate that you provided, received, or initiated a bribe to breach a fiduciary responsibility. For example, when an employee accepts cash from a supplier to obtain exclusive contract rights, it becomes a commercial bribery case. The statute allows criminal prosecution for employees and suppliers when these events occur.
Commercial bribery convictions usually result in misdemeanor punishment. These include jail time of up to six months and fines not exceeding $1,000. Although the penalties for commercial bribery may appear mild, their cumulative impact on your career trajectory, financial situation, and personal well-being could turn catastrophic.
Witness Bribery, NRS 199.240 – .250
Under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 199.240–199.250, witness bribery entails the illegal act of offering, giving, or receiving valuable items to influence a witness's court involvement. This involvement could include a witness’s testimony or attendance in a legal proceeding.
This offense damages the core foundation of justice because it undermines fair trials and judicial system integrity. Nevada bribery laws punish any attempted alteration of testimony, prevention of court attendance, or manipulation toward false statements by witnesses.
The prosecution secures your conviction by proving beyond reasonable doubt that the paid money is intended to influence the witness's legal testimony or conduct. Giving money to a witness to lie during testimony or prevent their courtroom appearance violates NRS 199.240. Nevada law applies this offense in all bribery attempts, even if the witness accepts the bribe or the bribe proves ineffective in modifying their conduct.
The severity of punishments for witness bribery depends on what specific scenario occurred, including:
- When someone offers or gives a bribe to a witness, the law treats it as a Category C felony punishable by one to 10 years in state prison and fines up to $50,000.
- When the witness gives a bribe, the law treats it as a Category C felony. Possible penalties include one to 10 years in state prison and fines up to $10,000.
A conviction destroys your freedom and demolishes your credibility, thus rendering nearly permanent damage to your reputation.
Judicial Bribery, NRS 199.010 – .030
Under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 199.010–199.030, judicial bribery is the corrupt practice of exchanging value to influence the decision-making of a judicial official, such as a judge, juror, or magistrate. Bribery damages the legal system's integrity and erodes the essential judicial impartiality required of those who administer justice.
To prove judicial bribery against you, the prosecution needs evidence that you gave, promised, or offered a bribe to alter a judicial officer's decision in a particular case. A clear case of judicial bribery exists when someone tries to pay a judge or juror for a favorable court decision or charge dismissal. As a judicial officer who faces bribery charges, the prosecution must prove you knew that accepting a bribe would require altering your official duties.
Because of its grave nature, judicial bribery is a category C felony under Nevada law. A conviction can result in one to five years in prison and fines that do not exceed $10,000. Judicial officers who receive convictions face permanent disqualification from public office positions, destroying their professional careers.
Executive, Administrative, or Public Official Bribery, NRS 197.010 – .040
Per Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 197.010–197.040, executive, administrative, or public official bribery occurs when someone gives or receives valuable items to sway a public official's responsibilities, choices, or behaviors. Public official bribery attacks the fundamental trust between citizens and their government while undermining the principles of transparency and accountability that establish governance foundations.
The prosecution must prove that you willingly participated in an unethical deal to convict you of this offense. Examples of acts constituting public official bribery include giving a city council member money to obtain zoning approvals and making state official campaign donation promises for beneficial legislation. Also, when an executive, administrative, or public official accepts gifts knowing their professional conduct will benefit the gift-giver, they become subject to prosecution under this statute.
Under Nevada law, public official bribery is a category C felony that imposes harsh penalties. A conviction results in one to five years in prison and fines not exceeding $10,000.
Sports Bribery, Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 207.290
The Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 207.290 defines sports bribery as a crime targeting corruption within athletic competitions. A person who offers, gives, or accepts money to shape the final result of a sporting event commits this offense. Sports competition integrity depends on fair play, but sports bribery attacks this foundation by creating uncertainty about outcomes while damaging the reputation of athletes and sports organizations.
A successful sports bribery prosecution requires evidence demonstrating your deliberate actions to modify the outcome or result of an athletic contest. Also, sports bribery occurs when someone gives money to an athlete for losing a game, pays a coach to adjust player lineups, or offers cash to a referee to bias their calls.
Sports bribery carries substantial penalties because state law classifies it as a Category C felony offense. A conviction for sports bribery leads to a prison sentence of one to five years and a fine not exceeding $10,000. Professional sports workers who receive a bribery conviction face termination from their careers because they will lose access to professional leagues and endorsements and permanently damage their public image.
Bribery vs. Extortion
Under Nevada law, bribery and extortion are separate offenses, even if they appear intertwined. Each offense contains different legal elements that lead to other consequences. Criminal actions such as bribery and extortion entail illicit transactions and coercive acts, but their defining characteristics lead to distinct penalties.
Bribery consists of mutually agreed-upon exchanges in which valuable items are traded to influence responsible officials' decisions. Even when the agreement violates the law, the concept of mutual agreement remains the foundation for this offense. All bribery incidents need explicit consent from the involved parties, regardless of which type of public official, sporting event, or witness testimony receives the bribe. The corrupt arrangement between bribe givers and recipients exists because both parties benefit from it.
On the other hand, extortion succeeds through forced transactions that eliminate consent while using coercion to extract payments. According to NRS 205.320, a person who obtains money or property through threats commits extortion. Different types of threats exist, which range from physical harm and damage to reputation to the disclosure of sensitive information. Extortion stands apart from bribery through its essential nature because victims lose decision-making power when intimidation forces them to submit. The crime exists because of manipulation rather than beneficial agreements between parties.
Possible Penalties Upon Conviction of an NRS 205.320 Violation
NRS 205.320 punishes extortion/blackmail as a Category B felony. The offense attracts penalties like:
- A Nevada state prison sentence lasting between one and ten years
- Fines of up to $10,000, at the court’s discretion
- Repaying the victim's money when they lose funds
When extortion involves extortionate collection for debt that creates fear of harm to property or the debtor’s of their loved one’s body, the maximum prison sentence drops to six years.
At the federal level, extortion charges bring distinct punishments. A conviction in federal court could result in:
- Up to two years in federal prison
- The fine amount depends on the seriousness of the offense
Immigration Consequences
If you are a non-citizen facing bribery charges in Nevada, your immigration status may be compromised. Bribery convictions that fall below certain thresholds will not affect your immigration status, but those that exceed these standards will lead to deportation or restriction from entering the country.
If the bribery offense involves fraud, deceit, or an intent to corrupt public officials, it is more likely to be classified as a deportable offense. These acts constitute crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMT).
Fighting Bribery Charges Against You
You might fear the legal system will work against you when facing bribery charges. The prosecution wants you to appear guilty of influencing an outcome to benefit personally. A charge of bribery alone will not lead to a guilty verdict. The law allows you to fight against bribery charges and possibly have your charges dismissed or reduced.
Lack of Intent
Bribery is an intent-based crime. The prosecution needs evidence that you deliberately used improper payments to affect another person's decisions to secure your conviction. There can be no bribery conviction if you give a gift without intending to influence or corrupt choices. When you provide a public official with a gift solely to show kindness or demonstrate your respect, your attorney can explain your lack of criminal intent.
Entrapment
Law enforcement officers set up secret traps to catch people who accept bribes. If law enforcement forces you to participate in bribery during an operation, you may defend yourself successfully. Your attorney must prove that law enforcement created the bribery idea and forced you to make illegal offers or payments.
Insufficient Evidence
Bribery prosecutions depend heavily on witness accounts and indirect evidence, which judges may find hard to trust. The prosecution needs direct proof of a bribery deal between you and the other party to convict you. When no clear evidence shows that a gift or offer is intended to sway official choices, your defense lawyer will try to prove that the prosecution lacks enough evidence to win a case.
Mistaken Identity or False Accusations
People make up bribe accusations due to wrong perceptions or deliberate fabrications. Your attorney will fight back by showing the court why the other person is not telling the truth and why they are lying about the bribery attempt.
Record Sealing for Bribery Charges in Nevada
A bribery charge stays on your record no matter the outcome of your case. A bribery charge makes it harder for you to find work housing and professional credentials. Under Nevada state guidelines, you can ask to have your criminal record sealed and start fresh when specific criteria apply.
Eligibility for Record Sealing
After serving your sentence, you qualify to seal your bribery charge based on the offense category. You can start the sealing process for your record as soon as your bribery case ends in either dismissal or with an acquittal. However, if you were convicted, you must wait a specific period before you become eligible:
- Category C, D, or E felony bribery convictions. You must serve five years after your sentence to apply for sealing.
- Category A or B felony bribery convictions. These cases usually do not qualify for record sealing.
- Misdemeanor bribery convictions. After serving your sentence, you must wait twelve months before applying to seal your records.
Find a Reputable Defense Lawyer Near Me
Bribery laws are strictly enforced, whether it involves public officials, business dealings, or judicial misconduct. Bribery carries severe legal consequences, including imprisonment, and limits one's ability to work freely.
Being charged with bribery does not prove you took bribes. Most cases stem from miscommunication problems, a lack of criminal purpose, law enforcement tactics, or weak evidence. Your defense strategy depends on the lawyer you hire.
Our legal team at The Law Offices of Martin Hart knows the burden and stress you face after being accused of bribery. Our attorneys with deep legal experience will defend your rights and protect your future. When you or someone close to you faces bribery charges in Las Vegas, speak to us now at 702-380-4278 to discuss your situation privately.