Believe it or not, there is no single definition of what constitutes a white collar crime. However, most nonviolent offenses committed directly or indirectly for financial gain generally fall under this category. This categorization is especially accurate when the person accused of illegal activity are professionals in business, finance, or government.
Financial crimes, on the other hand, are a specific category of what could be considered white collar crimes. Financial crimes are deemed criminal because they have an overall negative impact. For example, insider trading would be considered a financial offense because it gives some people an unfair advantage in the stock market, which is damaging to investors who don’t have access to the same information.
White collar crimes as a whole are a much broader category than financial crimes. This category can include organized crime, which can’t really be considered a financial crime as a whole. Organized crime, while it involves many of the same criminal statutes, also involves other illegal activities outside of the financial category. Some white collar crimes include the following:
- Fraud
- Bribery
- Ponzi schemes
- Insider trading
- Labor racketeering
- Embezzlement
- Cybercrime
- Money laundering
- Identity theft
- Forgery
- Copyright infringement
If you’ve been accused of a white collar crime, or more specifically a financial crime, don’t hesitate to give our skilled Cincinnati white collar crimes attorneys a call. Patituce & Associates has more than 70 years of criminal defense experience to offer your case. While white collar crimes may not be as “serious” as crimes such as murder, they can come with hefty financial penalties. The offense level and amount of time you might serve in prison depend largely on the amount of money involved in the crime. Let us help you defend your rights and your reputation.
Contact us at (440) 471-7784 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.