White-Collar Crimes

White-collar crime refers to non-violent offenses that typically involve financial schemes or fraudulent activity. While most people associate the term with corporate America and large-scale scandals, white-collar crime can include something as simple as writing a bad check.

Often, a white-collar crime begins as something small and seemingly inconsequential, such as falsifying information on a tax form. However, even a small “white lie” can lead to serious criminal consequences.

Examples of White-Collar Crimes

Generally, most white-collar crimes are either a form of embezzlement or fraud. Some specific examples of these crimes include:

• Bribery
• Extortion
• Identity theft
• Tax evasion
• Counterfeiting
• Copyright infringement
• Insider trading

Potential Penalties

The penalties for a white-collar crime depend largely on the specific circumstances of the case and the value of the assets involved. Generally speaking, crimes involving less than $500 will be charged as a misdemeanor, which may be punished by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail.

If the crime involved more than $500, it will typically be prosecuted as a felony. The penalties for a felony conviction can range between one and 10 years in prison and fines between $5,000 and $10,000 plus restitution.