What Are White Collar Crimes?

White-collar crimes were given their name based on the individuals who commit them. The most likely culprits are people in business or government, industries that often require employees to be dressed in clean, white-collared shirts. If you are facing criminal charges for financially related offenses, understanding your legal rights should be of the utmost importance. For more information, reach out to an experienced Tehama County white collar crimes lawyer today.

What Are White-Collar Crimes?

You may have heard the term “white-collar crime” before, but what exactly does it mean? In general, a white-collar crime is a non-violent financial offense committed by an individual or entity in positions of authority, generally within a business or government. These crimes are motivated by financial gain or to take unfair advantage of knowledge or opportunities.

Examples of offenses that may be categorized as white-collar include the following.

• Healthcare fraud
• Mortgage fraud
• Corporate fraud
• Money laundering
• Embezzlement
• Intellectual property theft
• Identity theft
• Insider trading
• Tax evasion
• Bribery
• Counterfeiting
• Mail fraud

Are White-Collar Crimes State or Federal?

White-collar crimes can be prosecuted at either the state or federal level, depending on the details of the situation and offense. These crimes are more commonly charged as federal offenses, as many involve interstate commerce, banking, or federal agencies. When these factors are present, federal agencies have jurisdiction. Examples of federal white-collar crimes include identity theft, counterfeiting, and money laundering.

State-level white-collar crimes take place within one state’s boundaries or involve a state agency. A state may have jurisdiction over a case involving embezzlement, mortgage fraud, or healthcare fraud.

What Are the Penalties for White-Collar Crimes in California?

The legal penalties you will incur for a white-collar conviction in California can vary significantly depending on the specific offense committed, the amount of money involved, the number of victims affected, your prior criminal history, and more. In general, a conviction will result in imprisonment, fines, victim restitution, etc.

For example, if you are charged with embezzlement, which is “the fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been intrusted,” per CA Penal Code 503, you can face either misdemeanor or felony charges. If the property involved was worth less than $950, you would be charged with a misdemeanor and face up to 6 months in jail.

However, if the property was more than $950 or included an automobile or firearm, your charges can be enhanced to a felony, and you could be sentenced to 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in jail.

Other offenses could be more or less serious, and result in harsher or more lenient sentences and penalties. The outcome of your case and legal consequences will depend on the details of your situation. For more information and skilled legal representation, reach out to an experienced defense attorney today.