If you, a friend or a loved one has been accused of a “white collar crime,” you might be wondering what that term means and how serious the charges are. First given this name by Sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939, white collar crimes are acts that usually do not include violence. These crimes are committed to make large amounts of money from either individual or corporate victims.
Being accused of a white collar crime is very serious. Such crimes fall under federal and state laws and the penalties can be very severe. Plus, federal criminal cases are more complex.
What are examples of white collar crimes?
White collar crimes fall into distinct categories with specific crimes included in each category. The following list includes several of the most common white-collar crimes but is by no means a complete list.
Conspiracy
When two or more people agree to commit unlawful or criminal acts together or as a group, it is called a conspiracy. Some types of conspiracies include:
Fraud
Fraud is the intentional misuse or taking of anything of value which belongs to another person by means of deceitful conduct, practices or representations. Types of fraud include:
- Forgery
- Healthcare Fraud
- Insurance Fraud
- Credit Card Fraud
- Mail Fraud
- Passing Bad Checks
- Cash Skimming
- Tax Evasion
- Rental Property Fraud
- Telemarketing Fraud
- Identity Theft
Public Corruption
If you are a civic or government official entrusted with something of value and exploit that access it for your own gain, you can be charged with a public corruption crime. Public corruption crimes may include:
- Embezzlement
- Bribery
- Extortion
- Nepotism
- Granting Favors
- Accepting Kickbacks
Racketeering
Racketeering, often associated with organized crime, is the act of offering of a dishonest service (a “racket”) to solve a problem that wouldn’t otherwise exist without the enterprise offering the service. Racketeering as defined by the RICO act includes a list of 35 crimes. If convicted of racketeering, a person could serve up to 20 years and be fined up to $25,000.
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act became U.S. law in 1970, permitting law enforcement to charge individuals or groups with racketeering. This law made it so that organizations or individuals could be charged for up to ten years of ongoing criminal activity, that leaders of those organizations could be charged for activities that they ordered others to do (for instance, murder and extortion).
Get a white collar criminal defense attorney on your side
If you, a friend or a loved one have been accused of a white collar crime, it is a serious charge with potentially grave consequences including large fines, a damaged reputation and substantial time in jail. In some cases, being convicted can even cost a defendant their property and pension. You need an experienced criminal defense attorney, Erlinda Ocampo Johnson to defend you or your loved one. Ms. Johnson has many years of experience successfully defending clients accused of federal criminal charges.
Simply the best
Past defendants and their families rave about Erlinda Ocampo Johnson online. They describe her as compassionate, tenacious, professional, responsive and relentlessly prepared: in short, “simply the best.” When you come to the Law Office of Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, you can be assured of hiring a fearless attorney who will fight for you and build an aggressive, effective defense.
Contact us today
If you have been accused of a crime in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contact the Law Office of Erlinda Ocampo Johnson as soon as possible. We handle white collar criminal defense. We will fight for the best outcome possible for you and your loved ones.
