White Collar Crime

”White-Collar Crime” is an all-encompassing term for a family of offenses, ranging from simple mail fraud to theft crimes and massive Ponzi schemes. Some white-collar criminal offenses are consumer fraud, credit card fraud, insurance fraud, identity theft, fraudulent use of an ID, bank fraud, and worthless checks. The commonality of all these crimes is the involvement of some form of breach of trust or deceit.

White-collar scandals are common. The flooding of the news and popular media with white-collar perpetrators like Bernie Madoff or Gordon Gecko, who have become synonymous with high-profile, high-yield criminal acts, is evident. White-collar crimes are always non-violent, but the penalties and the punishments can be extremely severe.

We at Daniel Albert Law Firm have a clear idea of being accused of “white-collar crime” charges. These charges can differ in their severity and extent. However, a white-collar crime allegation usually brings a maligning of reputation, especially in corporate circles and the industry, which is extremely hard to fix afterward. If you are involved in a similar situation and seek legal assistance, hiring an expert attorney right away is recommended.

Types of White Collar Crimes

A broad range of offenses is included in the “white-collar crime” term. Some of the most commonly prosecuted crimes are:

• Mail Fraud:Mail fraud is typically a federal crime under 18 USC 1341, implying that it will be prosecuted by the federal government and not Texas prosecutors. The conviction of mail fraud needs the government to show a scheme to defraud. There is the use of the mail or private carrier to further the conspiracy. These may include carriers like UPS and Fed-Ex.
• Wire Fraud:Wire fraud is also a federal crime. The law going very broad in these cases allows for prosecutors to make a “federal case” out of any fraud that utilizes the wire, radio, or television transmissions crossing state lines.
• Bankruptcy Fraud:Bankruptcy fraud involves hiding assets or information in a federal bankruptcy action.
• Securities Fraud:When a securities agency/ company fails to declare its activities transparently to investors and analysts, it is called securities fraud. It may also include the crime of insider trading.
• Bribery: Bribery involves offering someone money or valuables to persuade them to do something illegal in return. The act, again, can invite a range of convictions.
• Misrepresentation, Concealment, and Perjury: Misrepresentation, concealment, and perjury are terms that fall under the aegis of hiding information or presenting it in some form that hides its true identity. It can also involve falsifying information, thus leading to criminal charges for all such actions.
• Money Laundering: When money has been illegally gained in a way that conceals/disguises its origins, violates tax laws, or supports an illegal activity, then the crime of money laundering can be adjudged from the situation.
• Ponzi Schemes:This is the traditional practice of investment managers defrauding investors by using the money from later investors to pay for earlier ones and not investing the money as promised.