White Collar Crime

A white collar crime is a non-violent act involving deception, typically committed by a business person or public official. Evidence in a white collar crime usually involves a "paper trail," of evidence that investigators use to prosecute the case. If you have been charged with a white collar crime, contact an attorney as soon as possible. A criminal defense attorney can help you defend your rights.

Types of White Collar Crime

Embezzlement - the taking of someone's property by a person with whom it is entrusted.
Bribery - occurs when someone gives or takes a bribe.
Larceny - involves taking someone's property without paying for or returning it.
Extortion - also known as blackmail.
Fraud - this often includes but is not limited to health care fraud, insurance fraud, and credit card fraud.
Price Fixing - an agreement between two parties to set prices for a certain product, thereby violating free market operations.
Racketeering - the extortion of money by force or a pattern of criminal activity committed to further the interests of a criminal syndicate.
Computer Fraud - using a computer to commit a crime.
Obstruction of Justice - interfering with the criminal process by impeding an investigation.
Perjury - lying while under oath in a judicial proceeding.
Securities and Commodities Law Violations
Environmental Law Violations

Prosecution of White Collar Crimes

White collar crimes can be prosecuted at the state or federal level, depending on whether a state or federal law was broken. If convicted, these crimes usually result in jail time, large fines, and restitution to the victims of the crime. For people who have been victimized by white collar crime, hiring a criminal attorney is often helpful when attempting to recover monies lost.

White Collar Crime Statistics

White collar crime is on the rise and is becoming an increasing problem as the world becomes more high-tech, as the following white collar crime statistics from the National White Collar Crime Center show:

Approximately one in three American households are victims of white collar crime, but only 41 percent report it.
Of white collar crimes reported, only 21 percent are handled by a law enforcement or consumer protection agency.
Economic crime costs the United States approximately $100 billion in 1990.
While arrests for violent crimes have declined, fraud and embezzlement arrests have risen.

If you or someone you love has committed white collar crimes such as securities fraud, embezzlement, computer fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, as well as many others, contact a white collar crime attorney to help you with your case.