You might have heard about white-collar crime in a movie or read about it in the newspaper, but how much do you really know about these types of crimes? Do you know enough about them not to get charged with a crime?
Generally, white-collar crime relates to financial activity or fraud that is illegal but typically not violent. For this reason, white-collar crime is typically associated with businesses. Many people think that because white-collar crime is not violent, it is not treated as a crime. This could not be farther from the truth.
Many Crimes Are Associated with White-Collar Charges
While you might think of white-collar crime as wide-scale fraud in a large company, these crimes are actually common on lower scales as well. For example, a high-school coach could commit fraud using the funds made available to the team. Fraud occurs in many different forms.
You might have heard of Ponzi schemes, which are also considered a form of white-collar crime. Bernie Madoff faced 150 years in prison for committing fraud worth more than $64 billion. He was also called on to pay restitution.
Counterfeiting money and piracy are also examples of white-collar crime that tend to occur on a smaller scale.
Anybody Can Face a White-Collar Criminal Charge
Many people are under the impression that those who are higher up in a business hierarchy will not be prosecuted for white-collar criminal activities. The truth is that it is often the people with the most power in an organization who participate in these crimes. Even those with power can be charged with a financial or fraud-related crime.
The truth is that people often engage in white-collar crime because they are facing personal financial hardships. They may not make much money at work, or perhaps they are facing a significant amount of debt.
White-Collar Crime Comes with Prison Time
Many people believe that white-collar criminals do not face potential prison time. This is simply not true. Some people convicted of white-collar crimes actually face lengthy prison sentences based on the crimes they are convicted of.
White-collar crime is more common than you might think. The truth is that these crimes occur all the time. Few people hear about them because they often fail to make the news. If you are accused of white-collar crime, you need to consult with an attorney who can defend your rights at trial. Talk to companies like Daniels Long & Pinsel to learn more.
