White Collar Crimes

What is a white collar crime?

"White collar crime" is a term used to describe a broad range of criminal offenses typically committed by individuals in a business, political or financial environment. Most of these are non-violent theft crimes, and many may be charged at a state and/or federal level. Because they may involve complex financial transactions and high-profile politicians or business executives, white collar cases should be approached with the utmost care.

The following are some of the most common types of white collar crimes:

Embezzlement
 This offense involves unlawfully transferring or misappropriating assets that are entrusted to one's care. Anyone from a CEO to an accountant to a store clerk may face embezzlement charges if accused of taking money for personal gain.

Fraud
 Fraud may be described as "theft by deception". It occurs when a person devises a scheme to take another's money or property through misrepresentation, deceit or outright lies.

Counterfeiting
 Though it used to mostly apply to money, counterfeiting today includes creating false replicas of designer goods, artwork, legal documents and money.

Identity Theft
 Identity theft is a type of white collar crime that occurs when one takes another's personal information (credit card number, social security number, etc.) in order to assume their identity, usually for financial gain. 

Forgery
 Altering or creating a false replica of a document, work of art, signature or banknote may constitute the criminal act of forgery. This is a serious white collar crime that may be harshly penalized. 
Public Corruption
Public corruption is somewhat of an umbrella term used to describe criminal offenses wherein a person is using his or her public office for personal gain. It may include bribery, extortion, embezzlement and similar crimes.

Tax Evasion
 Also referred to as tax fraud, tax evasion is described as the act of purposefully misrepresenting financial information or committing fraud in order to avoid paying taxes.

Extortion
 The general definition of extortion is obtaining money or other valuable goods or services from another person through force or threats. It may include blackmail, threats of property damage or physical harm or threats of unfavorable government action.

Bribery
 It is illegal to offer a person in an official position money or other valuables in exchange for the performance of an official act. Bribery may involve individuals in public office, law enforcement officers or even sports officials.

Insider Trading
 When a person is accused of trading on the stock exchange based off confidential, "insider" information, this may be referred to as insider trading. Imprisonment and heavy fines may be enforced for a conviction of this kind.

Money Laundering
 Money laundering is a complex process that involves making illegally obtained money appear to have come from a legitimate source, thus enabling it to be utilized. 

The FBI and White Collar Crimes
The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and other federal agencies are often involved in the investigation and prosecution of white collar crimes. Federal agencies such as the FBI usually have more resources than local law enforcement agencies and may conduct long-term investigations in order to build the maximum amount of physical evidence against a suspect. These cases are therefore best handled by attorneys who have the resources and experience to effectively counteract efforts on the part of federal investigators and prosecutors.

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