White collar and criminal defense in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican criminal system

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Law 76-02) established an accusatorial system in which the Public Ministry investigates and prosecutes, the defense holds rights from the first investigative act and the instruction judge controls coercive measures. The new Penal Code, enacted in 2026, updates offenses and penalties, and Law 155-17 against Money Laundering adds a demanding regime for companies and professionals. In this environment, early action by counsel defines the outcome: the first statement, the coercive measure hearing and the preservation of evidence.

We concentrate our practice on white collar crime and matters with an international component: fraud, swindling, breach of trust, forgery, cybercrime, money laundering and property crimes. Many of our clients are foreign individuals or companies who need to understand the process in English and coordinate the defense with their home counsel.

• Defense in investigations and criminal proceedings, from summons through trial and appeals
• Coercive measure hearings, economic guarantees and criminal bail bonds
• Complaints and civil party actions for victims of fraud and property crimes
• Economic crimes, forgery, cybercrime (Law 53-07) and money laundering (Law 155-17)
• Criminal compliance and prevention programs for companies
• Assistance to detained foreigners and coordination with consulates
• Extradition, international judicial cooperation and INTERPOL notices
• Recognition of foreign criminal judgments and their civil effects

Companies and criminal liability

Dominican law recognizes the criminal liability of legal entities in areas such as money laundering, tax offenses and certain economic crimes. We design compliance programs, reporting channels and investigation response protocols, and we represent the company and its officers once an investigation has begun, taking care to separate the interests of the entity and the individuals.

Victims of fraud

Foreign investors and companies defrauded or betrayed in the country need more than a police report: they need a well founded complaint, conservatory measures over the defendant's assets and a civil party action that allows recovery of the money. We combine the complaint with our collections practice and with investigation by Poindexter Global Intelligence to locate assets.

Content reviewed by M. Yorleny Villar R., partner at VSP Consultores Legales. Updated September 22, 2026.